Specialist Team News

Performing Arts 

The Curriculum Focus in Performing Arts

Prep: Students have been enjoying warm up dances centred on movement and keeping a beat. They have played the game “Who stole the cookie?” while keeping a steady beat and have continued working on songs with different tempos.

Year 1: Students have reviewing how pitch is written in music with a special focus on the treble clef space notes: F A C E. They have been trying out some solfege challenges where they hear and read a melody pattern then copy it back. Students have used the marimbas to play some songs including “Funga Alafia”. 

Year 2: Students have been reviewing pitch and the alphabet letters assigned to notes. They have started learning a song from Aussie Kids rock called “Poor Old Cinderella”. The first step has been playing different rhythms in the song on untuned percussion instruments. They will move onto playing the song on the marimbas next then try playing the song together on both tuned and untuned instruments.

Grade 3/4: Following on from students sharing their rap rhymes with the class, the new focus has been on ‘friendship’ and what being a good friend looks like. Students have played rhythm patterns to “Friend like me” and “Count on me”. They have also started playing a bass, middle or melody line on the marimbas for the song “Count on me”. Coming up they will be creating a rap verse based on friendship.

Grade 5/6: Students have been finishing off rehearsing and sharing their chorus parodies with their class. They have been most entertaining! Students have focused on the Proclaimer’s song “I’m gonna be (500 miles)” and some parodies of it. They have started playing the chorus of the song on the marimbas playing a bass, tenor or melody line.

Music Clubs 

Choir 

Rehearsals are held on Tuesday lunchtimes with Zoe in the Music Room.

Bands

Thank you to all students who auditioned for this year’s Band Program. It was encouraging to see so many Willy kids have a go. As stated in the band program information form, students in grade 5/6 have been selected on their musical ability only.

Congratulations to the following students for being selected for this year’s band program.

Marimba Band - Alice, Bae, Delia, Eily, Elanora, Eva, Evie R, Fifi, Finley, Gwen, Joella, Lana MH, Lola, Mya, Penny

Rehearsals will be held on Thursday lunchtimes.

Rock Band – Alice, Bae, Ethan, Hamish, Hudson, Jack K, Rui

Rehearsals will be held on Friday lunchtimes.

We will look forward to several performances from the bands over 2026. There will be performances at end of term assemblies (Term 2 & 4), French Day (Term 3) Art Show (Term 4) and an afterschool concert (Term 4). 

Warm regards,

Faye Ferry                                                       

Performing Arts & Band Teacher                                                           

Visual Art

As we head towards the end of term 1, we are putting the final touches on some pieces and maybe having a sneaky peak at our ‘Crazy Camel’ art pieces. Crazy Camel is a fundraising event that usually happens towards the end of the year. I have a few early finishers, and they are sketching up some ideas for their submission.

Grade Prep 

Our texture rubbings were a great success and our Preps really enjoyed creating texture using texture plates. This week we looked at adding a textured frame to our quirky seagulls. To do this, we tore up newspaper and covered the edges of an A3 piece of paper with torn newspaper. We think this compliments our guided drawing pieces very well.

Grade 1 

We have been experimenting with water colour and oil pastel patterns to create a sample swatch that we will be using in our upcoming art sessions. We used these swatches to create some amazing, detailed coral which will form part of a display for the Art Show. I’m very excited to see this come together.

Grade 2

The Grade 2’s have also been making sample colour swatches using water colour and oil pastels. We will be using these samples to choose colours and designs for some fish we are making to go with the grade 2’s coral. This should look amazing!

Grade 3/4 

This week we have been working on an art piece that will bring back a bit of nostalgia. Remember the old Polaroid Cameras? We have been sketching our favourite Australian landmarks and turning them into Polaroid photos using watercolour paints and fine liners. The students have enjoyed the process, and some have loved revisiting memories of places they have been.

Grade 5/6 

This week the students have been choosing their favourite Australian landmarks and creating good old-fashioned postcards. Another nostalgic trip back in time to display at our upcoming Art Show.

Art Club

Art club is available to different year levels each term. The schedule for 2026 will be as follows:

The 5/6 students who entered the Hobson’s Bay 5 x 7 Art Competition are putting the final touches on their pieces which will be picked up this Friday 20th March. They are looking fantastic and we wish them all good luck in the competition. Thanks so much everyone for your participation.

Art smocks

Just a reminder to bring in your Art smocks. Please hand them into your classroom teacher for storage. I recommend an old, oversized t-shirt or shirt with your child’s name on it. 

We are looking for…..

To help with the creative process, we are asking for some materials that you may no longer need and would be happy to donate to the art room where we will turn them into magnificent art pieces. Some things we are looking for are wool, old house paint brushes, newspapers, shoe boxes (in good condition) and empty 1.5litre fizzy drink bottles (washed). So, if you are doing a clean out and have these items can you please drop them off at the Art Room. Thanks so much for your support!

Warm regards,

Marcia Evans

Physical Education

As we move towards the end of Term 1, students have continued to build confidence and consistency in their movement skills across all year levels. It has been pleasing to see the improvement in both individual performance and teamwork across our PE program.

What Students Are Learning

Prep

Students are continuing to develop safe movement patterns, focusing on balance, spatial awareness and controlled changes of direction. Their confidence in moving within shared spaces continues to grow.

Year 1

Students are building coordination and reaction skills through a range of movement games. There has been strong improvement in their ability to control speed and respond safely to different signals.

Year 2

Students are refining their object control and locomotor skills, with a focus on timing, balance and controlled movement in dynamic activities.

Years 3/4

Students are continuing to develop their understanding of pacing and endurance. There has been clear growth in their ability to maintain effort and apply consistent running strategies.

Years 5/6

Senior students are consolidating their middle-distance running skills, focusing on maintaining technique under fatigue and making effective pacing decisions during extended efforts.

Sport Update

Recently, our Division Swimming representatives competed against strong schools from across the Division. All students represented Williamstown Primary School with pride, demonstrating excellent effort, determination and sportsmanship throughout the day.

Congratulations to Jason, Danica and the 9/10 Boys relay team who have progressed through to the Western Metropolitan Region finals. This is an outstanding achievement and reflects the hard work and commitment shown throughout the swimming season.

We are incredibly proud of the way our swimmers approached the competition and supported one another as a team.

Warm regards,

Paddy Gallivan

LOTE (French)

In French over the past two weeks, students have been building their confidence in creating simple sentences using verbs, nouns, articles and adjectives. We have been focusing on the verbs avoir (to have) and être (to be), while also learning important French language rules and expanding our vocabulary.

Students in Years 3–6 have been working on writing multiple sentences using both verbs, developing their ability to structure and express ideas more independently. Meanwhile, students in Prep to Year 2 have been reinforcing their understanding through drawing pictures to match their sentences, singing songs, and practising action words through movement (for example, dansez – dance!).

It’s been wonderful to see students engaging with the language in such creative and active ways.

Warm regards,

Sara Borrens