SPECIALIST SUBJECTS
Bellbrae Primary School offers a number of specialist subjects to students, to expose them to a range of learning as well as exploring their different learning styles. In these sessions we aim to focus students in different subject areas and not only allow students interests to flourish, but harness their creativity and thinking. The specialist subject areas available to Bellbrae students are Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Indonesian, and Physical Education. Please scroll down to see what specialist subjects look like at Bellbrae Primary School.
Visual Arts is celebrated at Bellbrae Primary School. We run an outstanding Visual Arts program by providing a positive, inspirational and unique space for students to create and learn. Our Visual Arts program is alive with lessons that promote student lead discussion, experimental processes and an attitude that everyone can achieve.
Foundation through to Grade Six students engage in a journey of discovery, problem solving and experimental designs that develop their art skills and knowledge. Students are encouraged to express themselves creatively, experiment with a variety of art supplies and engage in an array of art processes. There are fantastic opportunities for all students to be a part of, including local and international competitions, art focussed incursions and excursions, exhibitions and lunchtime art clubs. Activities in Art include drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, digital art, construction and sculpture all while exploring the Art Elements and Principles.
At Bellbrae Primary we have a fantastic purpose-built art room that is stocked with materials and tools to give every student an opportunity to express themselves creatively. We are lucky enough to have an Outdoor Classroom on Wadawurrung land, which is a fantastic open learning space that that we make great use of and enjoy our beautiful landscape, garden and chickens surrounding us while we learn and create.
As part of Performing Arts, weekly sessions students undertake activities to develop skills in Music, Dance Drama and Performance. Students learn new concepts and skills and apply them to activities including plays, music performance and school productions. Students learn music sequentially beginning with the fundamentals of rhythm and voice in the younger years before class tuition of keyboard, ukelele and guitar in the senior years. Students build habits of mind that are essential to living well and weathering the adversities of life. Performing Arts at Bellbrae aims to hone our creativity and intelligence, foster compassion, and bring a higher understanding of humanity to our awareness. To perform is to think critically, problem solve and be a good listener.
(Above) Graduation dance video project from Performing Arts 2020
Bellbrae Primary takes pride in providing all students with weekly Physical Education and specialised Sport sessions. We have a wide range of sporting facilities including an undercover basketball/netball court, a newly resurfaced oval and a brand new full size stadium. This allows us to provide our students with a wide range of physical activities in all weather conditions.
Our Physical Education and Sport Program encompasses fitness, skills, movement, gymnastics, games, aquatics, recreation and sport. It also aims to promote the enjoyment of physical activity by providing interesting and motivating activities while improving the student’s knowledge, skills and behaviours.
Our whole school events include the following:
- Athletics
- Swimming
- Cross Country
City to Surf Lightning Premiership
Our school is part of the City to Surf District, in which we compete in a wide range of Summer and Winter sports in interschool competitions. Our 5/6 students select a sport of their choice, train in their designated sport time and then compete within the City to Surf District. Successful teams have the opportunity to compete in the Regional and State Finals.
Bluearth Program
Our school has been part of the Bluearth program for close to a decade. Both students and classroom teachers participate in weekly sessions with our Bluearth coach Mitch Barrow.
According to their website:
Bluearth takes an approach to active living that goes beyond traditional sport and education models.
We care less about competition, and more about positive participation experiences that develop skills and motivation to embed lifelong healthy habits for Aussie kids to play, jump, run and generally be more active.
Bellbrae Ski Team
Each winter we send a Bellbrae ski team to compete in the Victorian Interschool Ski Championship at Mt Buller. This year we are sending a team of over 20 competitors. Students compete in a range of events such as Alpine Giant Slalom, Snowboard Giant Slalom, Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross and Moguls.
As one of Australia’s closest neighbours, Indonesia holds great importance for the future of Australian diplomacy and business in our region. For that reason, it is important for students to engage with Indonesian studies in order to bridge the knowledge and communication gap between the nations. At Bellbrae, students enjoy exploring and engaging in Indonesian language, culture, and geography. They reflect on their own experiences and assumptions about languages other than English and use these experiences to enrich their learning. Students use Indonesian to communicate with their teachers and peers, respond to instructions, ask and answer questions and create resources for their learning. They learn about Indonesian islands, numbers, colours, greetings, transportation, cultural respect, houses, dance, religions, music, food and animals. They recognise similarities and differences between English and Indonesian language and reflect on why these occur. Our goal for Bellbrae Indonesian students is to foster respect and curiosity of global cultures, to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries, and reflect on their own language through comparison with another.