Curriculum
Foundation Students - Designers, Creators, Innovators!
It's toys, toys and more toys in our Foundation classrooms this term as our students investigate the purpose of familiar designed products and analyse how they meet the needs of users and affect the environment. They're exploring how toys are made; building an understanding of the different types of toys, the materials used and the process of design. Using knowledge formed in scaffolded investigations and experiential tasks in the 'define' and 'discover' stages of the unit, students then apply this to their own design.
Beginning with planning through the visualisation, generation and communication of ideas as they consider the aesthetics and components of their toy, the students then sequence the required steps for the final construction. Once complete, students present their designed toy to their peers - identifying positive aspects of the design and reflecting on the success and challenges of the process.
Below: Craft Power Incursion - Learning how to use tools, materials and pre-designed templates to construct a toy.
Below: Students share some of their toy constructions. This required them to create a design, sequence the steps, follow instructions and collect suitable materials.
Great work Foundation students!
Ellen Jose Reconciliation Awards
The Bayside City Council hosted the Ellen Jose Reconciliation Awards on Saturday, which featured eleven of our students as finalists. The well-attended event began with a Welcome to Country from a Bunurong Elder and was then followed by a Smoking Ceremony and Flag Raising Ceremony. Our students represented the school maginificently and all were presented with framed certificates of encouragement by the Bayside City Council Mayor, Alex Del Porto and Dr Joseph Toscano of the Ellen Jose Foundation. Congratulations to Mina L (3D) who was awarded first prize in the junior category! Congratulations also to Jacob M (3B) and Sasha R (6B) who were both awarded second prize in the junior and senior categories respectively. You can view all of the artworks and results via this link.
Thank you to our marvellous Art teacher, Danni Peebles, for the time, effort and energy dedicated to this project and for developing such high quality artists within the specialist program.
Did you know?
We have almost come to the conclusion of National Reconciliation Week but it is important that we continue to build our knowledge and understanding of First Nations culture and history. Today I share with you a brief article from Common Ground educating us about the First Nations place names of major Australian Cities.
Using traditional place names is truth-telling in action. It's a step towards acknowledging First Nations sovereignty. It’s also a meaningful way to strengthen and regenerate First Languages.
Below are the traditional place names of some of Australia’s major cities. Please note this list is not definitive. Alternative place names and alternative spellings may exist.
Importantly, each city is located on the sovereign and unceded Country of First Nations people. In general, acknowledging Country is not the same as using traditional place names. For example, Boorloo is the traditional place name for Perth, but Boorloo is located on Whadjuk Noongar Country.
- Mparntwe (Alice Springs) - Arrernte Country
- Tarndanya (Adelaide) - Kaurna Country
- Meanjin (Brisbane) - Yuggera/Jagera and Turrbal Country
- Gimuy (Cairns) - Yirriganydji and Yidinji Country
- Canberra - Ngambri and Ngunnawal Country
- Gulumoerrgin (Darwin) - Larrakia Country
- nipaluna (Hobart) - nipaluna country
- Naarm (Melbourne) - Wurundjeri and Bunurong Country
- Boorloo (Perth) - Whadjuk Noongar Country
- Warrane (Sydney Cove) - Gadigal Country
Timothy Bernau | Assistant Principal
National Reconciliation Week in Year 1
The Year 1s enjoyed Reconciliation Week Storytime in the Library on Tuesday. They listened to the stories of Willam and Mad Magpie. Then they enjoyed some fun colouring in with a Reconciliation week theme. It was nice to be warm and cosy in the library on the last day of Autumn! The Year 1s have heard the Story of Tiddalick the Greedy Frog in Reading this week and have activities to complete based on the story.
Alison Powell (Year 1 Teacher and RAP Team member)