Senior School News

Year Four Spotlight

The Year 4s have had a very busy and exciting week! As part of Science Week, students presented their own experiments to the class, sharing their curiosity, creativity, and scientific thinking. They also took part in a special Eucharist Reflection Day last Wednesday, spending time in prayer, activities, and discussion to prepare their hearts and minds for their upcoming First Eucharist celebration this Saturday. In Inquiry, students have been learning to investigate microhabitats in our environment, exploring the small but important ecosystems that exist all around us.

Science week presentations:

This past fortnight our Year 4's shared their oral presentations based on science experiments, and what a fantastic job they did! It was wonderful to see the students not only carry out their chosen experiments but also explain the science behind them with such confidence and enthusiasm. From demonstrating cause and effect to exploring simple chemical reactions, each presentation highlighted their curiosity and growing scientific knowledge. It was the perfect way to cap off our belated Science Week celebrations and celebrate the joy of discovery together.

Eucharist reflection day:

Our Year 4 students recently took part in their Eucharist Reflection Day in preparation for receiving this special sacrament. The day was filled with a balance of hands-on activities and quiet reflection. Students enjoyed making bread, creating banners, and preparing pew decorations before moving into rehearsal and reflection time. We shared the bread together in the classroom, which was a beautiful way to connect with the meaning of the Eucharist. The day finished with a family session in the church, where students and parents joined in prayer and preparation with Father Martin. We congratulate all of our Year 4s as they prepare to celebrate their First Eucharist this weekend.

Inquiry:

Year 4's have been exploring the fascinating connections between living things and their environments. Our inquiry has taken us into the world of microhabitats, those tiny spaces like under rocks, in leaf litter, or tucked into the bark of trees. The students have loved becoming mini scientists, using magnifying glasses to observe and record the creatures and conditions they discovered. It was wonderful to see their excitement as they noticed how light, moisture, and temperature influence where animals choose to live, and to hear their reflections about the importance of looking after even the smallest parts of our environment.

We’ve also been learning about food chains and food webs, and how energy moves through ecosystems. The children are now confidently identifying producers, consumers, and predators, and explaining the roles of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. They particularly enjoyed building food webs by linking different chains together and realising just how connected all living things are. These lessons have sparked some great whole-class discussions about the balance of nature and our responsibility to care for creation.