Primary School
From the Head of Primary
The end of term is one of the most exciting parts of working in a Primary School. Our students have all been working hard on their class inquiry topics and the culminating tasks all begin to come together. These tasks are a wonderful showcase of the explicit instruction the students have had from their teachers, paired with their own curiosities and creativity. Please, if you have not yet, come and have a look at the work on display around the school. Our ECC foyer is alive with farms from Kindy, animal homes from Pre-Primary, playgrounds from our Year One class and awesome displays of George’s Marvellous Medicine in our Year Two classroom. The Primary School foyer is showcasing some brilliant builds of caravans (Year Three) and pinball machines (Horizons), as well as the Year Six Migration showcase and sustainable house designs. Whilst we now have a severe shortage of glue gun sticks, we are not short on creativity, and I thank the teachers for allowing the lessons to be a little messy and chaotic at times to allow for these rich learning experiences. Well done staff and students; your inquiry work is incredible and you should be proud of the results you have on display. Our Year One class has written a lovely summary of their work. I encourage you to ask your own children what they inquired into this term.
An Inquiry into Playgrounds – Year One
The Year One inquiry unit has been an exciting and highly engaging unit this term. It started with the question: ‘What are the different features of playgrounds and parks?’ Much brainstorming of parks followed and then research into natural, managed and constructed features.
Then the children took a trip around Albany to visit three different parks, and assess and classify the varying features. This fitted in nicely with class investigations completed on the properties of materials (in particular, of wood, metal and plastic).
The next stage of the inquiry was to ‘design and create a 3D model of a playground with two natural features and at least two types of equipment (constructed features) that use a push or pull force to move’. The children learnt about the structure of different pieces of playground equipment and were shown some prototype mini models for guidance. They were told to plan carefully and list the materials and ordered steps for the design process (as they had to try and follow the plan exactly and not include or exclude any extra features).
The culmination of the inquiry unit was making the 3D playground models, and what a fabulous job the Year One class did. The finished results were amazing, and most children meticulously followed their design briefs. The only adult help allowed was with the use of the glue guns, for safety reasons.
Come down to the ECC to view these fantastically constructed pieces!
Mrs Fiona Gouldthorp | Year One Teacher
Year Five Excursion – Friday 16 June
Our Year Five students visited the Museum of the Great Southern last Friday to learn about Australia’s colonial history. Students spent time on the Amity, in the museum learning about our convict past and visited the Old Gaol and cottages. Thank you, Ms Laneaux-Neale, for coordinating this experience.
School Values
Integrity – being honest and trustworthy was our Value in focus for the past fortnight. Well done to our award winners for the final week of Integrity.
Integrity Awards: Blythe Marmion, Robbie Fergie, Noah Jones, Gracie Williamson, Jessica Lee, Sofia Inglis, Aila Michael, Benji Fergie and Sonny Williamson.
ECC Stars of the Week: Sofia Inglis, Rose Bane, Hamish Field and Wesley Jenkins.
Interschool Cross Country
A big thank you to our current sports teacher, Mrs Deb De Jonge, and Mr Paul Osborne for your organisation and running of the Interschool Cross Country event yesterday. Whilst the weather was not warm, it made for an exciting cross country track and the day ran very smoothly. GSG came second overall and our 44 runners proudly represented our school. Congratulations to St Joseph's for the overall win and to Bethel Christian School for taking out the handicap shield. Well done to our individual medal winners:
- Year Three Girls – Bronte Pages 3rd
- Year Four Girls – Elora Moodie 2nd and Edith De Jonge 3rd
- Year Five Boys – Robbie Fergie 1st
- Year Five Girls – Ruth Toomey 3rd
Goodbyes
We have been blessed with some lovely additions to our staff this term to cover long service leaves (LSL) and short term contracts. On Tuesday next week we will recognise their work as a staff but I encourage you to thank and wish them well if you see them next week. A big thank you to:
- Mrs Meg Hartley and Mrs Deb De Jonge (covering Mr Berryman’s LSL)
- Mrs Megan Tuffley and Ms Emilie Brown (helping Mrs Diletti to cover Learning Support and Year Two)
- Miss Oakah Venn-Woods and Mrs Joanne Wegner (Year One Education Assistants)
- Mrs Brooke Hannig (Mrs Marina Gordon, Year Six LSL)
We would also like to congratulate our TAFE practicum student, Ms Bronwyn Davey, on finishing her Education Assistant course. Your assistance in Pre-Primary has been outstanding and we wish you well.
Reminders
Tomorrow – House Quiz and Twilight Concert
Students in Years One to Six are encouraged to wear their House shirts tomorrow as they participate in a House general knowledge quiz run by our House Leaders.
After school from 6.00pm to 7.00pm, our Music Department is hosting a Twilight Concert in the Annette Knight Centre (Hall) and many of our Primary School students will be providing the entertainment. All are welcome.
OSHC
Please contact Preity Dhaliwal if you would like to sign up your child/ren on a casual or committed basis. OSHC is based in our Kindergarten classroom and offers care for students from Kindergarten to Year Six, after school, from 3.00pm to 6.00pm. The Village OSHC is also offering vacation care in the school holidays and seeking interest from GSG families. For booking and enrolment enquiries, please contact Preity on 0466 080 593 or preitydhaliwal@gmail.com.
Wishing you a restful weekend.
Mrs Leah Field | Head of Primary