Junior School Update

Camps are an important part of the educational program, providing students with meaningful opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom. These experiences support the development of confidence, resilience, independence and social skills while encouraging students to connect with nature and enjoy time away from technology. We hope all Junior School students have a memorable camp experience this term.

A few reminders for families:

• Please ensure correct school uniform is worn. Uniform and dress code details can be found on pages 10–12 of the Student Diary.
• SunSmart practices are essential. Wearing a hat is compulsory in Term 4.
• Continue to check the Family Engagement pages for resources and event information.
• We encourage families to talk with their children about making the most of these opportunities and finishing the year positively, in line with our school values. Thank you for your ongoing support as we work towards a smooth and successful Term 4.

Melanie Morton – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Maddingley)

Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)

Cracking the Code at STEM Night

The Junior School was alive with excitement as students and their families gathered for our STEM Night Escape Room. Working collaboratively, participants were challenged to complete six interactive activities in order to crack the code and decode the universe. The evening provided a rich opportunity for students to apply problem solving, critical thinking and creativity while engaging in hands on explorations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Families moved through each station at their own pace, experimenting, reflecting and celebrating each success together. The atmosphere was filled with energy and curiosity as students embraced new challenges, demonstrated resilience and experienced the joy of discovery through meaningful learning.

Events such as this highlight the importance of STEM learning while strengthening strong partnerships between home and school. Thank you to all staff who contributed to the planning and running of the evening and to the families who attended and supported this engaging learning experience. Together we created a memorable celebration of STEM learning in the Junior School.

Escape Room Activity Overview

	Description
Activity 1 Ozo Bots	Students programmed miniature robots using colour coded pathways to navigate a course and reveal a secret number
Activity 2 Microscopes	Students explored magnified samples and matched images to numbered clues by observing patterns and details
Activity 3 UV Light Hunt	Using ultraviolet torches students searched for hidden codes in a darkened space to uncover a mystery word
Activity 4 Constellation Match	Students examined constellation cards and recreated accurate star patterns to receive their clue
Activity 5 Lego Challenge	Students followed a design brief to build a specific structure that demonstrated stability and creativity
Activity 6 Coding Name Bracelet	Students used coding patterns to spell their name with beads before claiming their final number

Maddingley and Woodlea JS teams

Maddingley

Prep Diggers Rest Animal Land Farm Excursion

On Wednesday 15 October, Prep students went on an excursion to Animal Land Children’s Farm Diggers Rest. It was a great experience for our BMG students to immerse themselves in farm life.  The activities included riding a pony, milking a cow and churning cream to make butter. Students were also able to sample the butter at lunch time.  Other activities included a tractor ride to interact with and feed various farm animals such as sheep and alpacas.  Students held guinea pigs and rabbits and one day old chicks. They also fed ducks near a pond. They saw a peacock, turkeys, roosters and hens.  Students saw cows, horses and pigs in their pens.  Students played farm games such as tug-of-war.  It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all.

Claire Dixon – Teacher

Prep Science Physical Science

During Term 4, students will be exposed to and participate in varied activities that demonstrate the force of push and pull and the motions of bounce, roll, spin, slide or stack. Students will use blocks, 3-D shapes, balls, tubes, toys and other items to determine how they move. They will experiment with how different surfaces affect movement. This hands-on unit should provide lots of opportunities for learning about these concepts in a fun way!

Suzanne Gladys – Teacher

Year 1 Science

Term 4 is upon us, and we have so much fun learning in store for our Year 1 scientists! Students will participate in a lot of different experiments this term focussing on manipulation, materials and properties. They will explore a range of different objects and will have the opportunity to manipulate them using trial and error to see whether they can be bent, twisted, broken, cut or stretched. Students will need to make predictions/hypothesis about the objects and whether they believe they will be able to manipulate them or not and will be working on how to record their results and findings. This is a fun, hands on unit, and students are already deriving enjoyment from participating and learning about this concept in a fun way.

