UPA

UPA has had a busy term with lots of hands-on learning throughout our Discovery Unit, reflecting on what we learned about our Environment and understanding of what we can do to reduce, reuse, recycle and repair.

We began the term off with a highlight going to Altona Beach with the mission to clean up any rubbish with a final splash in the water. Another highlight, students visited local Op Shops to see first hand where our clothes and toys can go to be reused. Students also selected a few items to repair ourselves. Our final project was a collaboration of what the students learnt by making a collage to share their knowledge and to inform. Students also collected various recycled materials to create a recycled city/factory reminding everyone the importance of recycling.

Our Discovery unit enabled our learning to integrate with our reading and writing as we built our vocabulary each week through our enriched learning experiences. In Maths, students developed an understanding of measurement through real world problem solving activities. Students were introduced to estimating, then used various items like paper clips, mini blocks or even their own feet and hands to check their findings. Students also developed their knowledge around shape this term. We went on various shape walks and included lots of shapes into our recycled city project.

It has been a fantastic year of learning and I have had the pleasure of teaching these fabulous young people. Most of the students in UPA will be moving to Secondary next year and are excited for their Graduation soon.

We would like to thank Sarah for her continuous support, creativity and caring nature and always kept us well organised in UPA.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday and look forward to our return in 2024.

UPB

UPB students have had an amazing Term 4, and an incredible year of learning. In the Discovery Unit, we looked back at what we learned about the environment and how to reduce, reuse, recycle and repair to save the planet. For the final project, we decided to make a song and two news reports to share our knowledge with everyone. Students came up with many wonderful ideas, from repairing old broken toys to collecting rubbish in the yard. We were so excited about getting filmed in the Discovery Centre and worked hard to put the clips together. The news reports and song were widely applauded in the section and hope you will like them too!

In Maths, we have worked on measurements, shapes and patterns. Students enjoyed finding all kinds of shapes and patterns around the school and building patterns with blocks, pencils, counters, and shapes.

I am so impressed to see the students gaining more confidence and building new skills throughout the year.

A big thank you to Clare for her unconditional love and support for all students.

Have a fabulous holiday and see you again in 2024!

UPC

Term 4 has been another productive term for UPC!

A highlight from this term were the excursions to Altona Beach and the Watsonia Op Shops!

At Altona Beach, the students enjoyed eating their snacks at the beach and their lunch at the park picnic style. They also enjoyed exploring these natural environments through sand play, wading in the water, collecting shells, climbing trees and playing in the park whilst also learning about the importance of keeping these environments and our Earth clean and healthy by collecting rubbish to be sorted back at school.

Students liked walking to the Watsonia Op Shops to explore the wide variety of items on offer at The Salvation Army ‘Salvos’ Store. Students bought some pre-loved items, including magnetic blocks, a PlayStation game and controller, a teddy-bear, jewellery, and a wallet. They were excited about the bargains to be had, whilst learning about the concepts of Reuse, Repair, Reduce and Recycle!

In addition to these exciting excursions, the Discovery/Literacy Unit for Term 4 focussed on ‘Sustainability and the 4 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Repair & Recycle’ has also provided valuable opportunities for students to engage and participate in other weekly hands-on Language Experiences to enrich students learning, literacy skills and further enhance understanding of the topic and why looking after our Earth is so important.

Students had lots of fun participating in our class ‘reuse’ project of making 3 fun games (10-pin bowling set, ball toss game and ring toss game) out of reusable items, and to celebrate learning, UPC presented our class project to two other Upper Primary classrooms in Week 10.

To celebrate learning in Math, students also enjoyed constructing buildings out of old cardboard boxes, etc. to create their own small city within the classroom!

Wishing all students & families a well-deserved, safe, happy and healthy festive season and summer school holidays!

It has been a wonderful experience to be a part of the Concord School Community during Semester 2 this year, and as I depart from Concord to settle my own son into primary school next year, I thank all of the amazing staff, students and families that I have had the pleasure of working with and wish you all the very best in the future! 😊

UPD

Term Four has proved to be a jam-packed term with exciting and authentic learning opportunities at every turn.

During our Discovery Unit the students have been immersed in language experiences that have ignited their creativity and developed curiosity about the planet Earth. The students embraced the concept of recycling, reducing and reusing by creating classroom games out of recyclable materials. For example, making spinning tops, a tic-tac-toe game and walkie-talkies. They were excited to build a replica of Gotham city to use their knowledge of shapes, location and mapping skills. The students did a magnificent job of producing their own video, detailing the effects rubbish and plastic have on our ocean creatures.

They wrote their own dialogue for this informative video.

Highlights were our excursions to Altona Beach to collect rubbish and clean the environment and visiting a local Op shop to reinforce the idea of reusing or repairing.

UPD students have also thoroughly enjoyed honing their swimming skills and developing water confidence at the WaterMarc swimming program.

In Maths, the students have revised concepts about Place Value and Measurement and learnt about the features of 2D and 3D shapes.

The students enjoyed the Christmas Concert and finishing the year with their friends.

