Merri-bek Mail

Learning Areas

Prep

The past two weeks have seen the Preps exploring different jobs in our community. On Wednesday we had our first Fire Education session, and we were very lucky to have some firefighters join us from Brunswick Police Station. We learnt about the difference between good and bad fires and all the different parts of their uniform. We have continued to use graphic organisers to list what they know about all the different jobs we have been learning. A big thank you to the parents who have volunteered as guest speakers to talk about their jobs with the students!

 

Just a reminder our home reader program is in full swing and thank you to everyone who is bringing their Blue Home Reading Bag everyday (with their name clearly marked on the front) and reading diary to school. For those who haven’t purchase a bag yet, you can purchase the bag through the uniform shop and the diary can be purchased through compass. The students change their readers every day and bring home levelled books to share with you. In other news, Library borrowing occurs every Thursday. Each student will need to bring their library bag on Thursdays, which they will use to bring their books to and from school in.

 

In Mathematics, we have been learning about addition. We have been experimenting with counting on from a larger collection and using materials to help add. If you are keen to do some practice at home, you can always get your child to roll a 6- or 10-sided dice twice and then ask them to count on from the bigger number.

Grade 1

The Grade 1’s have been working on some exciting new additions to their learning area. Now open for business is the Grade One Airport! During Developmental Play, students have been able to engage in role play in this area to explore their geography-based Integrated Curriculum topic. 

Students have been excited about being given a role to play in the Airport such as Flight Attendant, Passport Inspector, Ticket Inspector and Customer. As a customer, they have chosen a place they would like to visit and after having their ticket and passport verified, have been able to walk through to the Airport Cafe and then onto the ‘Coburg Airlines’ aeroplane. 

 

Also in our Developmental Play area, and for our Integrated topic, we have worked on building our local community using craft supplies. It is still a work in progress but is looking fantastic so far! Special features include the name of local streets and buildings, which have all been cleverly made by the Grade 1’s. The suburb names were also creatively decorated by individual students. 

 Grade 2

As part of our Integrated Curriculum unit this term the Grade Two students have enjoyed exploring why places are important to us.

 

Our focus began with the people who live in our homes and why our homes are special to us including our neighbourhood. Students created a collage of all the important people, animals and objects in their lives. This led to exploring our great city of Melbourne, learning what the city has to offer. Students designed their own tourist poster for someone who visits Melbourne. We then expanded our horizons to learn about our state and discovered the special natural and human-made places there are to explore: parks, galleries, mountains, rivers, beaches, cities, towns etc. Our learning then shifted to Australia’s states, territories and capital cities along with naming and locating a few main geographical features. With the help of Google Maps students were able to virtually visit our suburbs, cities and magnificent natural landscapes. 

 

Next week we will explore how Indigenous First Peoples see the natural places in Australia as special too. These places are often sacred places. 

Please enjoy viewing the work we have done so far!

Grade 3/4

Dear Post Malone,

I would like to thank you for your songs especially “I like you” & “Sunflower”. You are my absolute favourite singer ever.

I would love it if you sent me an autographed photo with a message. The reason for this is because your journey to become a singer was long and hard. I want to teach other people that if you try hard & keep on going you can achieve big things & your goals.

For the photo go to 157 - 163 Moreland RD, Coburg, 3058, Class 3/4D, student named Tennyson.

__________________________________________Friday, 19/8/2022

 

Dear NF ( Nathan John Feuerstein )

Hi, I am a big fan of all your music and you have inspired me and I want you to inspire more.I want you to come to my school. The address of the school is 157-163 Moreland Rd, Coburg VIC 3058. I know you are a busy person so if you can’t come, I understand. Maybe we could have two autographs - one for all of the school and one for me to hang on my wall.

 

I like all your songs. My favourites are Intro Three, Clouds, Lost, Outro, Outcast, Real, Therapy Session, When I grow up, Leave me alone, Pay my dues, Why, Time let you down, How could you leave, That’s a joke, Story, Trust, Change, Lost in the moment, Oh lord, My stress, Just like you and my favourite The Search.

 

But anyway, what is it like knowing people follow your example? I feel what you say is true and I respect you for that. In one of your songs

 you say you feel alone, sometimes I feel alone. What do you do when you feel alone?

