Primary School

Welcome Back

Welcome back to Term Four, our busiest but most exciting term of the year. On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to speak to the whole school at the welcome assembly around the things that matter the most – how you make others feel. We also had the privilege of demonstrating to the Year Four students what happens when you do not come to school with hair in code! Please enjoy our welcome back speech and the ‘fixing’ of Mr Hardey’s hair. 

The Things That Matter Most  

During Tuesday's Welcome Back Assembly, Mrs Ranger and Ms Field encouraged students to reflect on the impact they have on those around them and the difference a simple act of kindness can make. Their message is one we can all carry with us throughout the term.

I am Mrs Ranger: I have a husband, whom I have been married to for 16 years, two children, one dog and two chickens called Beef and Rosie. I love a good outfit, and the gym is my happy place. I love lifting heavy things. And sometimes, after a long day, lifting weights is much easier than negotiating with children!  

Good afternoon! And welcome to Term Four. I don’t enjoy lifting heavy things without a purpose or running without a ball to chase and I hate shopping for clothes, but I love sport, horse riding, football, soccer, hockey and in summer some rugby and cricket for fun. My family is three dogs, three horses and seven people, and I am the only girl... I have some land with my horses and that is my happy place and I have a little herd of cows I farm with my best friend, Renae.   

Today, we want to talk about something that is much more important than the things we own, the clothes we wear, the weights we lift or even the achievements we collect along the way: the way we make other people feel.   

If I were to introduce or speak about Ms Field and the way she makes me feel, I would describe her as fiercely loyal. She listens to me, always has my back, is generous, and she picks up the ball when I am overwhelmed. She will never give me a hug but would give me a kidney in a heartbeat.   

If I were to speak about Mrs Ranger, I would describe her as dedicated, committed and one of the most supportive people in my circle. I know I can send a message at any time with things on my mind and by the morning, she would have made a plan to help me conquer the most overwhelming of mental loads. She knows not to hug me, but I appreciate the genuine warmth she radiates and her ability to make sure we don't take ourselves too seriously.   

There is a beautiful quote by Maya Angelou that says:  

‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ 

You might forget what someone said to you last week, but you probably remember the person who made you feel included, who backed you when things were tough, or who made you laugh when you needed it.  

And you probably remember the people who made you feel small, embarrassed or left out, too.  

We all have the power to make someone’s day better − or worse. So, here’s my challenge for you today: think about how you want people to feel after they’ve spent time with you. I challenge you this term to be the person you want others to remember you for – your friends, teachers, peers, the cleaning and maintenance staff, everyone you come into contact with and thank those people for the special things they do that make each day brighter for you. 

Have a lovely term. 

Classroom News 

We hope you enjoy reading about what our classes have been up to this week and for the term ahead.   

Kindergarten 

We are excited for the fun adventures of Term Four and look forward to enjoying more sunny days together! Our classes will be working together once again to continue expanding our knowledge of sounds and exploring a new Talk for Writing story. We will be learning about the important people who help keep us safe in our community, with a special focus on the amazing members of our emergency services. As the term progresses, we will also be exploring celebrations and sharing the different ways these special occasions are celebrated within our families. We will inquire into the meaning of Christmas and discover how it is celebrated across different families and cultures, celebrating the wonderful diversity within our community. We look forward to a fun-filled term of learning, exploring and making special memories together! 

Pre-Primary

We are very excited for our fourth term in Pre-Primary! We will continue to practise our reading, writing and Mathematics skills. We are looking forward to warm, sunny days now that it is Kambarang and cannot wait to see how the Wild Space changes in this season. Pre-Primary B will continue their inquiry into places around the world. In Pre-Primary A we will be investigating ‘What causes objects to move in different ways?’. Towards the end of the term both classes will inquire into different family celebrations and what makes them special to us.  

Year One  

Year One shared their Holiday Diaries, and much excitement was exchanged over the adventures they have all experienced. This term the classroom has been transformed into a Post Office where the children will be able to weigh parcels of different shapes and sizes, write and post letters, take passport photos, complete passport applications and develop their money skills. The inquiry topic has already started with an analysis of the book All I Want for Christmas is Rain, stemming from our inquiry question: ‘Where does water come from and how is it used differently by people, plants and animals?’. 

Year Two  

We were excited to hear everybody’s holiday adventures on our return to school this week. We enjoyed sharing stories and drawing comic strips using speech and thought bubbles to show our adventures. This will link well into our Talk for Writing program, where our narrative toolbox will include dialogue and how to use speech marks. We also have a science-focused inquiry as we investigate ‘how living things grow and change over time’. We will learn about different life cycles, including the human, plant and butterfly life cycles.  

Year Three 

This term, we will be inquiring into how substances can change state, guided by our central inquiry statement: ‘Different substances respond to temperature changes in different ways, causing changes of state that we see every day.’  We will have a strong focus on how this is evident throughout everyday experience. Our first writing focus will be on procedural texts before we transition into poetry. We will also continue to focus on empathy and respect throughout the remainder of the school year, connecting these important health concepts to our everyday interactions and classroom practices. 

Year Four 

This term, we will explore the inquiry question, ‘What part do we play in the ecosystem?’ Students will investigate life cycles, relationships within ecosystems, and the differences between rules and laws. They will also explore the stages of human development, learning how our bodies grow, change and function throughout life. In English, students will develop their skills in writing information reports and explore Storm Boy during our reading lessons. Through these learning experiences, students will consider how living things depend on one another and how our choices and actions can influence the world around us. 

Year Five 

Our learning is getting a real-world twist! Year Five students will become money managers, earning a salary, paying classroom rent and making decisions about how to spend, save and budget their hard-earned cash. Will they splash out on flexible seating or desk fidgets, or save for a rainy day? Through exciting classroom auctions, students will explore supply, demand, scarcity and opportunity cost, while discovering how inflation and interest affect their finances. With their own financial ledgers to manage, our budding economists will learn that every dollar counts and every decision matters! 

Year Six  

Term Four is already shaping up to be a huge term, with so many exciting opportunities and new experiences ready for us to explore. Looking forward to carnivals, camps, end-of-year concerts and transition to Year Seven means we will be exploring what it means to be ourselves and how we have become who we are so far. Our focus will be recognising and celebrating personal strengths and continuing to build our toolkits that help us navigate and thrive in our next exciting chapter. We will be exploring Australia as a society, including connections with Asia and how government has shaped the society we live in, while in Science we will be exploring electricity and how it works.  

French  

This term, we are combining French, Music and Technology in an exciting way! Students will explore AI music creation using Suno and work together to create their own French songs using vocabulary learned throughout the year. Inspired by the popular French artist Soprano, this project will help students celebrate and remember their French learning in a fun and creative way. 

We will also explore French food and food traditions, with different learning experiences tailored to each year level. Students will build their food vocabulary and practise asking for food in French as they prepare for our end-of-year French Afternoon Tea celebration. This will be a wonderful opportunity to use their French in an authentic and delicious setting! 

Have a wonderful weekend.  

Ms Leah Field | Head of Primary and

Mrs Hayley Ranger | Head of Early Childhood