Specialists Updates and Celebrations

Mandarin (Prep)

In Week 7, Prep students began their new unit on Nursery Rhymes in Mandarin, which concluded in Week 9. Throughout this unit, students learned basic Mandarin greeting phrases such as hello, goodbye, and thank you. They also learned to sing familiar nursery rhymes including “Two Tigers” (Are You Sleeping?), “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, and “London Bridge is Falling Down”, with accompanying actions. This engaging approach supported students in building confidence with speaking and listening in Mandarin through music and movement.

Physical Education (Year 1 and 2)

During PE this week, Year 1 and Year 2 practiced their passing and receiving skills in netball. We first practiced the different types of passes (chest, bounce, overhead and overarm) with a partner. After, we played a small group game where we passed the ball around a square. We then made this harder by changing direction and also followed our pass. Finally, we played a target end-zone game. Each team had a ball and had to pass and receive the ball before getting to an end-zone. Every time they reached the endzone, they received one point. Well done everybody taking part in PE this week!

Music (Year 3 and 4)

Our theme in the grade 3 and 4 music program this term is Pop Music. Students are learning about the key the characteristics of the genre and how is created.

All work done on instruments has been pop based. Including the material covered and the skills learnt. 

For the first half of the term, we focused heavily on percussion. During the second half of the term our main instrument is the ukulele. Students will work towards playing well known pop music on the ukulele.

Visual Art (Year 5 and 6)

This term, the Year 5 and 6 students have each been focusing on a different Element of Art. Year 5 students have been learning about Form (3D shapes), while Year 6 students have been exploring Space, the area around and between objects in an artwork.

This week, the Year 5s learnt about the famous artist Alberto Giacometti and his sculpture Walking Man. They used tin foil to create their own ‘Walking Man’ sculptures, bringing their understanding of 3D form to life. Meanwhile, the Year 6s learnt about the concept of a vanishing point, the spot where lines come together in the distance. They applied this knowledge by creating their own aquarium artworks.

Both Year 5 and 6 students worked hard and had a lot of fun creating their pieces!

Library

Secondhand books 

SMPS library is seeking book donations from the following series:

• Dork Diaries
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Ella Diaries 
• Where’s Wally 

If you have any of these books in excellent condition, please drop them off at the office. Your donations will be greatly appreciated.

Please note: This is a specific request to fill gaps in our collection due to many of these books going missing or being damaged. No other books are being accepted at this time.