Foundation News
Last Week of Term 3!
We are really proud of the commitment, perseverance and resilience students in Foundation have displayed this term. Remote learning has not been easy for anyone. We thank parents, carers and staff onsite, for ensuring students have not only attended their scheduled Zoom meetings, but have been prompt and ready to learn.
Our students have not stopped learning irrespective of the platform explicit teaching is delivered. It is great to see the children's independence, literacy, numeracy and communication skills continue to develop. If children can deal with the adversity of living and learning through lockdown, we are confident they will be able to face challenges that will be presented to them in the future.
Whilst we do not know what the future holds and when we will return to school, you can be assured we will be ready to start once again at the beginning of Term 4.
We hope all our Foundation families have a chance to relax, recalibrate and spend quality time together during our term break. We look forward to seeing the children's happy faces onsite or online next term.
What's The Time?
As part of Maths, students in Foundation have been learning to tell the time to the hour on an analogue and digital clock. When practising the skill of telling the time to the hour on an analogue clock, it is important that children are only introduced to the 'hour hand' to avoid confusion. It is also important this hand is not called 'the little hand'. When children notice the hour hand pointing directly to a number on an analogue clock, they quickly learn this means 'o'clock'.
Telling the time to the hour on a digital time takes place simultaneously. The children have learnt that the first number on a digital clock indicates the hour(s) elapsed, and the colon separates the hours from the minutes. When two zeros appear after the colon, this means 'o'clock.
This week, students will consolidate their skills when telling the time. They will also identify different times in the day (am & pm) and will practise solving problems based on time, using clocks they have made at home.
For example: I woke up at 8 o'clock and I ate breakfast 2 hours later. What time did I eat breakfast?
It's great to hear many of the children are noticing the time on clocks at home. It's also pleasing to see them excited because they can tell o'clock time. We encourage you to give your child the opportunity to practise and consolidate their skills by asking them to tell the time (in real time) throughout the day.
What Makes Our School a Great Place?
Recently, as part of our Term 3 Inquiry Unit "What Makes a Community?" students in Foundation were asked to create and upload a video explaining what makes our school a great place. The videos children presented were amazing! We were thrilled to see our students speak with clarity, confidence and articulation. It was obvious, not only were students prepared and knew what they were going to say, but they spoke from the heart and really explained exactly what it is that they love about our school. To see children demonstrate eye contact and speak without reading from a script was very impressive! To hear how connected our students feel to St Raphael's, even during lockdown, is heartwarming.
Onsite or online, St Raphael's Primary School is really a great place!
We invite you to have a look at some of our budding presenters!
Week 1 & 2 Timetable and Learning Intentions
Please note, our Term 4, Week 1 & 2 timetable and Learning Intentions will not be included in this week's newsletter. Instead, these documents will be posted via Skoolbag at the end of the second week of school holidays, once it is known whether students will be back online or onsite.
Important Dates
Friday 17th September- School Assembly at 1pm (TBC)
- Alex the Unexplainable Magician Special Zoom Meeting 1:30pm
-Last day of Term 3 (Children wear footy colours to morning Zoom meeting).
Friday 24th September - Public Holiday- AFL Grand Final
Monday 4th October - School Closure Day
Tuesday 5th October -Ist day of Term 4
Staff Contacts
Linda Pham (FP) lpham@srprestonwest.catholic.edu.au
Lorraine Uzunovski (FL) uzul@srprestonwest.catholic.edu.au
Please note, we will respond to emails Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8am- 5pm.