Specialist News
BE INVOLVED, BE CONNECTED
PERFORMING ARTS NEWS
In week 6 the choir had an amazing guest. Sally from ASPA Education (Australian School of Performing Arts) came and taught us a whole new range of songs, techniques and a few games. It was lots of fun and we have great plans for next year.
STEM NEWS
Year 2 students have been making conveyor belts using the Makerspace materials.
Year 3 has been learning about magnets and making magnetic games.
Year 4 researched how different species have adapted to live in the harsh conditions of the Australian desert.
Years 5 and 6 have been learning about planets and stars. They researched facts about a constellation and then mapped it out. They then coded the Dash robots to visit each star.
SPANISH NEWS
YEAR 1 STUDENTS SINGING "TOMA TOMATE" DURING RECESS!
This week, our Grade 1 students had so much fun learning a popular Spanish game-song during recess: Toma Tomate! The game is played in groups, where students pretend to pass around an imaginary tomato while singing the lively tune. After singing the song three times, they clap someone else’s hand to pass the “tomato,” spreading laughter and joy.
You can see the students in action in this video: Watch here, and here’s the original song they learned: Toma Tomate song.
It’s a wonderful way to mix music, movement, and Spanish learning. Ask your child to teach you the game—it’s so much fun to play together!
IN THE CLASSROOM:
Prep: Students are learning the months of the year in Spanish and linking them to the seasons they’ve already explored. This helps them make meaningful connections between language and the world around them.
Year 1-2: Students are also crafting ''alebrijes'', colourful and fantastical creatures inspired by Mexican folk art. This creative activity introduces them to cultural traditions while sparking their imaginations.
Years 3–4: Students are writing sentences to describe their family members and their jobs, practicing vocabulary and sentence structures to talk about their loved ones.
Years 5–6: Older students are mastering the use of common Spanish verbs in different contexts, building confidence in forming sentences and expressing their ideas.
Our students have shown great enthusiasm across all year levels. Ask them to share what they’ve learnt and maybe even teach you a few words in Spanish!
Kind regards,
Señor Toni Canto Castello
Spanish Teacher & Prep / Year 1 STEM Teacher