Lower Primary

"One Spooky Night"

I can’t believe that I am writing the last Lower Primary newsletter for the year.  The students have been so busy with learning that the year just seems to have flown by. Our programs encourage and support each student to be collaborative learners who show confidence to work individually or with others and this was so evident in our recent performance of “One Spooky Night”.

The main aims of our performance are student participation, the development of confidence to perform in front of an audience and most importantly to have fun. Performing on stage is one of the most difficult things we can be asked to do. To see our little people being so confident and doing so well was heartwarming. Those happy smiling faces and looks of excitement and pride really said it all. I am sure that those who were in the audience would agree that our students were confident performers who above all had fun and thoroughly enjoyed performing for their family and friends.

There was so much learning that occurred during the performance journey. It was not just the singing and dancing for the actual performance. It was the turn taking, cooperation, perseverance and resilience that was required by our students to bring the performance together. It has been wonderful to watch each little step that was taken to enable our students to be the confident performers you saw on stage. The way they prepared for,  and then performed, really did personify the school values of Happiness, Personal Best, Cooperation, and Respect. Thank you to all the parents and family members who supported their children on the evening.  The students performed to a “full house” of over 300 people which was absolutely fantastic.

I would like to thank Rebecca Campbell whose creative skills and leadership helped to make this performance a reality, and to each and every Lower Primary staff member whose contribution enabled every component of the performance to come together successfully.  An extra special thank you to Sophie Taylor, mother of Richard, who assisted us with making some spectacular costumes. Finally, to the Lower Primary students thank you for making this performance one to remember.

Integrated Unit

This semester’s integrated unit “What’s it Made of” has certainly engaged students whilst they have developed their knowledge about every day materials, how they can change and how they can be used. It has been pleasing to see students totally involved in experiments and activities, and to listen to the observations and comments that they have been making. Students have been exposed to a variety of materials which they have sorted, labelled, compared and investigated for their suitability for certain tasks. Students have been involved in making the houses of the Three Little Pigs and followed procedural texts to construct bridges for the Three Billy Goats Gruff determining what materials best suited the construction. They also used plastic and papier-mâché to make piggy banks and plastic bags to make kites. Students were encouraged to provide reasons for selecting certain materials for their projects and to share this with classmates and teachers. This unit has provided opportunities for students to explore, through hands on activities, what things are made of and the properties of the materials used to make them.

Prep Day Out

You know the end of the year is near when transition activities for 2017 begin. We have welcomed 21 new prep students who have enjoyed spending time in the prep classrooms. It has given the 2017 prep students, and students moving to us from other schools, an opportunity to get to know the school environment and meet the teachers before starting school next year.  It is helping to make these new little people feel happy, comfortable and keen to come back next year! We look forward to welcoming these children and their parents to Lower Primary, and to the Concord School community in 2017. Students who are moving on to Upper Primary have also had the opportunity to visit the Bundoora Campus and spend time in those classrooms. How exciting for them!

Term 4

Now for the end of year!  Lower Primary is getting ready to celebrate a great year’s work, the achievements of all our students particularly those who are moving to Upper Primary and of course Christmas! Our special celebrations will include excursions, the end of year assembly, class Christmas parties and a visit from that very busy man in the red suit! There will be lots of celebrating to do!

There will be an end of year assembly to recognise the students who will be moving onto Upper Primary. Parents of these students are invited to attend this assembly on Friday 16th December at 9.30 in the Multi-Purpose Room at Watsonia.

Further information will be sent home to you about this event in the near future. We are extremely proud of Andy, Jhai, Caila, Alex, Logan, Marcus, Cody, Ethan, Emelia, Uzochi, Joshua, Jacob, Jack, Mark, George, Aansh, Erik, Patrick, James, Richard, Malaak, Michael, Manahil, Isaac, Fiorella, Alannah, and Carlos……..the Upper Primary students of 2017. Rose and Henry are also leaving Lower Primary as they are moving onto other schools. We congratulate them all. They have been valued members of Lower Primary.

The Lower Primary staff thank you our parents, for your cooperation and support and look forward to working with you and your wonderful children again next year.

Kath Moore

Assistant Principal