Specialists Updates and Celebrations

Music (Prep)

In the prep music program, our feature element of music has been pitch. students have been learning to sing the solfege with correct and pitch and hand signs. They have taken this awareness of correct pitch to a handful of fun and engaging songs and games. We have also linked our learning of pitch to the notes of the marimba and examined a few short melodies.  We have tied this all together with class songs on tuned percussion instruments, including the boom whackers and marimbas. We are working towards students being able to identify when pitch is ascending or descending in a melody. 

Performing Arts (Prep)

Prep students have been developing their character skills by reading a script in front of their peers. Through the use of charades and utilising various drama techniques, students have developed a new found confidence for public speaking and acting. Prep students will continue to expand on these skills to elevate their solo and group performance skills towards the end of the term.

Physical Education (Years 1 and 2)

Years 1 and 2 have been focussing on their jumping and balancing skills in recent weeks. Students have been suggesting ideas for different obstacle courses to complete to imrpove their jumping and balancing skills. They are timing themselves and trying to improve their personal bests.

Mandarin (Years 3 and 4)

This fortnight's speaking exercise is for students to introduce themselves. Students can ask "What is your name?" and answer "My name is...". Four weeks ago, students began learning numbers. During these two weeks, Year 3 and Year 4 students learnt how to count from one to ninety-nine in Mandarin. Year 3 learnt how to write 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Chinese and Year 4 learnt how to write 1 to 10 in Chinese. To increase their use of Mandarin, in the last week students learnt to use the hundred chart to solve code-breaking maths problems, and next week students will continue to explore numbers in Mandarin.

Visual Arts (Years 5 and 6)

The Year 5 and 6 students have loved exploring Aboriginal Australian art and culture. This week, they have been learning about Aboriginal Australian artist, Sarrita King and her artwork Ancestors. The artwork is made up of two layers - the back layer represents Sarrita's ancestors and how they are always with her, and the top layer represents the land she grew up on. So, being inspired by Sarrita, the Year 5 and 6 students painted foam balls in two layers. They had to choose a colour they thought represent their family for the first layer. Then, with dots, students decorated the ball with patterns that represented the land. They had to be extremely precise with their dots and their artworks looked beautiful!

Library

Every Tuesday the Year 1 students display wonderful behaviour and manners while visiting the library to read and borrow books.