Specialists
🎨🎭 Performing Arts Update 🎶
It has been a fantastic start to the year in Performing Arts, with students jumping into their classes with enthusiasm and creativity!
🎤 Senior Choir
Our Senior Choir is off to a fantastic start, with students gathering weekly to develop their vocal skills and harmonies. We are thrilled to announce that our first performance will be at the Warrandyte Festival on Saturday, March 29! The choir is working hard to prepare an exciting setlist, and we can’t wait to showcase their talents to the wider community. More details about performance times will be shared soon.
Students in Grade 3-6 are invited to join the Senior Choir, which rehearses every Tuesday at lunchtime. It’s a great opportunity to develop confidence, teamwork, and a love of singing while being part of a fun and supportive group. All are welcome!
🎤 In the Classroom
- Prep students have been exploring the elements of music, including high and low notes, fast and slow tempos, and how different sounds can be expressed through their bodies and create different moods.
- Grade 1/2 students have been developing their musical skills by exploring different rhythms, singing in rounds, and playing instruments to share their own musical patterns.
- Grade 3/4 students have been learning the ukulele, focusing on basic chords, strumming patterns, and playing along with simple songs.
- Grade 5/6 students have been learning to read music in the treble staff and using their knowledge to compose and play their own music.
🎤 What’s Next?
With performances, creative projects, and special workshops on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year in Performing Arts. Keep an eye on the newsletter and the Sentral calendar for more updates, and don’t forget to save the date for Matilda Jr. on September 3 and 4!
Visual Arts 🎨
Art Club
The Art Captains are very excited to host the Preps this term in Art Club. Art Club runs once a week on a Thursday lunchtime. Each year level will get a chance to come along throughout the year and create a small artwork to take home, or experience some 'process art' using hands on materials and equipment.
Ceramic Leaf Family Tree Fundraiser
Thankyou to those families that have already supported this fundraiser and purchased a leaf, either in the past or this year. Order forms are due back March 21st. If you require a new form please see the office where they will supply you with one. We're looking forward to seeing lots more leaves added to our tree this year!
In the classroom so far in Term 1...
Prep
Seagulls
Practising brush strokes
Adding salt to ink
Practising brush strokes
Adding salt to ink
Self Portraits
Ceramic Pinch Pots
Grade 1
Anna Blatman inspired 'Country House' paintings
Ceramic fish with oil pastel resist and black paint wash
Grade 2
Backyard bugs collage
Ken Done inspired Great Barrier Reef mixed media
Ceramic Seahorses
Grade 3/4
Chair bag designs
Ceramic vessels and gumnuts
Beach towels and sun-bakers
Grade 5
Pete Cromer inspired softies
Ceramic alpacas
Grade 6
Australian felted landscapes
Ceramic beach bathing boxes
STEM 🔬🌱
STEM Club
STEM Club will be running on Wednesdays at lunchtime. Prep-2 will start us off this week, and each week we will rotate, with 3/4s next week and 5/6s the following week. The STEM Captains are looking forward to running some fun sensory activities with everyone.
In the classroom
Grade 1 & 2
This term, students have explored the basic needs of plants. They have engaged in hands-on activities like setting up a living seed necklace experiment to observe seed germination. As well as identifying the features of living things, students have created scientific drawings including labels.
Grade 3 & 4
Students have been investigating the unique life cycle of plants, from their growth patterns to the adaptations that help them thrive. Students designed and built insects to be used in an experiment about pollination. They have also explored seed dispersal strategies and conducted exciting experiments with exploding seed pods.
Grade 5 & 6
Students have been exploring how environmental changes impact the growth and survival of living things. Students are progressing with their Habitats project, where they select a habitat and create a model that reflects the environment, its living things and how they adapt to survive.
Auslan
Prep – Greetings and Conversations
Prep students have been learning how to greet each other and ask, “How are you?” in Auslan. They are becoming more comfortable using these everyday signs and are starting to incorporate them into their interactions with friends and teachers.
Grade 1 & 2 – Fingerspelling and Family Signs
Our younger students have revisited fingerspelling the alphabet. They have participated in various interactive games to help consolidate this knowledge. Students have also just begun learning the signs for different family members where they will use this knowledge to sign all about their own families.
Grade 3 & 4 – Understanding Signs using HOLME
Students in Grades 3 and 4 have been exploring the acronym HOLME, which stands for Handshape, Orientation, Location, Movement, and Expression. This has helped them understand how signs are structured and why each element is crucial to conveying meaning clearly and accurately in Auslan.
Grade 5 & 6 – The Science of Hearing
Our senior students have taken a deep dive into how we hear by investigating the parts of the ear and how they work together to process sound. This learning has given them a greater appreciation for the experiences of those who are Deaf or hard of hearing and how Auslan provides an essential means of communication.
PE
What a busy but awesome start to 2025 in Sport and PE we have had.
In the classroom
Prep students have been learning the routines of a Physical Education lesson and how to use new equipment safely. They have learnt some new whole class games which promote cooperation and teamwork and continue to use Fundamental Motor Skills such as running, skipping and hopping.
Year 1 and 2 students have been focusing on an Overarm Throw. They have broken the action down to four important steps to help them execute the action with precision and skill.
Year 3 and 4 students have been focusing on striking, using a rounders bat to strike a ball from a tee. They have learnt the four elements that are needed for a successful strike and practised this in small group games of ‘Rapid Fire’.
Year 5 and 6 students have also been learning about striking, however they have had a sport specific focus, cricket. Students have been aiming to hit the ball from a bowl with control and accuracy.
District Swimming
Last week we had 11 students represent our school at the District Swimming Carnival. The students all swam amazingly, behaved perfectly and cheered each other on showing great school spirit for Wonga Park PS.
Results:
Noah T placed first in 50M breastroke and qualified for Division. At division he swam against some tough competition and finished 5th. Congratulations Noah on a superb swim.
In the 50m freestyle heats we had
- Noah T 3rd
- Flynn B 3rd
- Lily C 3rd
- Sienna D 3rd
- Eleanor S 1st
- Charli Z 2nd
In the 50m backstroke we had Flynn B place 3rd
And in 50m breaststroke Charli Z 3rd and Alice S 2nd
A HUGE thank you to our parent helpers on the day, Cindy and Rachael. Without your help we would not be able to run days like today, your efforts are greatly appreciated.