The Year 5/6 cohort have had a very busy couple of weeks.

Please see below for information about the many exciting events and activities coming up across the Senior Unit.

YEAR 5

2026 Leadership:

Students have been very busy preparing for the upcoming Leadership selections.

Last week, Al Rae from the Woodend Football Club joined us to discuss leadership in sport and the personal qualities that help leaders shine. Thank you Al, for your ongoing support of our budding leaders!

Students are now drafting their Leadership Applications. The students participated in one final workshop today to refine their letters or speeches (depending on the role/s they are applying for) and received feedback.

While not all students may feel ready to apply for a formal role, we encourage everyone to still practise writing an application to develop their confidence and voice. Applications and speeches are due by Wednesday 12 November. Please note that this should be written independently, though families are welcome to offer verbal feedback or act as a sounding board.

Year 6 Jackets:

Students were sized for their 2026 Year 6 Jackets last week and received a note from Kerry with their suggested size. Orders can be placed via QKR however if you wish to order a different size, please also contact the school office so there is sufficient stock of the correct sizes ordered.

2026 Camp - Early Call Out for Parent Helpers:

Next year, our Year 5/6 Camp will be held at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat on 19th to 20th February, aligning with our Term 1 Inquiry Unit on the Gold Rush. Further details and the Compass event will be shared in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we are seeking expressions of interest for parent helpers. If you are available to attend, please email katie.cashen@education.vic.gov.au.

If you have any questions about upcoming events in the Senior Unit, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

YEAR 6

Transition Sessions:

Students will be attending a Transition Question and Answer session at Kyneton Secondary College on Tuesday 12 November. Representatives from most of the local secondary schools will be present, along with students from neighbouring primary schools in our region.

Celebration Day:

Celebration Day has been booked for Thursday 18 December, the second-last day of school. After voting on a range of options, Year 6 students have chosen to spend the day at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), where they will enjoy free swimming, the wave pool, inflatable obstacle course and diving boards.

Students are currently organising their Celebration Day Fundraiser, to help cover costs for this event, which will be held on Thursday 20 November. Once funds have been tallied, we will communicate the remaining cost to families.

Graduation:

Year 6 Graduation will be held on Tuesday 16 December. Students have already selected their meal for the Graduation Dinner at the Vic Hotel, and the Compass event for payment is now live. Thank you to those who have already finalised payment. We'll share more details about the rest of the evening soon.

If your child did not attend Woodend Primary School in Prep, please send a hard copy of their Prep photo to school or email a digital copy to Katie Cashen.

Literacy

In Literacy, our Year 5 and 6 students have been exploring the art of rap, inspired by the theme song from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They’ve been learning how rhythm, rhyme, and repetition work together to tell a story through verse. Students have analysed how rap songs use expressive language and vivid imagery to capture action, setting, and character, then applied these techniques to create their own original rap verses. It’s been fantastic to see them experimenting with voice, rhythm and structure, to bring their performances to life!

Numeracy

In Mathematics, students have completed a unit on Patterns and Algebra. They explored how operations can be used to describe and extend number patterns, applying these skills to real-world contexts such as tracking savings growth and modelling animal population releases. Students have now begun a unit on Budgeting and Financial Mathematics, where they will apply their knowledge of percentages, decimals and fractions to real-life money situations. They will compare discounts, calculate costs, estimate and justify spending decisions, and work towards creating their own detailed budget for a family holiday.

Inquiry

In Science, students have been exploring how particles move in solids, liquids and gases. They took part in hands-on modelling activities to represent how particles are arranged and how they move in each state of matter. Using an online simulation, students compared how temperature changes affect particle movement, and through a balloon and bottle investigation, they observed how air expands when heated and contracts when cooled.

Year 5/6 Teachers

Katie Cashen (56C), Brenda Elliot (56E), Ann Ireland (56I)

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