Around the classrooms

Foundation / Year 1

We loved Book Week! It was amazing to dress up as characters from books, see everyone’s costumes and read some of the 2024 nominated books. We read all the books in the Early Childhood category, our favourite was Concrete Garden by Bob Graham (winner 2024), and in the New Illustrator category, our favourite was Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker (National Simultaneous Storytime 2024). One of the activities we did across the week was read Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong and completed our own illustration of the setting that is displayed in the hallway. 

We were fortunate to have the Lockington Kinder group come for a visit to see our spaces and play with the Foundation students. The Foundation students were great at displaying our graduate outcomes; inclusive, compassionate and collaborative, when interacting with the younger children. 

Year 2

Maths

During Maths the past few weeks, the Year 2 students have been learning about fractions. We have enjoyed exploring halves, quarters, thirds, fifths and eighths with pictures, magnets, paper circles and squares, concrete materials, games and even treats for fun.

Inquiry 

This term we have learnt so much in our Inquiry unit ‘Celebrate Differences’. We have explored different countries eg; Italy, China, Nigeria and India and learnt about their food, music, sports and traditions. Below are some photos of us learning about the Indian culture and a festival they celebrate called Diwali. During Diwali, they draw Rangoli (rows of colours) in their entrances of their home to symbolise welcoming others and bringing joy into their homes. We experimented with some Diwali templates outside using chalk. We had lots of fun!

Year 3/4

This week, Middle and Senior students had the privilege of hearing from Jason McCurry, a guest speaker who discussed diversity, inclusion, and disability. Jason was invited to engage with the students, supporting their learning and prompting thoughtful questions ahead of his visit.

Jason’s session was insightful, inspiring, and informative. He shared his personal journey of living with a disability, from his early diagnosis as a young boy to his current role in the disability sector.

The session began with Jason recounting his experiences, from his school days through university life, and into his professional career. He provided valuable insights into how, when, and by whom his disability was both supported and challenged throughout different stages of his life.

Throughout his visit, Jason sparked curiosity among the students, leading to many questions during and after his talk.

Key takeaways from Jason's session included:

• The importance of removing the stigma associated with disability.
• The need for Universal Design in workplaces, social settings, public spaces, and schools to ensure accessibility for all.
• The necessity of breaking down barriers to disability.
• Encouraging open discussions about diversity and fostering acceptance.
• Recognising that a person’s identity, including their disability and diversity, shapes who they are.
• Understanding that society’s attitudes and awareness of disabilities are everyone’s responsibility.

Jason left us with these important reminders:

• Be kind.
• Don’t fear differences and disabilities.
• We all have our own challenges
• Show up for others

We are all looking forward to Jason visiting us again soon. 

Year 5/6

Jason McCurry

The senior students have had a busy and enriching couple of weeks. We were privileged to hear from Jason McCurry, who shared his personal experiences of living with Tourette’s Syndrome. The students were deeply engaged, asking thoughtful and insightful questions that reflected their interest and empathy. It was an incredible learning experience that prompted us all to reflect on the true meaning of ‘diversity.’

SES learning session 

Judith and Lindsay led an informative session focused on emergency preparedness, with a particular emphasis on responding to flooding. They shared invaluable insights from past experiences and offered practical tips for handling such situations. The students were once again highly engaged, demonstrating their understanding and interest through the insightful questions they posed.

Book week 

Last week, we celebrated Book Week 2024, and it was an incredible day filled with creativity and enthusiasm as students showcased their favourite Book Week characters! 

Literacy 

Our current focus in writing has been on exploring the literary features of Cinquain poetry. The students have chosen a variety of themes that interest them and have followed the specific criteria to craft their own unique and engaging poems.