Sincerely Arlo __________________________________________Hello Giannis,

I'm your biggest fan!. I'm from Greece like you. Please come to Australia to Moreland Primary. It's my school. Can you please visit, my name is Paris. You're the best Milwaukee buck of all time. I think you're the second best of all time behind Jordan. I'm a boy. I'm four foot three and my age is 8. You really inspire me. We have ten foot hoops at my school you can dunk on them.

From your biggest fan Paris

__________________________________________

Indigo O'brien 

157-163 Moreland Rd, 

Coburg,VIC 3058

 

Dear Premier,                           19 August 2022

 

I am truly amazed by all your hard work and dedication to your job throughout the hard and easy times, but I have something to say.

As an education student I find it strange why we have to learn cursive, because almost every thing now is on the computer, like NAPLAN and Google classroom.

There's also one more reason. All the other States have changed it all for good reasons like no one uses it any more and stuff like that.

In conclusion I think that you should make learning cursive not compulsory.Sincerely Indigo O’Brien __________________________________________

Moreland Primary School, 3058

 —--------------------

Dear Harry Styles,                                19/18/22

 

 My name is Sadie. I find you to be a great artist (one of my favourites).

 

Now to get to the point, I suggest you come to Moreland Primary School when you come to Australia some time. We have the best students here and the best couches here too! I bet you would be a couch potato for sure if you come to this school, it would brighten our days.

From sadie

 

PS. please give my sister a seat for your concert, and one of the good seats too!

__________________________________________

Dear Dwayne Johnson,

 

I’m always interested in each of your movies. I love your movies a lot when there is Kevin Hart. When he’s there it always makes it a bit funnier than before, I call you & Kevin Hart the funniest duo in the world.

 

I’m more than happy to have you come to our school. It would be a pleasure & it would be so splendid. I am mostly shy so I might be speechless if you’re coming here, and I won’t talk a lot because I’m not that social.

 

Written proudly by Nadine Utomo 

Grade 3/4D

__________________________________________________________________________

Department of Premier and Cabinet

 GPO Box 4912

Melbourne Victoria 3001

 

Dear Premier,

 

Coal mining is an absolute disgrace and has unforgivable consequences. People exposed to the air from the coal mines can lead to liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, cancer, cardiac arrhythmia and dizziness. Instead of using the huge amounts of land for coal mining we could make them into wind farms. We could also give jobs to the people who have lost work when you close the mines. Furthermore we could use the land to make

recycling centres or solar farms, which provide jobs which don't need a lot of training.

 

I strongly believe that we do not need coal mines and it's not the future of our country. Will you consider making these changes?

 

Yours sincerely, Isa

________________________________________

 

Dear Maria Giordano,

 

All schools and children benefit from reading. That's why I think we could have a little free library in our school yard! We could get everyone in the whole school to make a book recommendation on book week.

 

If we did this we could have a book full of recommendations, for us to read in the school yard. This could also be a community thing as well as for the children in the school.

 

I also think that if we had this it could be decorated in the shape of our school! As well it would help children if they felt lonely, bored or wanted some time to themselves.

 

This would help with the problem of when you take a book out to the school yard and you have to lug it around with you. If we had a library you could just put it back for the next person and then the next. Will you consider this idea?

 

Sincerely from Ada Finch

 3/4C grade 4

__________________________________________Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I would like to talk to you about how Gilmour park has been vandalised by people and how it is a bad image for young children. So what I would like to ask is please say something and try to stop people from doing this or maybe put cameras up. I hope you fix this problem.

 

Sincerely Veronica __________________________________________

 

Dear Nintendo,

 

I am writing this letter to inform you about an idea of mine.

 

My idea is an official Nintendo VR headset and possibly even a partnership with “Rare” to bring Sea of Thieves to Nintendo Switch if this is not already in the works. The reason my thoughts are important is because I am extremely passionate about your video games and virtual reality and in addition I have marvellous ideas and as so I highly recommend for you to put my idea to use.

 

Yours sincerely, Otis lawlor.

