Specialist Classes

Auslan

 Foundation

This fortnight, Foundation students have been learning to sign colours as well as revising learnt words and numbers up to 12.  It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm during class activities and when practising our Auslan songs:

1. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
2. Rainbow Colour Song

A favourite activity was the Elma Elephant colouring. Students had to follow the Auslan number and colour teacher signing and colour the signed colours to the corresponding number patch on Elma’s body. 

It’s been wonderful to see their growing confidence and enthusiasm as they engage in singing and signing in Auslan & colouring this fortnight.   

 Level 1

We have continued our Family unit where students have been practicing signing family words e.g. family, aunt, baby, brother, children, cousin, daughter, little, father (dad, daddy, pa etc), mother (mum, mummy, ma). WE have added new signs to the list with grandfather (pa, granddad, nonno etc), grandmother (nan, nanna, nonna, granny etc), sister, girl, brother, boy, cat, bird, dog, fish, turtle. They have practised their fingerspelling skills by signing the alphabet and fingerspelling a family word and their partner signing the family ‘sign’ back. Once again, students embraced the challenge of doing this in silence.

Level 2

This fortnight, students explored a wide range of feelings and emotions, including happy, sad, excited, angry, shy, worried, cold, hot, confident, embarrassed, full, sick, and emotions shown through actions such as crying, laughing, smiling, liking and loving. They practised recognising and expressing these feelings through signing, building both their vocabulary and confidence.

Students also developed their use of NMFs (non-manual features), using body language and facial expressions to clearly show each emotion, deepening their understanding of how meaning is conveyed in Auslan.

Library -Foundation & Level 1 

Foundation & Level 1 students have continued to demonstrate excellent manners and confidently follow our group plan during browsing and borrowing routines. They have been enthusiastic participants during story-time, sharing thoughtful predictions and ideas about the texts we read. It has been wonderful to see their growing confidence and engagement—well done everyone!

 A big, huge thank you to all of the parent helpers who have assisted during our Jnr library sessions.

Performing Arts - Foundation & Level 1 

Foundation & Level 1 students had one Performing Arts session this fortnight due to the King’s Birthday long weekend. During this session, students explored moving to the beat in a variety of ways, carefully listening as the tempo increased and decreased, and adjusting their movements to match.

Foundation students have continued to practise their action songs in preparation for the end-of-term celebration, showing great enthusiasm and engagement. They have also been learning the words to our National Anthem. 

Level 1 students have been developing their ‘body percussion skills’ when practising singing and playing body percussion movements e.g. clap, stop, tap legs, tap belly etc for the Five Speckled Frogs song. It has been wonderful to see that they have been continuing to build their sense of rhythm and coordination.

Students have used their knowledge of percussion to create an 8-beat body percussion sequence to play the Five Speckled Frogs song. Next week, they will continue to practise their sequence and then perform in front of the class. I’m looking forward to seeing their performances.

Science

Library - Senior 

Performing Arts - Senior

These Term 1 weeks are flying by in the Performing Arts room!

The Grade 2 students have been incredible listeners and participators while being introduced to rhythm notations and playing along to music they know with some percussion instruments. The students have also been learning about musical instrument families and where they belong in an orchestra. 

The Grade 3 & 4 students have been busy learning various rhythm notations from crochets to quavers to semi quavers and rests! We are now up to their self-composition tasks, where each student will perform in a group their very own rhythm work they’ve put together. These last couple of weeks will see everyone performing in front of their class on various percussion instruments!

The Grade 5 & 6’s have been working hard on learning multiple chords and strumming patterns on the Ukulele. Slowly but surely each grade is getting there will some 2 and 3 chord jams that are sounding fantastic! Hopefully very soon we are ready to play a whole song!

Production 

Auditions for the Gr 5 & 6 Production of Wizard of Oz will finish at the end of week 8. It has been a whirlwind of 4 weeks of auditions from some extremely talented, excited and eager students. It’s been amazing to see not only the talent, but courage from many students, who for many this was their first time doing something like this. Auditioning for a main role is a huge step and everyone should be very proud of their efforts. Over 90 students came to see me to try out for a part and I wish it was a show big enough so that everyone receives a part! I will have 3 dance ensembles plus the main cast and regardless of speaking roles, every 5 and 6 student will be in the show, performing a class song and dance with their grade. The chosen 40 or so cast will be hopefully decided this weekend, with the aim of the cast list going up next Thursday morning. 

Chookas to all who auditioned and think of me (Ms Jedrys!), as I have to make the difficult decision of who to choose!

The confirmed date for the production is yet to be green lit, but will most likely be mid-August, at Eltham High School, one night only. 

Thank you, and have a lovely weekend,

Ms Jedrys

Senior Performing Arts Teacher