Primary Happenings

Year 1: Indigenous Incursion

Michelle Wrench, Year 1 Teacher

Our Year One students recently experienced a wonderful learning opportunity when Auntie Zeta visited our school to share Indigenous knowledge and culture. The incursion proved to be both educational and deeply engaging for all students. 

Auntie Zeta began with a warm "Weminjka" (hello) and introduced students to the rich culture of the Wurundjeri people, whose traditional lands include the Yarra River. Students learned that ancestors are revered as knowledge keepers who passed down vital information through songs, star reading, and weather preparation. 

The children were fascinated to discover how Indigenous families lived in grass huts called "Gunya," with small fires kept outside for warmth. When floods came, families would move to higher ground. Students learned about the close-knit community structure where children, parents, and cousins grew up together, sharing daily activities like fishing and gathering berries, yams, and yabbies. 

Auntie Zeta demonstrated various artefacts including hunting spears and boomerangs, and explained how possum cloaks told tribal stories through paintings found on the inside of the cloak. Students were captivated by communication methods using message sticks decorated with symbols, smoke signals, and different bird calls as warnings. 

The hands-on experience allowed students to play clapsticks and handle authentic artifacts including turtle shells used for water storage. Students also learned how canoes were crafted from gum tree bark. The respectful sharing of this ancient knowledge left our Year One students with a deeper appreciation for Indigenous culture and traditions. 

Year 6: Mission Market

Yin Kik Li, Year 6 Teacher

Thanks be to the Lord for the smiles and excitement on the highly anticipated day that is always the highlight of the Year 6 Economics unit!

Across the term, students engaged in every step of the entrepreneurial process - analysing market research, budgeting, crafting detailed business plans and preparing, testing and creating products. An important consideration was how to make their businesses ethical, enhancing their understanding of responsible business practices and wise financial stewardship. 

The students’ teamwork, creativity, and generosity were clearly evident on the day. The Community Hub courts were buzzing with excitement as students showcased a variety of treats, handmade crafts, and skill-testing games. The students worked hard to drum up business, and their efforts paid off—raising an impressive $5,974 for various mission organisations!

A huge thank you goes out to the many students and staff in our community who attended Mission Market, helping our Year 6 students make a difference for Jesus in this world!

Prep: Woodwork Incursion

Zoe Hardy, Primary Art Teacher

Eyes fixed, 18 hammers raised, pliers at the ready, a few tongues poked out… Preps have been exploring sculpture for the last few weeks – artwork that can be viewed from the front, the top and even the sides. This is quite a mind-blowing realisation for many students! Over the last fortnight of term, a woodwork company have introduced them to carpentry.  

Developing understanding of what makes tools and people safe or dangerous is a crucial consideration for students to begin. Developing confidence in their ability to control tools and engage in new processes widens a child’s readiness for facing new challenges and opportunities.  

Each student has made a wooden sculpture using glue, nails and a hammer and inevitably pliers, for when the nails mysteriously travelled in unexpected directions! These will be painted at school early next term before they come home.