Primary School 

From the Head of Primary 

Last week Year Six G hosted our first Class Assembly of the year and shared some of their favourite sayings with us. The students ably acted these out and entertained us whilst doing so. Their whole-class rendition of Baby Shark certainly got the attention of our younger students. They explained some idioms they had learnt, such as ‘pull your socks up’, ‘you’re barking up the wrong tree’ and ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’. They then unpacked important sayings we can all live by. Some of the takeaways from the assembly were: 

Don’t judge a book by its cover – hidden talents are everywhere (Susan Boyle and Stephen Hawking were used as examples). 

Be yourself, everyone else is taken – don’t try to be anyone else but you, stay true to yourself (like Harriet and Bailey). 

Well done Year Six G and to those who received merit awards. Our next assembly, a Music showcase, is in Week Six. All families are welcome to attend. 

This Friday our pastoral programme has its first House based activities. Mr Osborne, Mr Berryman and the Year Six students have planned an afternoon of sports games in which students will compete in their House groups. Students are to come to school in their PE uniform and House-coloured shirts for the day and will be assisted by the Year Six students to complete the activities. Our Friday pastoral care rotations are part of our whole-school programme and the Year Six leadership programme. 

Swimming Carnival Thursday 9 March 2023, 9.15am to 2.30pm 

Our Interhouse Swimming Carnival information has been circulated to families this week and parents have been asked to nominate your child/ren into one of two pathways: Carnival or Championship. The aim of the Swimming Carnival having two options is for maximum participation and enjoyment for all. The Championship Pathway comes with the accolade of earning premium points for your House and the opportunity to win an overall medal whilst the Carnival Pathway is aimed at participation and enjoyment. Please discuss the options within the letter before deciding, and fill out the nomination form. If you are able to help on the day, please let Mr Stephen Berryman know. We will require eight parents to time the lanes on the day.  

Grammar Playgroup 

We have been delighted with the attendance of our Monday morning Grammar Playgroup led by Mrs Kym Clifford. Registration forms for Playgroup are now available via Julia Bairstow at julia.bairstow@gsg.wa.edu.au Registration is $40 per year, with no weekly charge.

School Values 

Our value focus for Weeks Four and Five is 'integrity' – being honest and trustworthy, even when no one is watching. Our first round of certificates was handed out at our briefings this week. Well done to Amy Lee, Lilly Taylor, Elora Moodie, Lani Marsh, Denby Sharpe, Stephanie Forgus, Sofia Inglis, Maria Grosshans and Harry Vesey.  

Our ECC stars of the week for Week Four are: 

Freya Hueppauff, George Grosshans, Stephanie Forgus and Sebastian Jacobs .

Children’s University 

We are excited to announce that Children’s University will be offered at School again this year and will be launched at the Primary School briefing on Monday 13 March. The UWA Children’s University Project Officer, Emma Davis, will be at the briefing to provide students with more details and hand out the enrolment packs. 

Also, UWA has decided to open up the Children’s University STEM workshop this Saturday to all Year Three to Six students from participating schools. 

Week Five 

Next week we are looking forward to our first Primary School chapel service – led by our House Leaders and Mrs Cooper. It is on Friday 3 March in the Hall at 2.30pm, before we depart for the long weekend. All families are welcome to attend.

Mrs Leah Field | Head of Primary

During the first few weeks of Digital Technologies in the Years One and Two classrooms, we have been exploring Digital Systems (Year One) and Algorithms/Sequencing (Year Two). Students have displayed a keen desire to get involved and have produced some great understanding. 

Year One Digital Systems – This is the start of their learning journey in Digital Technologies, as they explore the concept of the various computers and devices that are available in the ever-evolving space. First, students were tasked with recording which components make up a computer (monitor, keyboard, mouse, main box – the brain as we called it) and then created the components out of Lego to consolidate their understanding and learning.  

Year Two Digital Technologies – After a year of learning about Digital Systems and software uses while in Year One, our Year Two students have moved on to learning how computer programs work through sequencing and creating algorithms. In the first few weeks, students were set the challenge to create an algorithm on paper and create it in coloured building blocks. Once created, they had to hide the finished algorithm and pass the step-by-step sequencing worksheet onto a partner to follow and create. All students really embraced the activity and followed their partner’s algorithm exceptionally well. This will lead the students into creating algorithms using the Bee-Bots which they are very excited about.  

Please enjoy some pictures of the Year One and Two students.  

Mr Stephen Berryman | Teacher