_________________________________________

 

THE NICHOLSON COFFEE HOUSE

6/14-20 Nicholson St, 

Coburg VIC 3058 19/8/2022

 

Dear Ray Adams,

 

We realised that the plant pots are full of junk and rubbish so we want to fix this problem by adding bins outdoors and indoors. We found out that the plants aren't in front of the coffee shop.The plants are starting to die because some people are digging holes and putting junk and coffee cups. We are not sure if you guys are running out of fresco cups.

 

From Elias Dweekat your son __________________________________________

 

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 

Victorian Government

Spring St, East Melbourne VIC 3002

 

                                                      19th August 2022

 

To Whom It May Concern,    

 

I am writing to inform you about the empty block of land on my street. The address is 15 Hall Street Coburg, and it has not been touched for the last 5-6 years. I was wondering if it is privately owned or you could do something for it.

 

I honestly feel quite sad walking past it every day on my way to school.Do you think there is any way you could put it to good use? Some ideas include: a little community playground, a shelter for the homeless or even a small grassy field for dogs.

 

This block of land is a great opportunity and I hope that you take my opinion into account. I have also attached some pictures for your benefit.

 

Yours Faithfully, 

Niamh Heery

________________________________________

 

DEAR OLIVIA RODRIGO,

 

HOW HAS YOUR DAY BEEN GOING?

 

MY NAME IS JACOB, AND I LOVE YOUR MUSIC BECAUSE IT MAKES ME HAPPY AND YOU INSPIRE ME TO BE AN AUTHOR OF WRITING MUSIC.

 

IF YOU CAN, CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME AN AUTOGRAPH SO I CAN STICK IT ON MY WALL. THEN I CAN LOOK AT IT EVERYDAY AND SEE THAT I CAN KEEP SINGING AND FEEL SUPPORTED.

 

YOU ARE A REALLY SWEET SINGER, IN FACT, YOU ARE MY HERO BECAUSE YOUR SONGS GIVE ME JOY IN MY LIFE YOU ARE AMAZING.

 

*BY JACOB * __________________________________________

 

Dear Amy Shark.

 

Hi, my name is Sienna and I’m 8 years old.Your songs are fabulous and amazing. My favourite is Miss You.I have some questions. First, what is it like to be famous? Second, are you going to make a happy Album?

 

Maybe you can come to my school, Moreland Primary School, because when I say Amy Shark people think I’m saying Baby Shark. They don't know I’m actually talking about the best singer ever. The address is 157 163 Moreland Road coburg Vic 3058. I think your the best singer ever I went to your concert in Sydney and it was Epic. Your songs really tell the story.

 

Your biggest fan Sienna.

 

Ps. My sister Ella is a big fan too.

Grade 5/6

5/6  Learning Area

Letter from a student teacher 

Hi! My name is Elena and I’m a pre-service teacher doing my placement with the incredible learners in Year 5/6. I’m learning so much from Emily and the rest of the 5/6 teaching team, and from all of our young learners. Lucky me! 

This week I read aloud from our current class

text: ‘I am Malala’ by Malala Yousafzai. One of the great things about this book is that we have had lots of interesting discussions about it, and many of these link to what we’re doing in Project Based Learning. We have spent the last few weeks looking at access to education for girls around the world and Malala’s story explains one of the many barriers that they face.

 Here are some of the things learners said: 

 

What is Malala about? 

  • I would say it is about a girl who fought for her right to go to school against the Taliban in Pakistan. (Fox, Year 5/6B)
  • Malala is a kind girl who is trying to make the world a better place for girls. (Vidald, 5/6B)
  • Malala stands up for her rights and then get shot. It’s quite a sad story but she did what had to be done and was the youngest person to win a Nobel Peace Prize. 🏆(Nina, 5/6B)

What is something that you have learnt or found interesting in Malala’s story?  

  • The amount of things that were forbidden. [Previously] I thought that basically the only rule was girls weren’t allowed to go to school. (Hilary Cath-Fawcett, 5/6C)
  • I found it interesting that people actually believe in Radio Mullah without ever researching. Radio Mula’ is obviously a plot to gain power when you read into the story. (Vatar, 5/6A)
  • I knew [previously] that the Taliban had taken over Pakistan but [now] I learnt that their leader was actually a high school dropout. (Emma, 5/6C)

Can you form a connection between Malala’s story and another one?

