Learning and Curriculum Primary - Stage 3
Year 5 Open Classrooms
We look forward to welcoming parents and carers to our Year 5 Open Classroom morning on Friday 19 June from 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM. As always, you are warmly welcome to attend Friday morning Mass, with Year 5 leading Mass this week. Please gather in the Powell Pavilion before being invited to your son’s classroom.
ICAS
This year, we are again pleased to offer our Year 5 and 6 students the opportunity to sit the ICAS English, Writing, Mathematics and Science Assessments. This is optional and parents/carers are invited to sign their son up.
These challenging competitions present real-world scenarios where students are assessed on their ability to apply classroom learning to new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. You can learn more about the ICAS Assessments at the following site: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas.
Parents/carers are invited to register and pay for their son to participate in either or all assessments by completing the following:
1. Go to the Parent Portal: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
2. Enter our school’s access code – FKS095
3. Enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
Registration and payment close on Monday 20 July 2026.
After payment is made via the Parent Payment System you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records. ICAS assessments will be run before school (approximately 7:30 AM) over a number of days in Term 3.
Student Work
Over the course of the term, Year 6 students have researched and prepared a speech for their chosen World Heritage Site. Please see below some of this student work as put forward by their class teacher:
Uluru (Samuel U – 6 Black)
Just imagine a place so ancient and sacred that has stood for millions of years. A place full of mysterious history and breathtaking beauty. What if such an extraordinary wonder was lost? This place has arid climate, desert vegetation zone, and has been a world heritage site since 1987 for its natural values and again in 1994 for its cultural values. It's located in Northern Territory of Australia and sits on the tropic of Capricorn with a mixed heritage. This is the amazing place in Uluru.
Shark Bay (Matteo S – 6 Blue)
Welcome to Western Australia, the place most people assume is desert wastelands but surprisingly has some coastal reefs. One of these coastal areas is Shark Bay, a bay so large it’s bigger than Wales. Yep, Shark Bay’s 23 000km2 worth of area beats a country in size. Located just south of the Tropic of Capricorn this natural World Heritage Site made its debut into the UNESCO books on the 13th of December, 1991. The fact that some people doubt whether or not it deserves its spot in UNESCO’s list is outraging because we’re forgetting it’s natural features, marine biodiversity, and mix of natural and human caused threats.
The Sydney Opera House (Jake B – 6 Green)
The Sydney Opera House rises from the edge of Sydney Harbour like a cluster of giant white sails drifting across the water. Its curved shells gleam in the sunlight during the day and glow softly against the city skyline at night. Surrounded by sparkling blue water, ferries and the towering Harbour Bridge, it stands as one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks but its status on the UNESCO World Heritage List is currently under threat.
Kakadu National Park (Mario Z – 6 Green)
Picture yourself standing before a radiant, glimmering freshwater landscape, framed by ancient terracotta cliffs and sweeping emerald wetlands. A powerful reminder that protecting this extraordinary and irreplaceable natural treasure is our responsibility for the future, Kakadu, this recognisable place, deserves our unwavering commitment to protect its beauty, preserve its cultural stories, and guarantee its enduring legacy for generations to come.
The Blue Mountains (Antonios M – 6 Orange)
Take a moment to imagine fresh mountain air that makes every breath feel cleaner and deeper. Forests older than human history, holding stories we have not yet discovered. Towering cliffs vanishing amongst clouds. Would you believe me if I told you this place is real? And some places are just too special to lose. Today I stand before you as a defender of one of Australia’s natural treasures, the Blue Mountains, and why it should remain a World Heritage Site.
We must protect the Blue Mountains as it has significant environmental, cultural and historical value, as recognised by UNESCO it is special for many reasons. Located in NSW, this region contains rare plant and animal species that live in ecosystems non-existent anywhere else in the world. Listed as a Natural World Heritage Site in November 2000, it now attracts millions of visitors to experience its distinct biodiversity. The Blue Mountains also hold deep cultural significance for its Traditional Custodians, who have cared for this land for thousands of years, highlighting the importance of preserving Indigenous heritage. In response, efforts are already in place, with UNESCO working alongside national and state government bodies to ensure its protection.
Daniel Fields Sarah Tatola
Head of Curriculum – Stage 3 Head of Teaching and Learning - Stage 3