Student Learning

Foundation 

The Foundation students have been having a great time at PMP. There is lots of rolling, throwing, crawling, bouncing, catching, jumping, climbing and balancing.

A huge thank you to all the parents who are helping to run these sessions.

Grades 1 and 2

During Reader’s Workshop sessions, we have been working on our researching and note-taking skills. We used the iPads to watch short clips, and information texts from the library to locate and record facts about different countries. 

In Maths we have been using MAB to explore place value. Year 1 have also been looking at place value in Maths. We have been building numbers to three digits and beyond and breaking them down into place value parts. We have also acknowledged NAIDOC week and shared stories around this year's theme 'Keep the fire burning'.

Grade 2 students have been using our homemade abacus to help our understanding of place value.

Grades 3 and 4

The students is the grade 3 and 4 classes had a special lesson with Josh from the Hockey Club of Melbourne. This is part of thte Hockey Victoria School Roadshow.

Japanese

Tomodachi Club members of our sister school, Lilyvale Primary School in Japan, and Kalinda got together for Tomodachi night on Sunday, the 21st July. We introduced ourselves, our family including our pets. Some showcased our talents, played musical instruments such as the Ukulele, guitar and violine while others showed their drawings,  rooms, and face painting! We also played Bingo with Kanji numbers until everybody had bingo at least once! It was a busy but lovely night. Well done to all the members who completed 10 weeks online meetings last semester. We are now busy writing letters to our buddies and hope it is the beginning of lasting friendships! 

In grade 1/2 we have been looking at similarities between Japanese and Aboriginal culture. Did you know that Aboriginal and Japanese children both celebrate a children’s day? Japanese children’s day is on 5th May and Aboriginal children’s day is on 4th August. Together we made 3 koinobori (carp kites) decorated with student’s handprints. 

In grade 5/6 we have been studying patterns that appear in Japanese and Aboriginal culture. Students learnt about the Ainu people of Hokkaido, Japan and attempted to recreate a cut paper pattern. The patterns are regularly sewn into clothes to protect the wearers. 

Performing Arts

This past week the participants in the Victorian State School Spectacular had their first massed rehearsal at the Melbourne Town Hall. It was a very exciting, busy and exhausting day, but all the participants had a great time. They represented Kalinda wonderfully and displayed our school values of Kindness, Resilience and Respect in the way they all conducted themselves. A huge thank you to all the families who got their children to Ringwood Station for a very early start to the day, and a special shoutout to our fabulous parent helper, Jodie, who accompanied us on the day, and has learnt all of the music that we will be performing.

Tickets for the Victorian State School Spectacular went on sale last week, and there have already been more than 6500 tickets sold! We are proud and excited to have 20 of our amazing 5/6 students participating in the 2024 Victorian State Schools Spectacular: SPLASH! Students from across the state are working together to create a SPLASH – a fun exploration of the beach, sea and rivers. This live show – involving amazing lighting, music, dance, circus arts and puppetry – will be performed twice to an audience of around 12,000 people at John Cain Arena on Saturday 14 September at 1pm and 6:30pm.

Talented Victorian students will feature on stage, while many other students will work behind the scenes, gaining professional experience under the mentorship of Creative Director Neill Gladwin, Musical Director Chong Lim AM and Dance Director Yvette Lee.

For a wonderful, family entertainment experience, and to cheer on our students from the audience, be quick to secure tickets when they go on sale at 10am Monday 22 July via

www.ticketek.com.au/spectacular 

Adult:                           $40

Child Under 15:           $20

Concession:                $30

Buy 10 tickets and get one adult ticket free (the 11th ticket is free) by calling Group Bookings on 1300 364 001.

Art News

The Gr 3-6 students have been exploring different glazing techniques on their clay pieces in their Art sessions.

The Gr 3 classes used Paper Magiclay to sculpt small birds before using a thumb pot clay building process they had learned in Foundation to create a sturdy bird bath. After applying the regular brush-on glaze to the outside of the cylinder, the students placed a couple of glass beads inside. These “slump” and melt into place during the firing process, creating a water effect for the thirsty birds sitting on the rim.

Meanwhile, the Gr 6 students had messy fun creating a bubble effect for their slumped “Wonky Bowls”. They used a straw to blow bubbles into a cup containing a mixture of diluted underglaze and liquid soap. The challenge was to develop enough bubbles that they spilled over the edge of the cup and into the bowl – without tipping the liquid in. As you can see by the photographs, this type of risk-taking reaps high level rewards when it is successful. 

Mrs Libby Shaw

Visual Arts Teacher