St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Darwin

Our Year 5/6 Students in Room 11 put their STEM skills to the test for Science Week, by designing paper helicopters using only paper and a single paperclip, and then testing their designs by flying them from the balcony! 🚁📎

They also designed and created bridges across two dictionaries, made solely from 1 piece of paper, with their winning design holding an incredible four dictionaries!

Our Transition students have been studying the weather, and the different types of clouds.

During Science Week, the students discovered that when a cloud gets filled with too much water, and it can't hold it anymore, the excess water falls as rain!🌧️

Our Year 4/5 students in Room 12 got hands- on during Science Week, last week.

From making paper planes with just paper and paper clips, to planting and gardening, to having an experiment with Coca- Cola and Mentos!

They tested ideas and learning through experimentation, and were very creative and curious in their activities!
🌱🧪🔎

Last week was National Science Week, and our Years 5/6 in Room 16 explored earthquakes and volcanoes as part of their science unit!

Students built structures to withstand movement at divergent, transform and convergent plate boundaries. They also created volcanoes and watched them erupt! 🌋

Lots of hands-on learning, teamwork and scientific thinking! 🔬

During Week 6 in Room 5, we researched the Earth and shared some interesting facts we have learned about our amazing world! 🌎✨

We also connected this to our RE learning, as we explored how Jesus gave us rules and expectations to help us live happily and respectfully together, in the world He created. ❤️

Morning Movement at St Mary’s has been a fantastic way to start our Friday mornings! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Many students have joined in on fun games and activities to get active, have some fun, and connect with others. It’s also been a wonderful way to bring our school community together and start the day with plenty of energy and enthusiasm.

We’re especially proud to see our Year 5 and 6 students stepping up as leaders and helping to organise and lead the activities. It’s a great opportunity for them to develop their leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while encouraging younger students to get involved.

What a great way to start the day! 💙🌟

Room 16 has been busy putting their learning into action through Project-Based Learning! 🌟

As part of our Science unit on adaptations, students designed and created their own unique creatures, thinking carefully about how their creatures’ features and behaviours would help them survive in their environment. 🐾🌿

More recently, students completed a Famous Landmark Project as part of their home learning. They researched a landmark of their choice, discovered interesting facts about its history and significance, and explored the benefits and importance of their chosen landmark to its community, visitors and the wider world. 🌏🏛️

And we’re not finished yet! Students are currently designing and creating their own board games, which they will complete by the end of the term. Working in groups, students are developing their critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving and collaboration skills as they plan, design, test and refine their games.

It has been wonderful to see students take ownership of their learning and apply their knowledge in creative and meaningful ways. Project-based learning gives our students opportunities to create, question, collaborate, problem-solve and connect their classroom learning to the real world.

We can’t wait to see the finished board games! 🎲✨

We were so proud of our 12 St Mary’s students who represented our school so beautifully at Socktober on Saturday, at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School. ⚽

Our students demonstrated respect, kindness, encouragement, and excellent sportsmanship, showing care for their teammates and opponents throughout the day. Although our team didn’t win their game, they certainly showed what it means to be a winner through their attitude, character, and school spirit. 🌟

Our students embraced the opportunity to make a difference, while also enjoying the excitement and community of the day. After their soccer game, they had plenty of fun with face painting and a range of games, celebrating together and building friendships across our Catholic school community.

Well done, St Mary’s. You represented our school, our faith and our community beautifully. 🏫🥅

Our school's Spirit Cup Fun Day had a different look, where students were split into their house groups, and took part in a variety of exciting challenges, games and activities, cheering each other on every step of the way.

It was wonderful to see so much encouragement, sportsmanship, and St Mary's school spirit on display! Thank you to Mrs. Dorrian, who organised such a memorable day for us all!❤️💚💙💛

Our Room 7 students have had a wonderful couple of weeks filled with hands-on learning and lots of fun!

We recently celebrated 100 Days of School by dressing up as 100-year-olds and taking part in a range of exciting activities centred around the number 100. There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and creative learning as we marked this special milestone together. 🎉👵👴

This week, we joined with Room 8 for a fantastic morning of learning together on the E-Deck! ☀️🔬

As Sunshine Scientists, the children made predictions about which objects would change the fastest in the sunshine before observing ice, chocolate, butter, and crayons in both the sun and the shade. They recorded their observations like real scientists, discussed their discoveries and learned how the sun changes different materials. We also explored why sun safety is so important in Darwin and shared ways we can stay safe while enjoying the outdoors.

We also worked together on a hands-on Maths activity, using our giant Learning Through Doing 100 Mat and number cards to order numbers to 50. It was a wonderful opportunity to build number knowledge, while collaborating with our friends from Room 8.

It has been a fantastic fortnight filled with curiosity, teamwork, active learning and lots of fun!