Specialists Programs
Performing Arts Term 3 Overview
I would once again like to thank you all for your support and enthusiasm last semester as the students prepared for and performed their amazing show Cinderella and the Rockin’ Fellas. What an experience it was for all involved and such a reminder of what the Arts can bring to our community and students.
This term, student learning will be focused on the curriculum area of Music and all of the elements that embody it. I am also excited to announce that we have introduced a Junior Choir for Year 1/2s, which will run alongside our current school choir involving Years 3 to 6s. These students will have the opportunity to perform at various school events and celebrations including a special performance at our Parish Fete.
Prep
This term, the Preps will begin to explore music through the concept of sound and silence. Students will use their voices, movement and instruments to create music and express their ideas. They will learn to compose simple pieces, experimenting with soft and loud sounds as well as pitch and rhythm, using pictures and simple notation to record their compositions. Students will listen to, sing and build connections with a variety of music from diverse genres, cultures and musicians, sharing what they enjoy about the music and how it makes them feel.
Year 1/2
The Years 1 and 2 students will use imagination and experimentation to explore musical ideas using their voices, movement, instruments and body percussion. They will improvise short pitch and rhythm patterns using voice and instrument and continue experimenting with the elements of music to create contrasting musical ideas, for example ‘noise and silence’, ‘faster and slower’, ‘higher and lower’, ‘happy and sad’. Students will be introduced to simple notation using symbols and graphics to represent and record the sounds and notes that are being played.
Year 3/4
This term, the students in Years 3 and 4 will further develop their knowledge around the elements of music, focusing particularly on timbre, dynamics and tempo.They will explore and compare different instruments, identifying similarities and differences in the way that they are played and the sounds that they produce. Students will discuss the quality of sounds and how they could be used to convey an idea or emotion. They will be introduced to simple musical notation, learning how to read it when playing music and using it to record their own compositions.
Year 5/6
Students in Years 5 and 6 will be exploring combining the elements of music using their listening skills, voice, instruments and electronically generated sounds this term. Students will become familiar with Chrome Music Lab and experiment with the different extensions available to create music, altering rhythm, tempo, pitch, timbre and melody. Students will identify ways in which music can be used to create an emotion or thematic experience for its audience and create their own compositions with an intended purpose. They will explore the art of songwriting and develop ideas, using their knowledge of the elements to compose their own piece of music.
I look forward to working with the students and continuing to explore and expand their talents in the Arts this semester. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or ideas to support this!
Warm regards,
Amanda Hill ahill@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
Visual Arts Term 3 Overview
Foundation
Term 3 will introduce Foundation students to printing. Printing is an ideal area of art education to focus on repetition, which creates patterns. The tools used in printing will include hands and fingers, as well as natural and recycled materials, so make sure art smocks are sent to school.
Year 1 /2
Year 1 and 2 students will play with and investigate different printmaking skills and techniques. They will express their ideas, experiences, and imaginings in print. The concept of pattern will be extended to the principles of contrast and movement. Students will use paint, rollers, printing foam, and geometric-shaped found and recycled objects to create.
Year 3 / 4
Students in Years 3 and 4 plan, create and display works using various printmaking skills, techniques, and processes. The principles of pattern, contrast, and movement have been introduced and will now be reinforced in printmaking. Students will understand that patterns can be formal—repeated shapes placed in a regular formation—or informal, by changing some of the shapes in size or color within a formal pattern.
Year 5 /6
The principles of pattern, contrast and movement have been introduced in printmaking in Year 5/6. This term, emphasis in artworks, is also introduced. Emphasis is the development of an area of interest that is designed to "catch the eye." Year 5 and 6 students will use bold colour and detail to create contrast.
Deirdre Cosgrave - Visual Arts Teacher
dcosgrave@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
Chinese - Term 3 Overview
Prep Overview:
In Term Three, students will be exploring family members in Chinese. Students will learn to say family members in Chinese, focusing on using Chinese pinyin to sound out new words. They will also learn to use simple structured sentences to introduce family members, being aware of the word order of simple sentences. Through songs and learning activities, students will recognise the similarities and differences between Chinese and Australian contexts and identify themselves as learners of languages.
