Teaching and Learning Areas

Foundation

We wanted to express our amazement at how far our students have come in their learning journey this year. It has been a pleasure to witness the growth of all students - whether academically or socially (or both)! Congratulations, Preps, on your first year of schooling. You did it!

A huge thank you to all the parents and carers that got involved - whether it was helping out in the classroom by reading with kids, walking with us to the Merri Creek or swimming, coming with us to the Zoo or Traffic School, contributing donations to our recycled play craft box, helping at the working bee, crafting fabulous outfits for 100 Days of Prep, or even just reading with your child each night. It makes a difference and we appreciate your support. 

Enjoy some photos of learning highlights from across the year, including when the ⅚ kids read their books to the Preps and vice versa.

Happy holidays and best of luck for 2026!

The Prep Teachers,

Arwen, Tori and Stef

Grade 1/2

This term the Grade 1/2’s Inquiry Unit was ‘From Farm to Table’. Once the students engaged in learning about the unit, they chose a food source to research and presented the process a food source goes through to get to their table. Students then created a keynote presentation with a partner to display their findings. They were very excited to be using technology to do this and it was amazing to see how quickly they picked up the skills they needed. It was also a great opportunity for some students to teach others how to incorporate images, transitions and other formatting options.  

We are so proud of our wonderful Year 1/2 students for all their efforts this year. It’s been amazing to see them grow socially and academically across the year. Thank you, families, for your support. And an extra thanks to all parents/carers who helped out with reading in class, excursions, walking to swimming, supporting fundraisers and all the other things that you do for our school community. Wishing all Year 1/2 students and families all the best for the summer break!

Year 1/2 team.

Grade 3/4

As we come to the end of an incredible year in 3/4 at Merri-bek Primary School, we want to celebrate the learning, growth and memorable experiences we have shared together.

Throughout 2025, our students have shown collaboration, resilience and a strong commitment to their learning. They have tackled new challenges in Phonics, Reading and Writing, as well as showing a growth mindset in Maths. 

Students have shown curiosity throughout the year during our Integrated Studies projects, including; 

- understanding how a growth mindset can help us become better learners and researching a famous failure in Term One;

- exploring how volunteers make the world a better place during our Civics and Citizenship unit in Term 2;

- learning about the geography and history of the Merri Creek and curating a book with information, poetry and art related to the creek;

- investigating the similarities and differences between Australia and a neighbouring country. 

Beyond the classroom, students embraced opportunities to explore, create and connect. Whether it was participating in whole-school events, engaging in hands-on STEM activities, or demonstrating leadership and kindness in the yard, our 3/4 students have contributed to a classroom community we are incredibly proud of.

We would like to thank families for your ongoing support, encouragement and partnership throughout the year. Your involvement plays a vital role in helping our students thrive.

We wish all families a safe, joyful and relaxing holiday break. Enjoy the time with loved ones, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year!

Grade 5/6

The 5/6 students have been deeply engaged in their Passion Projects and PBL maps, demonstrating impressive creativity, curiosity, and independence in their learning. They have been exploring topics that truly interest them, asking thoughtful questions, planning their inquiries, and finding creative ways to present their ideas. Through this process, students are building important skills such as research, problem-solving, collaboration, and reflection, while taking pride in owning their learning journey. As part of this work, students have been presenting their Passion Projects to their peers, confidently sharing their learning and showcasing their growing expertise in their chosen topics.

In their PBL maps, students have been carefully mapping different areas of the school, ensuring each section is clearly represented. They have applied their understanding of scale by creating custom measurements and have designed detailed keys and labels to help others interpret their maps accurately. This task has strengthened their spatial awareness, mathematical thinking, and attention to detail, while allowing them to creatively represent familiar spaces in a meaningful way.

Alongside their classroom projects, the 5/6s have also been thoroughly enjoying the swimming program. They have shown enthusiasm, resilience, and a positive attitude in the pool, developing their confidence and skills while supporting and encouraging one another.