We have an amazing opportunity where two of our dads (Andrew Roy and Jonathan Duffy) who are experienced shearers, are giving up their time to teach our Year 12 Agriculture students how to safely shear a sheep.  We haven’t been able to offer this opportunity for 18 months and the students are all keen to learn this valuable skill.  The students will catch the lambs, be shown how to shear the sheep, and they can use this valuable experience in their future farming endeavours. We will travel out at the beginning of lunchtime and then shear sheep through AT time and during our Level 2 Agriculture lesson. Arriving back at 3.10pm.  This way they will not miss any other classes. This proved beneficial to the grades the girls received in their external examination last year and without physically going on the field trip the girls who are hands on visual learners would struggle to answer any of the questions. 

 Details:  

• Time: 12.15pm (During our Ag lesson) 
• Date: Friday 22nd March 2024 
• Return: Arrive back at Southland Girls at 3.10pm 
• Transport: Southland Girls High School Van  
• Meet: Kumagaya Gates at the front of school 
• Clothing and Equipment Required: Mufti and a change of clothing as shearing the sheep can be dirty, and sweaty, soft sports shoes or gumboots are preferable when shearing. 
• Cost: $5 
• Venue: Andrew and Liz Roy’s Farm, 61 Morton Street, Edendale. 

Mel Young has a current first aid qualification and will be carrying a first aid kit at all times. Andrew and Jonathan are hugely experienced with working with school groups of students and is very safety conscious. Each student will get the most out of this incredible opportunity.  If for some reason an accident does happen, Mel Young will ring the parent immediately and notify the school. 

This event contains risks, including slipping on the ground when wrestling a lamb or pulling a lamb out to shear, they could get cut while using the handpiece. This event is managed by school staff who will manage risk and hazards according to the school’s safety management plan.  This includes careful use of appropriate nonslip footwear, walking carefully in areas that are slippery as the sheep’s wool causes the boards to be extra slippery.  While risks can be maintained to acceptable levels they cannot be eliminated.  Some risk is retained for its learning and experiential value.  If you wish to come in to school to see our safety management systems or have any questions, feel free to contact Mel Young on 03 2116030 or melanie.young@southlandgirls.school.nz.

It is important for safety reasons that students follow instructions given to them by all staff and follow all appropriate school rules. Behaviour by students that is deemed dangerous and puts themselves and/or others at undue risk will result in your child being picked up by a caregiver and not attending further Year 12 Agriculture trips this year. 

 Please complete and pay on the permission form below no later that Tuesday 19 March 2024