Welcome to Art for Term 2

The Art Room has been buzzing with creativity throughout Term 2, with students across all year levels demonstrating outstanding enthusiasm and engagement in their learning. Students have embraced opportunities to experiment with new materials, techniques, and artistic ideas while developing their confidence as artists. The quality of work produced this term has been exceptional and reflects the imagination and dedication of our young learners.

Our Prep students have been exploring the exciting world of printmaking through foam block printing. They learned how to create designs using line, shape, and colour before producing their own mono-colour monster prints. Students developed fine motor skills, printing techniques, and an understanding of the Elements of Art.

Students in Grades 1 and 2 have been inspired by the work of Joanna Osborne, creating vibrant neurographic artworks that incorporated Indigenous-inspired dot painting techniques. They explored pattern, colour, line, and texture while developing control and precision through dot application. In their second unit, students began learning about Jean-Michel Basquiat and explored street art-inspired mark-making techniques to communicate ideas and emotions.

Grade 3 and 4 students have immersed themselves in Indigenous Australian art, learning about the meanings and uses of traditional Indigenous symbols. They investigated contemporary Indigenous colour palettes and experimented with a variety of painting techniques to create their own artworks.

Our Grade 5 and 6 students have been studying the Indigenous Australian seasons and creating stunning glass mosaic artworks inspired by these seasonal cycles. They explored how Indigenous communities observe environmental changes throughout the year and used this knowledge to inform their designs. Throughout the unit, students developed skills in planning, pattern creation, colour selection, tile placement, and mosaic construction techniques.

CHECK OUT OUR WORK IN PROGRESS...

Welcome to Music for Term 2

Strummin' and Drummin'!

Choir kicks off!

Our EPS Choir had their first public performance, singing Roar at a mid-term assembly. And Roar they did, as numbers have swelled since. We look forward to our second performance in early Term 3! Choir is free to join for all students (with a particular focus on Grade 2-6, but it is funny to listen to the Preps make up words as they try to sing along!) and Louise MacGregor has them sounding amazing!

Weeroona Band Visit

Grade 3–4 students were lucky enough to be the audience for not one, two or three, but four bands one afternoon. Weeroona Secondary College's Brass, Soul and Rock bands played alongside Epsom Primary's very own Senior Band, with each band performing two songs. It was great to have our band display their skills to the high school students, and for the high school students to play such a wide variety of genres and instruments for us. Special thanks to Weeroona's Music Co-ordinator, Chris Blackshaw, for helping organise the afternoon.

Grade 3-6

Term 2 revolves around our Independent Instruments program, where each student selects two of our five main instruments (Keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele and Drums) and spends five weeks intently learning songs and skills on them. From simple three-chord songs to the speed and calamity of the opening riff to Metallica's Master of Puppets, students have attempted a wide range of styles and difficulty levels.

Grade 3-5 students use our custom made website with video lessons designed by me to guide them, learning at their own pace and at a level that is personally challenging for them. Grade 6's also have this option, but are encouraged to expand their selections, learning songs of their own choice and applying skills learned over the journey, becoming far more independent in their learning. Just as they would have to do at home, they not only have to be able to decipher and understand the musical concepts, but determine whether their selection is within their current capabilities.

Grade 1-2

We have continued our emphasis on beats and bars and keeping time. This term, we have looked at rhythmic patterns, including those with rests to create space. We have experimented with changing rhythm patterns within songs and attempted to have two groups of students play different but complementary rhythms simultaneously.

Students used this knowledge to play several student suggested songs on the boomwhackers, as well as playing other well known songs in our Keyboard/Xylophone/Boomwhacker rotations.

Students worked in small groups to experiment and compose basic rhythms, with the focus on being able to adjust to make a rhythm work, and to have a student "count-in" to ensure they started in a synchronised fashion.

We are also looking at how to "anticipate" in music, using our body and internal counting to know when to start and stop playing based on the beats within a piece of music.

Grade Prep

Preps have continued to learn the basics of Music and how to use their body and instruments to reflect this. They have continued to establish their understanding of beat and are improving every week. They have learned about "tempo" and how it can dramatically change how we feel about a piece of music. Students have just started learning about "dynamics" (volume of a sound) and are learning about protecting our hearing, as well as measuring sounds of common and uncommon sound sources to see if they are safe or unsafe.

We have and will continue to play drama games to establish a sense of community and develop resilience, teamwork and understanding how to work with others. Students have played games that are designed to show them that losing is okay, and that the fun is in playing the game, not winning the game.

"Switch" is always a hit, with students incorporating the concept of "dynamics" (they need "outside voices" for this game), Rock-Paper-Scissors, and communication to problem solve and keep the game fun for everyone. I must say, there are some interesting hand gestures that get thrown about in the heat of battle!

Physical Education

Physical Education in Term 2 has been very eventful, with students across the school continuing to develop their skills, participating in school events, and competing against other schools in the region.

Cross Country

Earlier this term, students across the school trained for our cross country event, focusing on physical and mental strength. Excellent results were achieved, with many students achieving personal best efforts. This differed from student to student, with some running amazing times, others jogging for most of the distance without walking or stopping, and even for some, just getting out there and trying their best was a huge success.

