UPA

It is hard to believe we are at the end of the year already! It feels like our journey together in UPA has just begun. We all have had a great year in UPA and have had lots of fun and many experiences together.

This Term, students have been exploring our Discovery Unit, How Can We Collect Earth’s Resources? This has been a science based inquiry with lots of hands-on learning to experience and explore the materials and forces that shape the world around us. Students have enjoyed the various activities like rolling objects down a ramp, creating marble runs, exploring the equipment on the playground and learning about a Windmill to understand the forces like gravity, friction and resistance that affect motion. It’s amazing to watch this learning unfold and to see students ask ‘how’ and ‘why’ to further their interests in the world around us.

A major highlight this term was the Year 4 and 5 'Big Day Out,' where students enjoyed a day full of fun and excitement, along with a few challenges along the way. The weather was perfect, contributing to the overall success of the day. The event was not only about having fun but also about building stronger connections among the students, as they supported one another through each challenge they faced.

Students continue to build on their social skills in the classroom and in the community. They have been working on developing their communication abilities, such as active listening, expressing themselves clearly, and understanding non-verbal cues. They also focus on collaborative skills, including working effectively in group settings, resolving conflicts, and respecting differing opinions. Furthermore, students are learning to engage in positive peer interactions, demonstrate empathy, and manage emotions in social situations. These skills are essential for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment both inside and outside of the classroom.

Wishing Brody, Cassie, Hadi, Abdul, and Lillian all the best as they embark on their exciting journey into Secondary School! May this new chapter bring you success, growth, and unforgettable experiences. Best of luck to each of you in all your future endeavours!

Happy Holidays to you all and a safe and relaxing break.

Jodi and Jasmine

UPB

In Term 4, we had so much fun exploring the scientific world of materials, motion and forces! We learned how things move through many hands-on activities and experimented building the boats to hold more animals. On top of that, we also had our Big Day Out in the Enchanted Adventures, where students experienced physics in action through outdoor games.

I am so impressed to see the students gaining more confidence and building new skills throughout the year.

A big thank you to Stefanie for her unconditional love and support for all students.

Have a fabulous holiday and see you again in 2025!

UPC

What a wonderful year it has been for UPC, it is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. This term, students have been involved in a range of exciting, engaging and inspiring experiences that have supported and extended their knowledge in a range of learning areas.

To begin the term, the students' patience finally paid off as they were able to access our new Upper Primary Courtyard! This has been an exciting space for students to explore while also being able to support learning throughout our Discovery topic focusing on motion.

UPC have engaged in a range of hands-on activities and adventures, including fortnightly language experiences, a visit to the Melbourne Zoo, practising and performing at our Concord Community Concert, as well as being able to attend the Concord 50+1 birthday celebration.

This term, we had the opportunity to celebrate our Year 6 student’s at the 2024 Graduation Ceremony, as our graduates begin a new and exciting chapter in their lives, as they continue on their schooling journey into Secondary school.

Every student in UPC has worked extremely hard over the entire school year, each one is a valued member of the classroom community and has built positive connections with others, strived to achieve their personal best, while also developing their independence and demonstrating resilience. It has been a pleasure to teach all the students in UPC.

I wish them all the best and hope in the future they look back on this year with fond memories and happiness.

UPD

Term Four has proved to be a jam-packed term with exciting and authentic learning opportunities at every turn. During our Discovery Unit the students have been immersed in language experiences that have ignited their creativity and developed curiosity about the Science topic "How Can We Collect Earth’s Resources?" The students have investigated the forces that occur in everyday life by participating in practical activities, such as exploring the playground to identify materials used in play equipment and examine forces such as push and pull and the effect of friction. The students also enjoyed making their own parachutes and paper planes to investigate the force of gravity.

In Maths this term, the students have revised concepts about Place Value and participated in hands-on activities to learn about Measurement, in particular estimating and measuring items to establish their length. They have measured classroom items using informal units such as cubes and counters and formal measurement tools such as 30 cm rulers and metre rulers.

The students have enjoyed all the Christmas festivities such as the Christmas Concert and our end of year excursion to the Royal Melbourne Zoo. They are relishing the time to finish off the year with all their friends. Students who are transitioning to Secondary School have been excited about their Graduation.

I would like to thank Sarah and Mark for all their hard work and dedication in supporting the students of UPD.

Thank you as well, to all the families associated with UPD. I have valued your wonderful support throughout the year.

I am so proud of all eleven students this year and celebrate all their amazing achievements. I wish them all the very best for their future schooling.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday season!

Debbie Jermyn

UPE

This year has been a wonderful journey filled with memorable events and significant accomplishments at UPE.