Year 1/2 Overview:
In Term Three, students will be exploring family members in Chinese. Students will learn to say family members in Chinese, focusing on matching characters to the meanings and sounds of familiar words. They will recognise the use of tone marks in pinyin. They will create their own sentences with correct word orders. They will also create simple informative and imaginative texts by selecting and practising learnt characters and familiar words and phrases to describe.
Year 3/4 Overview:
In Term Three, students will be exploring health, focusing on body parts. Students will be learning names of body parts and how to express themselves in Chinese when they are unwell. Students are learning to identify the distinctive language systems of writing and speaking.They will be learning the tonal nature of Chinese and understand that characters are formed by strokes. They will also learn word order of Chinese sentences and try to develop their own sentences by following particular structures.
Year 5/6 Overview:
In Term Three, students will be exploring health, focusing on body parts. Students will be learning names of body parts and how to express themselves in Chinese when they are unwell. Students are learning to identify the distinctive language systems of writing and speaking.They will use Chinese pinyin with correct tones to transcribe spoken language. They will engage with a range of imaginative texts and learn to translate everyday expressions. They will produce short informative and imaginative texts, recognising variations and features of Chinese culture reflected in communication practices.
Elina Li
Physical Education Term 3 Overview
Prep
In Term 3, our prep students will begin with a focus on basketball skills, where students will practise basic skills such as dribbling, passing and shooting. These activities will help develop fundamental skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Students will also explore stick-based sports including elements of tennis, badminton and hockey. They’ll learn how to control a racquet or stick, strike a ball and move safely while participating in these new sports.
We’re also excited to be taking part in Jump Rope for Heart, where students will learn a range of skipping skills, while building their fitness and learning about the importance of keeping our hearts healthy.
A continued focus for our prep students will be playing games safely, following the rules, and most importantly—having fun! It’s going to be an exciting and energetic term ahead!
Grade 1/2
This Term in PE, our Grade 1/2 students will begin with a focus on basketball, where students will build their dribbling, passing and shooting skills, through fun and structured activities. These lessons will help develop coordination, teamwork and spatial awareness.
Students will also explore stick-based sports such as tennis, badminton and hockey. They will practise safely controlling racquets and sticks, striking a ball and participating in simple games that support their motor skill development.
Additionally, we’re excited to be participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term. Students will practise a variety of skipping techniques while learning about heart health and building their fitness in a fun and motivating way.
As part of our health and physical learning, students will also investigate the elements that make physical activity safe and enjoyable, such as wearing the right footwear, using equipment correctly, warming up and playing fairly with others. We’re looking forward to a term full of movement, learning and fun!
Grade 3/4
This term in PE, our Grade 3/4 students will begin by focusing on basketball, as students get ready to take part in the Hoop Time competition. They will practise dribbling, passing, shooting, defending and game strategies, through fun and engaging activities designed to build teamwork, confidence and a love for the game.
We’re also excited to welcome coaches from Gecko Sports, who will deliver golf lessons. This program will introduce students to the basic skills of golf in a supportive and enjoyable environment.
Another important focus for the term will be learning and performing warm-up and stretching routines. Students will explore how these activities help prepare the body for movement and reduce the chance of injury. These routines are an essential part of helping students build the knowledge and habits that support lifelong participation in physical activity.
Students will also have the opportunity to try out to represent the school at the District Athletics Carnival later in the term. It’s shaping up to be a fun, active, and rewarding term!
Grade 5/6
This term in PE, our Grade 5/6 students are focusing on developing their basketball skills in preparation for the upcoming Hoop Time competition. Students will work on key elements of the game including dribbling, passing, shooting, defensive strategies and teamwork. These sessions aim to build confidence, cooperation and a strong understanding of game play ahead of the tournament.
We are also excited to welcome specialist coaches from Gecko Sports, who will be delivering a unit on golf. Through this program, students will explore the fundamentals of the sport in a fun and engaging way.
A key focus throughout the term will also be on warm-up and cool-down routines. Students will learn the importance of these practices in preparing the body for activity and reducing the risk of injury or post-exercise soreness as they develop the tools for lifelong physical activity participation. This knowledge will prepare them to lead their own warm-up and cool-down sessions in Term 4 as part of their growing independence and leadership in PE.
Students will also have the opportunity to try out to represent the school at the District Athletics Carnival later in the term. We are looking forward to another fantastic term!
Michael Van Rooy
mvanrooy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au