"Lachlan"

"Lachlan", aged 7, is in his first year of a 3-year compacted high school program whereby students complete Years 7 to 10 in three years instead of four. Besides being exempt from participation in Physical Education and Sports classes, Lachlan is being homeschooled in Year 9 Mathematics.

After four months of kindergarten (pre-school), Lachlan began attending a Grade Prep - 2 class on a part-time transitional basis, a month before turning 4. He commenced formal Grade Prep as an early-age school entrant at 4½.

The following year, he skipped Grade 1 to go into Grade 2. In early Term 4 of Grade 2, he was further accelerated to Grade 4. Last year, after 3 terms of Grade 5, he left the primary school system for good and was fully homeschooled for the rest of the year.

What are your favourite subject(s), sports and hobbies?

My favourite subjects are Maths, Science, SOSE, Info Tech and Indonesian.

I enjoy swimming now that I'm much better at it. Next semester, I'm going to start Taekwando classes.

During my free time, I like reading Enid Blyton mystery and adventure books, and trying to solve detective puzzles. I also love reading books on astronautics, aerospace, astronomy and science as well as science fiction (especially Doctor Who books).

I also like play-acting astronauts at home. I like playing the piano and building things with Lego's and playing with all my space models, like the lunar module, the Saturn V rocket, the Apollo Command Service Module.

What do you think of school and school work?

School is fine. My favourite teacher is Mrs Crosby who teaches us Indonesian. I'm happy doing schoolwork, especially Maths, which I'm being homeschooled in. I enjoy researching and doing history projects on ancient civilizations, like the Sumerians, Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Romans. I love learning how to do new things in Info Tech, like animation using PowerPoint, making a newspaper using templates and Microsoft Publisher. I wish we are allowed to do more science experiments at school.

What makes you happy at school?

When I'm doing Indonesian, Maths and Science experiment work.

How do you spend your after-school hours and weekends?

Saturday is my favourite day of the week because I have swimming and piano lessons then. I do piano practice 5 afternoons a week. After school, I have an hour's break before starting on my schoolwork. Sometimes, I have no schoolwork to do and I can spend my free time slouching on the sofa reading my favourite books, watching a good video or TV program or playing with my Lego's or space toys.

Dad takes us to Melbourne quite often. Last weekend, I finally met my mentor who's a research scientist with CSIRO. I hope to spend more time with him, especially working with him at the CSIRO or at his home when he builds his own telescope!

I am good at ...

Doing Maths, and Indonesian, and learning new things in Info Tech. My dad and my brother taught me a bit of programming which I find fun to learn. I'm also a good reader and piano player.

I am happiest when ...

I can visit all the NASA websites and other sites to do with planetariums, space, astronomy, Dr Who, or check out all the space and sci-fi merchandise. I'm happy when I get time to read and I can't wait to go and watch my mentor when he grinds the lenses to make his own telescope.

I am special because ...

I get to do high school which is very challenging and interesting. I am special because I am allowed to have special homeschooling in more difficult Maths. I like my mentor.

When I grow up, I want to be ...

An astronaut and a spacecraft designer, working for NASA. I'd also like to be a research scientist like my mentor.

Recorded by Pheobe Fong-Smith - the name of the child has been
changed to preserve anonymity.

 © NSWAGTC 2007

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