Specialists Updates and Celebrations

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

Visual Arts

I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the South Melbourne Primary School community and to have the privilege of teaching such wonderful students Visual Art. Art is a core part of who I am - a safe and inspiring space - and my goal is to create that same environment for every student, allowing them to express themselves freely and be true to who they are.

Visual Art nurtures essential life skills like problem-solving, emotional expression, patience, resilience, collaboration, confidence, and cultural awareness, all of which foster creativity and personal growth. This year, I’ve had the joy of watching our students develop these skills in incredible ways.

In Term 1, we focused on painting and drawing, and it was amazing to see their techniques improve and their understanding of the 7 Elements of Art deepen.

Term 2 centred on Aboriginal Australian Art, where students showed a remarkable respect and appreciation for Aboriginal Australian culture. They also explored threads and textiles, creating projects like cushions and fabric designs.

During Term 3, we shifted to paper construction and collage, incorporating lessons about famous artists from around the world, which the students loved.

Finally, in Term 4, the Grade 3–6 students worked on their Personal Projects, planning, creating, and presenting artworks of their choice, while the Prep–3 students honed their fine motor skills with materials like plasticine and clay.

Every moment with these talented students has been fantastic, and I am so excited to see what 2025 brings!

Mandarin

This year has been an incredible journey of growth and discovery for our students as they embraced the joys of learning Mandarin. From mastering new vocabulary to confidently using phrases in conversations, their enthusiasm and dedication have been nothing short of inspiring. It has been a privilege to witness their curiosity and passion for not just the language but also the rich cultural traditions it represents.

One of the highlights of the year was seeing how students applied their knowledge in creative and meaningful ways. Whether participating in language games, performing cultural songs, or exploring Chinese traditions, their efforts have shown a remarkable level of engagement and pride in their learning. The excitement they brought to each lesson created an energetic and supportive classroom environment.

We are incredibly proud of the progress students have made. Their perseverance and willingness to tackle challenges demonstrate the incredible potential each of them holds. It has been rewarding to see students grow in confidence and skill, achieving milestones that reflect their hard work and determination.

As the year comes to a close, we celebrate the successes of every student and look forward to continuing this journey of learning and discovery in the new year. Their passion for language and culture reminds us of education's endless possibilities.

Music

It has been a fantastic year in the Music Program at SMPS. We have continued our purpose of delivering a comprehensive music curriculum covering all areas including; Explore and Express Ideas, Music Practices, Present and Perform and Respond and Interpret. Students have accessed learning on a range of instruments including marimba, djembe, kalimba, guitar and plenty more.

Our ensembles program featuring Junior and Senior Choir, Marimba Band, 4/5 Rock Band and 5/6 Rock Band have grown and thrived with a large level of student interest and engagement.

Our key events were very well received the SMPS community, Celebrations of Learning Performances, Rockstar Day, School Production and the Christmas Concert.

A huge thank you to the SMPS families for supporting the Music Program. We hope you have a great break and come back excited for a big 2025!

Performing Arts

The Performing Arts of 2024 was a year to remember! Students immersed themselves in the elements of Drama, building their knowledge and honing their skills to create dynamic performances. From script analysis to writing their own pieces, they explored the power of improvisation in diverse ways. Through engaging warm-ups like charades, character-building games, and collaborative group activities, students deepened their understanding of performance. A standout achievement was the school production, where students showcased their dedication and talent, delivering an unforgettable show. This year, the focus was on growth and building confidence, and it’s been a pleasure guiding them through this journey. See you all in 2025, enjoy the holidays!

Physical Education

Another incredible year for PE at SMPS in 2024! We had Whole School House Sports Day, 6 different Gala Days for Years 3-6, Swimming Lessons, District Competitions and more.

We are looking forward to introducing more events in 2025.

Mr Callum will not be teaching PE in 2025 as he takes on his new role of Assistant Principal. We have a new PE teacher called Mr Ryder who is also from the UK and incredibly excited to get started! You will have received a Meet the Teacher Letter via email for all of the 2025 Specialist Team.

Library

In Term 4, Years 1 to 6 visited the library every week. During these sessions 2,080 library books were circulated. Classes with the most books borrowed were: