Specialist Classes
AUSLAN
Auslan Prep to Level 2
Dear Parents,
My name is Ms Kate Hocking, and I’m very excited to be our new Auslan teacher. I’ll be teaching Auslan on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year.
In Semester 1, 2026, I’ll be teaching Preps to Level 2, while Mid to Upper School students will have Auslan in Semester 2. Students will attend Junior Auslan sessions on either Tuesday or Thursday, depending on their class schedule.
During Semester 1, students will revise familiar signs (or learn them for the first time if they’re in Prep) and build new signing skills. They’ll also explore Non-Manual Features (NMFs) such as facial expression, head movement, eye gaze, and body posture. These are an important part of Auslan grammar, not just emotional expression! Students will practise using their dominant hand (writing hand) as their lead signing hand and focus on handshape, orientation, placement, and movement.
I’m also thrilled to be teaching Performing Arts and Library this year, which means I’ll be working closely with many students across different areas of learning — especially our Preps and Level 1s three times per week, and Level 2s each week. What a wonderful way to share in your child’s learning journey!
This Semester in Auslan
Prep | Level 1 | Level 2 |
|---|---|---|
| • Classroom routine focus • Basic signs (e.g. yes, no, good, bad, please, thank you, sit down, Auslan) • Numbers 0–13 • Colours | Topics to Revise • Which hand to use • People in my family • Numbers to 120 and beyond • Wh-questions (who, what, where, when, why) • How-questions (How old? How many?) New Topics • Actions • People • Feelings • Things at school | Topics to Revise • Which hand • NMFs • My family • Colours • Numbers (extend to 10 000) • Zoo animals New Topics • Actions • People • Feelings • School |
If you need to contact me via email at kate.hocking@education.vic.gov.au.
I’m really looking forward to an engaging and expressive year of Auslan learning with your children!
Warm regards,Ms Kate HockingAuslan, Performing Arts & Library Teacher
Library - Junior
Welcome to Library in 2026!
Hello Families,
I’m Ms Kate Hocking, and I’m very excited to be teaching Prep and Level 1 Library Specialist sessions this year. I’m looking forward to sharing my love of books and stories with our youngest readers and helping them develop a lifelong love of reading.
During Library sessions, students will:
- Learn library routines and how to care for books.
- Enjoy story time with a specific learning focus.
- Browse and borrow books that match their interests.
Each student may borrow two books at a time under their name. Please help your child remember to bring their library bag on their Library Day — a bag is required to borrow books.
Library Timetable – Fridays
Prep
- Prep A: Session 3 – 11:10am–12:00pm
- Prep B: Session 4 – 12:00pm–12:50pm
Level 1
- 1A: Session 2 – 9:50am–10:40am
- 1B: Session 1 – 9:00am–9:50am
- 1C: Session 5 – 1:50pm–2:40pm
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Helen Skerry (Library Technician) or myself via email.
📧kate.hocking@education.vic.gov.au📧helen.skerry@education.vic.gov.au
Note-Some students still have overdue books from 2025. It would be wonderful if these could be returned next week so that your child can return to borrowing books weekly. Please contact myself or Helen if the books cannot be located.
I’m thrilled to be part of your child’s learning journey again this year — not only in Library, but also through Auslan and Performing Arts. This semester, I’ll be working closely with Preps and Level 1s three times per week and Level 2s each week — what a wonderful way to connect through learning!
Warm regards,Ms Kate Hocking
Performing Arts - Junior
Welcome to Performing Arts in 2026!
Hello everyone,
I’m Ms Kate Hocking, and I’m thrilled to be continuing as your Junior Performing Arts teacher this year! I’ll be teaching Preps and Level 1 students on Mondays as part of our Junior Performing Arts program.
In 2026, students will explore the wonderful world of music, dance, and drama. Throughout the year, they’ll sing, move, act, and play instruments as they build confidence in performing and expressing themselves creatively.
This Term in Performing Arts
In Term 1, our Preps will enjoy learning a variety of action songs that combine singing, movement, and rhythm. They’ll work towards a special performance for parents and carers on the final Wednesday of term — a lovely opportunity to share their learning.
Our Level 1 students will extend their skills in singing, dancing and acting later in the year as they create and film their own class play, before watching their finished production together in class.
We’ll finish the year with our much-loved Christmas Concert in December (date to be announced).
Having taught Preps and 1s last year, I’m delighted to reconnect with familiar faces and welcome new students to the Performing Arts space. As I’m also teaching Auslan and Library, this semester I’ll have the joy of working with Preps and Level 1s three times each week, and Level 2s weekly — what a great way to be part of your child’s learning journey!
You can contact me via email at kate.hocking@education.vic.gov.au.
Warm regards,Ms Kate HockingPerforming Arts, Auslan & Library Teacher
PE
Phys Ed – Week 1 & 2
We have started off the 2026 Phys Ed planner with a wide variety of engaging and fun TEAMWORK games.
Teamwork: Noun
“The combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient.”
The aim is to promote new classes to bond, connect and make friendships through collaborative activities and games. Some of the favourites in the junior levels have been balloon Keepy Uppy and What’s in the bucket? The middle and senior level favourites have been Hula Hut Relays and Mat Mayhem.
See some of the action below…
Science
