Specialist Updates
Art
Foundation
Foundation students have been busy finishing off their big cat paintings and are now getting ready to add the finer details using markers. We can’t wait to see their colourful creations come to life! 🐆🎨
Year 1 and 2
Students in Years 1 and 2 have completed the painting component of their wax-resist artworks. Next lesson, they will begin adding details using complementary colours to enhance their designs and create visual contrast.
Years 3 and 4
Students in Years 3 and 4 have completed their tonal scales and are now exploring how pencil pressure and different grades of graphite, from HB to 8B, can be used to create a range of tonal values. They are developing their understanding of light, shade and contrast to add depth and dimension to their drawings.
Year 6
Year 6 students are beginning their artworks inspired by Kaylene Whiskey. Having selected their female diva as the focal point of their compositions, they are ready to develop their ideas using Whiskey’s bold, colourful and playful artistic style.
STEM
Prep, Year 1 and Year 2: Our youngest STEM explorers have blasted off on their Mission to Space! Students explored spacesuits and how they help astronauts survive, before designing their own. They also investigated space rovers and the features needed to explore different environments, then designed a rover for Mars, the Moon or Jupiter.
Year 3 students have begun creating their own computer games using Scratch! They are working through step-by-step tutorials to learn how to use coding blocks, create sequences and bring their game ideas to life. Following tutorials helps students develop their coding skills, build confidence, solve problems and learn how to debug their code when things don't go to plan. They are now using these new skills as they work towards creating their own unique games.
Year 4 students explored Ozobot Color Codes to control their robot’s speed and special moves, including spins, zigzags and tornadoes. They completed a skills check and combined their coding knowledge to program Ozobot to follow a sequence of events and navigate through a maze.
Year 5/6 students were introduced to Tinkercad, a free, web-based program that allows them to design and create 3D models. This week, students began planning and creating their own digital designs, hoping to have their models selected for 3D printing.
Italian
Prep: The preps have practised singing some of the songs they will hear on Italian Day during the incursion. They have also enjoyed working on the ipads completing activities on the ELLA app about family, which included playing a card game, cooking for family members and singing a song about the family. We are looking forward to our first Italian Day next week.
During Italian Years 1 and 2 have focussed on practising the songs from the show L’ingrediente Segretto. This week most classes were introduced to the final song about an Italian fashion parade and had fun acting as models. The Year ones and twos are joining in with the choruses of some songs and know all the words of others. It has been great to see their enthusiasm and the effort they have put into learning the Italian lyrics.
During Italian Years 3 -6 have focussed on practising the songs from the show L’ingrediente Segretto. This week most classes were introduced to the final song about an Italian fashion parade and had fun acting as models. The students have done an excellent job learning all the lyrics and many have enjoyed dancing, singing and doing actions to their favourite songs. |
Performing Arts
Foundation students have been exploring simple drumming techniques, learning to follow basic beats and rhythms as they develop their listening skills, coordination and sense of timing.
Year One have been developing their playing skills and practising playing songs on the glockenspiel. They have been playing Mary Had A Little Lamb with greater confidence and are now working on the song You Are My Sunshine one section at a time.
Year Two have been experimenting with using two mallets when they play a song on the glockenspiel. After playing some of the higher notes in Mary Had A Little Lamb with their left hand they are now working on using two mallets in the chorus of the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Year 3 have progressed in their practise of their selected song from a movie. This week they have completed an assessment task by filming themselves playing the part of the song they feel most confident performing.
Year 4 have worked on their duet of When the Saints Go Marching In showing progress in their playing, music reading and timing. They have performed and recorded their performances for assessment.
Year 5 and 6 have been practising playing the song Rip Tide on the ukulele working in groups based on their ability. They are preparing to present and record their performances for assessment to demonstrate their skills.
Physical Education
Congratulations to the senior boys Volleyball and Basketball teams. Both teams played in Division championships recently and finished 2nd in their respective pools, with close losses to the eventual Division champions, The sportsmanship, team spirit, resilience and never give up attitude that the boys displayed made all at Stella incredibly proud. Well done Boys!
Year 5 and 6
Senior students will be commencing a Sports Education in Physical Education Program (SEPEP) unit. SEPEP is a student-centered program where students take on responsibilities in planning and conducting a sports competition,fostering leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and physical activity engagement in a real-world competitive environment.
Students will be using the skills they have developed and practised during the recent Volleyball unit to play Volleystars - a simplified version of the sport which allows for easier scoring and encourages participation at all skill levels.
Year 3 and 4
Middle school students have started to develop their digging, setting and spiking skills which will be used to play Volleystars - a modified version of Volleyball. The focus this week and next is for students to complete an underhand serve which is an easier to control hit with a closed fist off the non-dominant hand and execute a dig and set during game play. Students will learn how to score and also to rotate positions on court so that all team members have fair game time.
Prep, Year 1 and 2 students.
Junior students will continue to participate in games and activities to develop tennis racquet and ball control in the Tennis Skills Unit. They will be working on volleys, forehand and backhand strokes while developing racquet grip strength, ball control and movement.
Students will carry on developing their understanding of spatial awareness and using their peripheral vision to keep themselves and their peers safe while moving around and using sporting equipment
Library
During the students’ library sessions, we are sharing a special selection of Remembrance Day books as we approach the 11th of November.
These beautiful and thoughtful stories provide a meaningful opportunity for the children to reflect on the importance of remembrance, peace and gratitude. The children love these books and enjoy listening to the stories as we take time to remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country.
Lest We Forget
