What Did You Do At School?
Prep
What an exciting and joy-filled term it has been in Prep! We are so proud of our students for their hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm as they continue to grow and shine in their learning journey.
Book Week Delight
Book Week is always such a special time, and this year did not disappoint! Our Prep students looked absolutely wonderful in their costumes for the dress-up parade and special Chapel service. It was a delight to see the children’s favourite book characters come to life and to celebrate our love of reading together.
Sandpit Fun
A big highlight this term was the arrival of our new sandpit tub and toys. The children were absolutely thrilled! With some glorious sunny weather in Weeks 4 and 5, the sandpit quickly became a favourite space for digging, building, and imaginative play. It has been heartwarming to watch the teamwork, problem-solving, and joy that have sprung from this exciting addition to our play area.
Writing Wonders
In the classroom, we have been stepping up our writing by using dotted thirds. This has been such an exciting milestone for Prep. We have been truly blown away by the care, effort, and progress the children are making. The growth in confidence and pride that the students are showing as they bring their words to life on the page has been inspiring to see. We made another writing challenge by introducing typing on the iPads. For the very first time, students typed their own sentences about the word fork. This new experience allowed them to see how their writing can take different forms, from pencil on paper to digital text, and they were so proud to read their words on the screen. It was wonderful to watch their excitement as they explored this new way of being authors.
Mathematics in Action
We have also been working hard in Mathematics, learning how to add and take away numbers and, more importantly, how to show our working out! Our Preps have really embraced the challenge, feeling like real mathematicians as they explain their thinking. Adding numbers bigger than 10 can be a little tricky, but we’ve been learning strategies such as grouping to 10 and then adding on. It’s been delightful to watch the children’s resilience and excitement as they master new skills.
A Stage to Remember
This term, our Prep students had the chance to shine on stage in the Alice in Wonderland JR. As beautiful flowers, they performed with confidence, joy, and energy. It was a truly special moment, and we are so proud of the way they contributed to such a fantastic performance.
Making a Splash!
Perhaps one of the most memorable experiences of the term was swimming lessons! This was our first time doing swimming as part of the school program! We were so proud to see how bravely they approached this new challenge, trying their best, encouraging each other, and making plenty of happy splashes along the way. It has been such a fun and confidence-building experience!
Looking Ahead
As we come to the end of Term 3, we give thanks for a wonderful term together and look forward to an exciting Term 4. We pray for safety, rest, and joy for our families during the holiday break. We are also excited to welcome back Mrs Ashmore to finish the year with us and offer a very big and heartfelt thank you to Mrs Taylor for her kindness, love, and care throughout this term. Her dedication, uplifting nature, and gentle encouragement have made a lasting difference to both students and staff, and we are deeply grateful for the warmth and positivity she has brought to Prep.
Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
Year 1
In our Integrated Studies unit, Celebrating Differences, Year 1 students have been exploring the beauty of God’s diverse creation through various cultural traditions. They have experienced the joy of making fresh pasta, learning to move their hands and feet in Indian dance, and creating vibrant fish crafts to celebrate Chinese culture.
These hands-on experiences have helped students grow in understanding and respect for others, nurturing their hearts to become compassionate global citizens. As we celebrate the uniqueness of every culture, we are reminded that God has made each of us wonderfully and purposefully.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1
Year 2
This term, Year 2 have been immersed in a variety of exciting learning experiences! As part of our exploration of African culture, we’ve been learning about Nigeria and even had the opportunity to make and play our own drums—a fun and hands-on way to connect with the music and traditions of the continent. We have also learnt about Italy and were fascinated to learn how pasta is made. Many students shared how they have made homemade pasta at home, while others proudly shared their homemade creations after trying it themselves!
There’s also been a buzz of excitement as we’ve prepared for the Junior School Production. Students worked enthusiastically and have loved sharing their performance with families and friends.
In the classroom, we’ve been sharpening our division skills and diving into the world of poetry. Learning about cinquain poems has inspired students to think creatively and use descriptive language to paint vivid images for their readers.
