Grade 5/6 News

Reminders and Important Dates 

• Grade 5/6 Charnwood Camp (Free Camp):  Term 3, Week 3
  • 5/6 Byron and 5/6 Lidgett: Monday 25th July - Wednesday 27th July 
  • 5/6 Lockett and 5/6 McClellan: Wednesday 27th July - Friday 29th July 

Wheel Talk

Last Thursday we were super lucky to meet Peter Ogunyemi. Peter shared his inspirational life story, starting in Nigeria where he didn't get his first wheelchair until he was 26, to traveling the world playing wheelchair basketball. Peter had such a great outlook on life, despite challenges he has faced, and encouraged the students to show respect to all and work hard for what they want. The students had the opportunity to participate in wheelchair races and play wheelchair basketball with Peter. We had such a fun day with Peter - he was AWESOME!  

Academy of Creative Arts

We had some students from BSE come to visit us this week. They were part of the Academy of Creative Arts and came to talk to us about the great opportunities involved with being part of this community. They are all very talented and shared different types of art with us: dance, drama, singing, instrumental, visual.

Upcoming Week

In reading sessions this fortnight, we will be focusing on 'identifying language features of different text types'. It is important for students to read and be exposed to all different genres to improve their overall comprehension. We have also started a new Reader's Notebook this term, Meet Me at the Intersection. It is a collection of short fiction, memoir and poetry by authors who are First Nations, People of Colour, LGBTIQA+ or living with disability. The focus of the book is on Australian life as seen through each author’s unique, and seldom heard, perspective.

We will be focusing on Narrative writing for the next fortnight with a particular focus on descriptive language. Our Writing Fluid Groups on a Tuesday will also start up again in Week 4 after we return from camp. We have made some small changes to groups to allow for the changing needs of students and determined a new focus for our groups going into Semester 2. 

In Mathematics, we have had a blitz on times tables to start the term. 50s Club has been very popular with students and targets their individual needs. It has been great to see students encouraging each other to do their best and celebrate personal successes as they come. We will also be starting our Money and Financial Mathematics unit in Week 4. This is a very important area of Mathematics and allows students to make lots of connections to day-to-day life. 

This term our Topic unit is 'Care for the Kids' which is around understanding the biggest problems facing children around the world. It provides the students with some perspective and encourages action and change. During STEAM time this term, the Grade 5 students will be participating in our 'Digital Design' unit and the Grade 6 students our  'Electricity' unit. There is a lot to look forward to in Topic and STEAM this term!