Despite the rain pelting down and the wintery chill and fog in the air, the Menzies Creek Primary School community turned out in full force on Wednesday, 2 July, for the school’s much-anticipated celebration of learning, an evening that showcased the creativity, curiosity and collaboration of students throughout term two.
This term, classrooms across the school plunged into an ocean-themed inquiry unit, culminating in an immersive Underwater Exhibition.
Students transformed the school corridor into a colourful and lively marine wonderland, guiding families through glowing reefs, shipwrecks, and deep-sea creatures – all crafted by their own hands.
From towering sharks to kraken-tangled pirate ships, the space was a feast for the imagination and a powerful reminder of the environmental issues explored along the way.
According to the National Geographic Kids, about 70 per cent of the oxygen we breathe is produced by the oceans.
The sea is also home to the world’s largest living structure – the Great Barrier Reef, measuring around 2600km, it can even be seen from the Moon.
The school’s visual arts teacher, Kate Watkins said the project allowed students to bring together learning from STEM, literacy, and art in one shared vision.
“This collaboration has been a whole term’s worth of work, combining what they’re learning in class – about our oceans, pollution and the environment, with their artistic and problem-solving skills,” she said.
“We really wanted them to deepen their understanding. Each student chose their own project and followed what excited them, whether that was creating a giant papier-mache shark or learning about trilobites. It let students play to their strengths, and their passion really came to the fore.”
Students were also encouraged to reflect on human impact on the ocean, particularly the confronting realities of commercial fishing practices.
Star Mail journalist Shamsiya Hussainpoor spoke with three Grade 5 students to hear firsthand about their learning and creative contributions.
“We learned about trawling,” 11-year-old, Maya Thrane said.
“It’s where ships drag huge nets along the bottom of the ocean, and it destroys reefs and habitats. It’s really sad – it’s something I didn’t know about before, but I’ll never forget it now.”
Her classmate, Eilidh Raven Murray, 10, echoed that sentiment.
“We all felt a bit upset after watching the videos. I think it was important though, now we know what’s really happening out there,” Eilidh said.
Beyond the awareness, the pride was palpable, students lit up as they showed off their sea creatures, shared newly discovered facts, and welcomed parents and community members into their underwater world.
Jasmine Coxhead, also 11, helped build a shipwreck complete with kraken tentacles and barnacles.
“It was tricky working out where everything would go,” she said.
“But I loved gluing things on and making it come to life. I’m really proud of what we made.”
In a particularly memorable moment, the final stretch of the corridor, “the deep end” glowed under ultraviolet lights, giving families a sense of descending into mysterious depths.
After the exhibition, families braved the drizzle outside for a warming barbecue, with staff serving up traditional and veggie burgers.
“Despite the cold and the rain, we had an ocean of parents turn up,” Ms Watkins said.
“You could just feel how proud they were.”
The entire project was built with sustainability in mind.
Art materials were sourced from local reuse centres like Resource Rescue in Bayswater and Reverse Art Truck in Ringwood, while families also contributed recycled materials from home.
A last-minute origami fish challenge saw students folding more than 3000 paper fish in just two weeks, a tidal wave of creativity that added even more magic to the space.
“I made 60 in one night,” Eilidh said.
“My friend from another class, made 100 in two days, it became a bit of a school obsession.”
The evening wasn’t just about art, it was about empowering students to use their voices and creativity to advocate for a better world.
“When kids share what they’ve made and learned with their families, it builds so much confidence,” Ms Watkins said.
“They’re not just creating something pretty, they’re engaging with real issues. And when they see their families respond, it makes them feel heard. That’s powerful.”
