Foundation: Mrs Fleming

What a fantastic start to the school year it has been in our Foundation classroom! We have been greeted with smiling faces, enthusiasm, and a genuine excitement for learning. It has been a joy to see everybody arrive each morning ready to explore, play, and grow.

First days…

Since starting at school the Foundation students have been busy learning important school routines—how to move safely around the classroom and school, where to find their belongings, and what our day looks like together. They have enjoyed a variety of hands on, fine motor activities as they build their skills in using scissor, glue and various other items in the classroom.

Making friends has also been a big focus, and it has been wonderful to watch connections forming. Students are learning how to take turns, share, listen to one another, and work together during play and learning times. These early friendships are already helping to create a kind, caring classroom community.

InitiaLit begins in Foundation!

Our Foundation students have begun their literacy learning using the InitiaLit program. During the first few lessons, they explored early literacy concepts such as understanding what a word is, recognising written words, and identifying rhyme. These activities are supporting the development of important reading and writing skills.

Students have also enjoyed several shared storybook lessons with our text How to Catch a Star, which have encouraged thoughtful discussions and connections to the text. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and growing confidence as they begin their literacy journey.

Exploring patterns!

The Foundation students have started their mathematics learning by exploring patterns. They are investigating two-part and three-part patterns, learning how to continue a pattern and recognise the unit of repeat. A highlight has been creating our own two-part and three-part patterns through hands on activities. We have also spent some time counting and practicing our number formation on the mini whiteboards.

Grade 1/2: Mrs McKiernan & Mrs Tyler

It has been a wonderful start to the year in our Grade 1/2 classroom! The students have settled in beautifully, building new friendships and learning classroom routines with confidence. We’ve been busy exploring our learning spaces, practising teamwork, and showing kindness towards one another. It has been fantastic to see their enthusiasm, curiosity, and willingness to give everything a go — we are looking forward to a fun and successful year ahead!

In English, we have begun our new routine of breaking into two new class groups – Grade 1’s with Mrs McKiernan and Mrs Tyler and Grade 2’s with Miss Wooden. The students have settled into this really well and have been revising their learning from the previous year. We have also started a new InitialWrite program during our writing block which works on developing writing skills through texts. This week, we have been reading the text ‘Tim the Toddler,’ and many of the students enjoyed making connections to their own experiences.

We have begun exploring Data as our first Maths topic, with a focus on tally marks and picture graphs. The students have thoroughly enjoyed collecting, organising, and presenting their data, showing great enthusiasm as they develop their understanding of how information can be represented.

Our Inquiry learning has focused on the topic of Push and Pull. Students have been exploring how forces help objects move and where we see them in everyday life. Through hands-on activities and discussions, they have been making predictions, testing their ideas, and developing a deeper understanding of how things move.

Grade 1/2: Miss Wooden

We have been so excited to start Grade 1 and Grade 2 together this year! These are some of the things we are looking forward to:

Lacey: I'm looking forward to the Grade 2 sleepover.

Isabelle: I am looking forward to doing Grade 1 literacy.

Lucy: I am excited to be back at school.

Seb: I am excited for Mum’s birthday and playing Bobs and Statues with my class.

Angel: I am excited to play Bobs and Statues.

Lara: I am looking forward to the Grade 2 sleepover.

Harlow: I am looking forward to having fun.

Evvy: I am looking forward to the swimming carnival.

Grace: I am excited for the swimming week and the carnival.

Huxi: I like going on the bus.

Jack: I am looking forward to being in Miss Wooden’s class.

This term, we have started science and have been learning all about push and pull. It’s been exciting to explore how different objects move when we use force. We have experimented with toys and water.

Grade 3: Miss Taylor

The Year 3s have started the year with an unforgettable adventure at DOXA Camp in Malmsbury, joining the Year 4s for two days of challenge, courage, and plenty of laughter. For many of our students, this was their very first school camp — and they absolutely rose to the occasion.

