Primary

Mrs Leanne Schulz

Assistant Principal (Primary)

The Cumberland Concerts ‘Around the World’

A huge thank you to the Performing Arts faculty, homeroom teachers, administration and technical staff, and student volunteers for creating and contributing to the wonderful Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 concerts. Thank you to Ms McCarthy for all the organising and the production, and to Mr Impey and Mrs Thompson for preparing class performances. A special thank you to all our students who worked tirelessly to learn lines, dances, music, and moves. Our Performing Arts Captains, Jessica M and Aaliyah C, did an incredible job acting and entertaining and making the concerts flow seamlessly. Families, students and staff were thoroughly entertained with the variety of performances. We are so proud of our Cumberland students!

Reflection from Performing Arts Captains - Jessica M and Aaliyah C

Hi, we are the 2023 Primary Performing Arts Captains, Jessica and Aaliyah. Recently we have hosted 4 shows for all of Cumberland as they went 'Around the world!' We have enjoyed not only the concert but the lead up to the concert, also all the classes have enjoyed their class piece. We have had a funny and good time from learning our scrips to going on stage and performing. All of the classes were AMAZING which include... 5J as they presented a funny skit pretending to be Iron Chef as they made Vegemite on toes and ghost lost in translation, and 4R were amazing in Little Italy. We loved this experience and hope to do many more things like this in the future!

Battle for Australia Excursion

Mia P and Akshaj M

On Wednesday 6 September, all Year 6 and Year 9 Captains were fortunate to attend the Shrine of Remembrance to commemorate ‘Battle for Australia’. On this significant day, Australians come together to honour the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defence of Australia and as well as those that helped contribute to the defeat of Japan in the Second World War between 1942-1945. As Primary School Captains, we had the honour in laying of the wreath on behalf of Aitken College.

The Battle for Australia ceremony included official speakers, Sergeants, the Royal Australian Navy, catafalque party to take post, marchers, student readers which included a reading from Harry D in Year 9. His reading represented a sailor who survived the sinking of HMAS Perth.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Last Post followed by the Australian Anthem were performed.

Footy Colours Day

What a great way to finish off the school term! Lots of fun wearing our favourite footy colours! All money raised goes to the creation of a wellbeing garden. Thank you everyone for your support!

Year 4 Camp ‘Lady Northcote’

The Year 4 students thoroughly enjoyed their camp experience at Lady Northcote Camp. Lady Northcote ran a range of programs and activities that take advantage of the beautiful environment and the natural spaces around the site. From ‘challenge’ activities including the giant swing, archery and bike riding, water-based activities such as canoeing, and quieter activities like bush.

The activities were run by qualified program instructors who encouraged participants to experience personal growth, appreciate their natural surroundings and connect with the community.

Camps foster an appreciation, promotion and protection of the natural environment and fosters the development of a range skills such as:

Independence, self-reliance and responsibility
Interdependence, teamwork and collaboration
Determination, persistence and willingness to try new things
Respect and consideration of others

Staff and students had a wonderful time and have many cherished memories.

R U Okay Day 14 September

Our Primary School Captains, Mia and Akshaj, spoke from the heart about R U Okay Day at the Cumberland Assembly. Here is their speech:

Mia

Good Morning Cumberland students, teachers, staff and families.

This week is a significant week as we focus on the topic of R U Ok? Day which is held annually and this year, R U Ok? Day is held on Thursday 14 September. This year’s theme for R U Ok? Day is ‘I’m here to hear’. R U OK? Day encourages people to stay connected and to have discussions that may help those going through difficult times. R U Ok? Day is just simply checking in on those around you to make sure they are Ok!

Akshaj

Wellness encompasses a healthy body, a sound mind, and a tranquil spirit.

Wellbeing is very vital for human beings of all ages. Here at Aitken College, the wellbeing of our whole community holds a lot of importance to us. Make sure that you ask your loved ones the most important question today, R U Ok? to make sure they are doing great because just your care and concern may help them to get through their tough times.

When you ask someone, R U Ok?, the best four rules to remember are:

1. Ask R U OK?

When you ask, you should always make sure they are ready to talk because you do not want to make them feel overwhelmed or bombarded with questions.

2. Listen to them patiently.

By listening to what your mate is saying, it makes it easier for you to understand them and empathise with them.

3. Encourage action.

By encouraging action, you want to suggest ways to make them feel better or do something which may help and benefit the person you're talking to. 

4. Finally, Check in… regularly.

When you check in on your mate at regular intervals, you make them feel safe, included and loved. Your compassion gives them hope. 

Feelings of wellbeing are fundamental to the overall health of an individual, enabling them to successfully overcome difficulties. We all know that something like a simple conversation can make somebody’s day.

Mia

More importantly, while we talk about everyone else’s wellbeing, don’t forget to check in on yourself and to make sure that you are okay!

Just remember there are many people that you can talk to if you are struggling. You can talk to your parents, friends, teachers, councellors, family, medical professionals such as doctors and the list goes on. There is always someone that can lend an ear and who can help.

Moving forward, let’s not just focus on asking someone R U Ok? on one particular day of the year but asking them R U Ok? throughout the year. Let’s get in the practice of checking-in on those around us.

