Specialist Team News

Performing Arts

The Curriculum Focus in Performing Arts

Prep: Students have been learning about the music element of pitch. They have been able to identify and sing different pitches on the treble staff. They have played the song “Hot Cross Buns” on the keyboard and xylophones at a range of different speeds.

Year 1: Students have reviewed the different rhythm symbols by creating a rhythm composition based on characters from Pokemon or My Little Pony. They have also been learning to read and play together, known song on the keyboard and xylophones.

Year 2: Students have completed a rhythmic composition based on being back at school. They have also been reviewing how pitch is indicated on a treble staff and have played along to the “Do Re Mi” song on both the keyboard and xylophones.

Years 3/4: Students have been learning about scales and have tried playing a C major scale and chord on the keyboards and marimbas. They have also played a reggae song on the instruments with the keyboards playing on the beat while the marimbas play off the beat.

Years 5/6:  Students have shared with their class their parodies that they created last term. They have also completed a response activity based on their performance and those of their peers. Students have also started reviewing chord playing on the keyboard and marimbas.

Music Clubs

Choir 

The Willy Primary Choir rehearse each Wednesday from the start of lunch for about 20 – 30 minutes. Please return permission notes to Lynne Georgiadis.        

Marimba Band 

The Marimba Band got underway last week learning how to play “Frere Jaques” in a round in preparation for Bastille Day at the start of next term. Congratulations to the following 18 students who have made it into the band: Lise A, Annabelle B, Harper C, Isabel C, Stella F, Mia H, Saphira H, Stella K, Ellie L, Lucy M, Ethan M, Ellie M, Elsie M, Welly O, Matilda R, Ted S, Ethan S and Dina C (Drums). Students in the band are considering names and designs for a t shirt. 

Rock Band

The Rock Band have got off to a great start with their 2 audition songs sounding great already. The band is made up of following 7 very talented musicians: Vocals – Emma C and Li Ling S,

Guitar – Scarlett W and Stirling M,  Bass – Louis N, Keyboard – Rocco F and 

Drums – Emmylou H. The band have also started work on two French rock songs for Bastille Day. They too, are considering names for their band and a t shirt design.

Warm Regards,

Faye Ferry (Performing Arts)

Visual Arts

Wominjenka everyone. 

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday and created or experienced some art.

With ANZAC Day this week, all students have been working on artworks inspired by picture story books. 

‘My Grandad Marches on ANZAC Day’, by Catriona Hoy was the book read by the Preps. Afterwards they printed poppies using potatoes and broccolini. The poppies they made are simply gorgeous. As we were using paint, it was a great opportunity for those who had art smocks, to wear them. We even had a quick lesson on how to put them on and take them off without turning them inside out. 

Paper plates were used by the Grade Ones to make big poppies. First, they painted their plates and put them out in the sunshine to dry. While this happened, they went on to cut and fringe a centrepiece out of black paper. When the plates were dry, they had to cut them to create petals and attach the centres to their poppies. Having attached them to sticks, we now have lots of big poppies to place in the school yard ready for the ANZAC Day service. Hopefully you will have had the opportunity to see them before they are taken down.

‘ANZAC Biscuits’ written by Phil Cummings, was the inspiration behind the Grade Twos creations. They drew a picture of a soldier. Then they had to turn the backing sheet into a frame, adding marks to make it look like a wooden frame. Finally, they embellished their pictures with an ANZAC biscuit and a poppy.

As the book, ‘My Grandad Marches on ANZAC Day’ has lots of slouch hats pictures in it, this book was also the stimulus used for the Grade Threes. Their challenge was to draw a slouch hat on white paper. Then they cut it out with a second piece of ‘khaki’ paper behind it. To finish up they decorated the edges and ribbon, and they added a gold rising sun to their slouch hats. They were lucky enough to have an authentic rising sun from a slouch hat to look at up close making for some great rising suns!  

The Grade Fours created black silhouettes of soldiers after reading ‘The Last ANZAC’ by Gordon Winch. They too, drew on white paper before cutting two sheets to produce a black copy of their original picture. These looked quite effective, although the cutting did prove to be a challenge for some, as they tried to keep all the little details they had drawn.

Poppies, poppies and more poppies were created by the Grade Fives & Sixes after reading the words of Eric Bogle, ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’. It is fabulous to see the different ways they go about creating their works of art. The attention to detail that some students included is to be commended. In addition to this, some students went on to create another ANZAC themed artwork using their ipads. 

I love seeing all the red and black in the poppies, and it has nothing to do with the fact I am an Essendon supporter. I couldn’t wait to go to the ANZAC Day blockbuster at the MCG on Thursday. GO BOMBERS!!! 

Until next time, stay safe, have fun, be happy and keep creating art!

JoJo (Visual Art)

Physical Education

Biweekly Curriculum Update: Physical Education – Term 2 Overview

Prep: Students will focus on performing locomotor skills effectively, moving in various directions from point A to point B.

Years 1 & 2: This term, students will develop fundamental movement skills with a delightful circus theme, emphasizing object control.

Years 3 & 4: We're excited to introduce striking and fielding games, fostering teamwork and coordination.

Years 5 & 6: Students will explore advanced game tactics in both invasion and cooperative games, enhancing their strategic thinking and teamwork skills.

Sports Highlights:

Term 2 is bustling with sports activities at Williamstown Primary! In the first week, our Grade 5/6 teams participated in the summer interschool finals. A hearty congratulations to the Boys/Mixed Hot Shots team for their outstanding performance, earning a spot in the Division finals!

As winter sports commence in Week 3, our teams will compete in AFL, hockey, netball, soccer, and softball against the Williamstown District schools. We're cheering for every player's success!

Spotlight on Individual Achievements:

Ethan S. represented our school brilliantly at the State Swim Finals held last Friday at MSAC. Competing in the 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, and 50m Freestyle, Ethan achieved remarkable results. He secured a 4th place in Breaststroke and won Bronze Medals in both Freestyle and Backstroke. Congratulations, Ethan! Your hard work and 

dedication have made everyone at Williamstown Primary incredibly proud.

Warm Regards,

Paddy Gallivan (Physical Education)

LOTE (French)

BIENVENUE AU 2eme TRIMESTRE

Dans La Classe De Francais

We are starting Term 2 fresh and excited in the French room! With the Preps being fully immersed in the French program this term while the Year 5/6s move onto Kitchen Garden till week 11, we have a great big term of learnings and sharing ahead of us 😊

We started this week with some students sharing their Easter break France getaways… What an impactful to way to begin by having our very own Willy Kids share their real life French experiences! Year 3s and 4s have been learning to draw ‘L’Hexagone’, the other name for ‘La France’, given its geometrical shape. Year 1s and 2s have been thinking deep on the principles and individual representations of our ‘Je Suis N.E.D.’ chant (Never give up, Encourage yourself and others, Do your best at all times). Preps marvelled at the sound discovery of the French song ‘Bonjour, merci, au revoir’ and practised singing it together.

In the next fortnight, Preps to Years 4s will be embracing the connection between ‘La France et l’Australie’ that revolves around our ANZAC Day commemoration as we take a virtual trip to Fromelles, in the North of France.

Madame CRICRI 😊