Student Voice

“Parrwang Lifts The Sky” - Year 3 Excursion

“A long time ago… The sky was a blanket on the land. The earth was in darkness and the people were afraid. If not for the courage of Parrwang the magpie, determined to assist her newfound friends, this blanket may still be with us today.”

In Week 5, our Year 3 students hopped on a bus to the Malthouse Theatre in the city to see an opera inspired by an Aboriginal story. The quote above is a snippet of the story they experienced. Luckily, we were the only school in attendance and had the entire theatre to ourselves! The performance linked beautifully with our inquiry units which focus on the history, culture and inventions of Aboriginal and First Nations People.

Once the performance concluded, we walked towards the Arts Centre for the return trip home, but not before stopping off at a playground (a highlight for many after the show!). 

Here are some thoughts from the students:

Ada Grant (3A): I liked the part when Bunjil the Eagle talks in Wadawurrung about agreeing to lift the sky. I also liked the costumes for this opera, the backgrounds and the orchestra. I especially enjoyed the costume design of Parrwang! The singing was also very good! I don't know anybody who can sing like that! A+ for them!

George Rekkas (3B): My favourite part in the opera was where the birds lift the sky for Koki and Tjatjarrang to have sunshine so they can live happily and watch cool colours. I know that the singing was very challenging for starters. Afterwards, we played at a park where there was a little branch to climb on and some snails hiding around. At the second park I also liked the grassy, hilly place where we rolled around and did random stuff. The bus ride was really enjoyable because we chilled out while talking. The whole excursion was pretty good to me.

Florence Chen (3C): I liked the part in the opera where Mister Waa complains about Bunjil agreeing with Parrwang because it was funny. 😀👍The opera costumes were cool and pretty too. The part in the excursion that I liked the most was riding on the bus and the grassy park with hills. I liked riding in the bus because it was super fast! I also liked playing in the grassy and hilly park because I played with my friends, George and Zhai, by rolling down grassy hills and doing tricks. Goodbye!

Education Week – Spotlight on STEAM

Last week students participated in a whole-school STEAM challenge for Education week. 

The task was to build the tallest tower possible out of dried spaghetti and marshmallows under a set time limit. Junior students completed a modified task out of craft sticks and plasticine. 

The task was designed to mirror the challenges that engineers are given in the real world - with objectives, requirements, and constraints such as budgets, material limitations and deadlines. An engineering team that can design a structure to meet the objectives with the fewest materials (hence, less cost), is favoured over other companies that cannot utilise the given materials as effectively. Students followed the same processes that real life designers and engineers go through - testing and redeveloping the finished design.

Teams were scored on the final height of their tower, ability to work collaboratively within their teams and the overall visual appeal of their completed structure. Winning teams earned house points as part of a whole school competition and Logie House were the overall winners!

The following curriculum areas were incorporated throughout the task:

Students enjoyed the additional opportunity to participate in STEAM during Education Week and their creativity, problem solving and critical thinking were evident throughout the task!

Delia McDonald 

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

Cabbe melemung’il! This means “Greetings” in the Woiwurrung language, which is spoken by our local indigenous peoples, the Wurundjeri tribe of the Kulin Nation.

We have a special week coming up starting next weekend. Some classes may do an activity or share a book regarding this important time, so I wanted to explain a little about the history of these dates.

Next Sunday, 26 May, is National Sorry Day. This was first commemorated in 1998 one year after the federal parliament was presented with the Bringing Them Home report. The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission prepared the report regarding the forced separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. The children, taken by the government for decades, are known as the stolen generations.

In February 2008, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a public apology to the people of the Stolen Generations and their families, on behalf of the Australian Government.

National Sorry Day is a time to reflect on the resilience of the stolen generations.

The week that follows this important day is Reconciliation Week. This is a time for all to learn about our shared histories, the cultures and achievements of our First Nations peoples, and how each of us can contribute to achieve reconciliation.

Catherine Waters, Marrung Lead for OPS

A previous OPS Sorry Day activity

Year 3 students cut out their hand outlines 

in a display to represent the Aboriginal flag.

House Music Showtime!

On Friday 17th May students in Years 3-6 performed in House Music Showtime.  This competition came about in 2017 when house activities in the Arts were looked at and changed.  It was decided that a performance that was student run but a competition during assembly time would be an exciting part of the year.  House Captains would either select someone from their house to choreograph the dance or choreograph a dance themselves.  Students in years 3-6 volunteer their time on a lunchtime once a week for 7 weeks to learn the dance.  The song choices are also picked by the House Captains.  The performances are completely student run and give them an opportunity to have a voice in the school community.  

This year was a wonderful display of talent from a range of years 3-6 students.  There however can only be one winner.  This year is our winner was Nelson!  Congratulations to the House Captains and their fellow house members for performing a very exciting dance to the song “Kings and Queens”.  

It was so wonderful to have around 20 students from each house participating in the competition.  Each student should be proud of themselves for having a go and performing.  

National Simultaneous Storytime

Our students enjoyed the reading of The Bowerbird Blues written by Aura Parker during National Simultaneous Storytime today. We read this book simultaneously with other schools, libraries and many other places around the country! Our students wore blue items to school - on theme with the book - sporting blue hair ribbons, blue hats and among other blue items.