Lauren Meaney – Teacher

Year 2 Science

Wow! We are very quickly nearing the end of the year and there’s still so much fun and learning to be had in Year 2 Science! Students will participate in an experiment nearly every week whilst we focus on soundwaves, pitch and sound vibrations. This week, we learnt about the different parts of the ear and why different animals have different shaped ears to assist their survival in their environments. They will observe dancing salt crystals caused from the vibrations created by our voice, rulers vibrating to create different pitch sounds and coloured water making different pitch sounds based on how much water is in each glass. Students will explore how plucking, striking, shaking, blowing or scraping a musical instrument produces a sound and sounds travel as vibrations through the air until they reach our ears. They will describe the parts of the ear that make hearing possible and how soundwave vibrations transform into a message that goes to the brain. Students will complete their Post-Test at the end of the term and create a musical instrument to take home to test with their family. We look forward to a wonderful term ahead!

Melissa Pearson – Teacher

Year 2 Camp at Sunnystones – A Memorable Start to Term 4!

What a fantastic beginning to Term 4 for our Year 2 students! They experienced their very first overnight camp at Sunnystones in Merrimu. With perfect weather and sunshine throughout, each class had an incredible time on their allocated camp days.

Teachers were particularly impressed by the resilience, kindness, and teamwork displayed by all students as they embraced new and sometimes unfamiliar challenges with enthusiasm and positivity.

Exploring the Outdoors

The adventure kicked off with a scenic walk through the Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve along the Coimadai Track. Students immersed themselves in nature, observing a variety of birds and trees while tuning in to the peaceful sounds of the bush.

Canoeing Challenge – Teamwork in Action!
Students worked beautifully in pairs as they learned to paddle and steer canoes across the dam. Although it was a new and sometimes tricky experience, their strong communication and collaboration helped them succeed. This activity highlighted their ambition and willingness to learn something new. This seemed to be a favourite activity for many of the students.

Archery Experience – On Target!
Each student had the chance to try their hand at archery, aiming carefully at the targets. They listened attentively to instructions and followed safety rules diligently, showing great discipline and focus throughout the session.

Bush Cooking Adventure – Cooking with a Twist!
Have you ever baked a chocolate cake inside an orange over an open fire? Our students did just that! After scooping out oranges and filling them with chocolate cake mix, they wrapped them in foil and placed them over the coals. Students also helped collect twigs to keep the fire going for the next group. They showed wonderful patience and respect while waiting for their delicious treat to cook.

Geocaching Quest – Forest Exploration Fun!
Equipped with compasses, students set off on a geocaching expedition through the forest. Working in teams, they searched for hidden items and earned points along the way. Before starting, they enjoyed a tasty snack of watermelon, crackers, cheese, and tomato, with watermelon being the clear favourite! This activity showcased excellent leadership and teamwork, as students supported and guided one another throughout the challenge.

Camp Food – Delicious and Energising!
Our campers were well-fed with a variety of tasty meals. For dinner, they enjoyed flavoursome chicken nachos, followed by a warm and comforting apple crumble with ice-cream for dessert. To top it all off, we ended with a delicious BBQ lunch and refreshing icy poles before heading back to school.

We are incredibly proud of our Year 2 students for their enthusiasm, perseverance, and outstanding behaviour throughout the camp. They consistently demonstrated our school values, showing respect, helping one another, and engaging positively in every activity. It was a truly unforgettable experience for all!

Maddingley Year 2 Team

Year 3 Science

The Year 3 students at Maddingley Campus have now commenced the second half of our semester-long unit about ‘States of Matter’ and ‘Melting Moments’ with our focus this term on the Physical Science aspect of heat sources and heat transfer. We will experiment with how food changes state from solid to liquid to gas and back again by adding or removing heat. They will describe the changes in texture, temperature, appearance, state and whether the change is reversible or irreversible. The Year Three students will explore natural and artificial heat sources and how materials act as conductors and transfer heat, or as insulators and maintain a consistent temperature. They will complete numerous experiments and practice completing a written Scientific Investigation including a Hypothesis, Prediction, Equipment List, Method, Conclusion and Reflection of their results. Students will conclude the unit with a Post-Test and explore how we can harness the heat from the Sun to cook with! We look forward to the remainder of Term 4 with jam-packed learning and experimentation in Year 3 Science at Maddingley!

