Specialist News

Performing Arts

Our Yellow Bus Journey

What a journey we have had in Performing Arts this term! Our Yellow Bus has travelled all over Australia, with students helping to choose the destinations along the way. We have visited snowy mountains, rainforests, beaches, theme parks, famous landmarks and many other places, using our imaginations to explore what we might see, hear, feel and experience there.

Along the way, students have been learning how movement, sound, music and drama can turn a simple idea into a performance. They have worked with partners and groups, tried out ideas, watched each other perform and discovered that sometimes a small change can make a performance much more interesting for an audience.

Every lesson has begun with Palya Palya, the Luritja greeting song I brought back from my time teaching at Haasts Bluff. It has become a lovely way for us to come together as a Performing Arts community, and our Year 3/4 students will sing Palya Palya at our final assembly this Friday.

Our Yellow Bus journey isn't over yet! Next term we will begin bringing together some of the ideas students have created this term and developing them towards our Performing Arts Showcase. The final performance won't be something that has simply been written for the students to learn. We are hoping it will grow from their own ideas, choices and creativity.

There is still plenty to discover, create and refine before our Yellow Bus reaches its final destination!

Physical Education

What a fantastic Term 3 we have had in PE!

Over the past six weeks, the main curriculum focus for all students from Foundation to Year 6 has been AFL football. Foundation and Year 1/2 students established and consolidated their drop punt and marking skills, while students in Years 3–6 continued to develop their drop punt, marking, handball and ball-bouncing skills. All students enjoyed participating in AFL-focused activities throughout the term, and it has been very rewarding to see so many students gain confidence and competence when handling an AFL football.

Looking ahead to Term 4, the main curriculum focus will be cricket. Health will also be a focus, along with simple team games and the development of students' understanding of rules and tactics.

On Monday 24 September, students from Years 3–6 represented our school at the Oakleigh District Athletics Carnival. It was a fantastic day, and all students were excellent ambassadors for our school. We placed 6th overall out of eight schools, with many students achieving outstanding results.

Congratulations to:

• Ofa Asa, who won the 11-year-old girls' 100m and 80m hurdles and was a member of the second-place 11-year-old girls' 4 x 100m relay team.

• Saudah Abdulsalam, who won the 12/13-year-old girls' high jump.

• Katerina Achladi, who won both the 10-year-old girls' shot put and discus.

• Sofia Sharwin Opekkha, who won the 11-year-old girls' discus and was also a member of the second-place 11-year-old girls' 4 x 100m relay team.

• Alessandro Ravi-Pinto, who finished second in the 12/13-year-old boys' 80m hurdles.

• Saarah Zaman and Vira Mulyadi, who were members of the second-place 11-year-old girls' 4 x 100m relay team.

All of the above students have qualified for the Monash Waverley Divisional Athletics Carnival, which will take place on Wednesday 7 October. Congratulations on qualifying, and we wish you all the very best.

On Friday 11 September, 10 girls and 10 boys will represent our school at the Year 5/6 Oakleigh District Tennis Hot Shots Tournament at Clarinda Tennis Club. Team members have been training during Year 5/6 sport, recess and lunch breaks. Congratulations and best of luck to all participants.

On Wednesday 14 October, 10 girls from Years 5/6 will represent our school at the Monash Waverley Divisional Volleyball Competition, which will be held at The Rings in Ringwood. The team has been training during Year 5/6 sport, recess and lunch breaks. Congratulations and best wishes to the team.

On Friday 30 October, 10 boys and 10 girls will represent our school at the Year 3/4 Oakleigh District Cricket Blast, which will be held at Princes Highway Reserve (East and West). Trials for both teams will take place during the first week of Term 4, with training sessions occurring during Year 3/4 sport in the lead-up to the event.

I would like to remind families of the importance of providing consent and payment for events via Compass by the advertised due date. If consent and payment are not received by the due date, unfortunately your child will be unable to attend the event.

During Term 4, any student who does not have a school hat displaying the school logo will not be able to participate in PE, Year 3/4 Sport or Year 5/6 Sport unless the lesson is held in The Huddle.

Finally, all students are required to bring a water bottle when participating in PE, Year 3/4 Sport, Year 5/6 Sport, or any sporting event where they are representing the school.

I hope all students and families enjoy a safe and relaxing Term 3 holiday break. We look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready to give their best in PE throughout Term 4.

Visual Arts

It’s been a fantastic Term 3 in the Visual Arts Classroom, and it has been wonderful getting to know all the friendly students and staff here at CNPS!  Our Foundation students have been learning about the colour spectrum, creating beautiful rainbow artworks while exploring the colour spectrum and how the colour wheel represents it. They have also created ‘Crazy Hair’ portraits, inspired by the abstract artwork of Jackson Pollock. 

Our Year 1/2 students have revisited the elements of line and shape, and explored artificial intelligence, inspired by a storybook about a robot who discovers art. Their imaginative robot creations have sparked great conversations about technology and creativity, and it’s been wonderful to see their thinking develop. 

Year 3/4 students have been putting the finishing touches on their animal face collages, and the results are incredible - full of texture, colour and character, with a great nod to the natural world. They are now beginning their 2D bird sculptures which we will share next term.  

Finally, our Year 5/6 students are making great progress on a botanical unit inspired by Australian artist, B Twomey, exploring organic shapes, lines and textures found in plants, vines, leaves and flowers. It’s a beautiful blend of art and botany, and a lovely way to round out a very creative term.