Primary School Update

Strengthening curiosity, connection and joy at Friends’ Primary School

This year at The Friends’ Primary School, our learners—from twelve weeks to twelve years—have engaged in a tremendous journey of growth, learning, and joyful discovery. Across our inclusive and diverse community, students have demonstrated the qualities of our Learner Profile: they have been curious thinkers, compassionate collaborators, courageous communicators, and reflective inquirers. Whether exploring new ideas, developing independence, or learning through play and shared experiences, our students have shown that growth happens best when we learn with and from one another. It has been a year marked by curiosity, connection, and fun—a year we are proud to celebrate.

Quakerism

Throughout Term 4, our Primary School Quaker Gatherings have reflected on queries created by our Year 6 students, alongside the World Quaker Day theme of 'Love Your Neighbour' and our whole-school theme of Active Hope. We considered ways to 'love our neighbours' and ensure hope for everyone during this busy last Term of the year, while sharing gratitude for the year we have had. In preparation for next year, our Year 1 students began attending Gatherings as a whole year group, sitting on chairs rather than the floor, and their reflections in the silence have been thoughtful and moving.

During Grandparents and Older Friends Day, we held two Gatherings attended by many visitors and their younger friends. Those grandparents and friends who attended expressed their gratitude at experiencing this important part of our school.

Teaching and Learning

Friends’ Early Learning

This year has been alive with extraordinary, playful research projects unfolding across our Friends’ Early Learning spaces. In Waratah and Starlight Groups, children and teachers have journeyed together through the boundless creativity of drawing and storytelling, honouring the ways children make meaning, express wonder, and bring entirely new worlds to life. Their ideas have been lovingly gathered into special project book publications that families will be invited to enjoy and cherish at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, in the Rose and Nest rooms, our educational teams have been weaving together beautiful documentation capturing the growth, friendships, and unique connections blossoming within and between the children in their care. Together, these publications offer a stunning reflection of deep pedagogy and purposeful, community-centred practice—an inspiring reminder of how powerful learning becomes when curiosity is nurtured, voices are valued, and we learn alongside one another.

At the heart of this work lies an approach deeply aligned with our Quaker testimonies, where simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship are honoured through everyday interactions. By slowing down to listen deeply to children’s ideas, nurturing gentle relationships, and creating spaces where every voice matters, we enact these values in tangible and meaningful ways. The Reggio Emilia approach enriches this further, offering a curriculum where inquiry, collaboration, and creativity become vehicles for living our testimonies. Through shared projects, co-constructed knowledge, and the celebration of each child’s unique perspective, our pedagogy becomes not only a method of teaching but a lived expression of who we strive to be as a community.

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

This year, the OSHC team has purposefully listened to student voices, using observations and feedback to shape a program that meets the diverse needs of all children. Older students have enjoyed sewing projects and complex board games, while younger learners have been deeply engaged in building and creating with boxes and open-ended materials. The program has also sought meaningful ways to connect with the wider school community, including making cards for patients at Calvary Hospital—an activity that invited empathy, service, and creativity.

As the weather warms, the focus will shift towards outdoor exploration. Students will have increased opportunities to play, discover, and interact across the broader school environment, with planned activities in the kitchen garden, the Revell Centre gym and pool, and the Bell Street grounds. The team looks forward to fostering rich, active, and joyful experiences for all children in the coming months.

Kindergarten to Year 6

Participation in Research—Thinking About Teaching and Learning

Across our Early Learning and Primary years, teachers’ engagement with research has strengthened practice, deepened reflection, and enriched the learning experience for every child. The Kindergarten team’s participation in the National Preschool Outcomes Measure trial through the Australian Council of Educational Research has offered invaluable insights into supporting early learning progress and assessment.

Alongside this, our Early Childhood and Kindergarten teams’ involvement in a project with Murdoch University exploring ecological literacy has expanded both teacher capacity and children’s connection to place, nurtured through our weekly FEL walks and Earthcare visits. Meanwhile, Prep–Year 6 teachers have engaged in a research initiative focused on the impact of daily review in mathematics, alongside trialling a new numeracy screening tool to better identify and respond to learner needs.

