Specialists Updates and Celebrations

Messages from our Specialist team (P.E., Art, Music and Mandarin) and Library...

Visual Arts (Prep)

The Prep students have been developing their fine-motor skills through a variety of artistic mediums. We began with play-dough, progressed to plasticine, and are now preparing to work with clay. This week, the students created their own Plasticine Monsters! The lesson started with a discussion about the physical features a monster might have, brainstorming ideas like horns, wings, tails, and more. They also learned the importance of warming up the plasticine in their hands to make it easier to mould. The students showed incredible creativity and dedication, crafting cute little monsters. It’s been such a joy to watch them grow and develop their fine-motor skills!

Music (Years 1 and 2)

In Grade 1 and 2, our current unit of work is Expression and Emotions in music. Students have been learning about how music can evoke feelings and moods. We have examined what characteristics are present in happy, sad, exciting and calm music. These characteristics are known as the Elements of Music; beat, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre and form.

Students have applied their newly learnt knowledge on this topic to playing short melodies and pieces of music on instruments that represent these emotions.

Performing Arts (Years 1 and 2)

Year 1 and 2 students have been actively exploring the Elements of Drama, with a focus on using scripts and props to enhance their performances. They’ve strengthened their character development through book connections and improvisation, with particular emphasis on the element of focus — creating strong relationships between characters and their audience. It’s been a joy to witness the students’ use of expressive facial gestures during their performances and their growing ability to remember lines. Their confidence continues to build week by week, whether in solo or group performances, and I look forward to further developing these skills throughout the term.

Physical Education (Years 3 and 4)

In this term, students have been practising their basketball and dodgeball skills. In recent weeks they have learnt the traditional rules of dodgeball. They then have the chance to create new rules and trial them out. Earlier this term students participated in a Basketball Gala Day at MSAC where they competed against other skills. Their good sporting behaviour was a credit to our school.

Mandarin (Years 5 and 6)

Over the past two weeks, our Year 5 and Year 6 students have had the exciting opportunity to embark on a virtual cultural tour to two of China’s most vibrant cities: Guangzhou and Shanghai. These virtual tours have provided our students with a deep dive into the rich cultural traditions of China, with a focus on the iconic Qipao (旗袍) and the renowned tea culture of Cantonese dim sum.

In our Shanghai lesson, students explored the history and design of the Qipao, a classic piece of Chinese attire. They learned about the evolution of the Qipao, its cultural significance, and the thoughtful design behind its elegant structure. This insight has helped our students appreciate the deep cultural meaning woven into traditional Chinese fashion.

Meanwhile, in our Guangzhou lesson, students delved into the world of Cantonese tea culture, learning about the famous practice of Yum Cha (dim sum). This session not only covered the types of tea and dim sum served, but also the important table manners associated with this social dining experience. Students learned about the rituals and etiquette that play a key role in Chinese hospitality, giving them a more nuanced understanding of the importance of food in Chinese culture.