News from our Specialists
Senior Art
It has been a wonderful start to the year in the Art Room, with students in Years 3–6 settling in enthusiastically and already showing great creativity. To begin the term, all classes participated in a whole-school collaborative project, creating unique line portraits. Students explored how different types of lines can express personality and detail, and it was fantastic to see the individuality in every artwork. These portraits will soon be displayed together in the main corridor near the office, celebrating our school community and welcoming families into the year with a colourful visual display.
As the term continues, our Year 3/4 students will be developing their drawing skills through one-point perspective. They will learn how artists create the illusion of depth and space, practising techniques to make their artworks appear more three-dimensional and realistic.
Our Year 5/6 students are beginning an exciting exploration of the art element line. They will experiment with ways to create a variety of effects using a single tool, building technical skills and confidence in mark-making. Students will then apply their learning to design and create their own “Willow Pattern” inspired plates, combining traditional influences with their own creative ideas.
Performing Arts
Hello Donvale Primary School community!
My name is Emma Ranson, and I am so excited to be joining your vibrant community this year as your Performing Arts teacher! I am so pleased to have the opportunity to continue supporting your children in their musical journey through primary school. I'm an experienced teacher (having taught both specialist and generalist classroom for many years) and look forward to learning from, and with, the many talent musicians I am already discovering here at Donvale.
I love making music, playing instruments and singing in my choir, Concordis Chamber Choir (find us on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube!) and spending time with my cheeky cats, Koda and Piper.
I have been enjoying learning many new names and faces already this term and look forward to continuing this over the coming weeks. Donvale students and I have been working together to create our vision for Performing Arts lessons, giving students of all ages a chance to have their voice be heard, and their ideas considered.
Stay tuned for more Performing Arts and Music news coming soon!
Mandarin
Welcome back to 2026 and 大家好 (Da jia hao)! Hello everyone!
As we begin a new school year, students will be immersed in a range of engaging Mandarin learning experiences. With the commencement of Lunar New Year celebrations in Term 1, students across all year levels will explore new topics while developing their language skills and cultural understanding.
Foundation
From Week 2, Foundation students will commence full-day attendance. As this is still an important settling-in period, lessons will initially focus on helping students feel comfortable and confident at school. They will begin with the “Hello Song”, using both English and Mandarin songs to gently develop familiarity with classroom routines and sounds of the language.
From Week 3, students will then begin the Numbers topic, learning numbers from 1 to 10 using Chinese number finger movements. Number Songs will be used to support engagement and to help students become more confident with basic Mandarin pronunciation.
Grade 1/2:
Students in Grade 1/2 will explore the topic of “Months of the Year and the Four Seasons”, building on their prior learning from previous years. Through a range of oral activities, students will practise talking about their birthdays and understanding others’ birthdays in Chinese, further developing their confidence in speaking and listening skills.
Learning will be supported through songs, including “Jì Jié Gē” (Four Seasons Song) and the Chinese version of the Birthday Song, allowing students to engage with the language in a fun and meaningful way.
Grade 3/4
This term, Grade 3/4 students will be introduced to the topic of Chinese Zodiac Animals, offering a deeper exploration of Chinese culture. They will learn interesting facts, traditional stories, and personality traits associated with each zodiac sign, and practise expressing their own zodiac sign in Chinese.
To complement classroom learning, students will also take part in an outdoor activity playing jack stones, a traditional Chinese game that combines fun with skill, helping to reinforce teamwork and cultural understanding.
Grade 5/6
This term, Grade 5/6 students will explore general facts about China, with a focus on geography. They will learn about major rivers, famous mountains, key cities, and neighbouring countries, marking them on maps to develop a clear understanding of their locations.
In addition, students will investigate Chinese celebrities, including contemporary film and sports stars, allowing them to connect language learning with their personal interests. Outdoor cultural activities such as jack stones and Chinese hacky sack will also be included, providing opportunities for active learning and enjoyment of traditional Chinese games.