Specialists News

Sport/Phys Ed News

Sandhurst Division Swimming Championships

Last Friday we had 8 students from Grades 3-6 represent the school at the Sandhurst Division Swimming Championships at the Bendigo East Pool. 

The students competed against the best swimmers from across central Victoria. The standard of competition was very high and our team is to be congratulated for both their individual achievements, and for the way they conducted themselves throughout the day.

One of the highlights of the day was the performance of our 2 relay teams, both of which had competitors swimming outside their age group. Our Boys and Girls teams finished 5th overall against quality opposition. We also had some outstanding individual swims, with a number of our students recording personal best times.

I would like to thank the parents/carers for their support of the students on the day. I would also especially like to thank SEDA student Harry Rashleigh for helping as an official timekeeper.

Congratulations Daphne!!! 

A very big congratulations to Daphne B from 5/6 Garmey/Staley for her recent achievements at the Paddle Victoria Canoe Sprint (State) Championships held in Nagambie. Daphne came first and claimed the title of state champion in her individual 200m and 500m events, mixed doubles under 12 200m & 500m and the under 18 mixed relay events. Daphne also claimed silver in the women's under 14 doubles in the 200m and 500m events. Daphne will now go on to represent Victoria at the 2025 Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint (National) Championships in Sydney from the 12-16 March. Well done Daphne on this amazing achievement and we wish you all the best for Sydney. 

Senior School Athletics Sports

The Senior School Athletic Sports (Grades 3-6) will take place on MONDAY, March 24th at the Flora Hill Athletics Track on Retreat Road. It will be an action-packed day, full of sporting fun. Students will participate in their age groups and complete in eight events with an optional 800m at the end of the day. The events are; 100m, 200m, shot put, discus, high jump, long jump, triple jump, hurdles and 800m (optional). 

Students will walk to the track from school with their teachers and the first event will begin at 9.30am. They need to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Students are to come in their uniform as normal and they will receive a coloured vest to participate in that will represent their House Colours. The students must also bring a cut lunch, snacks and plenty to drink. There will be no canteen facilities. 

Consent for this event needs to be done online via the Compass Parent Portal. There is no cost. Parents and spectators are most welcome to attend. Further information (including a timetable of events), will be sent home via Compass in the coming weeks.

Auslan News

Prep students have been learning Auslan colour signs, including: Red – Yellow – Pink – Green – Purple – Orange – Blue – Black – Brown – Grey – White – Gold – Silver. 

Prep students have been using velcro paint palette colours on a laminated board to practise recognising and interpreting the colour signs. They have also been learning to sign their colours through a song in sign: “I can sign a Rainbow!” The children have enjoyed using the coloured ribbons while learning the song and practising signing. Here are a couple of pictures from the Prep rooms:

Grade 1-2s have been revising signs for fruits: apple – avocado – banana – strawberries – blueberries – grapes – lemon – orange – pear – pineapple – watermelon. 

(Additional signs students may like to practise at home for this topic: tomato – apricot – mango – coconut – cherries – peach – plum, and fruit salad.)

Grade 1-2s are learning to sign sentences using fruits and colours. They are interpreting the signs for love/like/dislike, putting fruit that Mrs R loves/likes into her picnic basket and discarding fruit Mrs R dislikes into her organics bin!! The children have been demonstrating very good recall of signs previously learned for fruits and colours in this activity as they interpret simple sentences!

Grade 3-4s have been practising Greetings and Everyday signs for use in conversations.

Greetings: Good Morning/Afternoon/Night – How are you? – I’m Good/Bad/Okay – Hello, my name what? – Good to see you – Good to meet you!

Everyday signs [2] – Revise the signs for everyday use: Stop – Go – Come – Wait – No – Yes – Finish – Again – Please – Thanks – Stand – Sit – Toilet     

Students have practised interpreting these signs through a whole class activity matching Auslan picture cards to the English word translations, and then in a team sign challenge to interpret what Mrs R was signing to gain points for their team. There were some very competitive G3-4s that were super keen (& fast!!) to get their hand up to interpret! Well done Grade 3-4s! 

G5-6s have been revisiting Wh…? Question signs, including: Who? – What?  – Where? – When? – Why? (& Because) – How? – How many? – How much? – How old? – Which?

Students watched a short interview with a young Deaf lady who was awarded Young Australian of the Year 10yrs ago due to her passion for Auslan and her dream to see Auslan incorporated into the Australian Education Curriculum as a language for students to learn in the LOTE programs in schools. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEDBIA5oDJo

Each of the G5-6 classes engaged in some very valuable discussions about the key points in the interview, gaining great insight into what it is like for a Deaf person to really embrace their identity in the Deaf community.

Students then came up with 6 interview questions for a famous person of their choice, to practise signing the Wh…? Question words.

Mrs Riordan.