Specialist News 

SPANISH NEWS

I am very ‘feliz’(happy)to announce that the llama on Maestra’s trolley now has a name! 

The winning student was Bibiana of Prep W, who said the llama should be called ‘Salsa’ because ‘it is a happy name, bringing joy to those around’. 

Salsa is the name of a Latin American dance and also means sauce. 

Brianna won a little llama of her own and one for her class, Prep W. 

Congratulations, Bibiana!

PERFORMING ARTS NEWS

Hello South Melbourne Park Community!

This term in Performing Arts we have been active with instruments. 

Preps have been discovering a variety of percussion and ways to play them - egg shakers, bells, and other shaking instruments; drums, rhythm sticks, castanets and other striking instruments. We are learning how to use the instruments safely and respectfully. We are learning to keep in time with each other and with a song. We are hearing what it sounds like to have silence between the sounds when everyone is playing together.

Grade 1 & 2s are learning about their own instrument, the voice. We have been practising belly breathing (letting our bellies move outwards so that our lungs have room to expand) using posture correctly with our "Arrows" for breathing, and learning what the diaphragm does when we sing. We have understood the idea of vibration, which is when our vocal chords make sounds like TH (this), S (treasure) VVV and ZZZ; or we make sounds without our vocal chords that are unvoiced like TH (month), SH, FFF, SSS.

Grades 3 & 4 are playing recorder. Students help to support each other in their learning by giving feedback (Peer Assessment) on our Recorder Criteria: Left hand on top, duck bill hand shape (not a bear claw), stick the pinkie fingers up in the air, cover all the holes, blow gently, and control the air with the tongue ("toot"). We can all play Hot Cross Buns, and are even preparing for something special later in the term. (Shhh, it's a secret! If you have a 3/4 child you can ask them.)

Grades 5 & 6 students are working on their own ukulele goals. Based on their individual level at the start of the term, they chose a specific goal. These may have been particular to strumming, basic chords, changing between fingering, playing along with a song, or holding the instrument correctly, for example. Over the term we've been practising as a whole class and in small groups to work on these goals. We've been using pop songs such as Riptide, I'm Yours and Stand By Me to play along with.

We want to thank Owen's (12Y) family for donating some ukuleles to our collection from their music shop. We really appreciate it, thank you for the support of our music program!

This term has also seen the start of Choir, open to Grades 1 to 6, which we are very excited about. So far we've sung lots of amusing warm-up songs like "The lips, the teeth, the tip of the tongue", "Hey you!" and "Pizza is great". We are working on some performance songs which we hope to show you soon. There will be more choir news next term.

Keep on singing!

Lisa Paech

PHYSICAL EDUCATION NEWS

The Prep and Year 1/2 students all participated in a two week Auskick program run by AFL Victoria in PE lessons. They were all super keen to kick some goals and play as a team. The Multiage also got some game practise in preparation for their AFL Gala day on the 10th of June. 

SOUTHPORT DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY FRIDAY 21 MAY

Last Friday SMPPS competed in the Southport District Cross Country with students aged 8, 9 and 10 running two kilometers and the 11, 12 and 13 age group completing three kilometers. It was wonderful to see how the students supported each other, the weather was perfect, and we had a beautiful day!

A big thank you to Luna's mum and Ellie's mum for helping at Cross Country!