Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing

STEM Festival Week

This week our school was buzzing with energy as we celebrated our annual STEM Festival. We began the week with the Opening Ceremony and Amazing Race on Monday evening. Our STEM Captains did a fantastic job of officially opening the festival in front of an incredible turnout of families and community members.

The Amazing Race saw families racing around the school to complete mini STEM challenges. Students also showcased their robotics learning with great pride. Congratulations to everyone who solved all the challenges and uncovered the mystery word: discover!

Throughout the week, each day focused on a different element of STEM:

• On Monday, we celebrated all things ‘Science’. Many levels decided to focus in on exploring chemical science. The Preps erupted volcanoes, the Grade 1/2s grew jack-o-lanterns, the Grade 3s formed crystals, the Grade 4s cooked delicious coconut balls, and the Grade 5/6s made bubbling lava lamps.
• Tuesday was ‘Technology Day’. Students explored the use of design and problem solving with the use of technology. Preps created digital art in Seesaw, the Grade 1/2s created extreme close up videos, the 3/4s designed and built Mars rovers in Minecraft, and our Grade 5/6s completed a series of coding challenges.
• On Wednesday, we focused on skills in ‘Engineering’. Design skills were put to the test with activities such as Prep and 5/6 buddy boat building, paper plane design competitions for the Grade1/2s and 4s, and bridge designing and constructing for Grade 3s.
• Thursday was ‘Mathematics Day’. Our Preps designed a city with 2D shapes, the Grade 1/2 students created toys along with their packaging, Grade 3 students identified 3D shapes during a shape hunt, the Grade 4s applied their knowledge of arrays to design a city, and the 5/6s explored how maths connects to art and shape through tessellation designs.
• On Friday, we brought all of the elements together for a ‘STEM Challenge Day’. Students designed everything from blooming flowers and cup phones to floating boats, free-standing name tags, and enrichment activities for zoo animals.

A huge thank you goes to all of our students and families for their enthusiastic participation. Our awesome STEM captains, Rory and Felix, showed great enthusiasm during the lead up and execution of the week. Thank you to you both for all of your efforts!

Thank you also to our staff, in particular the Mathematics Strategic Team and Sandy, for their fantastic ideas, organisation and enthusiasm when bringing the entire event together.

What an amazing week of curiosity, creativity and discovery!

If you'd like to share any feedback on the event, please feel free to email this to  sarah.mclellan@education.vic.gov.au

Sarah McLellan

Mathematics Learning Specialist

Joke of The Week

Thank you Evie for this week's joke about a pterodactyl on the toilet. Look out for Freddie's joke next, about a magic dog! Please keep submitting your jokes to Kate directly or through the office.

Have You Seen This Duck? 

Over the last few weeks, the teachers have been participating in a competition to see who can find the most ducks, hidden around the school. These ducks have been going on adventures all around the place, some have even left the school! 

If any children have collected ducks along the way, could you please return them to a teacher or staff member of your choice on Monday 15th September to be counted as a last minute addition to their competition total. 

Who knows... maybe you will help them climb the ladder and win a prize!

Kate Bretag

Learning Specialist 

Number Challenge

Send your solutions to sarah.mclellan@education.vic.gov.au to be featured in the newsletter next week.

Sarah McLellan

Mathematics Learning Specialist