School Highlights
Prep to Year 4 Learning Celebrations
On 6 September, the Junior School hosted the Prep – Year 4 Learning Celebration.
This colourful and creative event showcased the many aspects of learning students have achieved throughout Term 3.
The event commenced with parents and families enjoying some refreshments in the Staff Lounge before joining the students in the classroom for an exhibition of their learning.
The event culminated with each year level doing a performance in Dalton Hall. The event was well attended with many parents commenting on the positive and vibrant atmosphere of the classrooms.
Thank you to all parents and families for supporting this wonderful event and congratulations to the teachers and students for all their hard work towards ensuring the evening was a great success.
Here are some quotes from the students about the event:
Sinclair McClimont, Year 3
I loved working together to make the dips, figuring out the food miles and writing a persuasive piece about why we shouldn’t buy food from other countries.
Stefani Andriopoulos, Year 3
I loved making the food, using Pic Collage to make persuasive posters and creating the food mile project.
Archie Fifoot, Year 3
It was fun because we got to find out about what countries our food comes from. I particularly liked making an iMovie about the life of a banana from factory to our plate.
Violet Rocks, Year 3
I liked making the dips and working on the iMovie about the life of a banana. I really enjoyed writing the recipe cards about our food as well.
Jacob McGloughlin, Prep
I loved that my mum and dad and nana came to the Learning Celebration. I also loved my ipad and narrative.
Timothy Anastasiadis, Prep
I liked showing my mum and dad the narrative.
Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition Winners
Lucie Dickens, Academic Dean of Languages
Congratulations to Caitlin Hancock and her students who received 1st prize in Victoria for the Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition.
This is an outstanding result !
Year 3 - Daniel Miller
Year 5 - Elijah Slavinskis
The results can be accessed here.
Learning Volleyball at Sport Club
Ava Takle, Year 4
Every Wednesday after School this Term, the Years 2 to 6 students have been learning volleyball in Sport Club.
We have learnt how to spike which sends the volleyball up in the air, then hit it and pass it to an opponent.
I never thought I could play volleyball but playing as part of Sport Club has made me much better!
We have all enjoyed volleyball and hope to do it again!
Charley Amber Sanderson, Year 3
I like volleyball because I learn how to be confident with the ball and do lots of movements and tricks. I have learnt how to spike, dig and serve. I think people should join Sport Club because it can make you much more active and learn new sports each term. I joined because I love to do lots of different sport and try different things.
Shlok, Year 2
I like volleyball because it is fun, exciting, cool and amazing. I have learnt how to dig, do finger sets and spike, so now I can play volleyball. It’s so fun!
Fly Like A Bird
Alessia De Felice, Year 6 (Kilvington Writer's Festival, Highly Commended)
It was pouring with rain. The thunder was an angry bull, rampaging in the sky. Aya sat on the grimy floor of her shack, looking out of the single filthy window, anticipating what was to come. Flashes of lightning illuminated the darkness like fireworks.
Aya’s eyes were no ordinary eyes. A dazzling shade of aqua, they changed depending on the light. And just like Aya, they were unique.
When the sun rose, brightening the world like a beacon in the darkness, Aya drew closer to the now shabby town of Al-Hasakah. It was risky as the war was at its climax, but mornings were safest. Previously lovely houses were now fully or partly destroyed.
Aya was going to the bazaar to purchase food for her and her brother Faizaan. She used to accompany her parents, but as they would never return, she was forced to adopt the role of provider. Like the ebb and flow of the tide, Aya had become accustomed to change.
In summer, the days were sweltering, and the grounds parched. However, winter was cool, wet, and it snowed often. Walking through the war torn village in her tattered clothes, the wind bit into Aya.
At the bazaar, Aya saw women in abayas (black garments) looking at the poor choice of fresh food. As she wandered around, an intoxicating aroma of spices filled her nostrils. She walked to where a small stand once stood. It was here her father had purchased a brooch for her mother.
The brooch was shaped like a bird and was made of gold, studded with rubies, emeralds and sapphires around the wings and tail. This brooch meant everything to Aya for it was the only thing left of her mother’s. She caressed it lovingly in the folds of her abaya.
People started screaming. Aya heard the roar of low flying jets. This meant one thing. Bombs. Bombs that explode seconds after you hear them drop. Bombs that drilled images inside the heads of children that no one should ever witness.
Aya could see mothers running with children and families taking cover inside wrecked houses. The sunlight was bright in her eyes. She glimpsed Faizaan helping children find shelter. A moment of understanding passed between them. He nodded at her, then looked away.
It only took a second. The bomb dropped and the ground shook. An explosion of red, orange and yellow destroyed everything in its reach. Aya knew Faizaan couldn’t have stood a chance. She couldn’t breathe. Her body froze. Time stood still. All she could hear was deafening silence. Aya could smell smoke, mixed with fear, and everywhere she looked she saw destruction. Then she fled.
Before Aya could reach the end of the street, another bomb plummeted. Shrapnel flew into her eyes. Panicking, she opened her right eye. All Aya could see was darkness. Hesitantly, she opened her other eye. A slight shadow allowed Aya to recognise where she was. Dread filled her body. No. It wasn’t possible. Her sparkling aqua eyes were now tainted.
A memory flooded back to Aya. She was sitting on her mother’s lap.
'Your name in Arabic means miracle. That’s what you are. And in Hebrew, it means "to fly swiftly", or "bird", her mum had revealed. That’s what Aya had to do now, fly swiftly like a bird. She gripped her brooch and took flight, feeling the warmth of the winter’s sun on her back. Desperately, she tried to ignite the only thing she had left within her. Hope.