UPA

What a fabulous year UPA have had! UPA has grown immensely and developed a wonderful love of learning. This term has been busy with finalising assessments and enjoying the last few months in UPA.

This term, students have been exploring our Discovery unit, Caring for Country. Throughout the unit, they have loved visiting Gresswell Forest, growing their own plants, learning about the role of Cool Fires, recycling materials to make new creations, and building a bug hotel. To conclude their learning, UPA has created a beautiful book all about how we can care for Country.

As the year comes to an end, UPA have been reflecting on their favourite moments and celebrating the connections they have built with classmates. Although 2025 has been a wonderful year, UPA are excited for the new opportunities that 2026 will bring.

UPB

This term, our students have had a wonderful time exploring the land we live on and learning ways to care for it. A highlight was the walk to Gresswell Forest, where students collected natural items to create beautiful collages. Together, we discussed why the land is important and how we can look after it. Some students helped clean up the Upper Primary play area, while others reused scrap paper and plastic containers to make creative crafts and pots.

Alongside these experiences, students continued to enjoy structured programs such as Little Learners Love Literacy, Hartley to Share the Air, and Learn to Play. It has been inspiring to see their confidence grow and their skills develop throughout the year.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Fiona for her unconditional love and support for all students. Wishing everyone a fabulous holiday—we look forward to seeing you again in 2026!

UPC

We have been very busy learners since our last newsletter! We finished Term 3 with our swimming program, which was enjoyed by all and a pleasure to watch as students built their confidence and water-safety skills.

This term, our major focus has been our Discovery Unit, Caring for Country. Students have explored the local environment during our excursion to Gresswell Forest, learned about traditional fire management practices, and even grown their own basil to make pesto.

As we move toward the end of the 2025 school year, we are reflecting on our learning, growth, and connections, celebrating all that we have achieved in UPC, and looking forward to the exciting opportunities that 2026 will bring.

UPD

Term Four has proved to be a jam-packed term with exciting and authentic learning opportunities at every turn.

During our Discovery Unit, the students have been immersed in language experiences that have ignited their creativity and developed curiosity about the topic “Caring for Country”. The students have investigated how to look after the planet by recycling, reducing and re-using items, in particular plastic. They have been able to apply their learning through planting a sustainable herb garden, using recycled materials to create an insect hotel and making a watering can to water the herbs. The students brought their learning to life as they harvested the basil leaves to turn into a delicious pesto. They thoroughly enjoyed an excursion to Gresswell Forest, where they discovered the local flora and fauna in order to develop an understanding of the need for conservation and how important it is to care for our ecosystems.

In Maths this term, the students have focused on learning how to tell the time, both analogue and digital time. They have participated in calendar activities and worked on everyday scenarios to measure elapsed time. Towards the end of the term the students have been engaged in creative activities to learn about 2D and 3D shapes, such as using geoboards and tangrams. Students in UPD were excited to build 3D shapes to represent iconic landmarks from around the world, such as the Great Wall of China, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Parthenon and the Pyramids of Egypt.

The students have enjoyed all the special events this term such as the Community Concert, our end of year excursion to an adventure playground and the Grade 6 graduation. They are relishing the time to finish off the year with all their friends. Students who are transitioning to Secondary School have been excited about this next step in their educational journey.

I would like to thank Belinda for all her hard work and dedication in supporting the students of UPD.

Thank you as well, to all the families associated with UPD. I have valued your wonderful support throughout the year.

I am so proud of all ten students this year and celebrate all their amazing achievements. I wish them all the very best for their future schooling.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday season!

Debbie Jermyn

UPE

Term 4 has been a remarkable period of growth, positivity and fun for UPE. It has been inspiring to witness the confidence, resilience and independence they have developed, not only this term but throughout the entire year.

Through our Discovery Unit, Caring for Country, students engaged in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. An excursion to Gresswell Forest encouraged a deeper connection to the natural environment, while creating and planting their own herb garden fostered teamwork, responsibility and pride. Students also explored the importance of recycling and reusing, strengthening their understanding of sustainability and how their everyday choices can help care for the country.

It has been an absolute privilege to witness the incredible growth of all UPE students. We are exceptionally proud of all they have achieved and wish them every success as they continue their learning journeys.

UPF

As we reach the end of the 2025 school year, it’s wonderful to reflect on the growth our UPF students have achieved- personally, socially and academically. The difference between Term 1 and Term 4 is remarkable and there is so much to be proud of.

This year, students have made steady progress across all key learning areas, including spelling, reading, writing and maths. Beyond academics, they have also developed strong problem-solving and help-seeking strategies, using them both in the classroom and at play. It’s been fantastic to see students growing in confidence, independence and resilience, supporting one another and contributing positively.

Leadership has also played an important role this year. Thank you to Luke, who served as Class Captain in Term 4, leading with encouragement and responsibility. Thank you to Jack, our SRC representative for Terms 3 and 4, for contributing ideas, representing the class and showing initiative. And a special thanks to Victoria, who has been our Upper Primary Leader all year, guiding and supporting students across the school with dedication.

To all UPF students: congratulations on a fantastic year. You should be incredibly proud of your achievements, the progress you’ve made and the positive contributions you’ve brought to our class. What an amazing 2025!

Michelle, Sabrina & Stef

UPG

This term in UPG has been a busy and exciting finish to the year. It has been wonderful to see students grow in confidence, independence and their readiness for the next stage of their schooling especially for our Year 6 students.

In Literacy, students continued working through the Little Learners program and focused on improving their writing, including using descriptive words and building sentences. They enjoyed linking their writing to our Discovery unit and their excursions, such as our visit to Gresswell Forest.

In Numeracy, students explored time, shapes, patterns and spatial understanding, making connections to their daily routines and the world around them.

Our Discovery unit focused on Caring for Country. Students learned about Indigenous perspectives on land care, explored ways to reduce, reuse and recycle and planted herbs in the garden. They have been developing a strong understanding of how we can look after the environment.

In Social Competency, students practised positive coping and fair and friendly play, and joined UPD for games and teamwork activities.

It has been a wonderful year in UPG. The students should be very proud of the effort and progress they have made and we are excited to celebrate their achievements as they move towards the next stage of their learning.

Bailey & Bec

UPH

Term 4 has flown by, and what a term it has been for UPH! Our students have been busily learning, exploring and celebrating, making this a truly memorable end to the year.

The Caring for Country unit sparked deep curiosity, as students discovered how they can help protect the planet by recycling, reducing and re-using. They proudly planted a herb garden, designed an insect hotel and created their own watering cans—showing just how capable and thoughtful they are. Our excursion to Gresswell Forest was a highlight, giving students the chance to explore local trees, plants and animals while learning why caring for ecosystems and Country is so important.

In Literacy, students continued to give their best effort in Hartley Handwriting and Little Learners Love Literacy sessions, tuning in to the sounds in words and applying them in writing.

Numeracy lessons saw students working on how to tell the time, building confidence with analogue and digital clocks and solving real-life time problems during calendar activities. Lately, their creativity has shone through during our hands-on 2D shape investigations using popsticks and geoboards.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Taryn and Maddy, whose care and unwavering dedication have supported students so positively this term. Thank you also to our UPH families—you play such an important role in our students’ success. The Community Concert and our adventure-playground excursion brought plenty of joy, leaving us with wonderful memories to end the year.

UPH students, you should be incredibly proud of your hard work and growth. Enjoy your well-deserved break, and we can’t wait to welcome you back in 2026.

— Adam Rankin

Kirsten Telford

Leading Teacher

ALLIED HEALTH

Upper Primary

Issue 4 · 16 Dec 2025

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