  • I can make a connection between Ruksana [from Girl Rising] and Malala because they are very similar stories. Because in the text, they both had to fight. (Ali, 5/6C)
  • ‘I am Malala’ is a lot like one of my favourite books - ‘Within These Walls’, which is about a Jewish girl in the Holocaust who has to hide from the Nazis in Warsaw. (Emma, 5/6C)
  • Malala and Wadley [from Girl Rising] both had something trying to stop them having an education. For Wadley it was the earthquake and for Malala it was the Taliban. (Louis, 5/6A)

What does the story of Malala mean to you as a Global Citizen? 

  • It makes me think about how much others are suffering due to people who are hungry for power. We should do what we can to help them. (Guyegbat, 5/6C)
  • I should always fight for my rights when I think something is bad or I don’t like it. (Haziq, 5/6B) 
  • Malala has a unique kind of bravery. It takes a lot of courage to stand up against powerful people. If you want to make changes to the world you have to put other people before you. (Hilary McKay, 5/6A) 
  • It is really important to me because she was trying to help everyone when she was young and it kind of gives me a good idea about what a global citizen is and what I can do to become one. (Mooid, 5/6B)
  • Malala’s story really inspires me to fight for girls’ and everyone’s rights in education and many other things. (Maya, 5/6A)

You can see that learners made some amazing connections and had lots of interesting ideas. We look forward to sharing more of our learning with you soon! 

 

From Elena 

STEM

 There has been a lot going on in the STEM classroom this term.

 

The foundation students have been looking at how people use STEM knowledge and skills every day in different jobs, such as doctors, technicians and farmers. We started the term planting some snow pea seeds, and have enjoyed watching them sprout and grow over the last few weeks.

 

In Grade 1 and 2 the students have been looking at how the world around us changes over time. We have looked at how tectonic plates move continents and form mountains, as well as how our position in space can change day to night or summer to winter.

 

In Grade 3-4 students have been looking at some different forces that affect environments such as erosion, the accumulation of pollutants and the overuse of resources. We have been using this to talk about how humans change the places they live.

 

The Grade 5-6 students have been learning how to build circuits. We started by connecting a few simple components to a power source and are now programming microcontrollers to work with lots of different devices including light sensors, speakers and ultrasonic distance sensors.

 

This week for science week, every year level has been exploring different properties and uses of glass. We had a lot of fun looking at how refraction, reflection and friction affect what we use glass for.

PE/Athletics Day

Athletics Day

On Wednesday 17th August, 48 students attended the District Athletics Carnival. It was a windy and cold day, but all students were amazing in their efforts in individual and team events, as well as supporting and encouraging each other.

A big congratulations to the following students who came top 3 in their sprint heats and progressed through to the final:

  • Emmett Whitcher in the 100m sprint
  • Will Ostberg in the 100m and 200m sprint
  • Izaak Szcepanik in the 200m sprint
  • Kira Moussalli in the 100m sprint
  • Evie Wann in the 200m sprint

Another congratulations to the following students who came top 3 in their relay heat and also progressed through to the final:

  • Andy Szcepanik, Emmett Whitcher, Ben Howie and Leonardo Inturrisi
  • Kira Moussalli, Sophia Van Coppenhagen, Evie Wann and Delilah Thurgood

We also had a number of students who came in the top 3 in their events, students who came top 2 progress to the next stage of competition and we wish them the best of luck. Congratulations to:

  • Maysara Taleb who came 1st in shot put
  • Daniel Martin who came 1st in triple jump
  • Kira Moussalli who came 2nd in long jump
  • Mariam Taha who came 2nd in discus
  • Ben Howie who came 2nd in high jump
  • Harry Jones who came 2nd in shot put
  • Rayanne Taha who came 3rd in shot put
  • Leonardo Inturrisi who came 3rd in high jump
  • Adam Yehia who came 3rd in discus
  • Nadia Abdi who came 3rd in the 800m run

A big thank you to the staff and parents who helped out on the day ensuring the day ran smoothly and all students returned safely to school.

 

Photos will be added in the next newsletter.