LIBRARY MUSIC

Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students participate in a program within the Resource Centre in a stimulating environment designed to achieve two main goals.

The first goal is to develop a lifelong interest in and love of reading, through exposure to a wide range of children’s literature. Prep to Year 2 students have a weekly Browse and Borrow session, where they hear stories read aloud and have the chance to participate in discussions about books, authors and illustrators. All girls must have a book bag to transport their books to and from school.

The second goal is to introduce students to a set of skills to develop and enhance their Information Literacy, so that they become confident lifelong learners. Information Literacy is transdisciplinary – an integral part of the whole learning process which is embedded in all of our learning and is used whenever information is required. Students in Year 1 and Year 2 have flexibly timetabled Inquiry sessions relevant to the stage of their Unit of Study and are taught in the Resource Centre along with the classroom teacher.

There are six steps which help define the Information Process and guide the teaching of the skills needed for the students to apply in their learning. Each of these steps is addressed explicitly to help students become aware of the process of accessing information and builds upon what is already known and understood, at an appropriate level.

Step 1. Define - What do I want to find out? Step 2. Locate - Where can I find the information I need? Step 3. Select - How can I search these sources effectively? Step 4. Organise - How can I organise the information so I can understand it better? Step 5. Present – How can I share this information with other people? Step 6. Evaluate – What have I learned from this?

The students participate in Book Week and Writers’ Festival activities in addition to incursions involving authors and/or illustrators, where the students gain a better understanding and appreciation of literature. Prep to Year 2 students have music lessons each week with Year 1 students also participating in a strings program. Through participation in listening, singing, playing and composition, the children learn about the elements of music and how to apply their understanding.

Through a Kodaly based program, students are able to listen and take responsibility for their own learning through repertoire and activities which employ vocal, instrumental, listening, composing and notation skills. All Prep – Year 2 girls participate in ‘Les Petits Choristes’, an invaluable opportunity which fosters community ensemble skills, vocal skills and performance confidence. The girls work with others showing empathy, compassion and respect.

The Prep Music program develops a natural curiosity for music; its beauty, intricacies and the different elements that come together to create music. Students engage in repertoire and activities which strengthen their understanding of beat, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, pitch and un-tuned percussion. Students actively enjoy music, fostering a life-long love and appreciation for music.

The Year 1 Music program heightens students’ ability to communicate through music and strengthens their understanding of the different elements that come together to create music. Students actively enjoy music, participating in vocal, instrumental, and composition activities.

The Year 2 Music program strengthens students’ ability to communicate through music and gives them the knowledge and skills to use and manipulate the different elements that come together to create music. Year 2 students begin to apply their knowledge to tuned percussion and recorder.

The Year 2 Strings program at Fintona provides a string instrument and a year of tuition in violin, viola or cello for every Year 2 girl.