Year 5/6 News

Learning Lifesaving Skills at Monash Aquatic Centre 

By Mahdiya Hasan

Thursday, November 6th, 2025, was not just another regular school day. It was a fantastic excursion to Monash Aquatic Centre with Radhika, Precious, and Tina! The excursion was all about water safety and lessons about lifesaving in the water. We hopped on the bus at 10:30 a.m. When we arrived, we were divided into four groups. All the groups had different schedules; we had four activities. We first learned how to save someone if they were drowning in the water. In the activity, we talked about what we would use to save someone. Some people said floaties, pool noodles, ropes, etc. Then we got into pairs, and our teacher taught us how to throw a board onto an object in the water so the person could reach it. One of our partners jumped into the pool, and we tossed them a board to help them swim back. After that, we all went into the pool and learned how to rescue someone using a rope. Once we finished that activity, we enjoyed some time swimming. We first started with freestyle. Most people got it, but some needed help. Then we also did backstroke. After that activity, we went to the wave pool, where we balanced on small surfboards. Everyone was struggling because the waves were uneven. Lastly, we learned how to wear and use life jackets. Then we went back to school. Overall, everyone’s favourite activity was wave pool surfing!

The Journey to Becoming a 2026 Student Leader

By Nabiha Ekram 

For the past few weeks, Year 5 students have been preparing their expressions of interest for the role of Student Captain for 2026. There were three main stages in the process. 

The first stage was presenting our speeches in front of the Year 5/6 students. This took place on Friday, the 24th of October. The students who received the greatest number of votes in this stage then moved on to the second stage: the interviews. We participated in a panel interview with Sue, Precious, and Kathie the following week, on Friday, the 31st of October. The interviewers then decided which students would move on, or be “shortlisted,” for the third stage - presenting speeches in front of the Year 3/4 students. The third stagetook place on Friday, the 7th of November. The shortlisted Year 5 students presented their speeches in front of the Year 3/4 students, who then voted for the students they wanted to be the school’s 2026 student leaders. 

Weeks of preparation, perfecting our speeches, and encouraging one another have all led to the moment when the 2026 captains will be announced. I think I speak on behalf of most of the Year 5 students when I say that we are all very excited and just a little nervous! 

Level 5/6s Building Sustainable Cities 

In the 5/6s, we have been exploring our exciting topic, “Sustainable City.” Over the past few weeks, we have been learning about the different elements that make up a city and how we can design them to be environmentally friendly and efficient. 

In Week 1, we explored edges and landforms, learning how natural features like rivers, hills, and coastlines can shape the way a city develops. In Week 2, we looked at districts and suburbs, discovering how different areas serve different purposes, such as residential, commercial, or recreational spaces. Week 3 focused on tessellation parks, where we studied how parks and green spaces can be designed to fit together efficiently while benefiting the environment. In Week 4, we explored landmarks, learning how important buildings and monuments can define a city’s character and attract visitors. By Week 5, we were investigating transportation, considering how people move around a city and how sustainable transport can reduce pollution and traffic. 

With all of this knowledge, we are now preparing to start building our own sustainable cities. Each student will have the opportunity to put their ideas into action, applying what we have learnt about landforms, districts, parks, landmarks, and transportation. Later this term, we will have a public showcase, where we can proudly share our creative and thoughtful cities with others. We are excited to see how all of our planning and learning comes together in these imaginative projects! 

Grandparents Day: A Celebration of Love and Culture 

We had a wonderful time celebrating Grandparents Day with the special grandparents who visited our classrooms. They shared stories about where they came from - including places like Colombia, India, Italy, and more. 

The 5/6 students were fascinated to learn about the different cultural recipes grandparents cook at home, and they especially loved learning how to count from 1 to 10 in different languages. 

A beautiful moment was when many students noticed similarities between the numbers in their grandparents’ languages and their own family languages, helping them feel proud and connected to their cultural backgrounds. 

It was a heartwarming day filled with stories, learning, laughter, and love across generations. 

Learning Angles Reasoning with Paper Clocks 

The Year 5/6 students have been exploring angles and how to measure them accurately. To make learning hands-on and fun, students created their own paper clocks and explored the angles formed by the hands of the clock at different times. 

By carefully measuring the angles, students practised using protractors with precision and developed a stronger understanding of acute, obtuse, and right angles. This activity helped them see how angles appear in real-life situations- like telling the time and made the concept much more tangible. 

Students also challenged themselves by calculating angles between the hands at unusual times, which encouraged problem-solving and critical thinking. Through this interactive activity, the class has been building confidence in measuring and working with angles while making Maths engaging and hands-on. 

It’s been fantastic to see students excited to apply their skills in creative ways, and they can’t wait to tackle even more angle challenges in the coming weeks!