Primary Years
Milo Monkey's Birthday Surprise
As part of their Little Learners Love Literacy program, Prep students enjoyed celebrating Milo Monkey's Birthday Surprise by dressing up as the program's much-loved alphabet characters. From Roxy Rabbit and Peter Penguin to Daisy Dog and Milo Monkey, students enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to connect with the characters that help them learn letter names and sounds. The special day provided a fun and memorable way to reinforce early literacy skills while celebrating students' learning.
Rebecca Moore
PYP Coordinator
Year 5 Students Explore Adaptations in Australian Animals
Year 5 students recently participated in an engaging and interactive incursion with Aussie Wildlife Displays, providing an exciting provocation for their new How the World Works Unit of Inquiry: Living things may adapt to survive.
Max, the presenter, captivated students with his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm as he introduced a fascinating collection of native Australian animals. Students had the opportunity to observe a variety of species up close while learning about the structural and behavioural adaptations that help animals survive in their environments. Through hands-on experiences and insightful explanations, students explored how adaptations enable living things to respond to changes in their surroundings and meet their needs for survival.
The incursion brought classroom learning to life, helping students make meaningful connections between scientific concepts and real-world examples. The experience sparked curiosity, encouraged thoughtful questioning, and deepened students' understanding of the incredible diversity of life in Australia. We thank Max and Aussie Wildlife Displays for providing such a memorable and enriching learning experience.
Rebecca Moore
PYP Coordinator
Year 4 Billy Carts Incursion
In Week 8, our Year 4 students participated in an engaging Billy Carts Incursion, where they explored key scientific concepts including push and pull forces, gravity and friction. This hands-on experience served as a provocation for their new Unit of Inquiry, How the World Works.
Students enthusiastically built their own billy carts without instructions and creatively designed vehicles from scratch to test the effects of friction and gravity. They also thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to ride their billy carts and easy riders, bringing their learning to life in a fun and meaningful way.
Teagan Purser
Year 4 Teacher
Reconciliation Week
During Reconciliation Week, students across the Primary Years came together to learn about respect, history, culture, and connection, embracing this year's theme of being 'All In for Reconciliation'. A large group of passionate Year 6 students volunteered to lead our whole-school assembly, confidently sharing their knowledge of First Nations histories, cultures, symbols, and the actions we can all take to contribute to reconciliation. Their thoughtful presentations helped inspire meaningful reflection across our school community.
Throughout the week, students participated in a range of engaging lunch-time activities, including drawing, colouring, dot painting, and Reconciliation-themed Kahoot quizzes. Classes also contributed to a collaborative display, creating a 'Wave of Change' by writing pledges about how they can be 'All In for Reconciliation' through their words and actions.
To further build intercultural understanding, teachers and students shared stories by First Nations authors, providing opportunities to learn from diverse perspectives and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It was a meaningful week of learning, reflection, and action. As an IB school, we are committed to nurturing internationally minded learners who seek to understand different perspectives, value diversity, and contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious future for all.
Rebecca Moore
PYP Coordinator
Reconciliation Week Poetry Competition Winner
As part of our Reconciliation Week celebrations, students were invited to participate in a poetry competition exploring themes of reconciliation, healing, respect, and harmony.
We would like to thank the students who took the opportunity to share their voices through poetry. Their submissions demonstrated reflective and compassionate thinking, thoughtful word choice, and a willingness to engage with important ideas. Through their writing, students explored deep concepts of healing, connection, understanding, and hope for the future.
Congratulations to Jiaa Kaushik from 6D, whose poem was selected as the winning entry for 2026. The judges were impressed by the depth of thought, creativity, and care evident in the poem, as well as its powerful message about reconciliation and unity. Thank you to all students who participated and contributed to our Reconciliation Week celebrations through their writing.
'A few years ago I hated writing and it felt like a burden but after taking tuition opportunities and learning how to use words to express important ideas I started to love writing. Now I am confident to enter writing competitions. I enjoy how writing let's me put all my ideas into a piece that can be shared with the world.' - Jiaa
Rebecca Moore
PYP Coordinator
Year 2 Students are Making Connections
As part of National Reconciliation Week, our Year 2 students explored the powerful message of 'Beds Are Burning' and made meaningful connections to their current Unit of Inquiry, 'Sharing the Planet'. Through class discussions and reflection on the song’s lyrics, students considered what it means to care for Country, respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and be “All In for Reconciliation”. Students worked collaboratively to create movement sequences that expressed the song’s message and proudly performed them at assembly.
Their performance highlighted the importance of caring for Country and recognising the deep connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have with the land. In 2B, students reflected on how the ideas in the song connect to their 'Sharing the Planet' unit by living fairly and responsibly. They discussed actions they can take now and in the future to contribute to reconciliation, showing a growing understanding that positive change begins with respect, responsibility and working together. As students reflected on the lyrics, they explored the idea of what it means to “give back” the land.
Through discussion and brainstorming, they identified ways to care for Country and share the planet responsibly, recognising that reconciliation can be supported through everyday actions, respect, and stewardship of the environment.
We can show respect and care for the land by putting rubbish in the bins and recycling - Gia
We need to not destroy the land but look after it and share - Kanika
We don't take all the fish in the water. We leave some and only take what we need - Armaan
We can learn about First Nation People's connection to country, care for the land, and take action to sustain the land - Anahad
By thinking critically about the world around them and taking action in their everyday lives, our students are growing into compassionate leaders and future changemakers.
Year 6 Students Explore Renewable Energy with Swinburne University
Our Year 6 students recently participated in an engaging and interactive renewable energy incursion delivered by science specialists from Swinburne University. The session provided students with the opportunity to investigate how energy is transformed and explore a range of renewable technologies currently being used across Australia. Through a series of hands-on activities, students discovered the science behind renewable energy sources and examined how these technologies can help meet the world's growing energy needs.
As part of their current How the World Works unit, students have been exploring the central idea thatthe way we produce and consume energy impacts the planet. The incursion deepened their understanding of different renewable and alternative energy sources, including how they operate, their efficiency, costs, and their environmental impacts.
Students were encouraged to think critically about the opportunities and challenges associated with transitioning to renewable energy. They explored the role of innovation, engineering, government planning, financial investment, and community attitudes in shaping a more sustainable future. These discussions helped students make connections between scientific knowledge and real-world decision-making.
The hands-on nature of the workshop allowed students to apply their inquiry skills, ask thoughtful questions, and engage with authentic examples of how science and engineering are working together to address global challenges.
Rebecca Moore
PYP Coordinator
Year 1 Students Travel Back in Time
Our Year 1 students recently stepped back into the 1870s through an engaging 'Past in Your Class' incursion.
Students welcomed a costumed teacher from nineteenth-century Melbourne into their classroom and discovered what school life was like for children living in the past. Through the characters of Mrs. Sargood, the matriarch of Rippon Lea Estate, and Mrs. Ferguson, the Sargood children's strict governess, students were immersed in the daily experiences of children from a different era.
The incursion supported students' learning in their Where We Are in Place and Time unit, helping them develop an understanding of how daily life, schooling, and family experiences have changed over time. Students enjoyed making connections between the past and present and were fascinated by the similarities and differences they discovered.
Rebecca Moore
PYP Coordinator