Primary News
Katie Brody – Director of Students K-6
Year 6 – Write A Book In A Day
On Tuesday 13 June 2023 Year 6 students enjoyed a full creative day of writing. They entered the Write A Book In A Day event which is a fun, creative and collaborative competition. Teams have just a day (and into the early evening) to write and illustrate a book from start to finish. To make it even more fun, unique parameters must be included in the story. Digital editions of the completed stories are made available online and shared with hospitals across Australia.
Starting first thing in the morning with the introduction to the program and the purpose, the students anticipated the challenge ahead. They sat and soaked up the steps of the process, the success criteria and the strategy. Soon planning began, and with the creative buzz in the air, ideas began to flow. It was not long before the students were underway, developing the central character, their initial circumstances, their vulnerabilities and their plight.
The day was big and busy but it was extremely exciting too. The classrooms were buzzing with activity. Writing, conferencing and proofreading took place throughout.
Beginning with the end in mind, the students developed the narrative and achieved that which they feared was not possible. It was an outstanding creative challenge for students and teachers alike.
We could not be more proud of all involved and huge accolades and praise goes to the Year 6 teaching team for co-ordinating the process. Thank you to Eamon Lukins, Leanne Cresswell and Jessica Neutze for their huge commitment and support.
Year 4 Innovators trail blaze in the Good Design Awards Challenge
Claudia Sceats – Primary Teacher
Primary Teacher | PS Debating Co-ordinator
This term, in a remarkable fusion of creativity, innovation, and empathy, our talented Year 4 students dove headfirst into the Good Design Awards Challenge. In this riveting activity, they applied the principles of design thinking to conceptualise and produce a product aimed at addressing a pressing societal issue. They embarked on a journey to develop solutions that not only embodied aesthetic appeal and functionality but also held the potential to bring about substantial positive change. Through this task, they learned how design could be a powerful tool to make the world a better place. The challenge illustrated their burgeoning capacities as young innovators and underlined the invaluable role of education in fostering problem-solving skills and societal awareness.
Guided by the expert tutelage of our Year 4 Teachers, Ms Lauren Butler and Ms Claudia Sceats, our students embarked on an enlightening journey through the design thinking process. Their first task was to delve deep into research, fostering empathy for their target audience and identifying a societal issue that warranted a solution. The students then moved to generate and iterate a multitude of potential solutions, each one a potential avenue towards their ultimate goal – the creation of an invention that would positively transform lives.
After choosing their final design, students creatively utilised recycled materials to build a prototype, maintaining a keen awareness of the environmental implications of their choices. This underscored the importance of sustainability, ingraining in them the notion that innovative design can – and should – go hand in hand with environmental stewardship.
This past Tuesday marked a pivotal moment in their journey. Inviting not only their parents but also their Year 3 and Year 5 peers and special judges to the event, the students showcased their hard work. Armed with one-minute pitches that they had carefully crafted, they demonstrated their command of persuasive writing and language conventions to an audience brimming with anticipation. The students eloquently presented their knowledge of their product and materials, while highlighting the transformative potential of their inventions for their target audience.
The occasion was a testament to their resilience, creativity, and burgeoning understanding of the powerful intersection of design and societal betterment.