These research partnerships strengthen our pedagogical foundations and ensure that our practice remains thoughtful, responsive, and evidence-based, ultimately benefiting the children who inspire our work each day.

Throughout the year, all Primary teachers have engaged in focused professional learning on mathematics teaching and learning. New assessment tools were explored, and there was a deep dive into the use of concrete materials to support student learning. Year 5/6 teachers explored practical teaching strategies with Peter Liljedahl on creating a “thinking classroom,” supporting students to think mathematically in multiple ways.

Classroom programs have reflected upon student agency and citizenship, with some units reconsidering skill development to allow students to exercise their agency and become active citizens.

Programs Highlights

Prep Art Exhibition

The Prep Art Exhibition celebrates children’s creative responses to the ideas they have explored throughout the year. Each artwork reflects the ways our program of inquiry honours children’s innate creativity and capacity, embracing their unique perspectives and giving agency to their voices. In Term 4, the teaching team invited children to consider the art of exhibition itself. With curiosity and confidence, they stepped into the roles of collectors, designers, and curators, planning, refining, and installing each piece for families to experience at the Grand Opening on Wednesday 26 November. The resulting exhibition was a testament to the impact of our playful inquiry programs and to the wonderful thinkers our children have become—an inspiring reminder of the power of creativity, collaboration, and authentic learning.

Year 2 Musical

A highlight for Year 2 students was their participation in the musical Eddie the Penguin Saves the World. Every Friday afternoon in Terms 3 and 4, under the direction of music teacher Suzi Gillespie and accompanist Kathy Fazackerley, the children rehearsed with joy and vigour. As part of the PYP unit of inquiry How We Express Ourselves, they developed confidence and courage to perform and communicate an important environmental message. Their focus and commitment paid off, resulting in an entertaining, fun, and foot-tapping production. The professional lighting by Brandon Van Den Broek added an extra level of excitement, and families were delighted to see their children shine on stage.

Year 3/4 Expresstivale

This year introduced the Year 3/4 Expresstivale, an opportunity for students to explore different forms of self-expression. Year 3 focused on movement and dance, presenting their learning with enthusiasm, while Year 4 reflected deeply on making ideas come to life through creative processes, resulting in a diverse range of presentations.

Athletics Carnival

The Primary Athletics Carnival took place on Wednesday, 29 October, at the Domain Athletics Track. In perfect weather, our Year 3–6 students excelled across a wide range of track, field, and novelty events. Adding to the excitement, Year 2 students joined for a preview, running on the track, cheering for their houses, and soaking up the carnival atmosphere in preparation for next year. Congratulations to all competitors for their enthusiasm and commitment. Final results: Ransome 942 points, Mather 854 points, Unwin 843 points, Hodgkin 732 points.

Camps

In Terms 3 and 4, students from Years 3 to 6 enjoyed memorable outdoor experiences designed to build independence, resilience, and teamwork.

• Year 3 explored the Alum Cliffs to Kingston Beach on a day walk and enjoyed a sleepover at The Farrall Centre, relishing their first night away with friends.
• Year 4 attended Orana in Roches Beach, enjoying paddling, sand sculptures, the commando course, orienteering, and preparing meals.
• Year 5 travelled to Orford for a three-day cabin camp, experiencing rock climbing, low ropes, the commando course, and the flying fox, with gratitude, empathy, and positive mindset woven throughout.
• Year 6 embraced a rugged camping experience overlooking the South Arm Peninsula, learning tent setup, beach and swimming activities, and completing a scenic walk to the labyrinth, fostering independence and resilience.

Across all year levels, these camps and sleepovers offered rich opportunities for personal growth, connection to country, and joyful outdoor learning experiences that will be fondly remembered.

Looking Forward

As we bring 2025 to a close, we look ahead with optimism, focusing on growth, renewal, and creating the conditions for another remarkable year of learning, joy, and community. Our deepest thanks go to the exceptional staff whose dedication makes the education we offer not only possible but inspiring. To those moving on, we extend heartfelt best wishes for the opportunities ahead; and to those continuing with us, we look forward to another year of shared purpose, connection, and possibility. Together, we step into the new year ready to learn, grow, and thrive.

Mark Febey - Head of Primary School (Early Learning to Year 6)