Take a Bow Momentum Donors!

“We are so grateful to the donors who have made this possible; their gifts show a deep appreciation for the theatre and arts but above all a huge belief in the value of this space for students. Involvement in the arts is the most fundamental way to develop empathy and compassion and to express yourself.”

-Sarah Bernstein, Director of Performing Arts

Named for our very first Head of School, the Linda Hamer Theatre is one of the original parts of the school. After more than 20 years of use, the sound, lighting, and associated control systems became outdated and inadequate for the ambitious productions desired by our performing arts students. Between 2022 and 2024, Momentum donors generously supported a major technology upgrade to greatly enhance both the audience and performer experience. Additionally, the refit provides expanded learning opportunities for students interested in technical stage management.

Thanks to the efforts of our donor community, countless students and families will be able to enjoy a wide variety of performances in the coming years, forming fond memories to last a lifetime.

Little Artists, Grand Designs!

The creation of the Early Years Makerspace was funded by Momentum donors in 2023-2024. Before this project was completed, Early Years teachers were restricted to booking slots for messy art sessions in the PYP Makerspace, a long way to travel for our youngest learners and a space that is always in high demand.

The new studio is incredibly flexible with a wide range of age-appropriate artistic media and furniture sized specifically for preschool and Kindie students. Teachers now have unlimited access to this custom learning space and even more opportunities to weave numeracy, literacy, and more into creative activities that also encourage students to build confidence, freedom of expression, and fine motor skills.

“Donor contributions have transformed the educational landscape for these children, allowing our Early Years students to explore and learn through endless messy, fun, hands on activities.”

-Michelle Paling, Early Years Teacher

Integrating Diversity & Representation into our Literacy Programme

“The true measure of these books’ impact was brought home to me when, during a small group reading session, a student eagerly pointed to a character and exclaimed, "She looks like me!" The joy on her face spoke volumes about the importance of representation in fostering a love for reading.”

-Sydney Hill, Early Years Vice Principal

The Early Years and Junior School literacy programme relies heavily on texts that teach decoding skills to students (using phonetics to sound out words). However, our teachers noted that the majority of decodable books available were not representative of the rich cultural tapestry that makes up our student and family community.

To be genuinely engaging and inclusive, books should act as both windows and mirrors. Windows help students gain insight into other cultures and see the world around them, while mirrors allow students to see themselves reflected in what they read. Thanks to the collective efforts of Momentum donors, more than 2,000 of these new books, along with others that focus on Indigenous storytelling, were introduced into our Kindergarten to Grade 2 classrooms.