Georgia Low – Teacher

Melissa Pearson – Teacher

Year 4 Science

Through the ‘Package It Better’ unit, our Year 4 students will be exploring the fascinating properties of natural and processed materials. From understanding how these materials are classified to discovering how they can be combined to create new, useful products, our budding scientists will be busy! They’re also going to be challenged to think critically about sustainability, considering the environmental impact of different packaging materials and how we can make informed choices to protect our planet. With an upcoming incursion from a sustainability champion of the BMG community, there will be lots of discussion and learning to share with the family. As always, we encourage parents and guardians to question their child about their learning – it is not only great bonding time with you child, but also further solidifies your child’s understanding. We look forward to completing our practical-based assessment at the end of the term and working collaboratively with their peers to achieve a scientific goal.

Georgia Low – Teacher

Melissa Pearson – Teacher

Woodlea

Year 1

This semester in Year 1 PE, students have been focusing on developing their gross motor skills, endurance levels and sportsmanship through a range of fun and engaging activities.
Throughout our Overarm Throwing, Kicking and Athletics units, students have participated in a variety of activities designed to introduce them to new components within these areas, refine their techniques and apply their skills in exciting games. Across all units, students have been developing greater control over their movements and strengthening their overall gross motor skills. It has been wonderful to see students’ confidence and coordination grow as they practise throwing, running, jumping and working together as a team.

A key focus in PE this term has been our school values of resilience and kindness. Students have demonstrated these in many ways, from putting in effort even when feeling tired, to showing perseverance when learning a new skill, and displaying good sportsmanship when winning or losing games. They have also learnt how to collaborate and support classmates with different skill levels, showing great care and encouragement towards one another.

It has been a fantastic semester so far, and we are all looking forward to finishing the year on a high note. Over the holiday break, we encourage all families to continue fostering physical activity through simple and enjoyable experiences such as playing catch, kicking a ball, going for walks, riding bikes or visiting the park. Every little bit helps to keep our students active, healthy and confident in their growing physical abilities!

Nicholas Panczel – Head of House: Djerriwarrh (Woodlea)

Year 2

The Year 2 students recently enjoyed an unforgettable adventure at Camp Sunnystones, filled with outdoor activities, teamwork, and plenty of fun! The camp offered the perfect balance of learning, challenge, and connection, as students stepped outside their comfort zones and embraced new experiences together.

One of the highlights was geocaching, where students used GPS devices to hunt for hidden treasures around the campgrounds. The thrill of solving clues and discovering secret locations made this a clear favourite!

The excitement continued with archery, where students learned how to focus, aim, and shoot arrows at targets. For many, it was their first time holding a bow, and by the end of the session, there were some very proud young archers celebrating their bullseyes!

Canoeing was another memorable experience. Students paddled across the water in pairs, learning the importance of communication and teamwork while enjoying the calm surroundings of the camp lake.

Bush cooking gave everyone the chance to be mini chefs, scooping out oranges, filling them with chocolate cake mix, and cooking them on the fire. The result, a warm, gooey chocolate cake with a hint of orange. A tasty camp treat!

As the sun set, the night walk became a magical moment of the trip. Under the soft glow of the moon, students explored the bush, spotting the glitter of quartz rocks that sparkled in the dark. A truly special experience to end the day.

The Year 2 Camp was more than just an excursion, it was an opportunity for students to grow in confidence, build friendships, and make lifelong memories. We are so proud of how they embraced every challenge and adventure with enthusiasm and teamwork!

Ashlee Taylor – Head of Year 2 (Woodlea)