Primary News

Welcome back to a new term to all of our ACC community and the new families joining us for the first time.

It is great to see all the excited faces of the students and hear the stories about what happened during the holidays. I have heard stories from whale watching in Albany to exciting family road trips up to warmer weather.

The teachers and staff are re-energized and ready for a full term of teaching and learning. Most of the staff attended the Christian Education Ministries Conference on the Gold Coast. This was an invaluable experience in networking with teachers from our other schools and sharing ideas. The teachers all presented an educational topic that excited them. The level of research-based educational knowledge in our teachers was commendable. Topics covered were the science of learning, ADHD and ASD, teaching self-regulation of big emotions, and the challenges of transitioning from primary to high school.

At ACC, we are on a continuous journey to improve teaching and learning. We follow an Explicit Instruction model of pedagogy (just a fancy word for teaching) along with the Cognitive Load Theory.

Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), researched since the late 1980s, highlights that our working memory can only handle limited information. Overloading our short-term memory hampers learning and the ability to connect information. Understanding cognitive load theory is crucial for teachers as it helps reduce unnecessary cognitive load on students' working memory, optimising learning.

At ACC, we move new concepts from students' short-term to long-term memory with repetition and routine. This is most evident in the use of warm-ups or daily reviews at the start of literacy and numeracy lessons.

Running Champs

While many of us have been enjoying later morning starts, a small group of primary school runners has been diligently continuing their training for the State Cross Country event on the 3rd of August. The team will be competing at the UWA Sports ground in Mt Claremont, Perth. If the ACC community would like to see real-time results, including split times, they will be available at bluechipresults.com.au under School Sport WA Primary XC Championships.

I wish the best of luck to our runners:

1. Shelby Burns

2. Malachi Bresanello

3. Mikayla Reddington

4. Callum Van Der Snoek

5. Judah Pitman

6. Ebony Pirga

7. Isla Mexsom

8. Harche Macquinto

9. Skye McCarthy

10. Troy Downing

11. Jed Abrahams

12. Elijah Bresanello

13. Milla Elliot

Cultures around the World - Year 3

To conclude Term 2, the Year 3 students delivered oral presentations about a country that interested them. The students presented information about the people who live there and the country's culture and traditions. These presentations were accompanied by sharing traditional food that students had made from their chosen country. The Year 3 students and their parents enjoyed this enriching experience of exploring different cultures and communities.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It’s held each year during the first week of July and is an important annual event where everyone is invited to join in the celebrations. This year the 2023 theme is For Our Elders. We celebrate in the first week of Term 3 with a range of experiences from bush tucker talks to damper making and researching the Stolen Generation.

Year 6 students learnt about the Carrolup children from Marribank Mission near Kojonup and the world renowned art pieces they produced while in trying conditions. The Year 6 students recreated their own versions in watercolour and wax crayons, inspired by the children.

Year 3 and 4 students have immersed themselves in Dreamtime stories. I had the privilege of sharing my knowledge of local bush tucker and the origins of damper. The children were keen to share their own knowledge and form questions for future research.

The Kindy and Pre Primary students have been entertained by the Story Tiddalick the Frog and made story stones to go along with the text. This helps the students to retell the story.

Book Week

Get your costumes ready for Monday, the 21st of August! Dress up as your favourite fictional character and join us for a fun-filled day. Parents are more than welcome to stay and watch the excitement unfold. This year's theme is "Read, Grow, and Inspire," and we can't wait to see all the imaginative characters and stories come to life. So, let your creativity shine and let's make this day unforgettable together!

Primary Music Festival

The Albany Primary Schools’ Music Festival has been a cherished tradition for over 30 years. Each year, the children showcase their talents through a diverse range of musical genres, including dance, choral singing, instrumental playing, and musical theatre. This special occasion provides the children with a valuable opportunity to experience performing on a grand stage in a professional setting, complete with all the 'bells and whistles'. The excitement builds throughout the day, leading up to their magnificent performance at night. It's a momentous event that fills everyone's hearts with pride and joy.

The Year 4- 6 students will perform on the 7th of September from 7pm at the Albany Entertainment Centre. The information for ticket booking will be sent leading up to the event. The children have been practicing well and excitement is building.