Prep News

Learning Centre Three

Our term is already in full swing, and it’s been bursting with excitement! Students danced up a storm at the school disco, enjoyed Discovery Play and loved learning all about our stick insects. We were extrememly excited for our first butterfly to emerge from its cocoon, now we’re  waiting in eager anticipation for our other butterflies  to hatch. This term, we are also encouraging students to continue growing in independence as they prepare for their big step into Grade 1 next year.

Phonics

Students have been demonstrating increased knowledge and understanding in recognising sounds. Our recent focus has been on reading, writing, and spelling CCVC and CCVCC words and phrases. Students are now reading connected texts containing these words with developing fluency. We have also introduced new Heart Words: come, love, with, then, and shop.

To help prepare your child for Grade 1 next year, please make time to read with them every night. Even a few minutes of shared reading makes a big difference in building confidence and a love of books. You can use books from school, the library, home, or access stories online through Epic or the LLLL platform—links to these can be found in your child’s reading journal. Each week, your child will bring home their reading journal and a new decodable book in their book bag. Please return the book bag every Thursday so a new book can be sent home each Friday. 

We are so proud of the progress our students are making and want to say a big congratulations to the following readers:

75 nights: Rudraveer, Nazareth

100 nights: Ella Rose, Isla, Emilie, Mehar, Trisha

125 nights: Nithilan

Literacy:

Last week, we read The Cranky Bear by Nick Bland, a story about a bear who is grumpy and tries to find a way to feel better with the help of his friends. This week, we read The Very Brave Bear, also by Nick Bland, which follows a bear overcoming his fears to be brave. Over the past two weeks, the students have been working on writing sentences independently, focusing on what happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. They've been practicing how to identify these parts of a narrative and express them clearly in their own words.

Maths

In Maths over the past two weeks, we have been learning about time and position and direction. Our focus on time included exploring the parts of the day, ordering the months of the year, and learning about the features of an analogue clock, including where the numbers go and what happens at different times of the day. 

During our lessons on position and direction, students had fun using left and right turns to program the Bee-Bots, creating their own treasure maps, and giving directions to their partners to find the hidden treasure. These hands-on activities have helped students build their understanding of time and spatial awareness in an engaging and practical way.

Religion

Over the past two weeks in Religious Education, students have been learning about how Mary is like a mother to us—someone who loves, guides, and cares for us just as she cared for Jesus. They have enjoyed sharing their own ideas about how we can show care and kindness like Mary in our everyday lives. Our Learning Intention has been: We are learning to explore how the school song names places within our faith community at OLSC. Students have also been working towards the Success Criterion: I can learn to sing the school song with the correct lyrics. It has been lovely to see their enthusiasm as they sing proudly and recognise the special places and people that make up our OLSC faith community.

Inquiry

In Inquiry, students have been exploring the world of living things. They have been learning about stick insects and discovering fascinating facts about how they live and grow. Our new focus is on butterflies, with the Learning Intention: I can learn about butterflies and I can identify the life cycle of a butterfly. Students have also been making careful observations of the seeds they planted, noticing how they are growing and changing each week. It’s been wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement as they observe and discuss the amazing ways living things grow and transform.

Thank you for your continued support.

Prep Team: Dasanthi, Emma, Gillian, Jamie, Natasha, Rachael, Sarena, Teagan and Tina