Prep and Year 1 Visual Art Weeks 1 & 2

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to all of our wonderful Prep and Year 1 Visual Art families! It has been a fantastic start to Term 3, with students eagerly embracing new learning experiences and expressing their creativity through a range of exciting art activities.

Prep Bags 2027 Design Competition

The Department of Education is inviting young Victorians to showcase their creativity for the opportunity to design next year's Prep bags. The theme for the 2027 Prep Bags Design Competition is 'My Year of Prep'.

The winning artist's design will be featured on the front of the 2027 Victorian Government Prep bags, which will be given to thousands of students starting Prep at Victorian government schools next year.

Our Prep students will be taking part in the competition during their Visual Arts lesson in Week 4, where they will create and design their competition artwork in class.

If your child would like to enter the competition, they will bring their completed artwork home, along with the submission link. Families can then submit their child's design through the Department of Education website and include a short description explaining the inspiration or meaning behind their artwork.

The competition is run by the Department of Education and closes at 11:59 pm on Sunday 9 August 2026. For more information, please visit the Department of Education website:

https://engage.vic.gov.au/prep-bags-2027

Week 1 Celebrating NAIDOC Week

To begin the term, our students celebrated and acknowledged NAIDOC Week, learning about the rich cultures, histories and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Students listened to an Aboriginal story and explored the important role storytelling plays in sharing knowledge, culture and history across generations. Inspired by their learning, students designed their own boomerang artworks, using traditional Aboriginal symbols to create and communicate their own unique stories. It has been wonderful to see their creativity, imagination and thoughtful ideas come to life while developing a deeper appreciation and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and artistic traditions.

Prep Visual Art - Week 2

In Week 2, our Prep students continued to strengthen the connection between Visual Arts and their classroom learning by exploring the Prep team's Term 3 Central Idea: "We communicate our ideas, imagination and experiences through story." During our "All About Me Superstars" lesson, students discovered how artists can tell stories about themselves through their artwork. They created vibrant self-portraits and surrounded them with drawings of the people, places and things that are most important to them, including their families, pets, favourite foods, toys and hobbies.

It has been wonderful to see our Prep students proudly sharing their artwork and recognising that everyone has a unique story to tell. We look forward to continuing our storytelling journey throughout the term as students explore new and creative ways to express their ideas, experiences and imagination through art.

Year 1 Visual Art - Week 2

In Week 2, our Year 1 students continued to connect their Visual Arts learning with their classroom inquiry by exploring the Central Idea: "Knowing our community's past is important to inform the present."

As part of their "Then and Now Self-Portraits" lesson, students explored how life for children has changed over time. They compared similarities and differences between the past and present before creating self-portraits that reflected these changes. Through this learning experience, students discovered how artists can communicate ideas about history, identity and change, while thoughtfully explaining the artistic choices behind their work.

It has been wonderful to see our Year 1 students enthusiastically exploring the past through art and making meaningful connections to the present. Their discussions and creative artworks have demonstrated a growing understanding of how communities evolve over time and how art can be a powerful way to tell stories and share ideas.

Visual Arts Year 2&3

It has been a wonderful start to Term 3 in the Art Room! Our Grade 2 and 3 students began the term by celebrating NAIDOC Week,

learning about the rich cultures, histories and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Through class discussions and storytelling, students explored how First Nations artists use symbols, colours and patterns to share stories, express identity and dem

onstrate their deep connection to Country.

Students created their own Aboriginal-inspired artworks using repeated patterns, earthy colours and Australian animal designs while learning that every artwork can tell a meaningful story. It has been fantastic to see their creativity, curiosity and respect as they explored this important aspect of Australia's cultural heritage. We look forward to another exciting term filled with creative learning, new artistic techniques and opportunities for every student to express themselves through art.

Year 4 Art

Welcome back to another exciting term in Art! This term, students will be exploring a Clay and Pottery Unit while also learning about important cultural events, including NAIDOC Week.

In Week 1, students celebrated and learned about the significance of NAIDOC Week and explored Indigenous symbols that represent storytelling, connection to Country, and community. Students created colourful artworks using warm colours and Indigenous symbols to create meaningful works of art.

In week 2, students began their clay journey by learning about clay materials, safety expectations, and responsible classroom practices. They signed a Clay Safety and Behaviour Agreement and were introduced to the three fundamental clay-building techniques: pinch, coil, and slab. Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, students learned how to use materials responsibly and care for their workspace while developing the skills needed for future clay projects.