A highlight was Footy Day, where students and staff proudly supported their favourite team colours and participated in various skill activities. Another standout event was the Big Day Out, which saw Year 4 and 5 students exploring mazes and tubing down slides. The Year 6 students were lucky enough to go to camp in Phillip Island and spend their days on giant swings, go karting and seeing penguins. Finishing off the term with an excursion to the Melbourne Zoo.

We have also celebrated several achievements, both big and small, that have made this year special. Our students have demonstrated exceptional progress in their academic and social learning, earning recognition for their hard work and dedication. Additionally, we’ve been delighted to welcome a new classmate and staff member to UPE. The introduction of a brand-new courtyard has been very exciting, providing a vibrant and inviting space for students to gather, learn and play.

It has been an absolute joy working with the valued members of UPE this year. The collaboration and support from students, staff and parents have been instrumental in creating a positive learning environment. As we look forward to next year, we have worked hard to be prepared and confident when facing the new challenges ahead.

Thanks to all the students for being a part of this amazing year and we can’t wait to see what the next year will bring.

UPF

This term, our Discovery Unit focused on How We Collect Resources, with hands-on activities exploring materials, forces, and motion. Students engaged in exciting experiments and investigations, deepening their understanding of how the world works.

Some of our students worked hard preparing for their Year 6 Graduation—a wonderful milestone! Meanwhile, our Year 4 and 5 students had a blast at the Big Day Out, enjoying a day filled with fun and teamwork.

We wrapped up the year with an unforgettable excursion to the Melbourne Zoo, celebrating our learning and achievements together. What a fantastic way to finish Term 4!

UPG

As we head into the final term of the school year, our students have been fully immersed in their Discovery Unit, How Can We Collect Earth’s Resources? This Science-based inquiry has provided an engaging platform for exploring the materials and forces that shape the world around us. Through a series of hands-on activities and the study of mentor texts, students have expanded their vocabulary and deepened their understanding of the forces that affect motion, from gravity to friction. One of the key highlights was a practical investigation where students explored the Upper Primary Playground to identify the materials used in the play equipment and analyse the forces involved in their operation. This real-world application of their learning helped to bring their classroom knowledge to life.

Beyond the classroom, we had a fantastic Year 4 & 5 excursion to Arthurs Seat. It was an action-packed day that encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and physical challenges. Students took on fun mazes, tested their bravery sliding down a giant hill, and enjoyed the beautiful views. It was a memorable day that brought our school community closer together, with plenty of laughter and new experiences.

Our students were busy preparing for the school concert. They practised their performances with great enthusiasm, and were excited to showcase their hard work.

Our Year 6 students were excited for their graduation, with mixed emotions as they prepare to transition to the next chapter of their educational journey. It's a time of reflection and celebration, as they look back on their achievements and the friendships they've built over the years.

The excursion to the Melbourne Zoo was a wonderful way for our students to wrap up the year, combining learning with fun and giving them a chance to connect with wildlife in an exciting, hands-on way.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Thomas, our Class Captain for Term 4, for his leadership and positive attitude. He has done a great job supporting his peers and setting a strong example for others. Similarly, a big congratulations to Charlie, our SRC Representative for Semester 2, for her dedication to improving our school community and representing the student body with pride. We are proud of the leadership shown by both Thomas and Charlie.

It’s been a fantastic term, filled with learning, adventure, and growth.

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, we are excited to make the most of every moment and celebrate the accomplishments of all our students.

UPH

Term 4 has sped by in UPH! We’ve loved investigating forces and motion through different language experiences. We’ve tested how different objects move on different surfaces, such as toy cars and tennis balls on smooth ramps and rough fake grass, and experimented with push and pull using play equipment in the Upper Primary Courtyard. Our favourite activity was building houses out of different materials for little pigs to shelter from the big bad wolf. We discovered that some materials are sturdier than others, and that wind can be a powerful force.

In maths we’ve been working on counting and adding numbers, some of us can even represent numbers up to 1,000! We’ve been manipulating concrete materials such as MAB, bundling sticks and unifix blocks, as well as identifying patterns on 100’s charts and number lines. Measurement has also been a hit in UPH, we’re becoming experts at the difference between tall, short and long. We even learnt about hefting, where you compare the weight of two objects using just your hands.

Everyone has been trying hard with their reading and writing skills, making progress every day. We know our pure sounds, we can do the Chitter Chatter Chant with our eyes closed and we’re gaining fluency with our speed words.

Congratulations to John, our Class Captain, and Baylee, our SRC representative for this term. Thank you for repping UPH!

Kirsten Telford

Leading Teacher

Wellbeing and Engagement

ALLIED HEALTH

Upper Primary

Issue 4 · 17 Dec 2024

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