Primary Happenings
Year 6: 100 Days Left
Sarah Piesse, Year 6 Teacher
As the fog slowly lifted on Friday 31st of July, the Year 6 class of 2026 emerged dressed in their finest attire to match the theme of 100 days left in Primary School. As age seemed to become them, they appeared with grey and white hair, glasses with thick lenses and walking sticks to aid their frail bodies. It was a day filled with activities including tree planting, bingo and weaving bracelets.
The cold weather did not stop us, especially with hot chocolates and donuts thoughtfully provided by FOD to add some warmth to our thrilling day. It truly was a wonderful day to remember what has happened so far and what is still to come for this enthusiastic and bright cohort of students.
Prep: 100 Days of Primary
Prep Team
Our Prep students recently celebrated their 100th day of school with a day full of excitement and celebration. The five Prep classes gathered for a special assembly where Mrs Vaughan shared a speech of exactly 100 words. Students enjoyed singing together, participating in a parade, and reading Psalm 100. Throughout the day, they created crowns with their Year 5 buddies, played fun games, completed colouring activities, and celebrated this important milestone together. We thank God for 100 wonderful days of learning, growing, building friendships, and experiencing His faithfulness as a prep year level. What a memorable celebration for everyone!
Year 1: Dream City Incursion
Kirsti Le Page, Year 1 Team Leader
This term, Year 1's Inquiry topic is “You, Me and Community.” Through this unit, students are integrating Digital Technologies while exploring what it means to be part of a community. They have been considering questions such as: What does a healthy and unhealthy community look, sound and feel like? What should a community of people made in the image of God be like? How can we contribute positively to our community today and in the future?
To enhance students’ understanding and knowledge of different careers, Year 1 welcomed the DreamCity Team on Thursday 30 May. DreamCity provided students with engaging, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) learning experiences. Students participated in three exciting workshops:
Virtual Reality Each child used a VR headset and hand controllers to enter and explore different virtual worlds. Students were able to interact with and colour elements within these environments. This was a favourite activity for many students and teachers alike!
Neonatal Nursing Students experienced the important role of caring for a newborn baby. They had opportunities to change nappies, feed, dress, burp, weigh and measure their babies, as well as soothe them when they cried. The room was filled with baby cries, student laughter and enthusiastic engagement.
Robotic Engineering Students began by individually coding a robot to move in a square. Once they had mastered this task, they progressed to coding their robot to navigate an obstacle course. This activity required patience, careful listening, perseverance and strong problem-solving skills.
The DreamCity experience provided students with valuable insights into a variety of careers while developing their creativity, collaboration and critical thinking skills. Through these engaging activities, students gained a deeper understanding of how individuals can use their unique gifts and talents to contribute positively to their communities, both now and in the future.
Year 5: Chinese Excursion
Yan Wu, Senior Primary Chinese Teacher
Year 5 students recently visited the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne's Chinatown. During the excursion, students learned about the history and lives of Chinese people during the Gold Rush era, gaining an understanding of the challenging and often risky journeys undertaken by early Chinese migrants who came to Australia.
They explored a range of artefacts, clothing and textiles, photographs, and documents that reflect the social fabric and experiences of the Chinese community since the 1850s. We were impressed when we went down to the Dragon Gallery and saw the second largest processional dragon in the world, the Millennium Dai Loong. We learnt some interesting facts about it — that it takes at least eight adults to lift the Dragon's head, and that the Dragon is made up of elements from many different animals.
Students also had the opportunity to participate in the Han Dynasty Tour, where they examined authentic artefacts linked to key inventions and innovations of the Han Dynasty. They explored not only famous inventions such as papermaking tools and movable wooden-type printing, but also silk, umbrellas, crank handles, and many other fascinating innovations. This experience connected perfectly with our earlier classroom study of the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China and helped students develop a deeper appreciation of the ingenuity and wisdom of early Chinese civilisation.
It was a wonderful day filled with rich learning experiences and discoveries. Most importantly, it provided students with a deeper appreciation of the contributions and influence of Chinese culture on our lives today.
