Extra Curricular Activities
The annual musical production at Overport is a whole school event. Every student from Prep to Year 6 learns songs and choreography, dresses in full costume with make-up and has a fantastic time. Year 6 students have the honour of performing acting roles each year and enter into a process of auditions and rehearsals in Term 2 which lead up to the show early in Term 3. These coveted roles are hotly contested each year, and the immeasurable confidence that the children gain from participating in this activity is evident in the final performance.
Overport productions are performed in the main theatre at Frankston Cultural Centre, which provides students with the opportunity to experience full stage lighting, a large music system, professional dressing rooms and an exciting atmosphere.
Productions are usually selected from commercially available shows written for primary schools. Past productions have included; Conundrum (2005), Circus Splendida (2004), Kids at Sea, Ghoul Rock, Wizard of Oz, Masquerade, Dragon Girl, and The Time Machine.
The 2006 production – Dreamcatcher, is a delightful musical story based on 3 families who spend their summer holidays together, sharing a beach house. The children of varying ages share a large room and, as they fall asleep on their first night in the house, the gnomes and fairies who live in the garden sneak into the house and watch as the children’s dreams come to life. Dream Dude foresees the dreams, the Dreamcatchers catch them and the garden folk make sure everything stays safe. The music is in a variety of styles-: rock, gospel, blues, country and western and more to add to the variety and colour of the production.
The production is a huge event in the school calendar which brings together the whole school community. Mums and Dads and even grandparents help to make costumes, sets and props, apply make-up right alongside the teachers who have also spent hours rehearsing their classes for their stage performances. The performance is professionally filmed on the night and videos and dvd’s are available to purchase so that those exciting moments when your child is on the stage can be relived over and over.
The 2007 production of ‘The Secret Treasure’ is an adventure story with a moral of the value of friendship.
“It is Ace’s birthday, but his parents seem to have forgotten all about it.
Over
the weekend, he and his friends are asked to move some hard rubbish
onto the curb for collection. When one of them discovers an interesting
old book it leads the group on an exciting adventure. They find and
unravel clues in the book and go on an amazing treasure hunt that leads
them all over the town of Sunny Valley.
They visit the old folks
home (Sunny Valley Village), the Zoo, go ten-pin bowling at Sunny
Valley Bowling Alley, and see the Sunny Valley Vikings play in a
basketball game. A TV cameraman overhears the group talking about their
amazing adventures and he invites them to SVTV where they also see a
famous band called Crash.
The
neighborhood gang of bullies (the Vipers) hear the friends talking
about the book and their quest, and vow to try and get to the treasure
first believing it to have monetary value.
Little do they know that the ‘treasure’ turns out to be the bond of friendship and the shared enjoyment of a day of fun.”
Both Dreamcatcher (2006) and The Secret Treasure (2007) were written specifically for Overport Primary School by teachers Katie Bingham and Jane Lacey with original music by Anthony Bingham.
2008 Production ‘Kids in Camelot’
From Bushfire Press
Kids in Camelot is based on Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and tells the tale of a boy (Tristan) who, having fallen asleep doing his history homework, wakes up in Camelot.
He is mistaken for a sorcerer and thrown into the dungeon. At the Round Table he manages to insult King Arthur and finds himself about to be placed in the stocks. However, young Tristan is a very resourceful, modern boy; he uses his mobile phone to check the internet and learns that there is an eclipse due. So he uses his 21st Century knowledge and his own cunning to not only extricate himself from the situation - but to take over the running of Camelot. Unfortunately, things don't always go smoothly and young Tristan finds it difficult to get the peasants onside.
One of his attempts to do so is the inaugural 'Camelot County Fair', during which the Cornish Cavaliers perform to the music of The Crafty Fox.
... we don't want to spoil the rest of the show for you. Suffice it to say that it's full of knights, ladies, sorcerers, quests, jousting - there's even a damsel in distress - loads of jokes and comic characters and situations - and sensational songs and music with four original songs included just for Overport written by Jane Lacey and Katie and Anthony Bingham.
Student Representative Council
The Student Representative Council (SRC) at Overport aims to give a voice to the student body within the context of the wider school community. It consists of students from Grades 5 and 6 and includes all of the School and House captains for the current year as well as representatives from each of the senior classes.
The SRC aims to make a difference both at our school and within the wider community. Activities that the SRC have been involved in during recent years include:
Running a Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser for the Heart Foundation
Petitioning School Council about changes to the School uniform
Raising money to fund the building of a Bike Shed for students
Organising competitions and surveys to assist in the re-naming of school house groups
Tournament of the Minds
Tournament of the Minds is a program which is ran throughout term 2 and 3 involving students from grade 4-6. Usually it involves 14 students shortlisted by teachers.
