Kindergarten

Last term was full of exciting activities for our Kindergarten students as they explored the "War on Waste" theme, learning about materials that can be recycled and the importance of protecting our environment. The children engaged in hands-on activities that sparked their curiosity about how waste can be reduced, reused, and recycled. They were especially excited to take part in their first rich learning task which included family members joining in to make a bird feeder, glass jar candles, sensory bottles and paper beads. 

As we look ahead to next term, our students will explore the theme of Space. This will be an exciting exploration of our Earth and universe, where children will engage in a variety of hands-on tasks, experiments, and artistic projects to learn about the planets, stars, and beyond with a focus on Earth and Weather. We can’t wait to see where their imagination takes them as they explore the vast universe!

Stage 1

War on Waste Comes to Life Through Music and Making in Stage 1!
Last term, students in Stage 1 learnt about the War on Waste—exploring its importance and how we can make a difference by recycling and reusing materials. To deepen this learning, we invited our school community to join us for a special Rich Task event that brought together music, sustainability, and hands-on creativity.

As part of our music unit on pitch, tone, beat, and rhythm, students worked alongside their parents to design and build their own recycled musical instruments. With examples provided on screen and support from staff, families collaborated at workstations around the room, experimenting with materials and sounds.

It was a joyful and engaging experience that celebrated learning through play, problem-solving, and connection. Thank you to all the parents who joined us—we loved seeing your enthusiasm and creativity in action!

Stage 2 & 3 Community Clean Up Challenge 

The weather was kind as we headed across Pittman Avenue to Bellbird Creek to work some magic! Terry from Cessnock Council joined us, sharing his vast knowledge of weeds and the garden plants that had unfortunately made their way from homes to our bushland and waterways. Students and parents identified and removed a variety of plants, raising everyone’s awareness of what should and shouldn’t be growing in our area. Unfortunately, amongst the rogue plants were many small and large items of household waste that had also been dumped. 

We also investigated the state of the water and the few creatures we found living in it. The water was generally okay with an acidity level of 7 but the turbidity level was quite cloudy due to the many particles in the stagnant water. We found mainly mosquito larvae, a red worm and a water snail, not an overly appealing place to live in stagnant water. 

We thank those parents and family members who joined us on the day, and we look forward to continuing the clean-up so we can water test more often, enjoy the space and rejuvenate the area back to its native plants. Thanks also to Cessnock Council’s Terry and Jane for their assistance with this project. 

Stage 3

During Term 1, Stage 3 students immersed themselves in a powerful unit of rich learning focused on the War on Waste. Students explored the environmental impacts of waste, particularly from the fast fashion industry, and investigated how landfill affects animals and ecosystems. They also examined the types of products and packaging we bring to school in our lunchboxes, brainstorming practical ways to reduce waste and proposing ideas for future improvements — including introducing a Return and Earn system at school for recyclables.

As part of their learning, students visited the local creek to investigate water quality and assess whether it could support life. They also worked with Cessnock Council to identify invasive weed species and took action by cleaning up rubbish around the creek, aiming to make the area more usable and enjoyable for the local community.

In Term 2, Stage 3 students will embark on an exciting exploration of all things space! They'll dive into research on the planets and the solar system, learn about the fascinating Mars rovers, and understand how we measure distances between planets. The journey will also include studying star constellations and creating space-inspired artworks, sparking creativity and curiosity. It's set to be an out-of-this-world term of learning!