Primary Specialists

Prep & Year 1 Visual Arts

During Weeks 7 our Prep and Year 1 students have continued their Book Week celebrations in Visual Arts with lots of creativity and imagination!  Students chose a favourite book character and designed a magical doorway or portal that transports them into their character’s world. They loved bringing their favourite stories to life through colour, imagination and artistic expression.

In Week 8, students also celebrated Father’s Day and Special Person’s Day by creating beautiful, personalised artworks and pop-up cards as thoughtful gifts for someone important in their lives. It has been wonderful to see our young artists sharing their creativity and celebrating the special people and stories that mean so much to them!

Year 4 Visual Arts

Students previously explored clay by creating their own clay fish sculptures, developing their understanding of how clay can be shaped and transformed into three-dimensional artworks. They worked with a new material and were introduced to a range of clay and pottery processes, including shaping, joining, adding texture and creating details.

Students experimented with these new techniques to bring their fish designs to life, while developing their confidence in working with clay and learning important pottery vocabulary. They enjoyed the hands-on experience of discovering how a soft piece of clay could be transformed into a unique sculpture. Below are some examples of their creative clay fish artworks!

In Weeks 7 and 8, students explored creativity, design and personal expression through two exciting art experiences. Students designed and created a book cover for their favourite book, experimenting with different art materials, techniques, colours, shapes and imagery to communicate the story and capture the attention of an audience. 

In week 8, students explored Pop Art and considered how artists use bold colours, patterns, symbols and familiar images to create artwork celebrating a special person. 

Students developed their ideas through sketching, experimenting and creating, while demonstrating the IB Learner Profile attributes of being Thinkers, Communicators, Risk-takers and Reflective as they made creative choices and reflected on their finished artworks. 

Grade 5 & 6 Visual Arts

Over the past two weeks, Grade 5 and 6 students have been putting the finishing touches on their clay sculptures, refining details and making final adjustments to ensure their pieces are well-constructed and ready for painting. They have focused on adding texture, smoothing surfaces where needed, and checking that all elements are securely attached.

With the sculpting complete, students have now begun the painting stage of their projects by applying their base coats of paint. They have been carefully considering their colour choices and laying the foundation for the finer details and finishing touches that will be added over the coming weeks.

Science Prep to grade 6

Science learning has continued with great enthusiasm during Weeks 7 and 8, with students across all year levels participating in engaging hands-on investigations. 

Our Prep students have continued exploring and identifying the basic needs of living things.  Through observations and discussions, they are learning how living things grow and change. 

In Grade 1, students have been further investigating weather patterns, observing daily weather changes and discussing how weather can influence what we wear and the activities we do. 

Grade 2 students are continuing their exploration of the properties of materials, examining how materials can be changed through actions such as bending, stretching, heating and cooling, and identifying which materials are best suited for different purposes.

Grade 3 students investigated friction by experimenting with different surfaces and discovering how smooth and rough textures can create more or less friction, affecting how objects move. 

Grade 4 students have been busy exploring how weathering and erosion occur through hands-on experiments that demonstrate how natural forces can gradually change the Earth’s surface.

Grade 5 students have been investigating mirrors and reflection, experimenting with how light bounces off mirrors and observing how the angle of light affects the direction of reflection. 

In Grade 6, students are building and testing simple circuits as part of their electricity unit. They are exploring how batteries power a circuit and investigating which materials act as conductors or insulators, helping them understand how electrical energy flows. 

Spanish Classroom News – ¡Hola a todos!

Our students have been doing a fantastic job continuing their Spanish learning!

In the lower grades, students are practising Spanish greetings, colours and numbers. They are also learning about family members and the days of the week through songs, games and fun classroom activities.

Students in Grades 3 and 4 are continuing to build their confidence with basic Spanish greetings and vocabulary. They are also learning the names of different animals in Spanish and using new words in simple activities and conversations.

Our Grades 5 and 6 students are investigating different South American countries and learning about the amazing Amazon Rainforest, including its animals, environment and culture.

Across all year levels, students are also exploring the cultures, traditions and celebrations of Spanish-speaking countries around the world.

Well done to all our students for their enthusiasm and effort in Spanish.

¡Muy bien, estudiantes! Keep up the great work! 

WELLBEING

Over the past two weeks in Wellbeing, students across all year levels have been learning about persistence, problem solving, and positive ways to cope with challenges and conflict. Students explored how problems are a normal part of life and practised strategies to manage emotions, work through disagreements, and support their wellbeing.

Foundation Class

Foundation students have been learning that challenges are a normal part of learning and growing. They discussed why it is important to keep trying, even when something feels difficult. Students explored challenges they might face this year and shared ideas about actions that can help them keep going and succeed.

Year One

Year One students explored how conflict can happen in everyday situations and practised ways to solve problems respectfully. Through discussions and role-plays, they looked at different ways to respond when disagreements occur. Students also focused on including others, learning how to help classmates feel welcomed and part of the group.

Year Two

Year Two students discussed how trying new things can sometimes feel challenging or unfamiliar. They explored how being brave and giving new experiences and strategies a go can lead to positive experiences. Students practised strategies such as “Thinking of Your Happy Place” to help them feel calm and confident. They also explored common conflicts that can happen at school and practised respectful strategies for solving problems.

Year Three

Year Three students explored how emotions and friendships can change as we grow. They created a “Strong Emotions Thermometer” to understand different levels of emotional intensity and discussed ways to manage strong feelings. Students also developed their own self-calming strategies to help them stay calm and focused during challenging moments.

Year Four

Year Four students investigated ways to promote health, safety and wellbeing in everyday life. They also explored persistence and adaptability when facing challenges. Using the “Roads and Roundabouts” problem-solving model, students practised thinking about different choices they could make when faced with problems and challenges.

Year Five

Year Five students learned about the importance of preventive health and positive wellbeing habits, including staying active, building social connections and making healthy choices. They were also introduced to the concept of self-talk and discussed how positive thinking can help when facing challenges. Students began creating their Positive Coping Portfolio, identifying strategies that can help them manage stress and emotions.

Year Six

Year Six students continued exploring preventive health and wellbeing, focusing on the role of positive habits and social support. They also learned about self-talk and coping strategies, building their own Positive Coping Portfolio. In addition, students discussed independent learning and problem solving, thinking about how they can manage challenges and take responsibility for their learning.

Through these activities, students are developing important life skills such as resilience, empathy, problem solving and emotional regulation.