ALL the stories unfolding via constant correspondence came to life for Sebastopol primary senior pupils on the goldfields.
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Pupils got to meet their buddies in action about the streets of Sovereign Hill on Monday in a day filled with scavenger hunts, team games, damper cooking for lunch and a trip to the mines.
The visit follows months of letter-writing to Sovereign Hill staff in an old-style pen pal program, in which Sebastopol pupils have been keen to share about their digital technology projects with their buddies who work back in time in the open-air museum.
Sebastopol grade six pupil Bella Hartup said the letters were a great way to learn about their buddies’ jobs, what they like to do outside in modern society and to test out each others’ drawing skills.
“It’s been pretty fun. We get to experience what they do for work and we’ve been doing lots of things working together as a team,” Bella said.
“Our buddies who are police (troopers) at Sovereign Hill put us in handcuffs. It was fun.”
Letter-writing has been part of the Ardoch Literacy Buddies program, which matches workplaces with children in disadvantaged communities. The program aims to give children a chance to practise their writing with a clear purpose and to find new role models, who encourage their little buddies academic achievements and learning.
Pupils who struggle with reading and writing are more likely to disengage from education and leave school early, according to Ardoch.
The program starts with the big buddies visiting little buddies at school.
Bella said it was great to see their buddies arrive in full costume. They played games like Human Bingo to get to know each other better and find things in common.
Sovereign Hill buddy Mark Filmer, who helps coordinate the program with Sebastopol primary, said staff were rapt to have some fun and show pupils about Sovereign Hill in return.
"It’s been great for Sovereign Hill to be part of something proactive out in the community,” Mr Filmer said.
“We’ve been focusing activities on communication and teamwork but it’s mostly about giving kids an opportunity as much as it is about education.”
Victoria Police in Ballarat are also among those getting involved a big buddies. Ballarat police have pieced together a squad, across ranks – including Superintendent Wilson and Inspector Dan Davison – to work with pupils at Delacombe primary this year.
- READ MORE: Police heroes join in action tales
The program will continue through term four.
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