GIRL: This is our home, our school,
our business and our community.
We live 220 kilometres
north-west of Longreach,
in Outback Queensland.
BOY: My morning routine is we wake up at six o'clock,
have breakfast, we let out the dogs, we check the horses and our chookies,
then we go over at 7:30 and start school.
ALL: Welcome to the Orielton Schoolhouse.
Good morning, you three. This is Miss Single here.
School of the Air is living miles and miles apart
from the teachers and local school...
..and corresponding to them on the telephone and computer.
At a mainstream school,
you would normally move rooms or have a new teacher.
No offence, Mum.
But for us, we rearrange our desks and change posters sometimes.
This year, specially,
we get to paint the walls and have a little bit more fun.
What I like about school is, when it's a sick day,
I can wear my pyjamas to school.
And it only takes 10 seconds to get back to the house.
Hello, everybody. This is my desk and my school equipment here.
Up here is the timetable that tells us when all our lessons are on,
and what number they are.
I have maths from 8:30 to 9:30.
I have English from 11 o'clock to 12 o'clock.
So, have a read and think about what we're going to be doing today.
I thought I might give you a tour of the reading room.
Over here, we have all our books and games and reading materials.
We come here for quiet time.
And over here, we have materials to make things for science.
Who can tell me where I'm going to find the answer?
Do you think I'm going to find it in the text?
Sometimes, it's a little bit difficult
to hear what your teacher's saying when on air
because they're so far away.
What I find difficult about School of the Air
is that we have internet issues out here.
So, the collaborator usually drops out a lot
and that can really disrupt your lessons.
Can you use your pointer to show me?
Great job.
One thing people might not know about distance ed
is that we never miss a day of school,
even if we're sick, we travel, etc.
We also make up for it during the weekends
and sometimes even holidays.
We also go to swimming carnivals and athletics at Longreach,
which is 220 kilometres away from here on a dirt road.
I think it's better doing school at home
because you get to see all your family
instead of going all the way to Longreach.
But it would be pretty cool
to hop on a bus somewhere in uniform.
Well, this week, I will be packing up
and getting ready for a 700-kilometre drive
up to Townsville,
starting boarding school at Townsville Grammar.
Done and dusted. Ready for boarding school 2017.
I'll be getting to a mainstream school,
which will be very exciting,
and I'll be getting lessons five days a week.
Also I'll be wearing a uniform every day.
I think what I will miss most while I'm at boarding school
is my family, the animals,
and the thousands of acres that we can get lost in.
I'm pretty lucky because, when you do school at home,
you do get pretty distracted out the window.
There are loaders, trucks, motorbikes,
and I really wish I was out there.
Farewell from Elke, Livie and Riley and Flat Stanley.
And from our outback Orielton schoolroom.
Thanks, guys.