Specialist News
Physical Education
And would you look at that, it’s already week 9.
We welcome the Preps into our PE classes! They have been working so well and positively with the Grade 1 students as develop their listening skills, understand how we play in the PE space and participate in our warm up games. The Preps - 2’s have been working on their ball handing fundamental motor skills; specifically catching and throwing as well as bouncing and rolling. Grade Prep /1 perform these skills in stations whilst Grade 2’s practice these skills in a mix of minor games and stations.
The 3-6 students have been working intensively through an Athletics unit. They have completed hurdles, relays, shot put, discus, triple jump and long jump. Their efforts and active participation has been great to see and they have worked hard to take on feedback to better their skills. We will have great athletes to represent Bittern at our Athletics Carnival which will happen in Term 3.
Within the PMP sessions, the Prep - 2 students have been working on balance and quick feet, balancing, rolling down a wedge, hula hooping and skipping. They have also worked on fine motor skills such as threading, pegging and completing puzzles. The students have worked well when transitioning through the events and having lots of turns before the timer goes off.
Health with Mrs Brenda has been very exciting! So far in our kitchen classes the 3 - 6 students have made pizza, zucchini slice, cookies and our very own Bittern Rainbow salad. We learned about using the oven, using the tunnel technique to cut an onion and how to read and follow recipes. Students worked with Brenda and myself and a handful of 5/6 students were challenged to work with their small groups to complete the cookie recipe.
In the health theory lessons, the students have chosen a recipe to cook at home and have started using catalogues to find the items and start our pricing list. I hope the 100 jumps a day challenge is still happening within your household!
The Summer Lightning Premiership is THIS THURSDAY! We are very excited about the day as the students have been training consistently and often setting up the nets without teacher assistance. It makes me so proud to see their leadership, responsibility and motivation to improve their skills and support each other. We wish our students the best of luck for the day, may they have fun, work together and listen and support one another. No matter what, we are already so proud of you.
Also congratulations to Maya and Alana who competed in the South Peninsula Division Swimming event. Thank you for representing our Division and performing to the best of your abilities.
Looking forward to sharing our achievements with you all in the next newsletter.
Mrs Berthet.
DIGI TECH
Students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 have been focusing on the safe handling and responsible use of digital devices, particularly when using iPads in the classroom. Lessons have included explicit teaching around caring for devices, such as carrying iPads safely with two hands, placing them carefully on desks, keeping food and drink away from devices, and ensuring they are returned to their charging stations correctly after use. Students have also discussed why technology needs to be treated with care so that it can be used safely and responsibly by everyone in the school community. Alongside this, students have been using the learning application Khan Academy Kids. This app provides engaging, age-appropriate activities that support the development of early literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills through interactive games, stories and creative tasks. Through the use of this program, students are learning how to navigate digital learning environments while building independence and confidence when using technology as a learning tool.
Students in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been exploring the safe and responsible use of their school email accounts. As part of these lessons, students have been learning about appropriate online communication, including how to write respectful emails, protect their personal information, and recognise the importance of responsible digital behaviour when communicating online. Students have discussed concepts such as digital footprints, online safety and why it is important to use school communication tools in a respectful and appropriate way.
In addition, students in these year levels have recently commenced using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of programs. Through these tools, students are beginning to explore a range of digital creation skills, including graphic design, visual storytelling and multimedia production. This learning allows students to move beyond simply consuming digital content and instead begin creating their own digital products, helping them develop creativity, problem-solving skills and an understanding of how digital media is designed and presented. Over time, students will build their confidence using these tools while learning how digital technologies can be used for creative expression, communication and the presentation of ideas.
These learning experiences aim to ensure that students not only develop practical technology skills, but also understand the importance of digital safety, responsibility and creativity when working in online and digital environments.
Mr. D
Auslan (Australian Sign Language)
Our students have been enthusiastically building their Auslan skills this term, with a strong focus on developing confidence, fluency and expressive communication. As part of this learning, we have revisited the Australian National Anthem in Auslan, giving students the opportunity to refine their signing, improve their handshapes and movements, and perform with greater accuracy and expression. This work supports students in strengthening their ability to communicate meaning clearly through sign.
In addition, students have begun learning the signs for the chorus of “We Are Australian.” This has been an exciting way to connect language learning with music and performance, while also exploring Australian identity and inclusion. Students have been practising the sequence of signs, working on timing with the music, and supporting one another to improve their fluency and confidence.
It has been wonderful to see the effort and persistence students are showing during these sessions. They are working incredibly hard to develop their Auslan skills, and they should be very proud of their progress. We are looking forward to seeing their continued improvement and sharing their learning.
Visual Arts
Our Visual Arts program has been full of creativity and exploration across all year levels this term!
Our Foundation/Year 1 students have been busy discovering a range of materials while building important fine motor skills such as cutting, drawing, and control. They have explored colour and colour mixing, applying their learning to create vibrant self-portraits that reflect their growing confidence and creativity.
In Year 2, students have been developing their understanding of expression through self-portraiture. Using a variety of materials of their choice, they have focused on shape and shading to represent their features and emotions in thoughtful and creative ways.
Year 3/4 students have been inspired by Australian artist Pete Cromer, and are now putting the finishing touches on their bold animal artworks. They designed and printed their own collage papers before carefully assembling them into striking animal compositions. Alongside this, students have been exploring value scales, learning how light and dark can be used to create the illusion of 3D form in their artwork.
Our Year 5/6 students are also finalising their self-portraits painted in the negative space. By incorporating art elements, stencils, and paint pens, they are completing detailed and expressive works that demonstrate both technical skill and individuality.
It has been wonderful to see students across the school developing their artistic skills, confidence, and ability to express themselves through visual arts.
🌿 Wominjeka Festival – Community Connection 🌿
We were proud to represent Bittern Primary School at the recent Wominjeka Festival, held on Saturday 14th March at Emu Plains Reserve in Balnarring.
Our Bittern Primary School stall was a wonderful success, showcasing a vibrant exhibition of student artwork and celebrating the creativity across our school. Visitors enjoyed viewing the diverse range of pieces on display, highlighting the skills, techniques, and artistic growth of our students.
The festival provided a meaningful opportunity to honour First Nations perspectives and strengthen our connection with the wider community through art. It was fantastic to see so many families and community members engaging with our work and supporting the arts at Bittern Primary School.
We would like to thank our students and parent volunteers who helped make the day possible. A special thank you to the O’Dwyer family, Heyblom family, and Antoniou family for their support—your contributions helped make the day such a success.
Mrs Roberts