This fortnight in Visual Arts, our Grade 3/4 students embraced their creativity while exploring Aboriginal-inspired art. Students began by painting an Aboriginal symbol in the centre of their page before using dot painting techniques to create a variety of lines, patterns, and designs. The vibrant colours and intricate details in each artwork reflect the students’ enthusiasm, imagination and growing artistic skills. We are incredibly proud of their efforts—don’t they look amazing!
In Visual Arts this fortnight, students in grades 5 and 6 began a unit on Aboriginal studies. We kicked things off by examining a traditional boomerang housed in the National Museum of Australia, comparing it to the boomerangs we see today. Afterward, students designed their own boomerangs. In our next lesson, we applied an undercoat to the top of the boomerangs, and this week, we had the opportunity to sketch and paint our designs. They look fantastic!
This term in Visual Arts, the Grade 3/4 students have continued working on their cake slice sculptures. Last term, we
explored the work of Wayne Thiebaud, a well-known American artist celebrated for his paintings of food, especially
sweets such as donuts, ice cream, muffins, and cake slices. His work inspired this project. Students created a cardboard
template to form the shape of their cake slice, then applied plaster gauze to strengthen the sculpture. This week, some
classes added a second coat of paint, while others began decorating their pieces with details like hundreds and
thousands, strawberries, and marshmallows to make their cake slices look more realistic.
This fortnight in Visual Arts, the Grade 3/4 students created vibrant collages using coloured paper from magazines. They started by sketching a fruit or vegetable of their choice, then searched for and arranged coloured magazine pieces to fill their designs. We also explored the technique of overlapping to cover any white spaces and to add depth and highlights to their artwork.
This fortnight in Visual Arts, the Grade 5/6 students have been exploring the work of Australian artist Fred Williams. Williams is renowned for his abstract landscape paintings that capture the essence of the Australian bush through the use of dots, lines, and textured surfaces. In the first week, students studied photographs of bushfires and the landscapes that emerge afterwards. Using pieces of cardboard, they painted the skyline and middle ground, applying thick layers of paint to create a rich texture. During the second session, students experimented with natural materials such as sticks, twigs, and seed pods to stamp or add markings to their work—expressing their interpretations of trees, bushes and shrubs during or after a fire. Here are a few examples of their wonderful creations!
In Visual Arts, students in Grades 3 to 6 enthusiastically kicked off the year by discussing and creating routines and expectations for the art room. It was wonderful to see and hear the buzz of collaboration as students shared ideas and worked together to create posters.
This fortnight we have been holding tight to our last few weeks of Performing Arts for the year for students in Foundation, Grade One and Two. We have been combining all of our skills in performing arts in the disciplines of drama, music and dance to create performances to entertain each other. Thanks to Peter, we have been able to add props and costumes to our activities to enhance the work we have done. Thank you everyone!
Drama is the order of the day! By that we mean, demonstrating how the use of voice, facial expression and body movement can depict characters and scenes other than ourselves in daily life. The students have blossomed as they play various roles in character. The use of props and music have also enhanced our performances and entertained our audience. Great work everyone!
Sorting and classifying instruments has been our focus. The students have been engaged in learning about string, wind, percussion, electronic and keyboard instruments and experimenting with the sound and combinations of each. Our singing has also been added as an additional instrument to complete the ensemble. We always love and learn as we go!
We have had so much fun over the last two weeks singing and performing songs with such love. We have incorporated the use of up to 10 props to assist with the visual and aural enhancement of our music. The students are delving into a whole sea of new and exciting music vocabulary to enhance their skills in all aspects of the curriculum. Familiar and new music has filled our hearts with love and the ukulele has been our accompanying instrument.
Welcome back to another year of fun, frivolity and musical development in the Performing Arts arena. It has been so wonderful interacting with all of the students again after our extended holiday. The students have certainly grown and
Selected Grade 5 & 6 students have had the opportunity to participate in the Winter Gala Day Sports. Students had the opportunity to try out for a particular sport including AFL, Netball and Tee Ball. Students have enjoyed being able to play against a range of surrounding schools whilst being able to put their skills on display. Students have done an amazing job representing the school and trying their best throughout the two days.
Congratulations to the following students who qualified for divisional cross country:
This is an amazing achievement as all students placed in the top 10 at our district event where they raced against a variety of schools. Students participate in wet weather conditions where they demonstrate great resilience to push through the race.
A huge congratulations to Sean T who came 2nd at the Divisional Event and has now qualified for Regionals. This is an amazing achievement and the whole Avondale Community is very proud. Good Luck Sean!
Congratulations to the following students who were selected to participate in this year's District Cross Country
A BIG shout out to Noah L, Mayuree T, Alicia P who all finished in the top 15 and a big congratulations to Ollie C (8th),
Savannah L (4th), Quinten L (3rd) and Sean T (2nd) who have all qualified for the upcoming Divisional cross-country event.
We wish them all the best of luck in the next level of competition.
In Physical Education, our Grade 1 and 2 students officially completed their gymnastics unit run by YMCA Gymnastics. The students loved having the opportunity to learn from a specialised coach and enjoyed having the opportunity to learn new skills and utilise a range of equipment. The Grade 5 and 6 GALA day Tennis Team did an amazing job, displaying sportsmanship, respect and responsibility. The team showed support for each other and Mr Pat and Mrs Fitcher were proud of their efforts. A special mention goes to Anouk and Stephano for their team leadership and to Georgia for putting her hand up to help with equipment.
Congratulations to Ann N and Zoe W who both participated at the Divisional Swimming day on the 10th March as St Albans Swimming Pool. Both students did an exceptional job in their strokes and the whole of Avondale is super proud of their achievements in making it to this level.
Our Grade 1 and 2 students are currently participating in a three week gymnastics program led by a trained gymnastic coach. Students have enjoyed experimenting with new equipment and skills and are excited to see what is planned for the upcoming weeks.
Students have had an exciting start to Physical Education this term, getting active and building their skills across all year levels. Our Foundation students have been introduced to key PE rules and routines while enjoying a range of warm-up games that focus on safety, cooperation and fair play. They have also loved learning about our Gaga pits and participating in the game each week. In Grades 1 and 2, students have been revisiting their fundamental motor skills with a strong focus on throwing and catching through fun, game-based activities. Meanwhile, students in Grades 3–6 have begun preparing for the upcoming Athletics Day. Grades 3 and 4 students have been learning and revisiting the different events. Grades 5 and 6 are working on refining their technique and improving their results. It’s been fantastic to see such great energy and effort from everyone involved.
Students have done an amazing job settling into rules and routines for our 2026 year. Foundation have been introduced to the variety of playing spaces whilst learning key rules with an introduction to games. Grade 1 and 2 have enjoyed revisiting some warm up games to prepare for the year whilst practising key rules and routines. This term has some exciting events for our 3-6 including Athletics Day and Summer Gala Days for our Grade 5 and 6 students.. The students are preparing for the events and have great excitement learning the key skills and rules in order to be successful on the day! All students have also enjoyed having the opportunity to participate in the Gaga Pits once again!
