Specialist News
Physical Education
Welcome to the last week of the semester. It's been so fulfilling to be the physical education teacher at this wonderful school and be welcomed into this fantastic community.
In preparation for 'The Day Mrs B runs the school 2.0' the students in P-6 have been learning kick ball and sardine ball so they can all play successfully and know the rules, how to score correctly and understand how to work as part of a team. We have also made scoring adjustments for the P-1 students so they cannot go out and added in outs for the 2 - 6 to maintain the competition interesting.
We've been back in the kitchen with Brenda too, with our 3 - 6 students making pancakes and pinwheels with cheese, ham and pizza sauce. These were such a hit, I took the receipe home and made them with my own children.
In the sporting news, we have competed at the Winter Lightning Premiership and competed in soccer and netball. Our soccer team did a great job with everyone joining in and working to fulfil the different positions on the field. The two netball teams did very well on the day, our Girl team played very competitively and put their lunchtime training to good use on the day. The mixed team did a fantastic job and ended up winning the Mixed competition and coming back with a pennant for our school. The students have all worked so hard, training each Thursday with their wonderful coaches, Mr D, Ms Mc and our netball super coach Mrs Kay.
Our running superstar, Alana ran really well at the Division Cross Country event and set a really great pace for herself for the duration of the race. Well done for all your efforts and training Alana.
Mrs Berthet
P.S: The Day Mrs B ran the school was an awesome success! You will see the photos in the next one.
P.P.S: I hope the 100 jumps a day challenge is still going strong!
DIGI TECH
Students across all year levels have continued to engage enthusiastically in their Digital Technologies learning, developing important skills in computational thinking, problem-solving, creativity and digital literacy.
Our Prep and Year 1 students have been exploring the concept of patterns and investigating how patterns are used in both everyday life and digital systems. Students have participated in a range of hands-on activities using building blocks, musical instruments and programming applications to create, identify and extend patterns. Through these experiences, students have learned that patterns are an important foundation of computer science, as digital systems rely on predictable sequences and instructions to function correctly. By making connections between physical patterns and digital technologies, students are developing an early understanding of how computers process information and follow instructions. The students have particularly enjoyed experimenting with different materials and discovering how patterns can be represented in a variety of ways.
Our Year 2 students have recently commenced an exciting new unit of work using the full online version of Scratch. Having previously developed their programming skills using ScratchJr, students are now transitioning to a more advanced programming environment that introduces a wider range of coding tools and concepts. Through this platform, students are learning how to create more sophisticated animations, interactive stories and simple games using block-based programming. This progression allows students to explore more complex programming structures while continuing to develop logical thinking, sequencing and problem-solving skills. Students have shown great enthusiasm as they begin to discover the increased creative possibilities offered by this new software.
Students in Years 3/4 and 5/6 have commenced an exciting new unit of work using our new LEGO Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence kits. This innovative program combines hands-on construction activities with coding, robotics and emerging artificial intelligence concepts. Students are working collaboratively to build and program models while exploring how hardware and software interact within digital systems. Throughout this unit, students will investigate increasingly complex computer science concepts, including automation, robotics, sensors and the ways artificial intelligence can be used to solve problems and support decision-making.
This learning will continue throughout Term 3, providing students with exciting opportunities to apply their coding skills in practical and meaningful ways. The unit aims to deepen students' understanding of how modern technologies operate while fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and innovation. As technology continues to play an increasingly important role in society, these experiences help prepare students to become confident, capable and responsible users and creators of digital technologies.
Mr Durrington
Auslan (Australian Sign Language)
Our students have had another fantastic term of learning Australian Sign Language (Auslan), continuing to build their communication skills while developing an appreciation for Deaf culture and inclusive communication. It has been wonderful to see students across the school enthusiastically practising their signs and growing in confidence each week.
Our Prep and Year 1 students have been learning signs for a range of occupations, including police officer, firefighter, principal (boss), dentist, nurse and doctor. As part of this unit, students have enjoyed learning and performing the Police Officer Song in Auslan. They have loved combining signing with music and movement while building their vocabulary in a fun and engaging way.
The Year 2 students have been exploring Auslan through storytelling by learning to sign the much-loved picture storybook The Very Cranky Bear. Students have been developing their expressive signing skills by using appropriate handshapes, facial expressions and body movements to bring the characters and events of the story to life. They have been working really hard to learn the new signs.
Our Year 3 and 4 students have been focusing on vocabulary related to time, learning the signs for the days of the week as well as words such as today, tomorrow, yesterday, week and weekend. They have practised using this vocabulary in conversations and simple signed sentences, helping them communicate about daily routines and upcoming events with increasing fluency.
The Year 5 and 6 students have been completing their Auslan assessments, where they demonstrated the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the semester. Students showcased their understanding of vocabulary, sentence structure, facial expressions and accurate sign production, highlighting the progress they have made.
Congratulations to all of our students for their enthusiasm and dedication throughout the semester. We look forward to continuing our Auslan learning and exploring many more exciting topics next term.
Miss Bacon
Visual Arts
As the term comes to a close, it has been fantastic to see our students bring their creativity, persistence, and imagination to life through their finished artworks.
Our Foundation and Year 1 students continued their exploration of paper mâché by completing their whimsical paper mâché tree sculptures. Each tree is full of personality, with students thoughtfully adding colour, texture, and imaginative details to represent their own unique interpretation of the rhyme. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they worked through the different stages of planning, building, and decorating.
Year 2 students finalised their vibrant 3D paper mâché flowers, inspired by the work of Yayoi Kusama, Henri Matisse, and Moritz Moll. Students demonstrated a strong understanding of colour, pattern, and shape, drawing on the distinctive styles of each artist. Their finished sculptures showcase bold design choices and careful craftsmanship.
In Years 3 and 4, students completed their imaginative cactus sculptures inspired by artist Kim Sielbeck. Alongside developing their artistic skills, students deepened their understanding of how art connects to real-world careers in creative industries. Their finished pieces highlight playful use of colour, form, and design, reflecting both creativity and thoughtful planning.
Our Year 5 and 6 students brought their Alebrijes to life, completing their large-scale fantastical creature sculptures inspired by Mexican folk art and the work of Pedro Linares López. Students demonstrated impressive creativity and problem-solving as they constructed armatures, layered paper mâché, and applied intricate painted designs. Each creature tells its own story through colour, pattern, and symbolic features.
Across the school, students have shown great resilience and pride in completing these complex projects. The progression from initial ideas to finished sculptures has been a valuable learning experience, encouraging experimentation, reflection, and perseverance.
We are incredibly proud of the effort and creativity shown by all students this term and look forward to continuing our artistic journey next term.
Mrs Roberts