Wally Learns about Rugby League & Cheerleading

I was lucky enough to take Wally to a game of Rugby League. In Rugby League you can tackle the players who have the ball in the other team, throw, kick & catch the oval shaped ball as well as kick for goal. In junior games, the more people who pass and catch the ball when a try is scored means you get more points. I don't think you play Rugby League in America. What sort of football do you play?
HENRY
Wally has also had the chance to go to a cheerleading competition and also a Port City Power basketball game. When he went to the competition, Wally got to wear our school cheer top! Our school team came first in the Primary School section of the competition and we also won the Junior display section when we did our skipping performance. Does your school do cheerleading? Wally was able to go out on to the court when we were cheering for the Woman's Queensland Basketball League team - POWER.
CARLA and GEORGIA

Out & About Gladstone

Since Wally arrived in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia, he has not had time to stand still!
His first tour was out & about in the local area.
He first visited the Gladstone Art Gallery where he bumped into a statue of Mr Gladstone - our city's namesake.
His next stop was our beautiful marina, where he looked at some very large (and expensive) boats and dreamed about going out to wonderful Heron Island - a coral cay island about 2 hours by water from Gladstone. Heron Island has the most beautiful marine life around it. While at the marina, Wally met some new friends at the Gladstone Area Promotions Bureau.
The next stop was the Gladstone Exercise Park. Wally had some difficulties here as his legs were a little short for most of the equipment!
Next was the Tondoon Botanical Gardens. Wally loved all the massive Eucalyptus (Gum) trees and had a bit of a fright when a scrub turkey tried to run off with him. As well as the naughty srub turkey, Wally met up with some duck & some turtles. Can you see the turtles in the water with the ducks?
Wally then took some time to visit the Educational Experience at the Gardens - checking out the art activities & Question Tree.
Hope you like the quick tour - more to come. CHECK BACK SOON
Year 4/5
Gladstone Central State School

Please keep checking the blog

Wally has left us now - hope he arrives safely back home before you all go on Summer break. Next week we go on our Winter break - only for 2 weeks. Our summer break is in December & January and it is 6 weeks (YIPPEE!). How long do you get for your break?
Wally is travelling with a couple of friends that he met over here - I hope they like thier new home in Pensylvania.
We have loved having Wally - it was so much fun taking him to different places & seeing so many things around our home.
I hope that you keep coming back to the blog because we are still editing photos & video footage that we can share with you all

What sporting activities do you participate in?

Wally is leaning at lot about sports at Gladstone Central. Everyday each class goes out for 30mins to take part in Smart Moves - physical activity which involves huff and puff and skill learning. As we are now coming into winter in Australia our sports have changed a little. We play netball (like basketball but you can't bounce the ball), rugby league, basketball, Australian rules football and soccer. June is a big Track and Field month with our Sports Day being held very soon. In the summer months (November - January), our sports includes lots of swimming activities, cricket, basketball and volleyball. We also love to skip at Gladstone Central and have a pretty cool skipping demonstration team - video on the way!

What sports do you all play? Do you play different sports in different times of the year?

Wally has been sooooo busy!

Sorry there hasn't been a post since arriving in Australia - Wally has been so busy. This is just a quick post to let everyone know that Wally is safe & visiting so many places - heaps of pictures & video footage will be posted within the next couple of days.
Wally has visited the marina, the harbour, the local botanical gardens (where he was chased by a scrub turkey who really liked him), the Gladstone Information & Tourist Centre and local Gladstone landmarks.
Wally has also gone along to a Rugby League game and basketball. His favourite event so far has been a cheerleading competition where the Gladstone Central State School won the primary school division - he even had his photo taken with the trophies.
Keep watching for the photos coming very soon
Year 4/5
Gladstone Central State School
Gladstone Queensland Australia

Hello Fom Australia

Well Wally has finally arrived Down Under (Australia). Gladstone Central State School is in a State called Queensland. Gladstone is situated at the southern end of The Great Barrier Reef on the east coast of Queensland. During Wally's visit here we hope to show you around our wonderful school and town. Wally's first day in Australia was very busy - he got to meet all of the year 4/5 students, met lots of native Australian animals & birds and joined in with the students for Track & Field training. A very exhausting day!!
It is nearly Winter here, so we are getting cold mornings here - not as cold as the weather you have for your Winter. It never snows here & gets extremely hot during the Summer months of December & January.
Our school colours are sky blue & maroon. What are your school colours?
Hope you like our shot photo story.

Year 4/5
Gladstone Central State School
Gladstone Queensland Australia

The Tour of our famous sports arenas

Just before Wally left he went home with one of our students. Emma and family took Wally to four important places in our Springfield & Eugene city communities. Here is his tour of the Springfield City Library and 3 sports facilities at the University of Oregon, home of the Ducks!

We look forward to seeing what Australia looks like! Are there similar places in your community? What are the team names? Is there a local university? What animal is their mascot?