Portland South Primary School aims to build literate students who read, view, speak, listen, write and create in order to communicate and participate successfully in society. Daily two  hour literacy blocks are non-negotiable, and all children work to build upon their current skills through meaningful, purposeful and interesting teaching and learning activities.

Learning Mathematics creates opportunitues for and enriches the lives of all Australians. The Victorian Curriculum provides students with essential mathematical skills and knowledge in Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. Our teachers aim to instil a love of Mathematics and a sense of wonder, helping students to become self-motivated and confident learners. We encourage students to question and challenge their own ability, thinking and knowledge of all areas in Mathematics. Formative assessment is constantly carried out throughout the year so that each student is working at their own level and being taught at their point of need. Each student is valued as a mathematician and we strive to help each individual reach their full mathematical potential.

Foundation are fantastic! We are an active and interested group of learners who enjoy playing, reading, drawing, writing, counting and having fun! We are lucky to have a huge  classroom in which we can work and play with all the wonderful resources we have. We love to share what we do with our families through Seesaw and we chose a Star of the Day each day to focus on positives. A big part of our day is our mindfulness practice – we usually start the afternoon session with some meditation, yoga or breathing exercises. We are learning to be helpful, kind, empathic and well-rounded people.

In 1/2H we focus on student achievements and students taking ownership over their work and classroom. For that reason, when asked to provide a blurb for the website, who better to write about our classroom than its members our wonderful and intelligent 1/2 students. The following question was asked to our students and their responses are just wonderful. What makes your classroom, 1/2H special compared to any other class?

In grade 3/4 S we respect others and build friendships, work hard and together, show confidence, make learning fun and have a tidy classroom. Our classroom values are to be…….

Classroom Rules

This year we have a composite Grade 5/6 of 17 students. Our teacher is Mrs Jeanette Morton. Mall Sealey and Jay Moody are the integration aides.

Our mission statement is:
To have a hard working, happy, harmonious classroom where we all participate and LEARN to the best of our ability.

In our classroom we work hard to achieve success from all learning opportunities.

All students at Portland South Primary School attend specialist visual art classes. Students are given opportunities to feel free and confident to express ideas in a calm and friendly atmosphere and are encouraged to respond to the artwork of others. The Visual Arts program incorporates both art making and art appreciation in association with  developing a visual arts language and supporting a unit within the Victorian Curriculum.

Students learn to explore their creativity and imagination through a skills based visual arts program. This supports the process of art making and we give the students clear instructions on the correct use of tools, materials and techniques. Over the course of the year, students are able to experiment with a variety of media including painting, drawing, ceramics, textiles, print-making, collage, construction and visual communication. They learn to develop a visual language around art elements that is appropriate when thinking and talking about art, such as line, shape, colour and texture.

Students look at various artworks of Australian and International artists to inspire their
own works. The students are encouraged to share their thoughts, observations and feelings and then have a go themselves. Artwork from a range of cultures and periods in history are also referenced. Student art pieces are regularly displayed both in the art room and in a variety of locations around the school. 2-D art pieces are pasted into each student’s individual Art Portfolio. Some art pieces are sent home.

All students at Portland South Primary School attend specialist performing art classes. Students are given opportunities to experience Drama and Music.

Drama is the expression and exploration of personal, cultural and social worlds through role and situation that engages, entertains and challenges. Students create meaning as drama makers, performers and audiences as they enjoy and analyse their own and others’ stories and points of view. Like all art forms, drama has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich all students, excite the imagination and encourage students to reach their creative and expressive potential. Drama enables students to imagine and participate in exploration of their worlds, individually and collaboratively. Students actively use body, gesture, movement, voice and language, taking on roles to explore and depict real and imagined worlds. They create, rehearse, perform and respond using the  elements and conventions of drama and emerging and existing technologies available to them.

Music has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich all students, exciting the imagination and encouraging students to reach their creative and expressive potential. Skills and techniques developed through participation in music learning allow students to manipulate, express and share sound as listeners, composers and performers. Music learning has a significant impact on the cognitive, affective, motor, social and personal competencies of students. Music learning combines listening, performing and composing activities. These activities, developed sequentially, enhance students’ capacity to perceive and understand music.

The Music curriculum aims to develop students’:
– confidence to be creative, innovative, thoughtful, skilful and informed musicians
– skills to listen, improvise, compose, interpret, perform, and respond with intent and purpose
– aesthetic knowledge and respect for music and music practices across global communities, cultures and musical traditions.

– understanding of music as an aural art form, its relationship with other arts forms and
contributions to cultures and societies.