Year Prep - Year 2

Assistant Principal's Report

Junior School News

Welcome back for the final time in Term One!  It seems like only yesterday I was welcoming you all back for a new year.   What an exciting term it has been though, and it was fantastic to see so many people in attendance at our first Open Afternoon for 2019, last Wednesday.  There was a real buzz in classrooms and the hallways were very busy, with people voting on the best writing display which was ultimately won by our Year One team.  Staff on the BBQ were kept very busy too and a large number of people were participating in the tennis session run by Aligned Leisure in Pakenham.  Our Easter raffle winners were also drawn with lots of families taking home some delicious looking hampers!

This week has also been our planning week, with all Year Level teams, as well as our Specialist Team, being released to begin planning their Term Two programs.  Teams have been very busy analysing learning data and unpacking the curriculum to ensure they are creating engaging programs that are targeted at the point of need for all students. 

In Prep, students have now completed Stage Two of the Little Learners Love Literacy program, meaning they have learned 16 letters and sounds.  This also means that they have met Milo and 15 of his friends.  If you aren't sure what this means, please ask your children.  Students will continue to learn 2 letters a week in Term Two, and after having learned all of the letters and met all of Milo's friends, will have their own birthday party for him.  I know that the Prep team are particularly excited about this!

The Year One team have been celebrating after having their writing display voted the best in the school by parents at our open afternoon!  However, they are certainly not letting complacency set in and teachers are already discussing how they might go 'back-to-back' and win again in Term Two. Students have also been learning all about how water and air change things in their environment, using terms such as expand, inflate, pressure, dissolve, blow and reaction. 

In Year Two, students have been busy learning all about where water comes from, including both the natural and urban water cycles.  In addition to this, during their inquiry sessions, they have been learning all about the earth's natural resources and how we can conserve these.  We are certainly producing some environmentally friendly and savvy students in Year Two!

I do hope that everyone has a thoroughly relaxing break over the next two weeks, and enjoys a happy easter period with family.  I look forward to seeing you all back here next term, for what promises to be another exciting time at Pakenham Springs.

Until then, take care!

Regards

Danny Forster 

Assistant Principal in Junior School