Art / Cultural / Music / PE & Health / Library / Auslan

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Visual Arts

Last week in Visual Arts, all students explored the exciting world of paper collage, developing their creativity, shape recognition, and design skills through a variety of fun and engaging activities: Foundation students focused on identifying and using different shapes to create a paper shape city collage, designing colourful cityscapes.

Year 1/2 students explored the traditional Chinese tangram puzzle, arranging seven geometric shapes to form creative images. They also made playful paper robot collages, combining shapes to design their own unique robots. Year 3/4 students began to draw inspiration from the famous artist Henri Matisse, using scissors to create and arrange organic paper shapes into expressive and abstract collages. Year 5/6 students explored the concept of Japanese Notan design, which focuses on the contrast between light and dark, and the balance of positive and negative space to create visually striking compositions. It was a creative and hands-on week that allowed students to experiment with colour, shape, balance, and design through the versatile medium of collage!

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Culture Studies

This week in Culture Studies, students engaged in meaningful discussions about First Nations Peoples and the significance of National Sorry Day and the Stolen Generation. As part of this reflection, each student designed a unique pattern on a cardboard hand cut-out to contribute to our very own 'Sea of Hands' installation. In First Nations culture, hands are powerful symbols that represent connection to community, culture, and ancestral spirit, highlighting unity, cooperation, and belonging. Students also acknowledged National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to deepen their understanding of our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. It’s a special opportunity to strengthen relationships and build respect between non-Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. To further celebrate the connection to land and culture, students explored First Nations' perspectives of animals and the environment by creating beautiful paper x-ray art collages of Australian animals—a creative reflection of the importance of land, culture, and storytelling in First Nations traditions. It was a thoughtful and inspiring week that encouraged empathy, respect, and cultural appreciation.

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PE 

Students in years Prep to 4 have continued to participate in Gymnastics, which culminated in the final lesson this week. Over the five weeks of gymnastics, there has been a significant increase in students' confidence around how their bodies move and what they can do. For example, some students were a bit hesitant doing forward rolls, or jumping off a tower, but with support and guidance as well as explaining the key movements, most students have become very excited about these skills and shown great improvement. The key elements of the program have been around body movement and awareness of one's own abilities, while focusing on the key skills including rolling, falling, jumping, leaping, crawling, body supports using one's strength, such as handstands and much more.

It has been exciting to see the enjoyment that all students have shown during these lessons, as for many, it is skills and activities that they don’t do on a regular basis.

In years 5 and 6, students have had one week of gymnastics and worked on the fundamental skills outlined above, but also had a second session of Netball. The focus of the netball session was to continue to develop their skills of the game, eg. catching, throwing, footwork – not stepping, and moving without the ball. It was exciting to see how quickly the students picked up the skills and strategies of the game.

Interschool Sports

In week 5 we played against Christway. All teams competed and it was a great day of competition, fun, sportsmanship and teamwork.

For our teams it was a successful morning.

The soccer team had their fist win, winning 14 to nil. It was great to get some success on the field as their first few games were challenging. Well done to the boys for their continued enthusiasm.

Both the mixed and girls netball teams continue to do very well. The mixed team won 19-0, while the girls team won 12-3. Well done to both teams for their success, but more importantly the support they show for each other, the opposing team and the teachers.

The girls softball team also continues to do very well, even though we are low on numbers. A team consist of 9 players but on Friday we only had 8 players which included 6 year 4 girls. However, they still managed to get a win, 13-12, and it is great to see them work together so well.

The mixed team tried really hard and with our final batting innings left we were down 19-11. However a great home run from Dean got four home late in the innings and the score ended up being a tie 19 all. A great game by both teams. 

A special mention must go to the mixed softball team, because due to the numbers we have 18-20 players each week, and the boys are so supportive of each other and understand that their playing time is limited to give everyone a turn, but they accept this and encourage each other to do their best.

Well done to all the students for their efforts and thankyou to all the teachers and staff involved in helping run these mornings.

Jarrod Bradley

PE/Sports Coordinator

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Library 

National Family Reading Month was BUSY in the library! We ran so many different activities to encourage children to read more and get interested in books. 

Author Talk

On Friday, the 16th of May, at lunchtime, we hosted an author talk by picture book author Sarah. She presented her new book and then talked about what it is like to be an author. Students also asked questions about the craft that Sarah then answered. See her website for more info: https://sarahandemilyauthors.com/

Simultaneous Storytime

Together with over two million children all around the world, we read The Truck Cat on Wednesday, the 21st of May, at 12pm. The kids were able to do some mindful cat and truck activities and spend their lunchtime listening to this story about belonging, family and pets.

Poster Competition

We ran a poster competition in which the kids could win Scholastic Book Fair vouchers. Everybody’s submissions were so amazing and the library leaders and I had much trouble choosing winners. Congratulations to Kaira, Arion, Santiago and Nadia for winning. 

Readathon

The second ever LePage Readathon started this Monday, the 26th of May. Make sure to sign up your child in order for them to be in the draw for spot prizes and more. They can also track the number of their books read in their classrooms, and there will be prizes for the most prolific readers, too. The Readathon will run for four weeks and finish on the 20th of June. Sign up here: https://lepagereadathon.goraiseit.com.au/main

Scholastic Book Fair 

This week, our Scholastic book fair was on. The fair was open every morning and afternoon, before and after school, apart from today, when it only opened in the morning. Library leaders helped out every day and honed their selling skills. Thank you to everyone who came along, assisted and supported us. 

Story Dogs

Our Story Dogs program has been running smoothly all year. Alec and Chilli love reading with the kids every week. Thank you to all the new interested families. we would love to welcome more dogs onto our roster. If you have a calm and gentle four-legged friend at home and would like to volunteer for this program, please get in touch with me at anna.ottersbach@education.vic.gov.au. 

Thank you to Alina and Becky for volunteering their time and dogs to support LePage. 

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Auslan Newsletter. Term Two. Week Six. 

This week, we have been completing student reflections for Leadership folders. I have asked the students what they enjoy the most about Auslan and what they find the most challenging about learning sign language.  All of the students said that they enjoyed Auslan and understood the vital importance of being able to communicate with a person who may be deaf or hearing impaired. Despite not using Auslan sign language every day, if we have a few signing skills, we may be able to help someone in our community. Nearly all the students said that they need to try to remember their alphabet signing. It has been so good to see that the students are enjoying Auslan. By incorporating fun games and relating Auslan to everyday events, the students have been demonstrating positive Auslan growth. 

Thank you very much.

Ms. Buchan.

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