To promote awareness, here at Aitken College we don’t just have R U OK? Day - we have R U OK? Week.

Throughout the week, there will be activities around the topic of R U Ok? On Thursday there will be a lunchtime rock painting activity in the CPA plaza with music playing. This is open to all Cumberland students.

Akshaj 

Now that you know a little more about the meaning of R U Ok? Day, to finish off our presentation, we also have a video for you to watch around today’s topic of R U Ok? Day.

Thank you! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NQqB4OI4hc

Reflection from Community Service Captains - Harper G & Uvinyaa W

R U OK day is every day for someone to open up to you if they need it. It is also a day where you check in with friends, family or anyone, to let them know that you are here to hear. Today on R U OK day all primary students were welcomed to go and enjoy a disco, kindness rock painting, and chalk messages.

Mrs Natasha Radley (Head of Year Prep)

Well done to the Prep students for making it through this very long and busy term. The teachers are very proud of how much they have learnt and applied.

Footy colours day was especially fun. The students sang and danced to their team theme songs, dressed up in their footy colours and played footy outside all together.

R U OK? Day was a nice reflection for the Prep students to think about ways they can help their friends if they are feeling down or unsure of something.

I wish all families a lovely rest over the break. I look forward to seeing you next term.

Mr Jevon Scandrett (Head of Year 1 & 2)

It is hard to believe we have reached the end of Term 3! This has been an exciting and memorable term for students in Year 1 and 2. Staff and students have worked hard to continue achieving successful learning and growth. I would like to thank parents and families for their continued support.

This term the Year 1 students have devised and built their own communities as part of their learning in Integrated Studies. They have continued work with Mrs Williams in the STEM lab to program Beebots to work their way around the communities, learning skills in coding through this process.

Year 2 students completed their four-week swimming program this term. The program concluded with students learning how to navigate water when wearing clothing, preparing them for the unexpected. Year 2 students also took part in an incursion with DreamCity as part of their learning in Integrated Studies. DreamCity incursions are designed by experienced educators to provide quality, hands-on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) learning experiences.

I wish all students a safe and restful holiday, ready for an exciting final term of learning!

Mrs Anne Adams (Head of Year 3 & 4)

Looking back over this term, the students were offered so many learning opportunities in all shapes and forms. Tree planting as part of Sustainability Week, Orienteering, Book Week, Cumberland Concert and of course the Lady Northcote Camp. It is wonderful to see the students enthusiastically embrace new opportunities and flourish! On behalf of the Year Three and Four staff, we wish you a happy and safe holiday break.

I enjoyed orienteering. I was partners with Ashen and Christian. I really enjoyed being part of the scavenger hunt. We came fourth. It was fun running around with my friends. The concert was my favourite activity. I loved the dancing and costumes. Elijah M - 4M

During Book Week I dressed up as the goalkeeper from Real Madrid. His name is Thibaut Courtois from Belgium. I wore a dark blue soccer outfit. I had the book called ‘Courtois Rules’. William M - 4M

The Cumberland Concert was very good and fun. Our theme was called ‘Around the World’. Our class did ‘Men in Black.’ I dressed up as an alien. My favourite part was the space dance at the start. Nathan R - 4S

We planted trees along the creek. We had to dig the holes and sometimes it was really hard because there were roots in the dirt. We planted thirteen trees. We didn’t water them, but we did do some weeding. The trees will help with native moths. The flowers will attract the moths. Saige R - 4S

Book Week was last week. I dressed up as a soccer player. I dressed up as Messi. I kind of like reading the soccer books from the library but my favourite books in the Library are the cookbooks. I have made a pie from one of the books. Mum and dad loved it! Emily P - 4R

Mr Nigel Keegan (Head of Year 5 & 6)

Term 3 has been a full and exciting term! Learning experiences have been interesting and vast, both in and out of the classroom environment. Year 6 students were visited by the Royal Flying Doctors Service and played Earthcraft, Year 5 visited the Melbourne Zoo and participated in Kitchen Garden. All Year 5 and 6 students spent time with their buddies, engaged with hands-on STEM activities, participated in sporting activities within the Friday morning sport program, competed in House Orienteering, and were involved in the Performing Arts program culminating in a brilliant Year 5&6 concert. These experiences have complimented the excellent learning across the range of subjects from Art and PE through to Maths, English and Integrated Studies. Thank you to students and teachers for all your hard work this term, and to parents for your ongoing support. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday break!

A very big thank you to students, families and staff for another term of learning and fun! It has been an inspiration to see all the amazing teaching and learning that has taken place. Every week at the Fairview and Cumberland Assemblies, classes have had the opportunity to show case the excellent learning and the variety of activities that students have been involved in throughout the term. It is an absolute delight to see Fairview and Cumberland students get together during Assemblies and Chapel services to celebrate achievements and feel that special sense of community and connectedness.

I cannot thank our dedicated Primary staff enough for their time, commitment, and care throughout the term. We are all very proud of the hard work and positive attitudes demonstrated by the students.

The Primary staff and I wish you all a safe and relaxing holiday break and thank the students for their positivity and hard work. A special thanks also to the families for your ongoing support and trust in us.

May your holidays be filled with cherished family time and give you all a chance to feel refreshed and ready for Term 4!