Students who are transitioning to Secondary School are excited about their Graduation.

I would like to thank Ella for all her help supporting the students of UPD.

I am so proud of all the students this year and wish them all the very best for their future schooling.

UPE

UPE students have worked incredibly hard during the final term of 2023.

This term the focus has been on the theme of sustainability and the students have especially enjoyed taking their learning outside of the classroom by going to Altona beach and the local Op Shops in Watsonia.

UPE students have enjoyed exploring the concepts of recycling, reusing, reducing and repairing by participating in hands on activities in the classroom and a highlight of the end of the term was making a solar power oven and getting to make s’mores.

The Maths focus has been on measurements and shapes and patterns. In UPE, a city was created using paper and blocks to form different shapes and patterns. Students have also explored different ways to sort and classify objects in order to create patterns based on colours, shapes and animals.

Megan, Deanna and Bec have enjoyed seeing the social growth in UPE throughout this year.

The students in UPE have formed good connections and friendships and have shown a lot of improvement in their ability to play games and interact positively with one another.

UPE students have worked incredibly hard in 2023 and we know that next year holds many wonderful adventures for these students!

UPF

During Term 4, students dove into exciting and authentic learning opportunities.

The Discovery Unit immersed in language experiences, fuelling creativity and curiosity.

The students actively embraced recycling, turning old Concord school uniforms into tees and shorts for the class teddy bear. Exciting highlights of Term 4 included our excursion to Altona Beach for environmental cleanup and a visit to a local op shop, emphasising the importance of reusing and repairing.

Students were excited to perform in the Community Concert and wrapping up 2023 with their friends.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to parents for their unwavering support.

Here are some final words from a few students:

Christian: Thank you for helping me. I liked positive primers.

Lucas: I really like maths and learning.

Kale: My three best friends are Simba, Huda and Matilda. Merry Christmas 😃

Simba: Thank you for having me for learning.

Isabella: All I want for Christmas is you!

Andreas: UPF is done.

UPG

As we are now at the end of the school year, UPG is filled with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. With 9 out of our 11 students transitioning to Year 7, they've been busy crafting heartfelt graduation speeches and preparing for their next chapter of school.

Amidst the holiday spirit, our classroom is buzzing from the community concert, showcasing their impressive dance moves.

This term, our Discovery Unit centred around Repair, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

The students channeled their energy into making extraordinary bookmarks, transforming a pair of jeans into personalized masterpieces through paint and creativity.

It's been a year of hard work, growth, and cherished memories for the UPG team, and we're all looking forward to celebrating Christmas and enjoying a well-deserved summer break before 2024!

UPH

It is with great excitement and pride that we reflect on the final term of the school year at UPH. Throughout the term, our learners showcased their personal best in every learning activity. The Discovery Unit was a journey of curiosity and creativity, engaging students in language experiences centred around environmental sustainability. Each week, they delved into practical activities, as they explored reusing, reducing, recycling, and repairing. The students enjoyed a visit to Watsonia Op Shops in search of items for potential reuse or repair, and a memorable beach clean-up trip to Altona Beach.

Culminating the unit, students proudly presented inventive dog toys crafted from reused fabrics, cardboards, and various materials. This was shared with other classes through a video and in-class presentation.

Our weekly Community Access elective allowed students to explore various local spots, including Binnak Park, Andrew Place shops, Kmart, Oz Ten Pin Bowling, and Northland Shopping Centre, fostering a sense of community engagement and connection.

Mathematics in Term 4 centred on introducing formal and informal measurements, along with an exploration of 2D and 3D shapes and patterns.

As we approach the close of the school year, anticipation builds for the year-end Community BBQ and Concert. Grade 6 students eagerly prepare for their Graduation and the upcoming transition to Secondary School.

As new teachers in Term 4, Luisa and I are immensely proud of the students' resilience, positivity, and adaptability to change. Their hard work and accomplishments during this final term are truly commendable. A heartfelt thank you goes to Belinda for her unwavering support throughout the entire year.

Looking forward, may the upcoming year bring even more exciting experiences and learning opportunities for all our students.

Rachel Morgan Kirsten Telford

Leading Teacher Leading Teacher

Teaching and Learning Wellbeing and Engagement

ALLIED HEALTH

Occupational Therapist: Julia Cassin

We have been working really hard in Term 4 and having a lot of fun finding new activities to help us feel ready to learn.

We have learnt new card games, completed challenges and used the sensory circuit.

Our grade 6's have also been preparing for graduation and next year by looking at the secondary uniform and going on a scavenger hunt to new areas of the school.

Speech Pathologist, Adriana Galioto

Term 4 has been filled with lots of fun, hands-on engaging activities! In Speech, we have been learning about the 4-Rs, reduce, reuse, recycle and repair. It has been great to see the students final discovery project.

A highlight this term was attending Community Access with UPH. We explored the community and shared new experiences at different playgrounds, KMART and Northland whilst learning to safely navigate the streets using public transport and walking.

Upper Primary

Issue 4 · 19 Dec 2023

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