Art / Cultural / Music / PE & Health / Library / Auslan
Specialist News
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Visual Arts
In Visual Arts, students have been extremely busy choosing their artworks for the art exhibition, which is very exciting. Foundation students have been learning how to weave with paper, making a paper weaving mat and weaving an animal image. Year 1/2 students continue to work on their fluorescent rainforest drawings using oil pastels. They also learnt how to sew using a running stitch, creating a leaf shape. Students then made tassels using wool. Year 3/4 students started to create an Australian animal armature with paper and masking tape. Next week they will then wrap their armature with fluffy wool, creating an animal wool sculpture. Year 5/6 students have been learning about Pete Cromer, Pete Cromer is a contemporary Australian artist based in Victoria. He is inspired by the Australian wildlife; Pete’s work is renowned for his signature bursts of glowing colour and beautiful textures. Students have been so inspired by Pete they have created a Pete Cromer softie through textiles. Students traced an Australian animal template on felt, cut and glued different shapes on the front felt piece. Students then learnt how to sew a blanket stitch, they stuffed their softie with recycle plastic and were able to sew their two pieces of felt together using the blanket stitch, creating a softie. Students have loved this; some students have made 2 softies and even their own little pillows using the blanket stitch. I am super impressed with how most students have been so engaged and have seemed to have enjoyed making their softies.
Thank you to all our students who have created posters for our upcoming art exhibition.
Your posters were creative, colourful and AMAZING!!
They have been put up around our school and some will be included in our upcoming newsletters.
A special thanks to Ramona (3/4A) for her poster that will be displayed at the art show. Well done, Ramona!
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PE
In week 1 of term 4, I was away on camp for the first three days, so students in prep to 2 had a fun lesson doing tabloid sports. This is a rotation course where students get to use a number of skills from throwing/tossing balls and bean bags, to passing a bigger ball to a partner and catching, kicking soccer passes to a partner, crawling through tunnels and using hockey sticks. It is so much fun and all kids really enjoy this, whilst also developing their fine and gross motor skills.
During the first two weeks students in years 3-6 have been introduced to and developing their skills and understanding of the game volleyball. They have started with an introduction of the basic skills of digging and setting a volleyball and keeping it off the ground whilst passing to a partner. They have been encouraged to work as a team and understand how to be successful within a team.
In week two the year 1 and 2 students have started a modified version of volleyball, using beach balls to help develop their skills and ability to keep the ball off the ground. The extra floating time of the beach balls allows the students to have success while also developing the skills and understanding of the game.
It is fun to see the students learning a new sport and having fun learning new skills.
Jarrod Bradley
PE/Sports Coordinator
3/4 Camp
On the first day back of term 4, students in years 3 and 4 headed off to Camp Woorabinda for 3 days. For all students this was their first school camp, and for many it was their first camping experience and possibly their first time away from their family. As a result we had a number of students who were not only excited but also a bit nervous and anxious. Students arrived with their bags at school and after packing the bus we set off on our journey. After a short break we arrived not quite at camp around 11am. All students got off the bus and were put into groups and then we set off on a hour walk collecting camp fire sticks so as to make a fire and cook lunch.
What an awesome start to camp. In small groups, students made their own camp fires and then cooked a beautiful lunch with sausages and veges, called a Steam Boat. Yum.
After lunch students found their luggage, then their rooms and then their cabin buddies. All very exciting. Over the next couple of days students enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities which included, canoeing, zip line, high ropes, farming, various outdoor games, archery and more. We had a games night on night one and a great talent show on night two with some special judges.
It was a great camp, and awesome to see everyone have a great time, even those students who were a little unsure about going to camp in the first place, really thrived.
Thanks to all the families for their support and particular thanks to our awesome Le Page staff who attended to make the camp so great. Ms Lowrie, Ms Pinzone, Mr Earl, Tom, Matilda, Ms Mason, Ms Hayes and a day visit from Mr Danson.
Well done to all students on a great camp and your great behaviour and manners.
Bike Education Program
One of the highlights of the year for students in years 3-6 is the Bike Education program we run in term 4.
Students in years 3 and 4 will participate in a 5 week bike program on the neighbouring netball courts and ovals at Le Page Park. After a few weeks of practice and skill development they will venture onto the footpaths and ride around the nearby streets using the footpaths only.
Students in 5 and 6 have already had some years of bike education, so will start like the 3 and 4s above, at Le Page Park and the footpaths, but will then practice riding on the roads around the surrounding areas. After 5 weeks they will finish with a big ride out which starts at school and rides down to the beach and stops at Black Rock for lunch.
This is not a program teaching you how to ride a bike, you need to be able to do this already. This is a program about riding safely and correctly around the neighbourhood.
Even though this program is for years 3 and 4, I would encourage everyone in the school to get on their bikes and start riding. It is such a great activity that keeps you fit and healthy. For those students in years Prep to 2, it is important you learn how to ride now so that you can participate in Bike Education when you get to years 3-6.
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Foundation
We have jumped straight back into Auslan this term with new topics and signs. Foundation students are currently learning signs for items of clothing and joining them colour and people signs to communicate in sentences. For example, the girl had a red t-shirt. We have been doing colour by sign activities as well as some games like four corners. It has been an enjoyable start to the term.
Years 1 to 6
Over the year students have learnt to sign a lot of different foods to describe what they might eat at breakfast, lunch and dinner. This term started with our final food topic for the year, take-away and treats. It was a very popular topic and students really engaged in their role play scenes where they acted out ordering items from McDonalds, KFC, a fish and chip shop, pizzeria or convenience store. They incorporated prior learning about size to indicate the drink or chips they wanted, as well as signs for ingredients to personalise their burgers or pizzas. Maybe next time your family orders take-out you could ask your child to share the Auslan signs with you too.
New You Tube series launch from Auslan Education Services
Auslan Education Service, the team behind our weekly videos and program, have launched an exciting new YouTube channel called Auslan Time with Geo. The short videos will cover a range of Auslan signs and topics as well as include some interviews with special guests. It’s a great additional resource not only for schools but also any student or family who wants to learn some more about the Auslan community, culture, and language at home. Head over to Auslan Time with Geo on YouTube to watch his first videos!
If you would like to contact me about the Auslan program then I am available on email at karen.dragatsikas@education.vic.gov.au or available at school Monday through to Thursday.
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Library News
This term, we are starting a very special program in the library. We have teamed up with Story Dogs, a nationwide organisation that aims to improve literacy skills across primary schools in Australia.
Right now, we have one volunteer and dog that will read with four already chosen students. The weekly sessions will focus on positively impacting the children’s confidence and reading abilities, and will carry over from this whole term into the year of 2025.
If you or someone you know has a lovely dog that you think enjoys being around kids, and if you or they have some free time on their hands on one day or more of the week, feel free to have a look at the organisation’s website, or reach out to Miss Anna. Story Dogs do wonderful work, and we would so love to have more volunteers joining the LePage team.
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Dear Parents and friends,
For the next few newsletters, I’m going to be sharing some of the fabulous photos from the concert at Bayside Church.
Here are the photos from grades 3 and 4 – they are dressed in 60’s flower power costumes performing ‘Peace Like a River’ with recorders and ‘Walking on Sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves. Photos have been snapped by Mr Earl both on and off stage. Enjoy. Miss Susie
