As we come to the end of Term 2, it is time to reflect on the many learning opportunities our students have experienced. Our classrooms have been busy with activities that have encouraged experimentation and curiosity, assisting our students in staying engaged and motivated with their learning programs. We have continued to place a strong emphasis on student wellbeing and engagement with activities designed to encourage students’ readiness to learn, ability to self-regulate, and to demonstrate the expectations of Respect, Responsibility, Learning, and Safety in their everyday learning and interactions. It is so good to see students using the strategies they have learned to communicate and support themselves and each other in their learning journey.

The Discovery Unit, "What is Community" has offered numerous opportunities for students to explore the concept of community across various contexts such as family, school, and the broader community. Students have investigated group dynamics, local landmarks, essential services, and the diverse roles that community helpers have within communities. Classes visited the Discovery Centre, where they were able to dress up as their favorite community helper and pose in front of the green screen with workplace backgrounds to make the experience even more authentic. There were teacher, firefighter, doctor, nurse, police, and soldier costumes available. As you will see in the photos, the results are most impressive and very realistic. The students can’t wait to visit the Discovery Centre again, with so many interesting activities to explore and stimulate curiosity and learning. It was evident from the photos, projects, creative writing, artworks, and the students’ ability to ask and answer questions about this unit that they have learned a great deal throughout the learning process.

All students have engaged in shared experiences such as everyday happenings, common school experiences, classroom events, or hands-on activities to develop and extend their oral language and ability to create ideas that can be recorded. These ideas have been as simple as a drawing, a single visual symbol, or moving on to writing words and sentences to create a response. A range of visual supports, including aided language displays, communication devices, photos, and technology, assist the development of students’ oral language and ability to comment and recount these experiences in their own way.

Students also participate in rotational activities on a Tuesday or Friday afternoon. A range of activities including Science, cooking, directed drawing, PE, and Art.

It was wonderful to see so many of our mothers, grandmothers, fathers, and special people join our Mother’s Day celebrations. These celebrations created great excitement for our students, and they worked very hard to get everything just right for their special visitors. Students followed instructions to plan how to host visitors coming into their rooms and used their money skills when choosing gifts from the Special Person’s stall. Each classroom entertained their guests in different ways and with different activities, which showcased the work that the students had completed to make the day a memorable one for those visiting.

Students were so excited to attend weekly tennis lessons conducted by Topseed Tennis again this term. The activities were fun and students worked on hand-eye coordination and tracking skills along with forehand and volley strokes. They absolutely “love” playing tennis and being involved in this program. If you would like to consider tennis, Topseed Tennis has several locations. The club in Epping also has funding on Thursday afternoons until the end of the year if you would like your child to have a go.

As we reach the end of this productive term, the Lower Primary staff would like to acknowledge just how much each student has achieved, particularly the way they are using strategies to guide and support their own learning journey. Well done to everyone!

Enjoy the holiday break with your children,

Kath

Discovery Centre

LPA, LPB, LPC

This term LPA, LPB and LPC have been very fortunate to participate in a four-week tennis unit conducted by Topseed Tennis. Our coaches Yvonne and Deon have provided lots of fun and engaging activities for us to work on and improve our tennis skills. We have practised how to forehand, smash and our favourite was a high volley which we learnt as a Hi-5. Lots of hand-eye and tracking skills have also been worked on. We practised balancing and rolling a ball on our racquets and little taps to the floor and in the air. The students have also learnt racquet care and played some fun games. Our connections with the ball and racquet showed big improvement by the end of the four weeks. The students have shown lots of focus and love for this program, being a highlight for most students each Wednesday or Thursday afternoon. If you would like to consider tennis, the club have several locations. Their club in Epping also have funding on a Thursday afternoon until the end of the year if you’d like for your child to have a go.