We look forward to sharing our creative clay creations and cultural learning experiences throughout the term.

Grade 5 and 6 Visual Art

Welcome back to Term 3! We have had a wonderful start to the term with students engaging in both a special NAIDOC Week activity and the introduction of an exciting new clay unit.

In Week 1, students participated in a NAIDOC Week lesson where they learned about traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art materials and practices, including the significance and creation of ochre paint. Using a colour palette inspired by traditional ochres, students painted on gum leaves, an important native Australian resource, before contributing their leaf to a collaborative artwork. The finished display is now proudly exhibited in the school office near the photography display, and families are warmly invited to stop by and take a look.

In Week 2, students began preparing for our new unit on hand-building with clay. They were introduced to the unique properties of clay and explored the foundational construction techniques of pinch, coil, and slab building through a series of practical challenges. These activities are helping students build confidence with the material as they prepare to design and create their own clay sculptures later this term.

WELLBEING

Dear Saltwater P–9 Families,

My name is Mrs. Qafzezi, and I am teaching Wellbeing across the Primary Years this year.

Our Wellbeing program is based on the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships curriculum, developed by the Department of Education. In addition to this framework, we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of every child by recognising their individual strengths, needs, and experiences, and helping them develop the skills to flourish both personally and socially.

Throughout the term, students will participate in engaging learning experiences that encourage them to develop self-awareness, build positive relationships, and strengthen their emotional wellbeing. They will learn to identify and manage their emotions, solve problems respectfully, make responsible decisions, and communicate with confidence and empathy. Students will also explore their personal strengths and values, helping them build resilience and a positive sense of self.

Our aim is to provide a safe, caring, and inclusive learning environment where every student feels respected, connected, and supported. By fostering strong social and emotional skills alongside academic learning, we hope to equip our students with the confidence and resilience they need to succeed at school and in everyday life.

Spanish

This semester, students from Prep to Year 6 have enjoyed their introduction to Spanish lessons. During the first few weeks, students have been getting to know the classroom routines, learning about the Spanish language and culture, and building confidence through fun and interactive activities.

Our youngest learners in Prep to Year 2 have already begun learning colours in Spanish. Through games, songs, crafts, and hands-on activities, students are developing their vocabulary while having fun using their new language skills.

It has been a fantastic start to the semester, and we look forward to continuing our Spanish learning journey with many more exciting topics and activities in the weeks ahead.

Science P- 6

Welcome to another exciting term 3 in Science! This term, students will engage with the four key areas of the curriculum: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Earth and Space Sciences. Learning will be closely connected to the IB Units of Inquiry, as well as integrated with literacy and numeracy to support deeper understanding across all learning areas.

Students will explore scientific concepts through hands-on investigations, experiments, and real-world applications. They will develop important inquiry skills by observing, questioning, predicting, and recording their findings. There will be a strong focus on developing scientific thinking, encouraging students to be curious, reflective, and critical learners.

Throughout the term, students will also learn about science as a human endeavour—understanding how scientific knowledge evolves and how it impacts our everyday lives and the world around us. They will be encouraged to work collaboratively, communicate their ideas clearly, and use appropriate scientific language.

Physical Education

Our students have made a fantastic start to Term 3 after a well-deserved holiday break. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, positive attitudes, and willingness to participate in PE lessons from the very first week back.

This term, students have begun developing their soccer skills through the Game Sense approach. This allows students to learn through modified games and game-based activities, helping them develop their skills, decision-making, teamwork, and tactical understanding in authentic game situations. Students have already shown great engagement and enthusiasm as they learn and apply new concepts on the field.

Athletics training has also commenced for students who were selected to represent Saltwater P-9 College at the District Athletics Carnival. Training sessions are being held on Friday afternoons as students prepare for competition. The District Athletics Carnival will take place on 4 August at the VU Athletics Track on Hoopers Lane. Families are warmly welcome to come along and support our students on the day.

We would also like to congratulate our Girls Netball Team, who represented Saltwater P-9 College at the District Competition this week at Altona Sports Stadium. While the team did not progress to the next stage of competition, they displayed excellent sportsmanship, teamwork, and determination throughout the day. They should be very proud of the way they represented our school, and we congratulate them on their efforts.

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