Specialist Centre
Specialist Feature News
Celebrating Spring Festival (17 February – 3 March)
你好 nǐ hǎo to our wonderful community!
As we enter Week 4, both Junior and Senior students have been enthusiastically engaging in learning the Chinese language while building their cultural understanding through raps, stories, and hands-on activities. Huang Laoshi has been delighted to receive feedback from both students and parents that many are continuing to practise their Chinese vocabulary at home! It has also been lovely to hear so many students confidently greeting and saying goodbye in Chinese.
In 2026, Spring Festival Eve was celebrated this week on 16 February. Across year levels, students have been participating in a range of engaging learning experiences:
• Learning everyday key words and phrases in Mandarin, such as greetings and classroom language.
• Practising with great enthusiasm their favourite Chinese rap “Shàng kè le, zuò xià lái.”
• Creating beautiful lanterns to celebrate the Year of the Horse.
• Developing cultural awareness through red packets making, writing words of blessing and exchanging them with one another as a gesture of encouragement.
• Wearing a splash of red or traditional costume on 17 February.
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish our Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean families and community members a very happy Spring Festival. May the new year bring you good health, happiness, and prosperity! 新年快乐 xīnnián kuàilè，万事如意 wanshì rúyì！
For any families who would like to experience the celebrations in Melbourne, there are also many Spring Festival events happening across Melbourne, you can explore what’s on here: https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/article/melbournes-lunar-new-year-festival-events
Physical Education - Important Dates
Wednesday 25th February - District Swimming at Aquarena Doncaster.
Thursday 5th March - Twilight Sports.
Friday 13rd March - Year 4 Summer Gala Day at Various Locations.
Tuesday 17th March - Friday 27th March - Whole School Water Safety Programme.
Tuesday 31st March - Year 5/6 Summer Gala Day at Various Locations.
Physical Education
2G - Gio R for demonstrating a love of learning and perseverance when practising for Twilight Sports. Great running!
5/6JS - Tattva D for showcasing his talents and helping others to understand the rules when practising ultimate frisbee for Gala Day. Well Done!
Visual Arts
2G - Gio R for demonstrating creativity and showing pride in your work when painting your colourful sunflower petals.
3/4M - Radin F for demonstrating creativity and care when painting your sunset background for our negative space artworks.
Performing Arts
FE - Abizer V for having a wonderful Performing Arts session where you showed excellent listening and very good cooperation with your classmates. Well done!
3/4A - Hudson H for having a truly fantastic few weeks in Performing Arts by being an excellent role model and fabulous teacher helper. Super stuff, Hudson!
Mandarin
2S - Jennessa C & Leila K for your enthusiasm and cheerful spirit! Thank you for your fantastic teamwork on the beautiful Hanzi 黄老师 + 福 drawing.
5/6T - Esha S for your active engagement and positive approach in learning. Keep up the wonderful effort!
Science
1C - Mia Congratulations on your enthusiastic approach to exploring the relationship between the Sun, Earth, and Moon!
5/6C - Gemma 5/6C for your thorough research into gravity on Earth and gravity in the solar system. Excellent work, Gemma!
Warm regards,
Eryn - Physical Education Sam - Visual Art
Steph and Suzie - Science Kate - Performing Arts / Visual Art (Foundation)
Huang Laoshi - Mandarin