Around The Rooms

Senior Team

Grade 6 

Our grade 6 students have started the exciting process of preparing for their Grade 6 graduation. On Mondays and Wednesdays students will be meeting to prepare their memoirs, graduation speeches and a special artwork to commemorate the occasion. This will be an exciting opportunity for our grade 6's to reflect on their primary school journey. 

Grade 5 

This term Grade 5 students have commenced their leadership sessions on Mondays with Mr Petersen. Grade 5's are working on identifying what makes a good leader and positive member of our school community. We will be enjoying several team building challenges throughout the term and drafting a speech for those who may wish to put themselves forward for a leadership position in 2026. 

Regional Athletics

Congratulations to Tomas Macgiolla (100m and Triple Jump) and Jay Fenwick (Discus) on their efforts representing Ballan Primary at last weeks Regional Athletics. We are very proud of your efforts! 

Menstrual Health and Pelvic Pain Education

As part of the Menstrual Health and Pelvic Pain grant project Funded by the Victorian Department of Education, Sexual Health Victoria (SHV), will provide free Menstrual Health and Pelvic Pain Education sessions in Victorian government schools from 2025 to 2027. On Monday, SHV visited Ballan to provide this session to the girls in Grade 5 and 6. This project supports current Victorian Government initiatives to reduce the impact of period poverty, reduce shame and stigma and address the impact of menstrual health on education. Thanks to Leon from SHV for facilitating the session. 

Middle Years Team

Welcome back for Term 4! This is an 11-week term, ending on 19/12, taking us up to the Friday in the week before Christmas. We know the time will go very fast, especially with excitement building and preparations for Grade 3/4 camp which is scheduled for the 1st 3 days of December. Term 4 is a big one for assessments also as we prepare for end-of-year reports. We hope all our families had an enjoyable holiday and that students are well rested and ready to give this final term their all.  We are excited to welcome Mrs. Hunter back to our school in the role of P.E. teacher but also as part-time classroom teacher in 2/3M, working alongside Mr. Murrell.

Our Grade 3/4 camp is at Angahook Holiday Camp in Airey’s Inlet (near Anglesea) this year. More information will be coming home shortly but, in the meantime, families are welcome to go online to check out the camp website at: angahook.com.au/     We know this is a very exciting time for all our Grade 3/4s but especially for Grade 3s who will be going on their very 1st camp. It is natural to be a little nervous and have questions. Ballan Primary School’s Grade 3/4 students have been going to Angahook now for decades and it is always a favourite destination. Julie and Angus, the camp owners, keep the place in great condition, the camp buildings are comfortable and practical, and in recent years, they have added to/upgraded their outdoor facilities and activities. The camp is in a lovely bush setting, with spacious grounds full of bird life, and within walking distance to the beach. We look forward to holding some camp meetings and question/answer sessions with the students soon but invite parents to reach out via XUNO or email if you have any questions or concerns in the meantime.  

This term, our MAPPEN unit is an exciting one, titled ‘Our Island Home’. The unit culminates in an expo where students will showcase their very own model islands, which they will have designed and created in their small, cooperative groups. The unit covers questioning, research, and mapping skills where students investigate climate zones, food chains, biomes, and rock formations, as well as considering symbols, values and identities of their island nations.  Essential Questions for the unit are:

• How do we use information technology and maps to learn about the world?
• What are the features of different natural environments?

• What is it like to live in different places on Earth?

   

Part of this unit is focused on acquiring Geographical knowledge, and as a regular warm up we have been playing Globel (https://globle-game.com/). Students are becoming much more proficient at knowing where various countries are on the globe and learning new countries' names and classification. 

 S.A.K.G.P. is currently on hiatus, following Mrs. Giannakopoulos' leaving at the end of last term. We are waiting on confirmation of who will be taking on this role and hope to have some advice in the near future. In the meantime, we hope that the passion and knowledge that Mrs. G provided during her time here, continues to inspire our Middle Years' students to cook at home with families and keep expanding and challenging their culinary pallets with healthy choices! 

Middle Years Team

Ms Nicholls, Ms. Adcock, Mr. Murrell and Mrs. Hunter 😊🙏

Junior Team

P-2

Welcome back, we have had a great start to the term. This is an 11 week term with lots of fun, exciting things ahead. This term is an assessment and reporting term so we have lots to do as we prepare for the end-of-year reports. 

In week 7 we will have our swimming program happening, more information will be coming home to families as we get closer. Prior to our swimming program we will look at some water safety during our inquiry times, this will include not only being safe in a pool but at the beach, rivers and other bodies of water too.

This term the 1/2 grades will be looking at a unit for Inquiry called 'Through Generations' we will look at ways in which the world has changed through the generations and how aspects have stayed the same. We will learn about the past through sharing objects, listening to stories and asking questions.

The prep students will be looking at a unit called 'Celebrating Differences' allowing them to explore physical differences, their families and cultural differences. They will learn about food and celebrations in different cultures and how they contribute to multicultural Australia.