Foundation

Dear Prep families --

Prep Explorers - Term 4 Edition!

As we approach the final weeks of Term 4, students have continued to grow in confidence, curiosity and skill across all learning areas. Below is an overview of what we have been exploring in Prep.

LITERACY

In Phonics, students have been introduced to new digraphs, including /sh/ and /ck/. They have also been practising blending and segmenting CVCC and CCVCC words (e.g. ship, duck, flash, block).

We have also been learning how to make plurals, focusing on when to add |s| and when to add |es|. Families can support this at home by asking students to make plurals of everyday objects: one cup, two cups; one box, three boxes, etc.

Students continue reading their decodable texts, rotating between fiction and non-fiction books. Please continue reading these with your child each night to reinforce fluency and confidence (they will be in your child's homework bag). 

In Reading, students have been learning comprehension skills such as:

- Visualising stories and information

- Using illustrations to support understanding

- Identifying onomatopoeia (sound words such as crash!, bang!)

- Noticing nouns and adjectives in texts

These strategies help students make sense of what they read and talk about texts more confidently.

In Writing, we continue to support students in building complete sentences using nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Recently, we have also been learning to sequence events using first, next, then, and last, as well as identifying the problem and solution in simple stories.

Handwriting remains an important focus. Students are still working on using finger spaces, forming letters correctly, and writing neatly and legibly. Many students still benefit from reminders, and we will continue to support these developing habits.

NUMERACY

In Mathematics, we introduced the concept of time, particularly understanding duration. Students have been comparing how long different tasks take, for example, whether brushing teeth takes a short or long time, or whether playing a game usually takes longer. 

We have also begun exploring 2D shapes, learning about circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, ovals and octagons. Students are learning to describe shapes by their sides and corners, compare them, and identify how shapes appear in everyday objects, such as:

- Doors → rectangles

- Traffic signs → circles or octagons

- Wheels → circles

- Windows → squares or rectangles

Families are encouraged to continue these conversations at home to reinforce real-life understanding.

INQUIRY

Our learning about weather and seasonal changes continues. We have begun exploring First Nations seasons and discussing how they differ from the four-season model. Students have enjoyed learning what different seasons bring—for example, flowers in spring or wearing warm clothing in winter.

We have explored these concepts through songs, books, and class discussions. Students have also shared their personal experiences of each season, helping them make meaningful connections.

FIRE FIGHTER INCURSION

This term, the Preps also enjoyed a fantastic Fire Fighter incursion. Students had a hands-on opportunity to take turns blasting water from the fire hose, which was a highlight for many!

 They also learnt vital fire safety information, including:

- How to identify safe and unsafe fire situations

- What to do in an emergency

- How firefighters help keep the community safe

- The importance of staying calm and finding a trusted adult

The incursion helped children build confidence, understand real-world safety skills, and develop respect for community helpers. Experiences like this support language development, encourage curiosity, and build strong connections between classroom learning and the world around them.

BUNDOORA PARK FARM EXCURSION

The Preps also had a wonderful excursion to Bundoora Park Farm, where they explored both Australian native animals and traditional farm animals. 

Students saw animals such as: Kangaroos emus, goats, sheep, cows, chickens, and guinea pigs. 

They also enjoyed a guided tractor ride and learnt about farm life and how animals are cared for.  As part of the hands-on farm experience, students:

- Planted seeds in the garden beds  

- Helped move manure to prepare soil for planting  

- Fed several animals  

- Learnt about how food is grown and how farms operate  

This excursion gave students a rich learning opportunity, helping them understand living things, sustainability, and the importance of caring for our environment. It also strengthened their vocabulary, curiosity, and inquiry skills through real-world exploration.

REMINDERS

• Please ensure that your child brings an appropriate SunSmart hat to school (either with a wide brim, or a legionnaire cap with the flap at the back). Baseball caps and beanies are not considered appropriate head wear for Term 4.
• School start at 8.35 am every day and finishes at 3 pm.Please ensure that your child arrives to school no later than 8:55 am to ensure that they do not miss on crucial learning opportunities. 
• Homework/Readers will be sent home each Monday and are due back on Friday.

• If your child is sick or absent, please notify the school as soon as possible on the day of absence by phone or via compass.

   

Dates to Remember

Monday 8th December: F-2 showcase in the morning

Wednesday 10th December: School fete

Monday 15th December: Reports released to parents

Wednesday 17th December:  Step-Up Day

Friday 20th of December: Last day of Term 4

School Values Award Certificate

This week the recipients of the School Values Award are:

Prep A: Omar and Amir HN

Prep B: Atif and