Our Connected Learning Community
Ms Stockton and Mr McLean have been outdoing each other with frog pranks at the new frog pond:
(Even the Frog Prince has visited the pond this week.)
By the way, the eggs have hatched, and hundreds of tiny real tadpoles are now camouflaging in the brown soil at the base of the pond:
Mr McLean ended up being absent for the last week of Term 3 (sorry about that – he missed you all, although he did some moderating from home). The student rappers finally did their evaluation comments on the rap this week:
Participating in the Book Week 2011 book rap, what did Stage 1 book rappers at this school learn about books and reading?: reading is really fun, reading helps you when you’re writing, reading is educational, books without pictures can make you use your imagination.
What did we learn about digital stories? Watching other schools’ stories gives us great ideas for more stories, it’s fun to create characters and decide what they can say or do, they are excellent to read.
What did we learn about technology? Using the IWB makes us want to ask questions, technology can help us share our work with others, we can use the search engine to find video clips, technology helps us with entertainment and education. Thanks for rapping with us! penrithpsrappers and Mr McLean.
On a teacher front, Mr McLean discovered an excellent online tool for ensuring that blog comments don’t exceed the 1000 character limit imposed by blogED. Go to www.javascriptkit.com/script/script2/charcount.shtml “ and simply cut and paste your proposed text into the box before returning here and hitting “Post” on the blog.
We hope you all enjoyed the rap.
Ms Stockton’s Stage 1 students built a frog habitat in the school playground!
Above: A closeup of the frog spawn (eggs). Each tiny black dot is a tadpole growing inside the clear jelly eggs.
Ms Stockton boiled some lettuce in the microwave oven to feed the newly-hatched tadpoles.
It’s feeding time for the tiny tadpoles!
Some relevant Youtube video clips are HERE! Updates to the frog pond project are HERE.
Today, our school was graced by the presence of author Susanne Gervay, of “I am Jack” fame. All the attendees (Years 3-6) had been well prepped via serialised readings from “I am Jack” all this term, so it was great to see the book come to life with Susanne’s witty and frenetic presentation.
Mrs Mead tried to keep up with all of Susanne’s jokes, anecdotes and anti-bullying strategies, signing for the hearing support students. Can you see Mr McLean’s growing prop of “Jack’s Ponto” in the above pic?
Mr McLean and Jack’s Ponto, photographed by Susanne Gervay
Thanks Susanne for a wonderful author visit. Susanne has blogged about the day as well.
Susanne loved the story of our historic library mural (Click on the link to see the Photo Peach slideshow)!
Congratulations to all of our talented Penrith Show entrants for 2011! Notice that the rocket model (above, centre) not only won a blue first-prize ribbon, but a “Best in Show” sash.
Slice entries
Decorated biscuit entries
Muffin entries
To help us celebrate Children’s Book Week, award-winning illustrator Frané Lessac came to talk about her career with students in K-2. We had prepared for her visit by looking at several of her picture books, including “Simpson and his donkey”, which was written by her husband, author Mark Greenwood.
Frané enthralled us with anecdotes about the pet monkey she had as a child in New Jersey, USA, and her time living on a tiny island which was almost totally destroyed when its volcano erupted. She painted a picture of Duffy, Simpson’s donkey, and showed a slideshow of her other picture books, including several about Australian bushrangers.
We had a great time! Thank you, Frané – and Lateral Learning!
Frané’s volcano
Frané completed artwork of Duffy
Frané’s pet cat usually drinks the contents of her paint-water cup, which is one reason she tries to always use non toxic paints.
The Stage 1 book rappers created a digital sequel to Alison Lester’s “Noni the pony” on Photo Peach.
Congratulations to Class 1H for creating this beautiful display for the library on the picture book, “Family forest”!
And congratulations to Class 5/6P for creating this great mobile on the Book Week theme. The face of the peace symbol (above right) is covered with miniature books, created by the students.
These and other class displays are also in a Flickr slideshow.
A homemade puppet theatre from a 1/2S student!
Hello, this is Penrith Public School. We are in Stage 1 but we are from five different classes. There are fifteen of us doing the Book Week 2011: One world, many stories book rap.
Penrith is in western Sydney. Sometimes it is hot in Penrith in summer but it can be cold in winter. Our school is near Westfield Penrith Plaza. We are halfway to Katoomba. Our school has lots of trees and buildings. Some of our buildings are brand new, including the library and two classrooms.
Last Friday, our school had Pedlars’ Fair. K-2 dressed up as pedlars and brought trays of things to sell. And more. Stage 2 and Stage 3 helped with fairground games.
On National Tree Day, some students got to plant tiny little trees because it helps our planet.
When people come to our school, they quickly make lots of friends. Our core values are: learning; cooperating; respect; and environment.
We like working on the IWB with Mr McLean, our teacher librarian.. Last year some of us did the “Travelling Fearless” project with lots of other schools. We showed Fearless the puppy around the school and made our photos into a slideshow. It was terrific.
See you later. We hope you enjoyed our message.
From 15 students from 1/2A, 1/2G, 1/2S, 1/2K and 1H.
Former student and now professional author, Cassandra Golds, found this Youtube link and wanted to share it:
“These are the various musical groups at Penrith Primary School, recorded in 1972, when I was in Year 4. I can’t get over how good they are! Mr Doug Pope, who I adored, is conducting the band and the drums in the final item are played by Mr Rose, who I also adored.”
1. Battle Hymn of the Republic – Brass Band
2. Humpty Dumpty – Senior Choir
3. Air – Flute Band
4. Six Little Ducks – Guitar Club
5. Gone the Rainbow – Recorder Band
6. Swinging Safari – Recorders and Guitars.
Many thanks, Cassandra, what a thrill!
Side 2 is HERE.
7. Pokare Kare Ana – Junior Choir
8. Morning has Broken – Recorder Band
9. We Shall Not Be Moved – Guitar Club
10. Bonnie Dundee – Flute Band
11. Hello Dolly – Brass Band.
Recorded at the school hall to vinyl in 1972. Audio digitised and video produced by Richard Hamilton, 2010.
The students of Penrith Public School, a primary (elementary) Department of Education and Communities school in western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, have been using the weblog format to participate in raps and book raps since 2008. We have had a school library wiki since Term 4, 2007.
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