PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Joy of Creation in STEM
Part of my role, probably my favourite part, is teaching STEM in the Primary School. I started my career teaching as a Prep teacher and did that for over 10 years. The joy of 5 year-olds is contagious and can brighten even the toughest of days.
Last week I introduced some little robots to the Prep and Year 1 students in STEM. We had a great time experiencing the fun of coding robots however the best part was the discussion we had around our amazing brains. As part of the Biblical focus of the lesson we discussed the limitations of the robots and how God created us to function in the most amazing ways. The clarity offered by young children about the truths of God are always so inspiring.
“Of course God created us better Mrs Hughes he is God you know” said one Year 1 student!
As His word says:
“You created the deepest parts of my being. You put me together inside my mother’s body. How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well.” Psalm 139:13-14
May God bless you all!
Yvonne Hughes
Head of Primary
Year 3 Art Excursion
On Thursday 6th May Year 3 visited McClelland gallery and sculpture park. We participated in a program called Encounters, led by Living Culture and Baluk Arts. This gave the students some knowledge of indigenous culture and the importance of native plants to the Indigenous people of the area.
The students then created some clay shells that will be part of a collaborative artwork called Shelter that will be exhibited at McClelland gallery before touring Australia.
After lunch we explored the sculptures in the bushland of the Gallery and did some observational drawing. Finally, the students created some art using the natural materials found in the bushland.
We were blessed with glorious weather which enabled us to fully enjoy the experience of the gallery visit.
Sally Darlison
Art Teacher
Thank You Mums!
In Prep we know how much our mums do for us. In the weeks leading up to Mothers' Day we shared how special our mums are. The children took much time and care making personalised gifts and cards for their mums.
The children were very excited do make museli and lemon slice which they proudly served to their mum as we celebrated Mothers' Day together with a special afternoon tea. Our Prep mums enjoy a cup of tea with sweet treats as the children sang songs and signed the words to Jesus Loves Me.
Mums we honour and thank you not only on Mothers' Day but all days.
Shellene Pillifeant
Prep Teacher
Prep S and Year 6 Buddies
We are having a wonderful time getting to know our Year 6 Buddies.
We meet together every Monday in Week B and do amazing activities! Some of the things we have enjoyed are: writing and drawing about our favourite things and some of our hobbies; tracing our hands and making a picture showing our family members; playing “Duck Duck Goose”; going outside on a 5 Senses Scavenger Hunt; learning how to play “China Wall”; eating lunch together!
We are so thankful for the opportunity to learn together and make new friends!
Sonia Sires and Nicole Ng
Prep S Teachers
Virtual Sanctuary
On Friday the 14th of May the Year 1 students were very disappointed when their excursion to Healesville Sanctuary had to be postponed because of the severe weather warning.
However, we were encouraged in our devotions to rejoice even when things don’t seem to work out and to look to Jesus instead of complaining.
We were able to watch a virtual tour of Healesville Sanctuary and a number of Keeper Talks where we learnt that a Sanctuary is a “safe place” for injured or endangered animals and how they are cared for or bred and released back into the wild wherever possible.
The students then set about building their own Sanctuary in the classroom. There was an Entrance and Information Centre where tickets could be purchased, an Animal Hospital for the sick and injured animals, and a Nocturnal House with a variety of animals who come out at night. Other enclosures housed butterflies, birds, dingoes, koalas and possums.
It was wonderful to see the disappointment turned into joy as the students engaged in learning about these animals and what they can do to care for God’s very special creation.
Gaye Jones
Year 1 Teacher
Past to Present
The Year 2s had so much fun in their Humanities lesson in Week 3 as we continued to explore the topic on how things change from past to present days.
In our lesson, we compared a variety of past and present toys and games. Then the children got to play with some popular toys and games from the past like wooden blocks, marbles, pick up sticks, snakes and ladders and ball and cup.
Olivia Tay
Year 2 Humanities Teacher
Thank You Poems
Last week all the Year Three students were very busy writing Haiku poems. The theme - Thank You! The cause - We distributed over 70 of these poems to every female at St Andrews Christian College.
We presented them as scrolls wrapped with ribbon and complete with a love heart chocolate. as a thank you for all their hard work and dedication in blessing the students at the College.
These were received with great delight! Well done, Year 3s!
Year 4 Incursion
Year 4 enjoyed an Incursion on the story of the First Fleet. The students dressed up in the traditional costumes of that time.
We heard of the challenges of the people who left England and came to settle in Australia. They also made a love token using clay, used a feather for ink writing, decorated their own stones for a traditional Aboriginal game called Ngaka Ngaka and ground spices using a mortar and pestle.
Paige Cheung & Gail van Heerden
Year 4 Teachers
Year 6 Scientists
This term in Year 6 Science we have been exploring the wonderful world of reversible and irreversible changes! We have participated in a range of fun experiments including reversing the colour of food dye, shaking cream and a marble to create butter, melting chocolate, creating our own lava lamps, making a cloud and the famous Coke and Mentos experiment!
It’s been amazing to see our students having so much fun in Science, they have really enjoyed these experiments. It’s a great way to bring to life the concepts we are learning in class!
Chelsea Edwards
Year 6 Teacher
Science Fun
6L students have enjoyed exploding coke and experimenting with lava lamps as we have reviewed the concept of reversible and irreversible changes!
Melanie Lepileo
Year 6 Teacher
Arghh Me Hearties! Pirate Day at St Andrews
At the conclusion of Term 1, the MPH was overwhelmed with a swarm of swashbuckling pirates (St Andrews Year 6 students) in an Epic Pirate Battle! The Year 6 students had been working hard all term on writing and choreographing a “fight scene”.
There were 2 teams of pirates, one crew fearlessly led by Mrs Yvonne Hughes, the other team charged up by Mr Matthew Adamek. As the rest of the primary school students watched along, a huge battle unfolded. Pirates from both teams charged at each other using cardboard tubes as swords and had a blast acting out their "fight scene"!
Later in the day the whole Primary School participated in a treasure hunt, searching far and wide across the yard for “Hughes’ Jewels”. The Preps had been busy making treasure maps with chalk on the ground, and everyone loved being pirate treasure hunters!
Overall a super piratey fun day!