Lower Primary
Term 3
Everyone has been totally engaged by the integrated unit “Minibeasts”. Students have focussed on the features and behaviour of minibeasts and the diversity of animal life. They have observed the external features of mini beasts and investigated how these animals move, feed and protect themselves. Students have begun to explore and compare the habitats of different animals and how they contribute to the sustainability of the environment. It is a topic that has certainly captured everyone’s imagination. You can tell how engaged students are by this topic when they spend their play breaks looking for and capturing minibeasts in the yard. Classes have been setting up worm farms as well as snail and stick insects environments giving students the opportunity to observe these animals in real life. As I move around the classrooms and listen to the students’ conversations and the way they answer questions about minibeasts, it is obvious that they have learnt a great deal. I am impressed with their interest in the topic, the knowledge that they have gained, and the projects and class work that they have produced. A visit from Wildlife Xposure gave students further opportunities to observe and handle (for those up to it!) a range of minibeasts reinforcing knowledge about how these creatures move, eat and protect themselves.
Although the weather was a bit on the chilly side the PKC & PKA Blackwood camp was great fun. The camping program is designed to encourage students to work together, make choices, take responsibility, build independence and gain confidence. This confidence is developed by trying new things, and mastering new challenges. Some of these challenges were completing the imagination trail, walking in the bush in the day and at night, bush cooking, ten pin bowling and just being away from home. It was great to see everyone have a go at things that were a little on the difficult side and to hear the words “I did it!” ring out as challenges were attempted and mastered. The staff really appreciated the opportunity to spend time with our students away from the formal school atmosphere. This is when we got to see personality traits that do not emerge in the routine and structure of the school day. PKC & PKA are to be congratulated for the way they participated enthusiastically in every activity and their cooperation with each other and their teachers. Great job everyone!
As part of Book Week students dressed up as their favourite storybook or superhero character. This is one of the most popular events on the school calendar and always creates great excitement in Lower Primary. Lower Primary chose to link our Book Week celebration with the Muscular Dystrophy Superhero Day. Students were encouraged to make a gold coin donation as they dressed up as their favourite character. Our students not only love to dress up themselves but love to see everyone else’s costumes as well. They certainly showed their delight and approval for each other’s choices during the parade. Everyone joined in the fun and there were lots of interesting book character and superhero costumes. There were a multitude of super heroes, princesses, a witch or two, pirates, minions, Snow White, the Queen of Hearts, The Cat in the Hat, Little Red Riding Hood, Mr Potato Head, Mini Mouse, the Angry Ladybird, Sulley and Mike, the Pink Crayon and even the Fairy Godmother made an appearance. The winners of the Book Fair colouring competition were announced and presented with their book vouchers prizes of. Kath read “Cindy- Ella” which was an Australian version of the old favourite Cinderella. It was very humorous and the students thoroughly enjoyed picking up on how the author modified the story to fit the Australian context.
There are lots of special events to come over the next few weeks. We are looking forward to Sports Day, Father’s Day breakfast, Literacy and Numeracy Week, the whole school assembly, PLW, PJL, PRA camp, and Footy Day to finish the term. As you can see there is so much more learning and fun to come!
Kath Moore
Assistant Principal