Foundation News

This term, students have been learning to read decodable books, which use the sounds that we have learnt. We have also been listening to our teachers read high-quality picture story books that help us build our background knowledge and learn about what makes a good story.

Ways you can support your child learn to read at home:

Read your child’s take home reader with them and help them with any mistakes
Log on to Decodable Readers (logins in their readers/homework books) and read or listen to a book
Help your child useon Reading Eggs (especially the Fast Phonics section)

3/4 News

The 3/4‘s have been learning about materials, how they make the world around us and what purpose different materials have. We have also researched how to recycle and reuse different materials. As part of this learning inquiry the students attended an incursion about how to recycle. Students were invited to create an environment that connected to the ocean. They added cities, farms, houses etc. we then added different kinds of rubbish and discussed the pollution that different places create. Students then worked together to make a channel to the ocean and made it rain. They watched as when the rains came, all the rubbish ended up in our oceans. Christie then explained what recycling is, how the machines separate and sort out our rubbish to recycle it and reuse it. The students helped sort the rubbish into the correct bins and learnt that a big problem our recycling station is having is people are putting their soft plastics into recycling bins. Students were challenged to check their recycling bins once home and educate their families on the importance of recycling right!

Ella in 3/4C got the opportunity this week to read the weather report for Fox FM with Fifi, Fev and Nick! She did an incredible job and should be very proud of her efforts!

5/6 News

On August 7th, our whole school had the exciting opportunity to experience the 'Didjeribone Show,' performed by the renowned Indigenous musician Tjupurru. This interactive performance provided students with a unique chance to learn about Tjupurru's life and witness his live performance using the Didjeribone and Face Bass—innovative instruments he created himself.

The show captivated students with its blend of traditional and contemporary sounds, showcasing Tjupurru's talent in creating mesmerizing songs and soundscapes. A highlight of the performance was when a group of students became part of the show, transformed into instruments themselves, which led to lots of laughter and enthusiastic applause.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, eagerly having photos taken, expressing their gratitude, and engaging in personal conversations with Tjupurru afterward.

On Friday 16th August, the Grade 3 - 6 classes took part in a Science Incursion ‘A Case Of Discovery’. The library was transformed into a crime scene and evidence lab with multiple evidence stations setup where students were taken on an engaging, hands-on experience learning about different aspects of forensic science. Acting as both forensic scientists and as detectives, students had to use their creative and critical thinking skills to analyse forensic evidence and piece together the story and find out the suspect of a gold and jewel robbery. All of the students really enjoyed using the forensic science equipment and trying to solve the crime.

On Tuesday this week, a Year 12 class of students studying Personal Skill Development at Pakenham Secondary College came to work with some of our Year 5/6 students. They presented a range of activities that included Art/Cultural Studies, Healthy Cooking/Eating and Sport. Students were able to design a collage, make yummy rice paper rolls and play basketball as well as some other team games. Our students were also able to ask the Year 12 students lots of questions about high school life which the students found really helpful and we even got to re-connect with a few former P.H.P.S. students. We really enjoyed the visit with the Year 12s and look forward to having them back again in future years.

PAKKY SHAK!