THE ARTS
Waverley Meadows Primary School provides an Arts Program for all children encompassing Visual and Performing Arts as outlined in the Victorian Curriculum. The Arts program consists of a weekly session for every student where they are given opportunities to express ideas in a supportive, engaging and friendly atmosphere.
The Visual Arts program incorporates both art making and art appreciation in association with developing a visual arts language. Students learn to explore their creativity and imagination through a skills based visual arts program. This supports the process of art making and students are given 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.
Through the Performing Arts Program at Waverley Meadows Primary School, students have the opportunity to communicate their ideas or expand their mind creatively through Music, Dance and Drama. The purpose of the Performing Arts is to give the students a creative outlet and challenge them in new and exciting ways they may not have thought they were capable of. Performing Arts classes enable the children to express themselves through words, gesture and body language and teach them confidence to get up in front of their peers and perform their own and others’ pieces of work. They learn to respect the work of their fellow classmates and give constructive feedback on how they can improve their work and progress to the next level.
Students learn how beat, rhythm, dynamics and pitch are used in different genres of music. Students experience and create music by learning to play tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments, creating music that reflects a theme or emotion and producing sound effects to complement their drama performances. They learn to read melodies and rhythms on a range of instruments and by using their voices. Singing forms an integral part of the program, with many of the elements coming together to communicate historical and cultural information. Many children are also involved in the school choir.
Each year the grade 6 students perform in a school production. Productions provide wonderful experiences for students in prop building, costuming, performing and many other ‘behind the scenes’ roles. It is also a wonderful opportunity for the whole school community to celebrate the many talented students we have at Waverley Meadows Primary School.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Every student from Prep to Year 6 participates in Physical Education classes on a weekly basis. Physical Education classes will focus on active participation, basic motor-skill development, teamwork and leadership skills and most importantly, having fun! The students will develop skills in a variety of different sports, including athletics, T-ball, cricket, basketball, soccer, netball, AFL football, rugby and more.
Senior students also participate in weekly inter-school sports, played most Friday mornings. Thanks to the Sporting Schools initiative we are also able to offer a number of different lunchtime and after-school sporting programs. These are completely free and will include a variety of different sports throughout the year.
Alongside both the PE and Sport programs there will also be a full week swimming program for students in prep to Year 4, beach safety for 5-6 students and bike education for 3-4 students.
Cross Country and Athletics are also run for year 3-6 students and whole school House Sports are run annually which is a fabulous community event.
Auslan
Auslan, the Australian Sign Language, is an essential part of our school’s curriculum. As our Language Other Than English (LOTE) program, we are proud to offer Auslan to our students. This initiative reflects our commitment to inclusivity and recognition of the rich linguistic landscape of Australia. By teaching Auslan, we not only equip our students with a valuable communication skill but also deepen their appreciation for the culture and experiences of the Australian Deaf community. Our comprehensive program is designed to foster bilingual communication abilities and promote cultural competence among our students.