Extreme Weather Sculptures

Posted on August 12, 2015 by mrsdavey

We recently started learning about Earth Sciences across all grades at Epsom P.S. In Grade 5/6 we have been exploring manipulating armature wire into extreme weather projects. We took this a step further this week by wrapping plaster around our creations. Stay tuned – next week we hope to paint them!

What have you enjoyed most about this hands on activity?

Mrs Davey was the Student!

Posted on April 26, 2015 by mrsdavey

Lino Cutting

Last Tuesday I attended school. I went to what us teachers call PD – Professional Development. It was held at the Bendigo Art Gallery and the LaTrobe Visual Arts Centre across the road from each other. What a magnificent day it was – the best PD I have ever been to! First we met in the Art Gallery Cafe for refreshments, then we had a guided tour of ‘Imagining Ned’ and then we went across the road to start our lesson on Lino Cutting. Our artist/teacher Clayton had a lino print of Ned at 50 years of age in the exhibition. First we took a photo portrait we liked on our computer and manipulated it into a black and white version using MSWord. Then we photocopied and applied it to the lino….then we started cutting using lino tools which was my favourite part! Then it was time to roll the special oil based paint over the lino and place very expensive and thick paper over our painted up lino. Lastly, we placed the picture in an old fashioned press, pulled it out and Da Dah – my end product is below.

Lino Cutting

Have you ever done Lino Cutting before?

Dahlia & Arts Parade 2015

Posted on March 25, 2015 by mrsdavey

On Saturday so many of our school community members participated in the 2015 Dahlia and Arts Gala Parade. We had a float (well a truck really) donated by Fitzpatricks Hardware which Miss Fitz & Rob, Mrs Hayward & her mum/dad, Rob our school council vice president and Mrs Davey decorated on Saturday morning. We tried very hard to make it bright and vibrant, reflecting our new school Houses. Did we do a good job?

We are so proud of everyone in our entry, smiling, laughing, dancing and being confident. You all represented our school in the Epsom manner we all expect!

What did you like best? Were you nervous?

2015 Swimming Carnival

Posted on March 4, 2015 by mrsdavey

Wow! What a terrific day we had at our first ever school swimming carnival! We had students with big happy smiles on their faces, everyone trying their best and lots of participating! Well done Epsom PS students, parents and teachers.

Please tell me what you liked best and what you would like us to improve on for next year.

It’s Cricket Season! Yippee.

Posted on October 13, 2014 by mrsdavey

Last week in PE we started a unit on Cricket to improve our skills ready for the T20 Blast tournament for Grade 3-6 students in late November.

We were lucky to have Jake DeAraugo take a skills based session and game to learn the T20 Blast rules. Every grade in the Upper school we participate in this clinic by Jake.

Daily 5 featured heavily in Week 1 with ‘Catch to Self’ and ‘Catch to Partner’ and this week we focussed our hand eye co-ordination theme onto our batting technique.

Go Renegades!

What new cricket skill have you learnt?

Rugby – What is Rugby?

Posted on August 16, 2014 by mrsdavey

Last week saw everyone of us out of our comfort zone except for Taine! We embarked on fun lessons with topic expert Taine, learning the art of Rugby for 2014 National Rugby Week. We learnt about the ball, how to hold it, how to throw it, how to kick it and how to do a line out. Rugby 7’s is very exciting and Taine told the kids about something big called the Bledisloe Cup! Thank-you to Rugby Australia for our 2 new rugby balls.

Check out our great skills:

What did you learn about Rugby?

Fitness Testing

Posted on July 16, 2014 by mrsdavey

For our first week back to a new semester I have been conducting some fitness testing to create a baseline for student’s fitness over the years of their learning at Epsom PS. This week we practised the Beep Test (Gr 3-6), The Sit and Reach Test, Vertical Jump and I also measured student’s heights. This will be fascinating to compare in December this year and as the years go on. The majority of student’s embraced this assessment and cannot wait to see their comparison results in December. I made it quite clear to students that we were not competing against each other but trying to improve on our July results when we test again in December. I was particularly surprised with how interested in the Vertical Jump students were, trying to beat their mark over and over again.

What did you find most interesting from the fitness testing? Which result do you think you will find easiest/hardest to improve on by the end of 2014?

Tomato Sauce in Art?

Posted on June 19, 2014 by mrsdavey

Last week we used oranges and potatoes in Art to create a variety of eye-catching prints. Now I am on the search for empty (and washed) tomato sauce bottles ready for Christmas Art. I have set a target of 200 bottles for us to collect – 1 for each student and then we hope to make Santas out of them in time for Christmas.

So please continue collecting these plastic bottles and thank-you to the students who have started to bring them into the art room.

Do you have these at your house – it doesn’t matter which brand?

Printmaking

Posted on June 11, 2014 by mrsdavey

We have embarked on a unit in Art to learn about the technique of Printmaking. Last week we participated in experimental play learning where we used various objects and paint to print. This week we used zip lock bags to print. We watched a video, then a real demonstration and then we used our creativity to see what we could design. We think our work is sensational.

Have you ever done printmaking before? What did you make?

Jump Rope 4 Heart ‘Jump Off.’

Posted on May 31, 2014 by mrsdavey

What a fabulous way to finish our skipping program last Friday. We had students skipping, skipping, skipping! Woolworths donated fresh fruit which some lovely parents cut into fruit kebabs after the students had rotated around the school yard participating in various skipping activities. We were then treated to a showcase of skipping teams demonstrating the various tricks that they had learnt this term. They were incredible! Last of all we were able to celebrate these wonderful achievements with a presentation ceremony where our final fundraising tally was slowly revealed.

Thanks to all the students and families who did so much fundraising for our little school. Thank-you to Mrs Harrison for teaching the students so many skipping skills.