PRIMARY SCHOOL
Head of Primary
It was lovely to connect with many families last Friday at our annual Year 1 Teddy Bear’s picnic. Many Teddy Bears joined in on the games and activities organised by the fabulous Year 1 and Prep teachers. Highlights were trying to find story book characters which were hiding in the playground, playing various relays and engaging with Mr Grant’s puppet, Monty. The students loved playing with their friends and eating a picnic dinner together. We were thankful for the beautiful evening and the opportunity to connect with families. This is our second evening event for Junior Primary this year which highlights the incredible St Andrews’ community and the value we place on building connection. Not only is it important that each child feels a sense of belonging within their classroom, amongst their peers and in the broader school, it is our desire to see parents engage, connect and feel a part of the community too. Scripture encourages us to live in community so that we can uphold each other, receive support and be an encouragement and blessing to each other (Romans 12:5). We are looking forward to meeting together again at our upcoming Parent Teacher interviews and at our final end of term Easter Assembly.
If you haven’t already heard, last week we raised over $900 dollars for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Students across Primary made a wonderful coin trail and we are thankful for the kind donations which will support those in need in Turkey and Syria. Additionally, this week students will have the opportunity to support City Life Community Care and Prison Ministry by baking biscuits and bringing in some easter eggs! These are all wonderful opportunities for students to think beyond themselves as well as encourage others.
If you haven’t heard yet, next week will be a super exciting week for our Year 4-6 students. Each afternoon from Monday to Wednesday children will engage in E3-Extension activities. This year we have a superhero theme and we are looking forward to seeing what the students produce!
Finally, a huge congratulations to Yoonji Cho in Year 2L for achieving a black belt in her weekend sport, Taekwondo. Not only did she receive Gold, she was the youngest working towards this level. We are very proud of all our student’s achievements.
Please keep the students in your prayers this week as we enter the school holidays. They have worked diligently and have done an amazing job.
Many Blessings,
Janita Bratton
Head of Primary
Coin Trail
At our most recent Primary Chapel, Mr Grant was speaking about how “if one part [of the body] suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). With the recent and devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, we wanted to help our brothers and sisters in need!
All students were encouraged to bring in some coins and line them up to create a huge coin trail. It was such a blessing to see the children give so generously. We ended up raising $926.95 for Barnabas Aid! This money will go to Christians living in those affected countries to help them rebuild.
Thank you for all the support. May we continue to be unified to Christ to serve His people and world.
Natalie Nheu
Mission Service Learning Coordinator
Champions and Cheerleaders!
Year 3's were so encouraged by the Year 4 students who wrote wonderful uplifting words to cheer them on throughout their NAPLAN testing last week. Here are some snaps of the Year 3 champions last week with their notes of encouragement.
Thank you 4C and 4E!
Melanie Lepileo
Primary School Teacher
5S Stem Ping Pong Contraptions
This term, 5S students participated in this year’s global Science Buddies STEM Challenge. Their challenge was to design and build a device that could pick up a ping pong ball and return it to a start line. The contraption could only be made from paper, string, tape, and paper clips. Each group was scored on how far their device could move their ping pong ball and how few materials were used. It was impressive to see how well the students collaborated in their teams to produce an array of different designs. Well done to Aaron and Harry for winning the class challenge!
Emily Gan
Primary School Teacher
CSEN Primary Chess Competition
On 22nd March, ten Primary School students participated in the CSEN Primary Chess Competition. After playing 7 games of chess each, our school came in 2nd place, in what was a very competitive competition. Well done to the players who attended.
Special mention goes to Asher Martinez who won 6 out of 7 games and earned 4th place overall for his individual score.
Paige Cheung
Primary School Teacher
Preps Meet Their Buddies
This week, the Prep students were very excited to meet their Yr 12 Buddies! The Yr 12 students were excited too and made an extra effort to be at school on time, to share Devotions with their Prep Buddies. The students enjoyed getting to know each other as they read Bible Stories together. We prayed for each other and will enjoy many more morning Devotions together during the year. We will continue to pray for each other and will also see our new friends in the school yard.
Sonia Sires
Prep S Teacher
Year 5 Business Studies
Earlier this year, we kicked Business off with the ‘Trading Game’. Our Year 5 boys and girls were assigned different groups with varying resources- some had scissors, paper, protractors, compasses. Others just had paper and pencil! Each group had to work with others in order to ‘trade’ resources to make shapes of different costs and make the most money. Things started to heat up when the price of certain shapes decreased….or increased!
After discussing it in classes, we realised this was a great illustration of how different countries trade with each other globally, inequity, and supply and demand. Fantastic!
We also had ‘Jake the Money Guy’ from Talk Money visit St Andrews to discuss how to save, manage and spend money, giving lots of ideas to our Year 5's. Thanks for visiting!
NAPLAN
Despite NAPLAN being earlier in the year, our Year 5s have taken it in their stride and are very happy to put it behind them for a couple of years! We are thankful to the Lord for his mercy and kindness and are looking forward to a fun-filled year ahead.
Knitting Club
After much anticipation, the highly requested Knitting Club has taken off to a roaring success. Miss Low was overwhelmed at the sight of so many interested and keen knitters.
We now have between 20-30 Year 5-6 students who come in regularly to learn and share new skills. It has been especially pleasing watching the progression of their work and seeing them teach each other.
We remind all students to keep the knitting to the verandah and not to bring their work or needles to the grassy area, playground or dome.
To all parents and families, we welcome any wool donations you may have at home. Please drop them off at the office or ask your child to deliver them to the 5L classroom.
From the Year 5 Team,
Natalie Low & Naomi Su