What's Happening in Specialist Programs 

Below is a 'What's Happening' about each of our specialist programs during Term 2. 

Visual Art

Welcome back to Term 2 in Visual Arts, and a joyful Easter season to our community. We’ll begin the term by recognising and celebrating important women in our lives, with students creating thoughtful handmade gifts to take home and share.

Throughout this term, students will focus on Modelling and Construction in Visual Arts. They will continue developing their clay hand building skills while exploring a variety of techniques, tools and materials. Students will also experiment with constructing artworks using different media, deepening their understanding of key art elements and principles such as line, colour, form, space, texture and balance.

We hope you’ve enjoyed viewing our recent love and landscape artworks displayed throughout the hallways and art room. These pieces reflect the creativity and growing skills of our students, particularly in their ability to represent space and depth.

Prep 

This term in Visual Arts, the Prep students will explore a range of creative experiences through making and building. We will begin by creating a meaningful gift to celebrate special women in our lives, using collage techniques to design colourful flowers.

Students will then be introduced to our whole school focus on modelling and construction. They will develop early clay skills, experimenting with shaping and forming while learning about what clay can and cannot do. As part of their inquiry into My Family and Community, students will sculpt and paint a clay face inspired by themselves or someone important to them.

Later in the term, students will investigate different construction materials to create a 3D habitat for an Australian animal. They will also begin to talk about and reflect on their artwork, sharing ideas with their peers.

Year 1

Students in Year 1 will engage in a variety of hands on art experiences this term, focusing on creativity and making. We will start by designing a colourful collaged flower as a take home gift to honour important women in our lives.

As we move into our focus on modelling and construction, students will build confidence working with clay, learning foundational hand building techniques. They will create a clay animal with moving parts, exploring how materials can be manipulated.

In the second half of the term, students will experiment with construction materials to design and build a 3D pencil topper. Opportunities for sharing and reflecting on their work will support their growing understanding of the art making process.

Year 2

Throughout the term, Year 2 students will be involved in a range of creative tasks that encourage both imagination and skill development. To begin, they will create a personalised gift celebrating important women, using paper plates to create flowers.

Students will then explore modelling and construction, developing their clay techniques through hands on experimentation. Inspired by Pete Cromer, they will create expressive pinch pots, focusing on shape and surface design.

Later, students will explore collage and construction methods to produce a 3D paper sculpture. Reflection and discussion will be an important part of the process, helping students articulate their ideas and artistic choices.

Year 3

Year 3 students will take part in a dynamic and engaging Visual Arts program this term. They will begin by creating a floral collage inspired by Mel Rye, as a thoughtful gift to celebrate significant women in their lives.

Building on this, students will explore modelling and construction through clay work, refining their hand building techniques. They will design and create a 3D animal pinch pot, linking to their learning about Connection to Country.

As the term progresses, students will expand their ideas by constructing a 3D animal sculpture using mixed materials, drawing inspiration from Australian artist Pete Cromer. They will regularly reflect on their work and share insights with their peers.

Year 4

In Year 4, students will experience a term of creative exploration and skill building in Visual Arts. They will begin by crafting a plasticine flower artwork to recognise important women in their lives.

The focus will then shift to modelling and construction, where students will extend their clay techniques and explore the properties of the material. They will apply these skills to create a playful clay “bobble head” character, considering form and movement.

Later, students will experiment with a range of construction materials to design a creature inspired by Pete Cromer. Reflection and peer feedback will support students in evaluating and improving their work.

Year 5

Year 5 students will engage in a rich and varied Visual Arts program this term. To begin, they will design and create a decorative paper vase as a meaningful gift celebrating influential women in their lives.

As part of our modelling and construction focus, students will further develop their clay hand building skills, experimenting with more complex forms. They will sculpt a clay face that explores themes related to human impact on the environment.

Students will then investigate structural techniques by designing and constructing a sculpture using an armature. Reflection and self-assessment will be embedded throughout the creative process.

Year 6

This term, Year 6 students will undertake a series of thoughtful and skill-based art projects. They will begin by creating a handmade gift inspired by Kitiya Palaskas, celebrating important women in their lives.

Students will then focus on modelling and construction, strengthening their clay techniques and exploring how ideas can be communicated through form. Drawing inspiration from Reko Rennie, they will design and produce a clay artwork representative of themselves.