Tournament of the Minds is a problem solving program for teams of students. They are required to solve demanding, open-ended problems. The category we enter is Language Literature.
Tournament of the Minds is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant, and public way.
These students have been selected for their high level reading and writing skills, their imaginations, confidence to perform, and their ability to think laterally.
Tournament of the Minds involves the students using teamwork to solve two complex problems.
One problem is a Spontaneous Challenge which requires student to solve on the spot, using creative ideas and working cooperatively as a team.
Second problem is a long term problem, which students have six weeks to solve a problem without assistance, creatively and working with selected materials and criteria
Camp Program
Camp is an integral part of the senior school curriculum and during a student’s senior years at Overport Primary, they have the opportunity to experience two exciting and enjoyable camps. Not only are the camps a fundamental part of the curriculum but vital for students’ socialisation and personal development.
Camp allows students opportunities of independence through daily responsibilities in self- sufficient environments.
Woorabinda at Yallourn North, is the scene for the Year Five camp, and takes students on an adventurous fun-filled journey. With numerous activities including photo trails, archery, night walks, canoeing, camp cooking, a formal dinner and disco and much, much more!! Woorabinda also allows opportunities for students to display their leadership qualities and plays an important part in establishing leadership and roles of responsibility for the student’s final year at primary school.
Year Six camp is Overport Primary’s version of "Survivor", set in one of Australia’s most beautiful and preserved locations, Wilson’s Promontory. Survivor camp is a camping experience that highlights friendships, teamwork, individual strengths, initiative and nature at its finest. The week long experience sees students in tribes, where they encounter physical and mental challenges, magnificent bushwalks, ‘Red Faces’, performances and an understanding and appreciation for their surrounding environment whilst also acquiring skills and knowledge of the Australian Bush.
Grade 5 Camp
The year 5 camp was really fun. The manager’s name of the camp is Tony. When we arrived at the camp Tony introduced himself and then he showed us around the camp. After Tony showed us around he showed us to our cabins. The Great Race was on the last day of camp which was a Friday.
What we had was to compete against other teams.
Some of the activities were Canoeing, Cooking, Archery, Walking, Initiative course, Zip wire, Flying fox, Red Faces & Map reading. On the very last night we had a formal dinner, which you had to attend with a boy. After the Formal dinner we had a disco. Woorabinda is the very best camp that I have been to. By Amy & Meghan 5/6 B
Grade 6 - Wilson’s Prom
Wilson’s Prom is a fun and exciting camp for grade sixes, because there are a lot of activities set up on the beaches and at the camp.
One of the famous games, which everybody loves, is Red Faces and ‘Honey Do You Love Me’ ( a hilarious drama game). At camp the teachers have a lot of surprises so it’s always exciting.
During the night we have reflections and reflect about our day and the people that have done well and kind things. It is also a camp to show our leadership by being responsible and mature. We sleep in tents which have lots of room and before bed we have a lovely hot chocolate.
All grade 6 students should have the opportunity to participate in this camp as it’s great fun. By Chantelle 56B
Enterprise Education
Enterprise Education is an excellent program being taught in Grades 3
and 4 at Overport Primary School . The aim of this area of study is
about helping students to become more independent learners who are
prepared to take initiative and responsibility for their own future
development.
It is about equipping students with the necessary
life-long skills in communication, problem solving and teamwork that
will aid in their scientific, enterprise and environmental
understandings. A major part of this program is the student involvement
in the school’s Nursery. Students prepare seed beds, sow seeds and
plant vegetables in the Nursery.
RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge
Since 2001 Overport has been involved in the RACV Energy Breathrough Challenge. The RACV energy Challenge is an exciting program designed to provide opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or an innovation is technology that will represent an energy breakthrough. It is jointly managed by the Victorian Department of education, Central Goldfields shire- Maryborough and is proudly sponsored by the RACV. Developed by the Country Education project, the Breakthrough offers male and female students, exciting real world challenges in science, technology and environmental education, with a particular focus on transport.
“This is more than an event, it’s a new way of learning…..It brings the classroom into the new world”
The RACV Energy Breakthrough brings the community and the school together. It provides opportunities for students, teachers, parents, local industry and other groups to work together. The Children’s presentation of projects at the RACV carnival is the celebration of many hours of preparation and training by students who buzz with the excitement of demonstrating their achievements. The final works produced are always very impressive the real worth of the program is the journey he children take to get there.
At Overport the program is open to Year 5 and 6’s. Here at Overport we enter the pushcart division with involves an equal mix of 8 girls and boys. We have been very successful in this program coming runners up in 2004 and are back to back winners in the Celebrity race in both 2003 and 2004. This tradition is continuing in 2006 with two teams again participating in the program.
