CamNews

Junior School

Mountfield Maestros – Speech & Drama Concert

It was an absolute pleasure being in the audience for our first Mountfield Maestros Speech and Drama Concert for this year. Over 25 Year 2 – 6 students performed their Speech and Drama item in front of their family and friends. The quality of the performances was of a very high standard and the audience was engaged throughout the event. This year, our Speech and Drama Teacher Aleksis Payne encouraged her students to work on their script and make changes if required. Each performer was confident, and it was clear they had put in a lot of time and effort to make their item a great success. I would like to thank Aleksis Payne for her work with the Speech and Drama students and the Music Department for helping plan and organise this annual Junior School event.

Congratulations to the following speech and drama students:

Evie C

Alice L

Akira R

Lily K

Kayla C

Isabelle G

Aurelia P

Kenolee H

Claire Z

Emma A

Ada L

Alice X

Likka J

Lucinda R

Khusshnaaz K

Chloe Z

Anna L

Angela W

Selinna W

Ailey P

Hanna L

Shreya S

Isla K

Amiya R

Amelia A

I would like to wish the Ormiston school community a wonderful King’s birthday long weekend. Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday and look forward to seeing all students back on Tuesday 13 June.

Paul Donohue
Head of Junior School

Reconciliation Week

Cultural competency continues to be a guiding thread of curriculum that has supported children to develop empathy, understanding of equality, kindness and care for people, plants, animals, and Country.

Reconciliation week highlighted the actions, in which we embed First Nations perspective into our everyday learning. It was a time that encouraged children to acknowledge Australia’s First Nations people:

“The grandparents and grandparents of the Aboriginal people looked after the land, I mean Country, for a long time.” Scarlett

“They care for animals and plants.” Miya

“Murrundindi show us how to weave the grass and animals in Aboriginal words.” Arial

Understand the meaning of reconciliation:

“You just say sorry and then you can live together and play together with the animals and all the plants in peace and quiet.” Kiki

“You say sorry when you hurt someone.” Chloe

And make connections between group times with Murrundindi; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags; our Acknowledgement of Country;  learnings about the 7 Seasons of the Kulin Nation, in particular, Waring Season; weaving with native grasses; symbol making; songs; and books.

Esther Wong
Early Learning 4 Teacher & Early Learning Coordinator

Early Learning 4 Full Time

“Gardens are often the most accessible places for children to learn about nature’s beauty, interconnections, power, fragility, and solace.”  Maureen Heffernan

Inquiry learning is about building learning capacity and nurturing learners as thinkers, self-managers, collaborators, communicators and researchers. It’s about giving students the skills, the dispositions, and the opportunities to investigate – to find out information, make meaning and take action based on what is discovered. Kath Murdoch 2015

As curious learners and researchers, the Early Learning 4 children planted seeds to investigate the process of germination, the environmental conditions seeds and plants need to flourish, and to also explore the life cycle of plants.

Through these learning opportunities the children developed their inquiry skills as they wondered, expressed their curiosity and thinking, researched, investigated and recorded data through drawing and dialogue, made connections with and interpreted information, made discoveries, and reflected on their leaning.

The children developed the disposition of curiosity and their ability to gather data through all the senses and respond with wonderment and awe to changes in things from nature.

Each child’s emerging understandings of mathematical, literacy and environmental and scientific concepts were supported and extended. Mathematical concepts related to number, size, shape and colour of seeds and their growth were also explored.

As researchers, we look forward to spending time in our garden each day, to observe closely, notice and to make further observations and discoveries.

They have germinated because they were first a seed and then they grew a bit. – Sophia

The seed has broken apart and the stem came out and roots began to grow in the soil. The leaves are getting out. Victoria

They germinated already. They grew. Something happened. They’re the roots because they’re growing down. Abigail

Angela Follacchio
Early Learning 4 Teacher

Rabbits in Foundation

The Foundation students were lucky enough to have some furry classmates join us earlier this term. We welcomed three rabbits to the class to develop students practical experience relating to our Inquiry unit that involved investigating the needs of living things.

The students voted to name the rabbits Rosie, Cutie and Sparkle. They created much discussion and investigation in the classroom and were even a prompt for our recent writing session in which the students recorded which rabbit was their favourite and why.

The class was responsible for filing the rabbits’ water bowls, ensuring they had fresh hay and pellets to eat, and even helping to clean their hutch from time to time. This wonderful experience helped the students to learn first-hand what living things need to survive and all about the responsibilities people take on as pet owners.