Later in the term, students will contribute to a totem-based project for the Beaumaris Secondary Arts Festival, combining construction techniques with photography. They will continue to reflect on and discuss their work, deepening their understanding of artistic choices.

Japanese

We have many exciting events happening this term in Japanese.

During April, Hanami Festival (Cherry blossom) is celebrated. We are very fortunate to have a beautiful Japanese garden outside the Japanese room (arigatou Troy) When our Sakura blooms we can celebrate this festival (It wont be for a while as our seasons are different to Japan)

During Week 3, we will celebrate Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day). This day was traditionally for boys, and it has many activities to celebrate the boys in the family. During Japanese class, the boys will have their photo taken in traditional Japanese costume.

Prep

The preps will continue to learn Japanese songs including colours and shapes names in Japanese. The students will continue to practise reading each other’s names and asking each other how they’re feeling in Japanese. They will enjoy celebrating Kodomo no hi (on May the 5th) and learn about Hanami (cherry blossom festival) as well as enjoying Japanese Day on May the 5th. The students will begin to read simple hiragana mini books and write hiragana characters.

Year 1

This term, the Year 1 students will learn how to say what the weather is, the day, month and date, and ask how each other are feeling in Japanese. They will enjoy celebrating Kodomo no hi (on May the 5th) and learn about Hanami (cherry blossom festival) The students will begin to read simple hiragana mini books and write hiragana characters

Year 2

This term, the Year 2 students will continue to communicate with each other in Japanese and start to read simple Japanese books called, Bonnie, Benji and Boris. They will learn high frequency verbs, nouns, adjectives and conjunctions to help with their comprehension of the books. Students will have jobs in the classroom and participate in cultural activities such as Hasami (Cherry blossom viewing) and Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) on May the 5th. All boys will have their photo taken in traditional costume to celebrate Kodomo no hi. 

Year 3

This term, the Year 3 students will continue to communicate with each other in Japanese and start to read new Japanese books called Bonnie and Benji They will learn high frequency verbs, nouns, adjectives and conjunctions to help with their comprehension of the book. Students will have jobs in the classroom and participate in cultural activities such as Hasami (Cherry blossom viewing), Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) on May the 5th. All boys will have their photo taken in traditional costume to celebrate Kodomo no hi. 

Year 4

This term, the Year 4 students will continue to communicate with each other in Japanese and start to read a Japanese book called Sadako. They will learn high frequency verbs, nouns, adjectives and conjunctions to help with their comprehension of the book. Students will have jobs in the classroom and participate in cultural activities such as Hasami (Cherry blossom viewing), Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) on May the 5th. All boys will have their photo taken in traditional costume to celebrate Kodomo no hi. 

Year 5

This term, the Year 5 students will continue to practice their hiragana/ katakana reading by doing weekly ikana tests on the ipads. They will start to read a Japanese book called Burgerman. They will learn high frequency verbs, nouns, adjectives and conjunctions to help with their comprehension of the book. Students will enjoy communicating and working on building the time only spoken in Japanese each week.  Students will have jobs in the classroom and participate in cultural activities such as Hasami (Cherry blossom viewing), Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day ) on May the 5th. All boys will have their photo taken in traditional costume to celebrate Kodomo no hi. 

Year 6

The Year 6 students will continue to work through their belts and create stories to read in the classroom.  This term, the students will start their yellow and orange belts incorporating activities such as:  borrowing objects in the classroom, saying colours, writing months and numbers in kanji, writing and saying the days of the week, stating sentences about the weather, asking sensei many different questions in Japanese and reading hiragana mini books. Students will have jobs in the classroom and participate in cultural activities such as Hasami (Cherry blossom viewing), Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) on May the 5th. All boys will have their photo taken in traditional costume to celebrate Kodomo no hi. 

Japanese at home

The students will all learn to read using hiragana mini books from the Japan foundation. 

They can be accessed here

https://classroomresources.sydney.jpf.go.jp/resources/hiragana-mini-books/

Some students may want to work on their hiragana reading at home. These apps are free and may help some students who would like to practice

Hiragana Quest 4+

Learn the Japanese Alphabets

Performing Arts

Dance This Term!

Get ready for an exciting Term 2 in Performing Arts as students explore movement, rhythm, creativity and cultures from around the world through dance. Each year level has a fun and engaging focus, with opportunities to perform, create and build confidence. If there are any parents who celebrate with cultural or community dance, please reach out! We would love your expertise and passion shared within our unit! 

