Specialists

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In Indonesian, Prep students have been exploring the traditional art of batik—learning how it’s made and using colours and numbers with increasing confidence! Year 1 and 2 students are learning to identify a range of family members and are working collaboratively to understand and respond to a text.

In Years 3 and 4, students are learning how to translate simple texts from Indonesian to English and are discovering how bargaining works in Indonesian markets.

Our Year 5 and 6 students have started an exciting new project: working in small groups to create an authentic Indonesian menu. We can’t wait to see the creative menus they design!

Terima kasih and keep up the great work everyone!

Performing Arts

Dancing Through the Eras & Singing with Pride! 

Over the past fortnight, students from Prep to Year 6 have been enthusiastically engaging in music, movement, and performance as part of our Dancing Through the Eras unit.

Each year level is exploring a different time in dance history, learning iconic moves that reflect the styles, energy, and musical trends of that decade. Not only are students developing their rhythm, coordination, and group performance skills, they are also gaining an appreciation for how dance has evolved across generations.

In addition to our dance focus, all students from Prep to Year 6 have also been learning and singing the Yarra Road School Song. This song holds a special place in our school’s history and has been proudly sung by many past students and families. It’s been wonderful to hear our current students singing it with growing confidence, expression, and school pride.

Performing Arts at Yarra Road continues to be a space where students express themselves, explore creativity, and work together in joyful and meaningful ways. We’re looking forward to sharing more of our learning—and possibly another performance later this term. Stay tuned!

Physical Education

Years 1 and 2

Last week the Year 1 and 2 students took part in warm up games aimed at introducing  the static balances needed for our gymnastic sessions. We then played "Sink the Ship", applying our throwing skills as we aimed to knock down the other ship’s cannons. We also applied teamwork and strategy to prevent our own ships from sinking.

This week we embarked on a gymnastics unit. We rotated around a circuit working on pencil and forward rolls, safety jumps, different types of balances, and a range of locomotor movements. Great work everyone!

Years 5 and 6

The senior students have started working on invasion games. Our first week focussed on refining the fundamental skills of catching and throwing, which we then applied to the old, traditional game of "Newcombe". 

This week we continued to refine our ball handling skills. Attacking moves and defensive strategies were discussed and applied to small group games. We then played a game called "Circular Pillar Ball" to work on reading the play and taking interceptions.

House Athletics Announcement

Last Monday’s assembly saw us announce the point scores for the  House Athletic Sports. Final scores saw Turner House have outright wins at both Junior and Senior level. Congratulations Turner House!

Athletics Aggregate Champions

Last Assembly we awarded the winners of the House Athletics Champion Awards. Points were awarded for each event. The final recipients of the awards are as follows:

District Cross Country

Congratulations to those students who represented Y.R.P.S at the District Cross Country at Quambee Reserve on Tuesday, 20th of May. We were once again blessed with beautiful weather, a lovely setting, and supported by a great group of parents who cheered our team on as they tackled the tough Quambee Reserve course.

I was especially proud of our students who all gave their very best as they competed against the  strongest distance runners across the Warrandyte South District. Each and every one of our students demonstrated courage, resilience, and a willingness to improve their personal fitness.

Unfortunately we were heavily impacted by illness, but still  managed to achieve some outstanding results. Four of our students managed to qualify for the Division Championships, which are to be conducted at the Yarra Glen Race Course on June 3rd. These include; Olivia W, Jade L, Lenny M, and Matthew B. We wish them all the best with their endeavours.

I would like to thank Mrs Macrae for her role as Chief First Aider, while Mr Hanley was Chief Marshall, sharing important distance running tips!

Thank you also to Kelly Moore, Chloe Ward, and Jade Fahie for stepping in as super important officials, and to Kaitlyn Ward as volunteer recruiter. 

Hey team, just remember now that you come this far with your fitness, don’t stop, try and keep building on it!

STEAM

Prep - Exploring Games Through Time!

This fortnight, Prep students launched into our STEAM unit, "100 Years of Children’s Games", by exploring what makes a game a game! We looked at photos of children playing throughout the decades and sorted games into “old” and “new” categories, creating a class timeline. Students made thoughtful comparisons between past and present play, and even shared their favourite games at home. We then stepped back in time to try traditional outdoor games, like hopscotch, skipping, and marbles. The laughter was contagious as students compared these games to the ones they play today – turns out, some old games never go out of style!

Year 1 - Exploring Toys Then and Now

In Year 1 STEAM, students began their journey through 100 years of toys! We explored old and new toys by sorting images, identifying key differences, and discussing how materials and technology have influenced toy design over time. Students especially enjoyed sharing which toys from the past they'd love to play with and why. It was a fun and thoughtful way to connect history with play!

Year 2 - Exploring Toys Through Time

Our Year 2 students travelled back in time to discover how toys have changed over the past 100 years! From wooden spinning tops to electronic gadgets, students explored toys from each decade, examining changes in design, materials, and how children played. They created group timelines and discussed which toys from the past they’d most like to try! Students also made their own spinning tops inspired by toys from the 1920s–1940s and tested their designs—sparking great conversations about handmade toys and materials from the past.

Year 3/4 - Exploring Our Community – Past, Present & Future

Year 3/4 students have launched into an exciting new project exploring how our community has changed over the past 100 years! In small groups, students examined historical photos and maps, comparing life then and now. They identified key changes in buildings, transport, and daily routines. Each group selected a time period—past, present, or future—to investigate further, using books and digital resources to sketch early ideas for their 3D community models. It’s been a wonderful start full of curiosity and collaboration!

Year 5/6 - Diving Into the Past – Exploring a Century of Technology

Year 5/6 students began their exciting inquiry project, "100 Years of Technology Change". They explored major technological milestones and created interactive timelines, sparking thoughtful conversations about how far we've come in just a century. Students selected a technology of interest—like telephones, transport, or cameras—and began researching its evolution. From reflecting on what surprised them most to choosing which inventions they believe had the biggest societal impact, student voice has been central in guiding the direction of learning!