Junior School
Prep
It has been a special two weeks in Prep! We were really excited to meet all the Chicks, after reading a picture storybook called Handa's Hen. Our new Hen at school looks just like the Hen Mondi from the story!
Last Friday, we got to visit Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters. We had the best time meeting reptiles, marsupials and Cockatoos. It was so much fun getting to pat these animals, and then feed all the outdoor animals (although some of us were a little frightened by them at first).
On Tuesday we made Easter baskets with our buddies, then on Wednesday we got to enjoy an Easter Egg hunt that the Year 6's organised for us! Prep is so much fun!
Eden Romero
Prep Teacher
Year 1
Year 1 students had a fantastic time on their excursion to the wildlife park, where they enjoyed learning about Australian animals in their natural habitat. The children were excited to get up close to Kangaroos, Koalas, and other native species, observing their behaviours firsthand. A highlight of the day was the opportunity to feed some of the animals, making the experience even more memorable. This hands-on learning adventure sparked curiosity and appreciation for God’s wonderful creation.
We have also been learning about Easter and created some special artwork to help others know that Easter is all about Jesus' love for us. Year 6 organised an Easter Egg hunt for us. We searched some tricky spots in the Nature Space playground and each found two big eggs and one small egg. We also enjoyed decorating a biscuit, using icing, smarties, a freckle and a hollow chocolate egg to remind us that the tomb is empty because Jesus is alive!
Kerry Snook & Lyndell Tucker
Year 1 Teachers
Year 2
We can't believe that it is the end of the first term already! The time has flown by, but the Year 2's have certainly demonstrated how much they have all learnt and progressed across the term!
Year 2 have been looking at procedures during Writing, and have had lots of fun creating different things and writing procedures for them. We have made Fairy Bread, Minions, Pizza and Jelly! Thank you to all of the parent helpers who have come in to support us in these activities!
We have been on an excursion to the Art Gallery (thank you Mrs Kosh!) and saw the Merindah-Gunya Strong Spirit exhibition. Students learnt about Aboriginal art and symbols, and how the artwork reflected different significant moments and places in the artists' life. The Year 2's also had a turn at using Aboriginal symbols to create an artwork and tell their own story.
Students worked in pairs and created 3D models out of plasticine to show the different life stages of an animal of their choosing, then presented it to the class, discussing how their animal changes and grows.
And finally, we had so much fun participating in the Easter Egg Hunt this week! A big thank you to the Year 6's and Mrs Robertson for organising and running this!
Happy Easter everyone and we're looking forward to another fun term ahead!
Alissa Griffin
Year 2 Teacher
Year 3
Year 3 have continued our biological science unit and have been exploring, comparing and contrasting life cycles of animals and plants. We had fun creating playdough life cycles to demonstrate our learning!
We have also had a lot of fun going down to the lawn Tennis courts in PE and practising our Tennis skills!
Homophones are pretty confusing, but we’ve been having some fun playing different games to practice them and increase our understanding of the correct use of them all!
On Friday 21st March, we celebrated Harmony Day and represented our different cultural backgrounds with a themed outfit from that country, or a splash of orange to show our support for harmony and unity amongst all cultures in our country. We did some great activities and learnt about the importance of respecting and accepting people from all different backgrounds.
Ang Hales
Year 3 Teacher
Year 4
We are excitedly awaiting Easter in Year 4 and remembering what this time means for those who love and follow Jesus. The Year 4 students have been reading the story of the women going to the tomb at dawn and finding the stone rolled away, what a shock they must have felt! Students also made collages of the cross at sunrise - He is risen! Well done Year 4 students, they look beautiful!
We have also been looking at mathematics in real life, specifically how we use and convert grams, kilograms, millilitres and litres. Last week, students completed an investigation involving creating a shopping list for a recipe, and this week was the fun part - cooking it! We spent the morning measuring, mixing and flipping Pikelets and then enjoyed eating them with Jam, Cream, Maple Syrup and Nutella - yum!
Fun activities like this wouldn't be possible without generous parent helpers. So from all of the Year 4's a huge thank you to Edie's mum Rebecca, Luke V's Grandma Wendy, and Olivia's mum Amy who came in to help out!
Emily Hunter
Year 4 Teacher
Year 5
Year 5 have finished the term well with lots of fun activities and learning experiences. We have done some fun experiments in Science to finish off the unit. We used bottles and balloons to discover how oxygen takes up space. We also finished off the measurement unit of Maths by making pancakes which were yummy by all reports.
We played a fun game of selling and buying in Humanities to finish off the unit on Economy and people's choice. We have now finished creating slideshows of interest earned and charged and are ready to present them this week. Finally, we got to watch the movie Paper Planes to celebrate finishing our novel study for English.
It has been a busy term but we finished strong and everyone is ready for a good break and some rejuvenation before starting Term 2. Wishing everyone a safe holiday and a blessed Easter from one tired but happy Ms O'Brien.
Naomi O'Brien
Year 5 Teacher
Year 6
One of the absolute joys of being in Year 6 is getting to set up and run an Easter Egg hunt for the rest of the Junior School. We do a separate hunt for each class. This year was no different. It was exciting to set up and consider the age of the students who were hunting and how hard we should make it, and it was pure joy to watch the classes hunt for their eggs. There was much excitement all around. Year 6 wish everyone a blessed Easter.
Our Year 6 students have also been busy in the kitchen, baking mouth-watering Cinnamon Teacakes. The sweet aroma filled the air as they mixed and baked this perfect comfort food. Whether enjoyed with a cup of tea or on its own, these soft, spiced treats are sure to bring warmth and joy as we transition into the cooler months.
Finally, on the last day of term this week, the Year 6 students got to have their own Easter Egg hunt after the Year 12's hid Eggs for them to find. They then joined in a sing along with Mrs Zeunert.
Coral Robertson, Ally Robinson & Kath Haworth
Teachers
Junior School Art
Term 1 in the Art room has been busy! Year 3, 4 & 5 students started the term exploring abstract Art using a variety of mediums. They have come to class with enthusiasm and have all put in their best efforts to produce some truly outstanding pieces of art inspired by Picasso, Kandinsky, and Matisse.
Students have also been working on blending techniques, using chalk pastels, paint and markers to create wonderful backgrounds for their landscapes and silhouettes. Prep students have settled into the art room so well, and have come to each lesson with excitement. They have been working on their cutting skills, gluing and painting, and identifying colours and shapes.
Ruth Zeunert
Junior School Art Teacher
Year 4 - 6 Gideon Program
We have had a great first term in Year 4 - 6 Gideon, with students able to learn about different writing tools and put them into practice. We have been working diligently at our number fluency, finding creative ways to explore and remember times tables and place value. To end the year, we put into practice our skills to create the most delicious Cinnamon and Jam Donuts! We pray you all have a restful and safe holiday. I can't wait for next term.
Steve Griffin
Assistant Head of Junior School