Prep

Our Prep students will begin with an introduction to dance, learning how to move safely, follow rhythms and express themselves through movement. They will explore fun styles such as African Dance, Hip Hop and Hula before working towards a Charleston assessment later in the term.

Year 1

Year 1 students will continue building coordination and teamwork through a range of cultural dance experiences. They will explore Bush Dance, Greek dancing and Native American Hoop Dancing, while learning how dance can tell stories and celebrate traditions.

Year 2

Year 2 students are in for a vibrant term as they discover energetic dance styles from around the world including Chinese Lion Dancing and Ballet. They will build their performance skills before creating and presenting a Soccer World Cup themed dance later in the term.

Year 3

Year 3 students will explore dance through movement patterns, props and group routines. They will experience styles such as Chinese Ribbon Dancing and Bush Dancing, before preparing for a fun Line Dancing performance assessment.

Year 4

Year 4 students will investigate dance as a cultural celebration. They will explore exciting styles including Tinikling, Capoeira and Gumboot Dance, then work collaboratively to research, teach and perform a cultural dance of their choice.

Year 5

Year 5 students will become choreographers and performers as they create their own Just Dance inspired routines. They will also travel through time by exploring dance crazes and styles from different decades, including the 1920s, 1950s, 1960s and 1990s.

Year 6

Year 6 students will be busy rehearsing for this year’s school musical! With only 113 days to go, they will focus on performance skills, stagecraft and teamwork as they prepare for our exciting production of Shrek. Students are also reminded to keep an eye on Teams, to ensure that they make all of their scheduled lunchtime rehearsals for the musical.

As always, we have a range of additional performing opportunities for students to partake in. 

Monday Morning Melodies 

8:45am Monday 

Come and start the week singing and grooving in the Performing Arts room. 

Glee Club

Lunch Tuesdays 

Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 are invited to prepare songs for performances both inside and outside of the school. All students welcome, even those who have not previously attended Glee Club. 

Grade 3 Choir 

Lunch Wednesdays 

New last term, our Grade 3 Choir was an amazing success. All Grade 3 students are welcome to come along and join in singing and dancing. Performances are optional and it is a great way to have some musical fun! 

It is shaping up to be a fantastic term full of movement, creativity and joyful learning in Performing Arts!

Physical Education

It was an awesome start to the year in the PE and sport team. We want to congratulate our district swimming team for finishing 4th overall and the 8 students who managed to progress to the division finals. We also had our year 5 and 6 interschool sport teams competing across Term 1 with our boys Oztag and boys' basketball team remaining undefeated across the Term. Good luck to our basketball players who will play in the division final in Term 4. 

In Term 2, we are going to kick off with a whole school, house cross country. We are looking forward to everyone coming to Dendy Park, getting involved and having a great day! The top 12 runners from the year 4-6 students will have the opportunity to represent the school in district cross country later on in the Term. We wanted to say a massive thank you and well done to everyone who has come along to run club on Monday and Wednesday mornings. It has been fantastic to see the uptake from families who run together every week! We will be continuing run club until week 7, when we will have a break for the winter chill, ready to go again late in term 3!

Prep

Students will:

•  Continue to practise and refine their fundamental motor skills in a range of minor games and activities
• Develop skills in gymnastics including balances, springs and rolls
• Learning how to safely move their bodies and control themselves using equipment. 

Years 1 and 2 

Students will:

• Continue to practise and develop their fundamental motor skills in a range of minor games and activities associated with hockey 
• Work cooperatively with peers through physical activities and develop strategies to effectively cope with defeat. 
• Develop skills in gymnastics including balances, springs and rolls

Years 3 and 4 

Students will:

• Continue to develop and refine fundamental movement skills in a range of settings
• Perform movement skills that link fundamental movement skills together
• Develop skills in gymnastics including balances, springs, rolls and inversions
• Discuss how our body can feel during different forms of exercise.

Years 5 and 6

Students will:

• Develop skills in gymnastics including balances, springs, rolls and inversions
• Investigate and participate in games for athletes with a disability
• Identify rules and modifications that promote inclusion and inclusivity in sport. 
• Perform movement skills that link fundamental movement skills together
• Develop skills in gymnastics including balances, springs, rolls and inversions.