“Rabbits eat hay, carrots are only a treat for them”. – Alicia J

“We had three rabbits, because rabbits need a friend.” – Audrey

“Wild rabbits live in burrows. Pet rabbits live in a hutch”. – Jane

“People need to give rabbits fresh food and water and clean their poop”. – Arya

Selena Reedman
Foundation Classroom Teacher

Year 1 Unit of Inquiry – Living Things

Year 1 students have embraced this terms’ Unit of Inquiry, investigating living things and their features, body parts and coverings and habitats. The students were fortunate to visit one of the Senior School science laboratories, where they viewed specimens of insects and other animals under microscopes and created labelled drawings of their findings. They then took their learning outside of the classroom and examined microhabitats in the school garden. They used hand lenses to search for living things amongst leaf matter and soil and used their observation skills to notice birds and creatures in the sky and at eye level.

Recently, the students demonstrated a growth mindset as they took part in an engaging and inspiring incursion run by Wild Action. They were introduced to classes of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles and were able to touch and hold many of the animals. The students learnt about each animal’s habitat, diet, classification, coverings, adaptations and human impact. Having the opportunity to hold or view a green tree frog, kookaburra, freshwater crocodile, blue tongue lizard, monitor, potoroo, freshwater turtle, fruit bat (with a baby clinging to it), two pythons, and a koala was an enriching and superb experience for all the students, and their enthusiasm and curiosity was fabulous. It has been wonderful to see each student’s knowledge and skills develop this term as they have taken part in so many hands-on learning experiences.

Angela Columbine
Year 1 Classroom Teacher

eSports and Competition

As part of our co-curricular programs, four students from Year 5 and 6 proudly represented Junior School at the Annual FUSE Cup Just Dance Competition. The FUSE Cup is a network of schools connected in providing students with an opportunity to participate in a safe, supportive, and structured national esports competition while developing positive gaming behaviours and digital wellbeing. 

Charlotte T, Amiya R, Teanna D and Ivy X, supported by our Head of Digital Learning and Innovation, Micah Wilkins and Mark Major and competed in several heats against schools from across Melbourne. Interestingly, the team didn’t place first in the heats or in the semi-final but demonstrated grit and resilience and consistently progressed to the next round. The team peaked at the perfect time, saving their strongest performance for the Grand Final with a collective score being enough to win Melbourne Primary School Just Dance 2023 Team Champion title. 

Whilst this is a team event, there were lots of individual achievements to celebrate. Amiya scored high points in every dance, Charlotte and Teanna had their strongest performance in the Grand Final and Ivy was calm and consistent throughout day and walked around offering tips and advice to the rest of the team. 

We congratulate the students for this magnificent result.   

Nancy Robottom
Acting Deputy Head of Junior School

Year 5 Camp Reflection - by Elfie F 5S

On the 16th May, Year 5 & 6 went on camp to Jungai. Camp Jungai have a variety of different activities.

Out of all these, my top highlight is the nature trail. Being out in nature is a wonderful experience. I most enjoyed the part where you get to sit in nature, listen, feel, smell and record the plants and animals around you. I can see the faraway mountains, the tall trees towering into the sky. I feel calm, relaxed and refreshed. At night, when the sun sets and the moon rises up reflecting its light upon us, we could see the Southern Cross. It can direct you by pointing north or south.

I learnt a lot of new things. I found it very interesting when Auntie told us about her culture, stories, beliefs and history. The most important are the 4 rules. I also like the part where you use this specific type of tree leaf to wash your hands. The leaves can form soapy kind of material if you rub very hard and with water. Plus, it is a natural resource and is very healthy. Another interesting experience is to have your hands on your ears, positioning it at different positions, so you can hear sounds from different angles, like a deer.

In conclusion, Camp Jungai was a wonderful and special experience to have, especially with nature. On our adventure, the Camp Jungai leaders had encouraged us to step out of our comfort zone, into our growth zone. I won’t forget the fun and experience I had there.

Year 6 Camp – by Amelia A 6G

Throughout camp, many activities required some to take a step out of their comfort zone. One example for me was the POSSUM PULL. I was terrified at the thought of being swung up by a rope to a height that felt like thousands of metres off the ground. I shivered just thinking about hanging there, for seconds that felt like minutes, like a prisoner of my own choice.

The wind swept past my face, the harness seeming to dig into my skin and cut into my waist. Before I could have second thoughts, I was flung into the air, soaring through the crisp air, the rope the only thing stopping me from falling headfirst into the ground. Then I jolted to a stop.  I cautiously let my legs fall, which turned me upright once again. I felt as free as the wind, and as light as a feather. In that moment, all my troubles disappeared, as I took in the breath-taking view. And boy, what a sight it was! The trees dancing in the breeze, the horses grazing in the distance, the pure beauty of nature that took me by awe. I couldn’t believe I was here. And for once, I was glad I was.

Principal

School Chaplain, Helen Creed shares an Easter message with the community as we head into the school holidays.

Secondary School

The Secondary School has been full of House spirit this past fortnight, with Hosue Dance, Music and Cross Country taking place.

Junior School

Our Year 5 & 6 students are flying into the Term 1 holidays after a fantastic week in Phillip Island!

Connected Community

Thank you to the guests and volunteers who made the Moonlight Movie Night so special.

Create Your Tomorrow