Students creativity highlighted at Parish Mass
Celebrating Parish Mass with my students is always a delight when you have such keen prayerful singers and a talented string section from our classes (5 of them from my class!) Colleagues sharing and collaborating together is also a wonderful opportunity. The support of community and parents was amazing! 

Year 2 celebrates their completed Battle of the Artz entries with a movie night.
Now the hard work is done after post production. Over 80 people packed the year 2 classroom to celebrate all student’s efforts in completing their eight films. Completing a major goal is a win for our class and the school. Support from colleagues Bev, Julie and Elizabeth ensured smooth running on the night as well. Overwhelming support from the class parent community summed up by one parent Amanda: “ The effort, creativity, learning and enjoyment in the making of the films, was evident in each and every movie presented.The film project was a great way to engage the children’s interest in Australian history, Chinese culture, art, music, performance and ICT, as well as develop their communication and problem solving skills in what was an extraordinary collaborative effort”
Class parent Jane:. Thank you to everyone.  I had a great time watching the movies and was very impressed by the hours of work that went into each film.  We enjoyed it so much, we have watched all the films again at home on the DVD provided by Mr Butt.  Well done!

Students learn real life media skills in their Battle of the Artz movies

Students incorporated real life interviews in their Battle of the Artz Entries for the “Race that Stops the Nation” and “Anzac Day Across the Nation”. They applied this learning when shooting their documentaries and stories. One student filmed their interview while on holiday in Hobart during Anzac Day. 

Freedom to design, dream and draw in year 2 Battle of the Artz entry “Explosion”

Students took their filmmaking to a new level by drawing green screen backgrounds for their scenes in their film “Explosion” based on Guy Fawkes’ failed gunpowder plot.

Parent helpers contributed with costuming and assisting in bulding some props as well. Students contributed clips taken from their devices outside of school to add to the finished movie as well.

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Authentic learning engages both students and parent communities

I felt honoured to be nominated by my class parent community. Early on I cast a vision to them on how a contemporary classroom could be, incorporating learning tasks that were meaningful and woven into real life. I was truly overwhelmed by their moral and practical support at all times. The partnership between parents and teachers is a wonderful resource to nourish.

Year 2 team interview Sydney Jockey as a key research tool in crafting their Battle of the Artz movie

A team of Year 2 students found information gained from an interview with Sydney Jockey Robyn Freeman-Keys very useful. Interviews provide current information and human perspectives on topics. The recorded interview using “screen record” enabled the team to view it later, assisting planning for both their story and scene design. As part of the cultural celebration unit, the student team had choice in their team members, study topic and film genre.

Year 2 team interview a national historian as a key research tool in crafting their Battle of the Artz documentary

A team of Year 2 students found information gained from an interview with Australian War Memorial historian Meleah Hampton very useful. Interviews provide current information and human perspectives on topics. The recorded interview using “screen record” enabled the team to view it later, assisting planning for both their story and scene design. As part of the cultural celebration unit, the student team had choice in their team members, study topic and film genre.