Specialist Update

Specialist Newsletter - Term 3

MUSIC - Mrs Lisa Scott (PLT Leader)

I have been so excited to meet the semester 2 students this week and introduce them to the new Music room.  Here is an outline of what each Year level will be studying this term:

Prep students will develop their skills in keeping a steady beat through singing, dancing and playing a variety of percussion instruments.   

 Year 1and Year 2, students will be developing their knowledge of beat and rhythm through a variety of ‘hands on’  practical music making activities and games.  They will continue to develop their singing skills.                                 

Year 3 students will be learning how to play a variety of 'Orff' instruments, including xylophones, glockenspiels, metallophones and marimbas. They will learn techniques to play music in unison and in several parts.   

 Year 4 students will be learning techniques to play the ukulele and will use these to play and sing along to music from different times and cultures.  They will also learn about the elements of music and how these are used to create effects  in music and songs.   

 Year 5will experience playing the keyboard.  They will be learning to play chords to accompany a variety of songs in whole class music making.   

Year 6 students will further develop their individual skills in instrumental playing by choosing an instrument that they wish to study.  They will unite as a whole class to perform songs to an audience.               

PERFORMING ARTS -  Mrs Carmen Collins

I am so excited to be continuing our fun and performing in the drama room. It has been a pleasure getting to know all of the students and to already see them stepping out of their comfort zones with performing.  

 Prep students will focus on role plays with animals and fairy tales whilst using the learning space safely.    

Year 1students will be developing their knowledge of acting and performing, focusing on everyday situations and emotions from books.  

Year 2 students will be developing their knowledge of acting and performing focusing on characters traits and emotions. 

Year 3 students will use their acting skills to perform drama games and skills development activities including improvisation.  

Year 4 students will be challenged to refine their acting skills including effective use of their voice, the space and how the characters may move and act.  

Year 5will explore the elements of drama through improvised and planned performances, learning that Performing Arts is a safe place to express their individuality and expand their comfort zone.  

Year 6 students will further develop their acting and performance skills using the elements of drama to perform improvised and planned performances, pushing the boundaries of  their comfort zone to complete a performance in class.    

MANDARIN - Miss Wei Wang

Welcome to Semester 2 and welcome back to Mandarin. I am super proud to see our second half of the school make a positive start in Mandarin. 

This semester, junior students will continue to explore a selection of bilingual children’s rhymes and learn some basic nouns through the songs. Year 3-6 students will start to learn some common verbs and build up their conversational skills through scripted mini dialogues. 

 Prep students will focus on basic greetings, thanks and goodbyes in Mandarin. They will also learn to count up to 10 and name some common colours.   

Year 1 students will extend their knowledge of numbers and colours and learn to name some basic body parts. 

Year 2 students will learn to name some common pets and Australian animals. They will explore basic family words and learn to express preferences using simple sentences.  

Year 3 students will learn to name fruit and vegetables and apply simple sentences in mini dialogues. 

Year 4 students will learn about the Pinyin (the Romanised pronunciation system of Mandarin) and participate in a field study experience on the excursion to the Chinese Museum.  

Year 5 students will be learning about countries, nationalities and sports through songs and games and applying this knowledge when introducing themselves.   

Year 6 students will be learning to retrieve some required information from reading and write a paragraph about themselves and others. They will also revisit some common food words and learn to order food through mini dialogues.  

DIGITECH/MEDIA ARTS - Mr Hardev Singh & Ms Leah Stillitano 

I’m thrilled to be taking Digitech and Media Arts. DigiTech/Media Arts has alternate semesters with the Mandarin program. This term, students will be developing and learning many skills to assist with productivity and creativity. 

Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students will learn the correct terms to name ICT equipment and practise using a mouse, keyboard and touch screen to manipulate commands on the screen. Pupils will be shown how to use QR codes to open and use resources for their teaching and learning. Students will be introduced to Apps on iPads and programs on laptops that will build confidence in creating text and adding images and shapes. Students will be encouraged to practice these skills at home with regular updates to class teachers and parents/carers. 

Year 3 students will be introduced to Office365. They will be shown how to log on and use the suite of tools that Office365 offers. For Media Arts, classes will study and design superhero/villain characters. They will analyse characters present in our media and use this research to create one of their own. 

Year 4 students will receive refresher lessons for Office365. There will be a focus on Cybersafety and keeping your data private. For Media Arts, classes will learn the skill of animation. They will then research, plan and create a short, animated film to share with others. 

Year 5 students will receive refresher lessons for Office365 and OneNote. There will be a focus on Cybersafety and keeping your data private. For Media Arts, students will learn how interviews are conducted and recorded for an audience. They will then use this knowledge to interview an important person in their lives and share it with the school community. 

Year 6 students will receive refresher lessons for Office365 and OneNote. There will be a focus on Cybersafety and keeping your data private. For Media Arts, Students will learn how short videos can educate and entertain viewers. Students will analyse this genre before embarking on their projects. The theme will be called “Life”, and their completed work will be shared with colleagues. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION -  Mr Ahmad Chazbek & Mr Jeff McGann

Term 3 is another busy term with a number of sporting and athletic events for our students to experience.  In the last week of term 2, students from years 4 to 6 participated in the Hillsmeade Athletics event at Casey Fields. From the results gathered from the day, Mr Chazbek has put together the Hillsmeade Athletics squad that will compete in the District Athletics on the 19th of August. The Divisional and Regional Athletics events will also be held this term.

The schools interschool basketball, AFL, touch rugby, kickball and volleyball teams will be participating in several interschool games this term against other primary schools in our district. These teams will also be participating in the Lightning Premiership event later this term.

Students in years 3 to 6 will have the opportunity to participate in Hoop Time, a basketball event that caters for all skill levels. The students that sign up for hoop time will be training with a team based on their individual skill level in preparation for the Hoop Time event where they will compete against students from other schools in the area.

The focus for the physical education lessons this term will be gymnastics and lawn bowls.  During the first five weeks of the term, students will be completing a unit exploring the skills involved in gymnastics. The focus for the second half of the term will be lawn bowls. The school received a grant from Sporting Schools Victoria to purchase lawn bowls equipment and a program suitable for students from Prep through to Year 6.