LPB Travel Guides

Exploring Japan This term, LPB students embarked on a virtual journey to Japan through a slideshow and information session based on my travels to Japan this term. Together, we explored the Japanese culture, history, and modern life. We looked at photos of geishas, traditional kimonos, formidable Samurai, ancient castles and shrines, the Japanese language, and food. The highlight for many students was discovering Japan is the place of Pokémon, DragonBall Z, Nintendo, and the mighty ninjas and warriors. One of our students had recently visited Vietnam, sparking an interesting discussion on the similarities and differences between Japan and Vietnam. Students were also very happy to receive a pen and magnet all the way from Japan. Here is what our budding travel experts had to say about Japan: Tyrone: "Japan is a rich country. "Jack: "Japanese ladies use fans. "Abbey: "In Japan, they make origami. They fold paper. "Mohamed: "DragonBall Z is from Japan. "Marlina: "They have pandas in Japan. " Kaleb: "Japan is a rich country. They are very good at folding paper. They have Cherry Blossoms. Japan has good quality food." After our discussions we unanimously decide to give Japan 5 stars!

LPE, LPF, LPG

Students in LPE, LPF and LPG participate in Tuesday afternoon rotations each week. Students participate in science, art and sport. In Science, students have had fun observing chemical reactions. They have made a volcano erupt, a lava lamp and made lunch bags explode! In Art, students have been learning about textures and different print techniques. They used leaves to create some beautiful Mother’s Day gifts. In Sport the focus has been on team skills such as co-operation and turn taking.

Students are highly engaged in these sessions and eagerly look forward to them each week.

LPH, LPI

LPH and LPI classrooms were buzzing with excitement during Week 5 of Term 2 as we prepared for our much-anticipated Mother’s Day/Special Person’s Day celebration. Our young students spent the entire week making heartfelt gifts for their mums and special persons. Each child crafted a hand-painted canvas bag, a personalised photo frame, and a colourful marbled mug. The results were nothing short of special, showcasing the children’s vibrant imaginations and personal touches.

The celebration took place on Friday afternoon, welcoming mums and special persons into our classrooms. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy as everyone participated in a variety of fun activities. One highlight was the hands-on craft session where families made necklaces and bath salts together, creating beautiful keepsakes to take home. Colouring and crafts further brought out the creativity in both kids and adults, while the photo booth added a playful and memorable touch to the afternoon.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the parents and special persons who joined us and helped make this day unforgettable. Your presence and participation were the highlights of the event and meant the world to our students.

As we conclude this term, we look back on this event with fondness and gratitude, celebrating the love and creativity that define our LPH and LPI community.

LPD, LPJ, LPK

This term, students in LPD, LPJ and LPK have participated in a range of weekly language experiences to develop their oral language skills. Students have engaged in different activities including decorating gingerbread men, planting bean seeds, musical bottles and making caterpillar kebabs. The students have enjoyed these hands-on activities and looking at their photos for writing the following week to support their recall of the experience. Aided Language Displays and communication devices have also supported the students to recall a given experience and exposed students to targeted vocabulary. We are looking forward to participating in more weekly language experiences in Semester Two!

Art

In the ART Room Term 2 students have been exploring a range of learning experiences using paint. They explored colours and shapes using a range of techniques such as finger painting, spraying, rolling, brush and water colour painting. Students created artworks while enjoying the tactile and sensory element of art. Students were able to celebrate and create a gift to share with their special person. In the art room garden students enjoyed digging in the dirt, raking autumn leaves and learning about worms in the worm farm.

Safe and happy holidays to all from Kris.

Library/Music

Lower Primary students have been super engaged in the library program this term learning about the “Seven Continents of the World”. We watched videos, read books, looked at PowerPoints and even had a wonderful multicultural incursion to help support our learning. Some of our favourite parts of learning this term included singing the 7 continents song and dancing to various multicultural music during our Jungle Shimmy incursion. The students worked hard to complete a workbook which will come home with them at the end of the term. Please take time to have a look and celebrate their library learning.

Dates to Remember

Term 3