Leadership Report
We’re already halfway through the final term of the year, and it’s shaping up to be a busy one, filled with end of year events and plenty of opportunities to learn.
This week, our Year 6 classes have been away at camp. Our teachers have spent many hours planning this valuable experience, knowing how much students gain from it. Camp builds important skills such as leadership, teamwork, and responsibility through activities like fishing, bike riding, swimming, and even a zip line. Students learn resilience and independence as they pitch their tents, wash their own dishes, and show persistence while building a raft. Hopefully, they’ll still have enough energy for the camp talent night and quiz night to showcase their creativity and thinking skills.
Throughout the year, students across all year levels have been applying their learning across subjects through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). This week, I’ve enjoyed visiting classrooms to see some of the exciting STEM learning that has taken place. In Year 1, students in N2 have been learning about forces and motion by designing and testing air-propelled rockets. As they refined their designs to improve flight distance, they showed great persistence and problem-solving skills.
In M4 and M5, Year 3 students have been putting their maths thinking to work through STEM, designing and building their own board games. Along the way, they’ve had to collaborate, write instructions, and create maths problems for players to solve, so perhaps it should be called STEEM, with an extra ‘E’ for English!
In F8, Year 4 students have been using technology as part of their HASS learning, bringing their projects to life with Makey Makey invention kits. Using coding skills, they programmed sensors to make their creations move, light up, or even speak. Later this term, they’ll build on this work through LEGO robotics.
Year 5 students in F13 have also been developing their coding skills with LEGO robotics. After building their robots, they programmed them to move forward, backward and turn before adding sensors for an extra challenge. This hands-on work required plenty of persistence and patience as they refined their designs to stay strong and stable.
In F14, Year 5 students have been showcasing their HASS research projects, creating detailed models to represent part of their learning. Using materials such as found objects, wood, LEGO, sand, plants, fabric and paint, they showed attention to detail.
After seeing the way students are applying their learning through STEM at Magill, I’m tempted to rename it STEEAMHAASS, adding English, Art, and HASS! Whatever we call it, it’s been wonderful to see students thinking deeply, solving problems, and showing creativity across all areas of learning.
We’ve also been taking time to celebrate the cultural diversity of our school community. Last week, many classes explored the traditions and stories of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Staff joined in the celebration too, enjoying delicious treats and helping to decorate a colourful Rangoli, thanks to our wonderful SSOs Sonya, Prashani, and Kulwinder.
With my first Magill End of Year Concert and Year 6 Graduation still to come later this term, I’m looking forward to a celebration filled end of school year. Wishing everyone a happy and productive last stretch of another VERY busy school year!
Sonia Magon
Assistant Principal