Specialist Subjects

WELCOME TO ART FOR TERM 1

Welcome back to the art room for Term One! We are so excited to kick start a brand new year of creativity, colour and hands-on learning. The art space has already been buzzing with energy as students reconnect with materials and explore new ideas. This term promises to be full of imagination, skill building and artistic growth across all year levels. We can’t wait to see what our young artists create in the weeks ahead.

Grade 5/6 – The Archibald Prize and Realism. Our Grade 5 and 6 students have begun the term by studying the Archibald Prize and learning about the significance of portraiture in Australia. They have explored colour theory and how artists use highlight and shadow to create realism. Using these skills, students are working on their own Archibald-inspired portraits, focusing on accurate proportions and thoughtful colour mixing. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they develop more detailed and expressive paintings.

Grade 3/4 – Arran Gregory and Polygon Sculpture. In Grades 3 and 4, students have been learning about UK artist Arran Gregory and his striking polygon animal sculptures. Inspired by his work, students are exploring how geometric shapes can be combined to form animals. They are currently designing and constructing their own 2D polygon animal head sculptures. This unit has encouraged creative problem-solving while building strong construction skills.

Grade 1/2 – Masks and Expression. Our Grade 1 and 2 students have been diving into the world of mask making. They have explored how masks are used in different cultures and how artists show emotions through facial expression. Students have discussed how shape, colour and line can communicate feelings such as happiness, fear or excitement. Their imaginative mask designs are full of personality and bold artistic choices.

Prep – Exploring Art Through Colour and Portraits. Our Prep students have started the year by joyfully exploring vibrant colours and painting techniques. They have been experimenting with brush control while creating expressive artworks. Students have also begun learning about portraits, drawing and painting faces with enthusiasm. It has been a wonderful start to their creative journey in the art room.

CHECK OUT OUR WORK IN PROGRESS...

WELCOME TO MUSIC FOR TERM 1

Are you ready to rock! 1, 2, 3, 4...

We have a Choir! 

Yes, that is right. We have employed the services of the very talented Louise Flemming-Marsh (who many of you will know from her work with our students in our last two school productions) to run our School Choir.  The choir is open to all Grade 2-6 students and runs every Friday lunchtime in the Music room.

We start with some vocal warm up exercises before the learning and rehearsing some songs. They will be performing throughout the year, so keep an ear out. There is no cost involved, and students can join at any time. However, they are expected to attend as regularly as possible to make sure they are ready when it comes to performance time!

Grade 3-6

Our senior students are covering our five main instruments before our Independent Instrument program kicks off next term. We spend two weeks on Guitars, Ukuleles, Keyboards, Drums and Bass Guitars. The Grade 3-4 students are learning the basics of these instruments, including how to read chord charts, tablature (notes written as numbers), figuring our chords on the keyboard and basic rock and pop drum beats. 

Grade 5-6 students build upon this, learning more complex aspects of playing these instruments and are setting themselves up to learn and play more challenging songs in the future. 

Grade 1-2 

We have had a big emphasis on learning how to use bars and beats to know when to, and how long to play. Students are learning how to read and identify all music notes, including sharps and flats (eg, D# and Gb) so that we can play a wider range of songs. 

A bit hit was our game of Sharps and Flats Dungeons, where a student reads out a note from a monster card, and pairs of students slay the monsters by finding and playing the correct note on the keyboard. But watch out - one slip or wrong note and the monsters get a point!

We are also exploring the use of rests and other elements of rhtyhmic performance so that we are not always playing on every beat of a song. 

Grade Prep 

Preps have settled right into the Music program and are already playing a variety of percussive and tuned instruments. They are participating in sing-a-longs, as well as exploring the various sounds of tactile, percussive instruments. They are learning to identify the beat in a song and are now exploring basic rhythm notation and how to turn that into a pattern that can be played.

They have also been exploring different musical styles, dances adn instruments from various parts of the world; Kenya, Russia, Australia, Libya, Canada and more! Students are also exploring how to move their body in response to the features of the music they are lsutening to.

Physical Education

It has been a busy and active start to the year in Physical Education, with students across the school developing their skills, fitness and teamwork through a variety of activities and programs. 

Fitness Testing

During the first few weeks of the term, students in Grades 1-6 participated in fitness testing. These activities help students understand their physical abilities and set goals for improvement throughout the year.

Students in Grades 2-6 completed a range of tests including the beep test, sit ups, vertical leap, sit and reach, long jump, and sprinting.

Students in Grade 1 completed the sit and reach, long jump, sit ups and sprinting tests. 

Ultimate Frisbee

Students in Grades 2-6 have been learning skills involved in Ultimate Frisbee. They have been practising different throwing techniques and applying these skills through a range of fun and engaging games.

Special Sporting Programs

HookIn2Hockey

Some of our Prep and Grade 3/4 students were fortunate to take part in the Hockey Victoria HookIn2Hockey program, where visiting coaches taught them fundamental hockey skills and games. 

Sporting Schools Golf

In Weeks 8 and 9, our Grade 5/6 students got to participate in a golf program delivered by a Sporting Schools coach. Students got to learn the basics of gold through skill activities and target games. In the final week they got to create golf courses and practise their skills.

Swimming Program

Students in Grades 3-6 attended swimming lessons at Gurri Wanyarra, where they worked on developing their swimming technique, water safety skills and confidence in the water.

Gymnastics

Students in Prep to Grade 2 enjoyed a series of gymnastics sessions at Jets Gym, where they practised balance, coordination, strength and body control through a variety of equipment and activities.

Prep Physical Education

Our Prep students have been busy learning the rules and expectations of PE, while also taking part in a range of fun games such as Farmer Sam, Ship Shark Shore, and What's the Time Mr. Wolf.

They have also been participating in PMP (Perceptual Motor Program) rotations, where they develop fundamental movement skills including running, jumping, catching, throwing, kicking and teamwork.

Important Upcoming Dates

6th May - EPS Cross Country

12th June - 3-6 Athletics 

24th June - P-2 Athletics

It has been fantastic to see students demonstrating enthusiasm, effort and teamwork across all of our PE activities.

Auslan

Our students have been making fantastic progress in Auslan this term! Building on their knowledge of colours and numbers, they were able to learn key game signs such as wild, draw 4, draw 2, reverse, and skip—and put these skills into action by playing the card game UNO entirely in Auslan. It was incredible to see students communicate and play successfully in complete silence using only their signing skills.

Each week, students have been learning new signs through engaging visual prompts. They have been responding to questions such as “Do you have a bike or not?”, “Should you run with scissors or not?”, and “Can you do a cartwheel or not?”. These activities have been a lot of fun and have highlighted the variety of responses and creativity in their signing.

Students have also been creating videos of their signing, which they’ve been able to watch back to reflect on and celebrate their progress. They are now confidently able to ask and respond to questions with their peers, including topics such as their name, age, family, favourite sport, favourite colour, and even how they are feeling.

We are so proud of the enthusiasm and effort shown by all students as they continue to develop their Auslan skills. 

Our Grade 2 students were excited to get into the Easter spirit a little early this year! They’ve been busy colouring Easter eggs by number, carefully following instructions using signs, numbers, and colours.

What made this activity extra special was that it was completed entirely in silence. Students had to rely on their focus and attention to detail, demonstrating excellent eye contact skill skills and independence.

Be sure to check out their awesome Easter eggs !

Have a wonderful term break, and we hope the Easter Bunny finds you!