Term 3 has been full of action! Between gala days, Athletics Day, SRC initiatives and buddy time, there’s been plenty to celebrate. Of course, our core business of maths, reading, writing, spelling and ERPs has kept us busy too. The Year 5/6 cohort has grown closer than ever, with new friendships blossoming along the way. Here are some of the highlights:

Wakakirri:

Well, what a night it was! Our story Caught in the Web, chosen by last year’s 5/6 students, tied perfectly into this year’s Wakakirri theme Mind Over Matter: Tales of Inner Strength. After months of practice, our students danced and acted their hearts out, sharing a powerful message. In Erin’s words, it was about “the negative impact that social media has on children’s mental health and the fact that people should embrace life offline rather than online.”

We couldn’t be prouder. Not everyone is a natural performer, but every single student gave it a go. Many also poured their creativity into the artwork for our projection and props – and those efforts were recognised with awards! Although we didn’t make it through to the state awards, we were nominated in both the Social Media/News and Health/Wellbeing categories and were highly commended.

Carlton Respects Program:

We were lucky enough to have Harriet Cordner, a member of Carlton’s AFLW team, visit our school and run a wellbeing program with the 5/6s. She spoke with the students about managing emotions, positive coping strategies, being an upstander, challenging stereotypes, and the values and respect that come with being part of a team, as well as how to put these into action. It was an engaging and inspiring session that linked beautifully with our school values of Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Reflection and Relationships.

Book week and Dance-a-thon:

Organised by the wonderful Ms Sozzi, Book Week was once again a brilliant showcase of our students’ creativity and enthusiasm. The Book Parade filled the day with colour and imagination, as students (and teachers!) arrived in costumes that brought favourite characters and stories to life. It was a joy to see such a wide range of books celebrated across our community.

And just when we thought the day couldn’t get any bigger, the Fundraising SRC pulled off Armadale Primary’s very first Dance-a-thon! Planned and run by Chloe, Issy, Bowen and Hugo, this fundraiser was entirely student-led and an absolute hit. With sponsors backing every song, the school grounds were buzzing with energy as the kids danced their hearts out. Their efforts raised almost $12,000 for our school grounds, an incredible achievement and a true testament to their leadership and initiative.

In-class learning:

While big events have kept us busy, so much of the magic this term has happened in the classroom. In Maths, Reading, Writing and Spelling, our Year 5/6 students have been tackling challenges, building skills and sharing their ideas. One of the real strengths of this cohort is how they work together, learning with and from each other, celebrating successes and supporting when things get tricky. It’s been wonderful to see collaboration at the heart of our learning, with students growing not just as individuals, but as a team.

ERP- Big Idea

ERP Wrap-Up (Science Focus)

This term, our ERP focus has been science, and what an incredible range of ERP and actions came out of it. Some students designed and presented inventions that showed how scientific knowledge can solve real-world problems, while others chose to raise awareness of environmental issues such as rising sea levels, deforestation and the impact of human activity on ecosystems. The creativity, research and passion behind these projects were inspiring, and it was fantastic to see students using their voice to make a difference.

New Big Idea Launch (History & Geography Focus)

We’ve now launched our new Big Idea:

Australia’s identity is shaped by its location, key historical events and changing population over time.

Together, we’ll be exploring three driving questions:

How has Australia’s location influenced how people live here and connect with the world?
Which historical events and movements of people have most shaped Australia’s identity?
How is Australia’s identity still changing, and what role do we play in shaping its future?

So far, we’ve explored Australia’s location in the world. We’ve also started unpacking the rich and continuing connection First Peoples have with Country, through stories, art and maps. Next, we’ll be looking at first contacts and colonisation, investigating the different perspectives of Aboriginal peoples and English settlers, and the lasting impact this had on life and the environment.

This unit is all about curiosity and big conversations, with students learning not just the history of our nation, but how identity continues to be shaped today.

Thank you for your continued support,

Jenny and Luca.

Jenny.Kourkouvelis@education.vic.gov.au

Luca.RuddSievers@education.vic.gov.au

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