Learning News

Learning News - Term 3, Weeks 5-6

English

K/1

In English over the past couple of weeks, we have been reading Words That Taste Like Home and making text-to-self connections by linking the story to our own lives and experiences. Students explored the themes of culture, belonging and family traditions, sharing what makes them feel connected to home.

To bring the text to life, we made chocolate crackles and reflected on how food can create special memories and connections. We also examined the rich illustrations and sentence structure throughout the book, discussing how authors and illustrators work together to tell a story and communicate meaning. 

Miss Downes

K/1 Teacher

2/3C

Exploring Earth's Story!

Our Year 2/3 students dove into our exciting new unit centred around the text A Stone is a Story by Leslie Barnard Booth and Marc Martin. The children explored how Earth's landscapes change over vast periods of time, blending scientific facts about rocks and Earth processes with poetic imagery, creative visual layouts and dynamic typography. Through our focus on the Catholic value of Stewardship of God’s Creation, students have been reflecting on Earth as a sacred gift and discovering how understanding its deep history helps us care for the world around us.

Mrs Crafford 

2/3C Teacher

2/3M

How Artwork & Fonts Tell the Story

In A Stone Is a Story, the pictures and lettering act like built-in sound effects and magnifying glasses for young readers! Our Year 2/3s took a close look at how the book brings nature to life through two big visual clues:

Pictures Show the Action: Bold colours and thick, scratchy paint strokes make erupting volcanoes feel hot and loud, while soft watercolours show calm moments underwater. The art gives children an instant feel for the mood and speed of the earth!

Fonts Change the Volume: Big, heavy words invite us to read with a loud, powerful voice during a sudden rockslide, while smaller, spaced-out letters slow us down so we can feel millions of years passing by.

By blending their own artwork and custom fonts on a single page, our young creators proved that pictures and lettering aren't just extra decoration—they're powerful tools that help tell the story!

Miss Martin

2/3M Teacher

Year 4

Over the past few weeks, Year 4 have been studying the text “Songlines” by Margo Neale and Lynne Kelly.  This book explains the deep connection of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to Country and the beautiful songlines they have passed down for generations in story, song and dance to help the people navigate the seasons. 

Year 4 have tried their hand at writing their own Songline for Manilla and creating a visual representation of their work.  We hope you enjoy them.

Miss Cronin & Mrs Shepherd

Year 4 Teachers

5/6 

Over the last few weeks, Stage 3 has been deeply immersed in the compelling book Azaria, exploring complex themes and drawing inspiration from the text to craft an outstanding persuasive text. The students took clear stances, constructed well-reasoned arguments and used strong rhetorical evidence to persuade their readers. To put their skills into action, Stage 3 took to the floor with a debate on whether Lindy Chamberlain was guilty. It was inspiring to witness their powerful arguments and hear their sharp reasoning - backed with evidence to defend their positions!

Miss Murphy

5/6 Teacher