Across the four activities — the giant swing, crate stack tower, rock climbing wall, and archery — the Year 3s showed determination, teamwork, and a willingness to try everything. It was heartwarming to see each student step outside their comfort zone and beam with pride afterwards. As a new teacher to the school, watching them encourage one another and celebrate each other’s achievements has already created such a strong bond within our group.

One of the unexpected highlights was mealtimes. We were never short of volunteers to help set up or pack away — which just shows the initiative and responsible nature this group of kids naturally have! The Year 3s also mixed beautifully with the Year 4s, forming new friendships that will continue to grow as both year levels join together daily for English this year.

Here are some favourite moments from our brave Year 3 campers:

Sammy: the giant swing because of how high and fast we went — and I liked pulling the rope to lift my friends!
Angus: the giant swing because when we dropped we froze and then started swinging so fast.
Alex: the crate stack because it was fun and good to work as a team.
Will: archery because it didn’t involve heights!
Madi: the giant swing because I was scared at first and then I felt brave and did it.
Harlow: the giant swing because I liked dropping down super fast.
Indy: the giant swing because it was so fun.
Heidi: the giant swing because I got to swing back and forth and back and forth.
Matilda: the giant swing because I went up so high.
Kynan: sleeping and the giant swing because I faced my fears.
Noah: the giant swing because it felt like I was flying!
Lottie: everything! Because it was amazing and so much fun, and I’m so proud of myself for trying everything.
Linc: the giant swing because it was so fun going so high up and so fast.
Tom: rock climbing because I got to the very top.
Buddy: the giant swing because it went way higher than I thought.

We are so proud of our Year 3s for the courage, kindness, and enthusiasm they showed throughout camp. What a wonderful way to begin the year together!

Grade 4/5: Mrs Stock

Welcome to a new school year! It has been a very busy and exciting start to Term 1. Our Grade 3/4 camp was a fantastic experience, and the students had the best time mixing with both new and familiar peers. They showed great courage stepping out of their comfort zones while tackling activities such as the giant swing, crate stack, rock climbing wall, and archery. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and build new friendships at the start of the year.

Our Grade 5 students have also settled in well and are enjoying our class novel A Ghost in My Suitcase. They have begun working on persuasive writing, focusing on the topic of why it is important to learn about your family’s history. It has been great to see them sharing ideas and building strong arguments in their writing.

Here are some of our highlights from camp and the year so far:

Marla- I liked the rock wall the best because I got to the very top.

Addie- I loved archery because I got a 10.

Charlie- I liked the big swing because I went to the top.

Ollie-I enjoyed the crate stacking because I got up really high.

AJ- I loved archery because I got to shoot a compound.

Tully- I liked the giant swing because it was heaps of fun!

George- The crate stacking!

Will- Rock climbing because I made it to the top with Miss Taylor.

Zarielle-The food!

Joshua- My first ever sleep over and the giant swing because I went really fast.

Tom- The rock wall!

We are looking forward to a fantastic term of learning together!

Grade 5/6: Miss Rasmussen

The Grade 5/6 students have truly hit the ground running for the 2026 school year! It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and readiness to learn as we settle back into classroom routines and new learning experiences.

In English, we have begun reading our class novel A Ghost in My Suitcase. Students are already intrigued as we start to uncover the interesting and mysterious life of Celeste’s grandmother during Celeste’s trip to China to visit her. Alongside our novel study, we have been learning about persuasive writing and the key features that make arguments strong and convincing. Students have explored rhetorical questions, juxtaposition and subordinating conjunctions, as well as the overall structure of a persuasive text. We are also enjoying developing our typing skills, focusing on improving both speed and accuracy while ensuring our fingers are positioned correctly on the keyboard.

In Mathematics, we have just completed our unit on Data Representation. Throughout this unit, students explored a range of graph types, collected and organised data, and practised interpreting information presented in different visual formats. It has been fantastic to see their confidence grow when analysing and discussing data.

Our Grade 6 students are proudly wearing their new Grade 6 tops and look fantastic in their chosen designs. They have shown great pride in the process and the final result. They are also doing a wonderful job looking out for their buddies and helping them feel welcome and happy at St Patrick’s. It has been lovely to see these leadership qualities already shining through so early in the year.

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