From this event, we saw 17 students take on all of the other schools in the Sandhurst Division at the Bendigo Racecourse. Austin McGrath, Hunter Kelly, Zara Ware, and Riley Fawcett all qualified for the Regional Final at St Arnaud, achieving an Epsom record of four students moving on further. All did an amazing job against our region's best Primary School runners. However, a special mention goes to Austin, who finished 11th - just one place and 2.01 seconds away from qualifying for the State Event. Well done, Austin!

Athletics (3-6)

Although none of the Athletics events went to plan, many students achieved growth and success. Our school event was cancelled due to wet weather, so we held Athletics events within PE classes and a few extra hours throughout the week. A big thank you to the students for understanding the situation and giving most things a good go. We were all set for 48 students to represent the school at our Cluster Athletics event; however, the weather again canceled the event. Stay tuned for the rescheduled date. Students in Grades P-2 have had their Athletics moved to Term 4 in hopes of more pleasant weather, and the 3-6 event next year will be held in Term 1. Fingers crossed!

Junior Physical Education

Our Junior classes have developed fundamental skills, in particular movement and kicking. Throughout the term, students built these skills by participating in rotation activities, group games, and skill-based tasks.

Senior Physical Education

As well as preparing for cross country and athletics, students worked on strategies within minor games, teamwork, and understanding and developing correct techniques through video analysis. Effort and mindset have improved, and I am looking forward to a great Term 3.

P-2 Swimming Program and 3-6 Gymnastics Program

Students in Grades P-2 will be attending swimming lessons at Swimz Bendigo, developing their swimming technique, water safety skills, and confidence in the water.

Students in Grades 3-6 will head to Jets Gymnastics Bendigo, where they will practise balance, coordination, strength, and body control through a variety of equipment and activities.

Divisional Soccer

Selected 5/6 students were chosen to represent the school in the Division 2 Soccer Competition. Our girls' team were excellent on the day, achieving a range of results, highlighted by a nail-biting win in the last game. Huge growth was displayed by all, along with many laughs and smiles. Our boys' were crowned champions, securing the event with a 3-0 win in the final. The effort, determination, and skill were clear for all to see, even as the fatigue set in. Although not all success is measured by trophies, it was great to see our students experience the "winning" feeling. Thanks to Keegan Smyth and Dean Hartland for coaching.

Important Upcoming Dates

We have a very busy term in regard to these events. As always, please keep checking Compass and our school calendar.

TBC: Cluster Athletics
Week 3 (27th - 31st July): Prep-Grade 2 Swimming Lessons @Swimz
Week 3 (29th July): Division Netball
Week 5 (10th - 14th August): Grades 3-6 Gymnastics Lessons @Jets Gym
Week 8 (4th September): Division Basketball
Week 10 (14th September): Division Athletics

It has been fantastic to see students demonstrating enthusiasm, effort, and teamwork across all of our PE activities.

Lincoln Jacobs

RRRR and Healthy Bodies.

RRRR (Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships)

This term, students in Prep to Grade 2 have been exploring a range of important social and emotional learning topics through our RRRR program. Students have participated in engaging activities and discussions focused on Positive Coping, Problem Solving, Stress Management, and Help Seeking.

Throughout these lessons, students have been learning to identify and understand their emotions, develop strategies to manage and regulate their feelings, and practice ways to calm themselves when faced with challenges. They have also explored problem-solving skills, including how to work through everyday situations, make positive choices, and be kind, inclusive friends.

As part of our learning around stress management, students have investigated what stress can look and feel like, how our bodies respond when we are stressed, and strategies we can use to support ourselves and others during these times. Students have also reflected on activities that bring them happiness and help them maintain positive wellbeing.

Our Help Seeking topic encouraged students to recognise when they may need support, identify trusted adults and friends who can help them, and practice ways to seek assistance when needed. Students also explored how they can support others who may be experiencing difficulties.

It has been wonderful to see students developing their confidence, resilience, empathy, and understanding of how to build positive relationships with others.

Healthy Bodies – Perceptual Motor Program (PMP)

In Healthy Bodies, students have been participating in our Perceptual Motor Program (PMP), where they rotate through a variety of fun and engaging activities designed to develop fundamental movement skills and physical confidence.

Through these activities, students have been building their balance, coordination, agility, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills. PMP also provides opportunities for students to practice listening to instructions, taking turns, problem-solving, working cooperatively with others, and persevering when tasks become challenging.

Students have thoroughly enjoyed the variety of rotations and have shown fantastic enthusiasm, determination, and teamwork while developing important movement skills that support their learning, health, and wellbeing.

Introducing our new specialist area... Green STEM

This term, our Years 3-6 students have launched into our exciting new Green STEM Specialist Program, combining science, technology, engineering and mathematics with hands-on learning in the Green Nest and our dedicated Green STEM Classroom.

Please go to Sustainability to learn more about what our Year 3 - 6 students did in our new specialist area, Green STEM.

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