Curriculum Matters
Foundation
This week our students had a blast combining strategic thinking with hands-on creativity!
First, we introduced a new strategy game called “Last Dino Standing.” Students practiced planning ahead, anticipating moves, and thinking critically as they battled to keep their dinosaur in the game. It was wonderful to see them encourage one another, talk through their strategies, and celebrate each other’s successes.
We also put our beginning knowledge of place value to work in a creative way. Students used tens and ones to design colourful place-value crafts, showing numbers using artistic representations. This helped strengthen their understanding of how numbers are built—while letting their imaginations shine!
We’re so proud of the effort, cooperation, and enthusiasm students showed in both activities.
We can’t wait to see where their growing math and problem-solving skills take them next!
Level 1
Level 1 students have been busy exploring persuasive writing in Literacy.
They have worked hard to create convincing letters aimed at persuading their parents to let them have a pet of their choice. Students enjoyed brainstorming reasons, adding detail, and sharing their creative arguments with the class.
In Maths, our focus has been on capacity. Students had lots of fun experimenting with filling different containers using sand and water. Through hands-on activities, they compared which containers held more or less and developed a strong understanding of measuring capacity in practical ways.
As part of our Inquiry unit, students created their own rain gauges using recycled plastic bottles. They have been excited to place their gauges outside and check how much rain we have received each day.
This project has helped them learn about weather, measurement, and sustainability.
Level 2
Our Year 2 students have been working collaboratively in small groups to consolidate their understanding of multiplication and division.
Students rotated through a series of fun, hands-on activities designed to build confidence, deepen number knowledge and strengthen teamwork skills.
It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they problem-solve, share ideas and support each other in their learning.
Level 3
Last week our Level 3 students went on their first ever overnight camp!
They spent their time at Soveriegn Hill learning about life, school and the hardships of living in the 1850s. We also tried to make it rich by panning for gold.
Camp was really fun because we went to the Red Hill mine tour and saw one of the biggest gold nuggets in the world. We also went to the light show and it was great. I mostly enjoyed being in my cabin group. Ellie 3H
At camp, I had fun when I did candle dipping, gold panning and the underground mine tour. I was happy with the results of the day, especially finding out who was in my cabin. I wasn't expecting too much from the light show but it turned out to be extremely amazing. I think the most fun I had was at the light show. It was around 2 hours long! Eesha 3W
We had lots of fun at camp. We played with friends and had an amazing time.
We watched a light show and had lots of candy. It was an amazing experience.
Aaliyah and Jessica 3C
The highlight of camp was being with my friends and seeing what it is like living in the 1850’s. We can not wait for camp next year. Cohen 3D
Level 4
On the 14th of November our Level 4 students recently enjoyed a fantastic excursion to Rye Beach, where they took part in an Indigenous cultural walk through the sand dunes. Guided by two knowledgeable presenters, students learned about the significance of local plants and trees and how they were traditionally used.
Students explored a range of native artefacts, including boomerangs and traditional tools and discovered more about the animals that live in the area. The walk also offered a beautiful view across the dunes and coastline.
It was an engaging hands-on experience that deepened students’ understanding of First Nations people and their connection to Country.
Level 5
Kelly the Microbiologist
On the 20th of November, Level Fives had an amazing opportunity to have a special visitor named Kelly who is a microbiologist!
Year 5 learnt all about microbes also known as germs. The level Fives had the great opportunity to look through microscopes and use agar dishes.
Because we’ve also learnt how germs multiply, we did an experiment to see difference in how many microbes will grow when you have dirty hands and when you have clean hands. We also learnt how germs multiply and hopefully soon Kelly will send some results. Level Five was very interested to find out that germs can go from one germ and turn into millions and even billions by just dividing themselves into two when they get big enough. We were also very interested about how you get microbes multiply in food because if you leave your food out for a little too long at room temperature you might get sick.
Level Five also learnt about the difference between a good and bad germ, like the germs in yogurt are different from the ones in mouldy bread.
On behalf of all the Level Fives that took part in this opportunity, I’d like to say this was a very helpful, interesting and informative experience!
Thank you Kelly! Saige A (5BA)
Budget & Munch It
THE TASK
The Budget & Munch It task was a fun learning maths activity that could help you in real life scenarios for the future. We all got into groups of four, there had to be at least two boys and two girls in a group. Then everyone had to bring ten dollars for the shopping, so we only had forty dollars to spend. We all got a booklet with three pages and on each one there was a Shopping list, Menu, Budget list (we listed all the foods and calculated the price), and the last page was your group had to work out who is bringing what to set up our tables like table cloths, plates, cups, utensils and maybe some lights to decorate our table.
THE TRIP TO WOOLWORTHS
It was the day we had planned for and worked for and we were all excited! We were allowed to dress up but we had to change when we were about to eat. Some people brought tuxedos, casual clothes, dresses and even sport shirts. We had to bring one booklet with us to Woolworths and at 9:15am we walked up to Ferntree Gully Road. It was very busy but we all made it out alive! We went into Woolies and went straight to the first thing on the list. There were groups in every aisle, once everyone checked out we walked out with our hands full of yummy food!
BUDGET DONE NOW TO MUNCH IT
The tables were set and the relaxing music was ready to play. We had a few song suggestions. After everything was ready the teacher (Miss Ward) said we can change into our free dress clothing. About five minutes later, we all sat down and dug into the meal we had all been waiting for. We ate and ate and ate till the lunch eating bell sounded. Everyone helped pack up, some groups split the leftovers and some had already eaten everything and by the time the lunch bell rang again we were ready to go out the door.
Everyone loved this activity and we have to thank our teachers for organizing this amazing day. Myles B (5W)
Level 6
During Term 4, the level 6 students have been learning about the Cartesian Plane. Students learnt to identify the 4 quadrants, the x and y axis and how to plot points. We played some Battleships to become familiar with coordinates, and even managed to integrate the quadrants on the Cartesian Plane into our concert dances, lets see if you notice which song they are in.
For a little fun we decided to plot an image on a mystery graph, the kids loved the 6 7 themed result, I bet you all do too! S I X S E V E N!