School Life @ ASPS

Prep Fire Safety Incursion

During weeks 4 and 5, firefighters from the Hawthorn Fire Station visited the Preps as part of an initiative to educate young children about fire safety. The important role of firefighters in our community was made apparent to Preps when we had to reschedule their first visit due to an emergency callout. 

The highlight of the first visit was a demonstration of the equipment used by firefighters, including when one of the firefighters dressed up in their full gear. The firefighters also brought along some of their firefighting equipment and explained to Preps how they were used. The second visit gave Preps a chance to hop on board a fire truck and even use a fire hose! 

This visit not only educated Preps about fire safety, but even inspired some of them to want to become firefighters when they grow up!

Day of the Dead Celebration

A glimpse into Mexican Culture: The Day of the Dead 

Aida Schwarz, a parent from Prep C, recently visited our class to share the rich traditions of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebration.

Aida began the session with an engaging presentation about her Mexican background, a brief history of the Mexican flag and the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. This unique annual celebration, held on November 1st and 2nd, is a time when families honour and remember their deceased loved ones. 

The children were fascinated by pictures of the colourful altars set up in homes to welcome the spirits back to the world of the living. These altars are decorated with marigold flowers, candles, photographs, and favourite foods of the departed. Aida also brought in Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead), Catrinas (Day of the Dead figures made with paper) and papel picado (decorative craft).

The session concluded with a craft activity where Preps got a chance to create their own colourful papel picado and sugar skull masks.

Many thanks to Aida for taking the initiative to share her cultural customs with the class. Her visit gave students a valuable opportunity to learn about a different culture in a fun and hands-on manner. 

Michelle Chong (Prep C classroom teacher)

Book of the Week

Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry               By award-winning author - illustrator Sami Bayly                                     

Discover the secrets behind some of the natural world's most unusual creatures of camouflage and mimicry in this beautifully illustrated book.

Find out about the chameleon who changes colour to communicate with its friends, the burrowing owl who copies the sound of a fiercer animal to protect itself from threats, and the harlequin filefish that has come to smell like coral to blend in with its surroundings.

You'll be amazed by how these clever creatures use disguise and imitation to find food, send out warning signals and, most of all, avoid predators!

(Megalong Books)

Soul Sonics Workshop 

On October 5th a group of year 5 & 6 students worked with Jason from Soul Sonics to learn about electronic music and creating musical loops.

The day started by learning how to take sound samples from around the school. Pitched and percussive samples were taken using bins, gates, taps and even moving trolleys! We then learnt how to select samples, edit them and organise them on an Ableton sound board. 

It was so fun, with everyone learning new skills and getting a chance to experiment with a new way to make music.

Science Talent Search

This year ASPS had over 30 students enter the Science Talent Search. The theme of this year’s competition was “Innovations: Powering Future Industries” and students were asked to research a range of technologies that change our lives. Many students created posters about smart homes of the future and creative writing pieces about how drones will shape the future. Students also entered the experiment and invention section coming up with some amazing findings and technologies.

Many hours were put in at home to come up with the entries and the quality of entries submitted from our school were outstanding. Congratulations to all the students who submitted an entry, and to their parents for helping to organise them.

Thank you also to Ms Smith and Ms Kretsis, who volunteered their time as judges, without their help we would not have been able to submit any entries.

We were delighted to find out that two students had received Minor Bursaries and two Major Bursaries. Congratulations to those students, listed below along with students who received a distinction in their category. 

Distinction

Isaac Kennedy, Akilan Suresh, Aurelia Collins, Carrie Chew, James Lee, Lucy Alvarenga, Dylan Choke, Harry Lawson, Leo Miller, Jensen Amer, Bowen Zhang, Lucas Li, Kaden Wong, Frankie Chew, Harriet Byrne.

Minor Bursary

Alyssa Lawless: Air Carbon - An Alternative to Plastic

Zoe Whittaker:  Welcome to My Smart Home

Oliver Alvarenga: My Not So Ordinary Factory

Clara Lee: Welcome to My Smart Home

Philip Kennedy: Hello, Welcome to My Smart Home

Major Bursary

Xavier Lawless: Underwater Farming - A Damp Good Idea

George Byrne: My Friend the Drone Can Do

Congratulations to everyone who entered, we have an outstanding group of scientists at Auburn South.

Patricia Stanton

Boroondara Youth Awards

Congratulations to two finalists from ASPS - Nicholas for Environment and Sustainability, and Zahara for Leadership. An awards ceremony was held over the holidays. It was terrific to hear the work that young changemakers are creating in Boroondara. Thank you Sarah Jang for her work on the nominations.

Emily Hui

Last Day to Borrow Books

As the end of the year is fast approaching,  Friday 17th November will be the last day for student borrowing.

All library resources are due back Friday 1st December.

Library classes are scheduled until the end of the year. Students’ and teachers’ have full access to all resources during these classes.

Thanks and kind regards,

Judy and Lisa

Volunteering at ASPS

After reviewing our current processes, we have developed a Parent/Volunteer Helper Handbook.

Going forward, all volunteers at ASPS (sporting events, classroom reading, excursions, SAKG, canteen etc.) will be required to read this handbook and return the two signed forms, along with their WWC, to the office.

Once this has occurred, then you can volunteer at ASPS.

Please find the Parent/Volunteer Helper Handbook below:

Children's Week

https://www.vic.gov.au/childrens-week-events-2023