Year 3
This term, students have learnt about how different disabilities can impact the lives of people and their loved ones. They have explored not only the challenges that they experience, but how their difficulties have helped them grow unique strengths. In preparation for our poetry unit, many Year 3 students wrote a cinquain in reflection of the disability they were researching. We hope that you enjoy reading them and appreciating students’ insights of the world around them!
Dreams
Fluffy, sleepy
Playing, wishing, dreaming
They fly by listlessly
Flight
Alira L (3K)
Blind
Sad, scary
Adjusting, touching, frustrating
Sensing with different parts
Unclear
Jeremy P (3K)
Muscular Dystrophy
Weak, feeble
Sitting, lying, longing
Waiting patiently for a cure
Faith
David W, Toby N & Jacob L (3D)
Jesus
Omnipresent, love
Creating, amazing, resting
For us, love always
Saviour
Lucy B (3D)
Hearing impairment
Deafness, seeing
Helping, aiding, changing
Like you, like me
Equalness
Violet D (3D)
Father's Day Stall
On Friday 29 August, Year 3 ran the Father’s Day Stall for Junior School. Whether we were persuading customers to buy products from our table, helping students know what their sibling bought (so there were no unfortunate double ups!) or handling money at the till, it was such a fun day for all. We learnt so much about how we could manage our responsibilities so that customers could find something special for their dad. Applying our money skills from our recent mathematics unit was a must to ensure proper change was given and customers could use their money wisely. We especially want to thank our incredible parents who helped us over the course of the day.
Year 4
As Term 3 draws to a close and the excitement of Alice in Wonderland JR. gently fades, Year 4 students have turned their focus to a meaningful new challenge. We are exploring a specific disability, preparing to share our findings through thoughtful class presentations.
Throughout this unit, we’ve been strengthening our research skills, learning to summarise key information, and crafting cue cards to support our oral delivery. More importantly, we’re deepening our understanding of what it means to live with a disability and discovering how we can respond with empathy, kindness, and the compassion of Christ.
Year 5
Wow, what a term! The past eight weeks have been filled with learning and laughter. We have explored the world of poetry and discovered new ways to express ourselves creatively through language. As a culmination of our growth, we wrote and performed spoken-word poems about social justice issues that affect children around the world.
In Mathematics, we developed our understanding of money by creating our own school canteen. We were responsible for stocking items, setting prices, calculating change and working out the total profit. It was exciting to see how our mathematical knowledge could be applied in real-life situations. We wonder what Term 4 will bring!
Year 6
Ever since entering the magical world of Wonderland, we’ve been faced with a racing rabbit, frivolous flowers, and even talking Cheshire cats. It began with auditions, where we practised for weeks, preparing in our groups for a dazzling display to impress Mr Clarke. Although not all of us got lead roles, everybody was ready to shine on stage. Rehearsal after rehearsal, we learnt the lines, choreography and songs, until we were ready to have a run through of the entire show.
On the night of our first performance the energy was ecstatic… or nerve racking… or terror-struck… or maybe a combination of all three! We don’t quite know what it was, however, we did know that we were about to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity! Whether we were a dazzling red lobster, or a crazed mad hatter, everyone looked outstanding in their costumes. While the audience made their way to their seats, we began to warm up… Wonderland style! Then finally, we were ready to begin!
The music began to play the theme of Alice in Wonderland JR. as we confidently walked into the spotlight. Doing dress rehearsals with all of the Junior School felt exciting, but we speak for everyone when we say it cannot compare to the simply thrilling experience of performing to a live audience! From the nose-sensitive Doorknob, to the hot-tempered Queen of Hearts (and let’s not forget the King of Hearts), we all performed our best to bring Wonderland to life.
Singing solos, acting out characters and teaching the audience the proper way to say hello, was all so much fun! Despite our nerves, we rose to the challenge and gave it our all. Thank you to all the teachers, staff and stage crew who helped to make Wonderland a reality! Overall, the production was one of the most amazing experiences we have ever had!
By Hope, Mohi and Sammie (6B)