Specialist Department Term 2, 2022 Newsletter

This Term Newsletter will provide you with information about your children’s upcoming teaching and learning experiences in the Specialists Department for Term 2. There is also plenty of additional information provided via Compass throughout the school year, so please make a point of touching base regularly.

Bahasa Indonesia

Here is an overview of what students will be learning in Term Two:

In Prep, students will continue to practise basic greetings (Selamat pagi / Selamat siang) and respond to classroom instructions. They will learn a range of animal names, numbers and colours using the text “Beruang coklat” (Brown bear, brown bear). Students will also learn about the Indonesian celebration, Eid, as well as the Indonesian animal, Komodo dragons.

In Grade One, students will revise numbers and learn animal names using an Indonesian text called “SAYA LAPAR” (I’m hungry) as well as create their own shared book based on this text. Students will consolidate counting to 10 through a range of songs, games and activities and learn about the celebration “Eid”.

In Grade Two, students will develop their listening, reading and writing skills as they read a text called “BINATANG KESAYANGAN” (Pets). Through games, surveys and activities, students will be able to identify different pets and describe them in terms of their appearance, colour and size and say what they like to eat. Students will also learn about an Indonesian holiday, “Hari Kartini”.

In Grade Three and Four, students will identify different places in their community. They will be able to create a labelled map and develop short dialogues in which they use conversational Indonesian to ask where each other is going. Students will read a text called “Mau ke mana” (Where are you going?) and complete literacy stations in order to produce a shared text based upon the text. Students will also learn about an Indonesian holiday, “Hari Kartini”.

In Grade Five and Six, students will continue to learn vobaulary related to themselves with a focus upon hobbies and passtimes in order to create simple and informative texts. Students will look at the impact pollution is having upon marine life and traditional life in Indonesia and create posters and texts to encourage people to recycle. Students will also learn about an Indonesian holiday, “Hari Kartini”.

Bu Da Silva, Pak Hill, Pak Turner & Bu Canning.

Music

In Prep and Junior Music this term we are learning how to read musical notes using the solfa scale. Each note in the scale has a character name and story to help us remember it. We have been concentrating on singing and listening and we have been playing games which practise these skills. In term 2 we will continue this learning and start to play instruments using our music reading skills.

Grades 3 and 4 will be focussing on singing and basic keyboard skills. In term 2 we will be playing more “live instruments” and composing our own “four chord” songs.

Grades 5 and 6 have been practising playing music together whilst working in groups, looking at different musical genres, and learning basic keyboard skills. They have displayed skills of communication, cooperation and organisation in their rehearsal and are developing processes which they will use in term 2 in their band and performance work.

This term there will be 2 new singing groups:

-Junior group (grades 1-3) ALL WELCOME. TUESDAY recess in the HALL with a "try out" singing session for the first week

-Senior Singing Group (grades 4- 6) FRIDAY lunchtime in Music Room to be run with input from Grade 6 Arts leaders.

We will be having a lot of fun singing and developing our lovely voices and participating in rehearsal and performance during assemblies and special events this year.

Mrs. McKenzie & Mr. Turner

Visual Art

In Art this term, classes are extremely busy with collaging and painting. Have you taken a walk down our gallery and the main corridor with your child lately? Take a look, we have many creative students in our school and I am very proud of them all.

Parents, please it is imperative your child has an art smock at school please (everyone from 1 to grade 6)—many students do not have one and since we are working with paint, it is unlikely they will stay clean, so make sure a named Art smock gets to your child’s teacher.

This term, Grade Prep – 2 students are learning painting techniques like mixing secondary colours from primary colours, fabric painting and changing the way we can use paper by tearing, curling, folding and fringing.

Grade 1 and 2 students are focusing on paper techniques such as concertina, fringing, folding, curling and tearing along with using different joining techniques. There will be many sculptures this term all finishing off with creating a 3D paper bag house. I look forward to seeing some fantastic houses on display.

Grades 3 -4 are focusing on value, creating different tints in colour and using different textural effects in paint. They will also be learning the print making skills of etching and monotone printing.

Grade 5 students will be creating Asian art, more specifically in the style of Japanese Notan. They will also explore Melbourne artist, Tai Snaith, and her use of collage techniques to tell a story.

Grade 6 will be creating their own painted papers to make a bird just like a famous local artist Pete Cromer who lives in Colac. Just wait for how these look – they will be amazing.

Please do not hesitate to come and see your child’s teacher if you have any questions, we are very happy to help.

Please bring in a box of tissues for the specialist programs – coming onto the colder season children need tissues and the specialist areas are often forgotten about. Just drop them into the Art room and I will distribute them around to all the specialist areas.

Hope to see you around.

Ms. Torriero, Mr. Turner, Mr. Hill, Mrs. Canning and Ms. Grattidge

P.E

Term 2 is certainly jam packed full of numerous sporting events and skill-based lessons and activities for our Lara Lake students.

On Thursday May 31st the Grade 3-6 students will be travelling by bus to Goldsworthy Reserve which is in Corio, to participate in the school’s House Athletics.

The children are extremely excited about having the opportunity to represent their House Colour, as they spent Term 1 in preparation for this major event.

Please ensure your child’s permission note and bus money have been completed on Compass by the due date. The event was posted in the last week of Term 1. If you are able to assist with marshalling duties for the school’s Athletics Day, please notify Mrs Dowling or the office.

The PE curriculum for all grade areas will continue to focus on participation and catering to each individual’s ability while having fun in their weekly PE lesson.

In the Prep area, the students will participate in skill-based stations, such as throwing, catching, skipping, kicking and in the second half of the term they will have the opportunity to participate in the school’s Perceptual Motor Program (PMP). PMP is a movement-based program which helps younger students improve their eye/hand and eye/foot coordination, fitness, balance, locomotion and eye-tracking skills.

The Grade 1 and Grade 2 students will continue to develop their sporting skills in catching, throwing and kicking while displaying positive sportsmanship and enthusiasm.

The Grade 3 - 6 students will continue to further develop their sporting skills so they are able to confidently participate in invasion games during their weekly lesson. An invasion game is any game where the aim is to attack an opponent’s territory to score a goal or point. There are usually two teams with an equal number of players. These are fast paced games focusing on teamwork, keeping possession of the ball, scoring and defending.

The Grade 6 students are looking forward to putting their sporting skills into practise when they participate in the Winter Lightening Premiership competition against other schools at Geelong Grammar School, on Tuesday May 31st.

As in Term 1, a number of extra skill-based sporting clinics will be organised throughout Term 2 for various year levels at no cost.

If you have any questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Dowling.

Looking forward to working with your child in Term 2.

Mrs. Dowling & Mr. Turner