English

InitiaLit

This year we will continue with our literacy program called ‘InitialLit’. InitiaLit is taught across Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2. The program utilises a sound-by-sound synthetic phonics approach to teach students to read and spell. InitiaLit follows a prescribed sequence of phonics skills. The foundation provided last year will allow our new Year 1 students to seamlessly participate in our InitiaLit sessions due to the familiarity of the routine and their extensive phonics knowledge. Students will have multiple opportunities to revise the content learnt last year and to practise applying newly taught phonics skills to the reading of single words in isolation and in sentences. They will also continuously practise and improve their speaking and listening skills through these sessions. We are looking forward to continuing this exciting journey with students.

Key Vocabulary:

Phonemes
Syllables
Digraph
Fluency
Vocabulary
Comprehension

How can you support your children at home?

Listen to your child read their reader each day and encourage them to record this in their Reading Diary.
Encourage your child to read their reader or books more than once for fluency and deeper understanding.
Strengthen your child’s comprehension by asking them to retell the main events in the book, in the order in which they occurred.
Ask your child to make explain possible reasons for different events in the text, such as: “Why do you think the character was crying on the second page?”

Writing

In Term One, we are placing a strong focus on developing students’ writing foundations. Students will build their handwriting skills, practise correct letter formation, improve pencil grip, and strengthen the fine motor muscles needed for writing. We will also begin sustained writing, helping students to gradually increase their writing stamina so they can record their ideas with greater independence and confidence. Additionally, students will work on creating “Super Sentences,” incorporating all the necessary components to compose clear and fluent sentences. This will support them later in the term as we explore the genre of Narratives, learning about elements such as characters, setting, events, problems, and solutions. Students will engage with the structure and features of narratives while embedding their creative ideas and imagination. These skills are essential for supporting future learning, and we are excited to see the wonderful progress students make as they grow into confident writers.

Key Vocabulary:

Narrative writing

Character
Setting
Plot
Conflict
Resolution
Problem
Solution

How can you support your children at home?

Continue to build fine motor muscles at home. Playing with Lego, puzzles, beads, playdough, or clay helps strengthen the small muscles in your child’s hands and supports their writing development.
Brainstorm narrative ideas as a family and co-write stories together using description language.
Practise writing “Super Sentences” at home, ensuring the sentence makes sense, begins with a capital letter and ends with boundary punctuation.

Mathematics

This term, our students will continue learning mathematics through the Ochre program, which has been used since last year and is implemented consistently across our school.

Ochre provides a structured approach to developing foundational mathematical skills, grounded in the Science of Learning and aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. The program emphasises problem-solving and critical thinking, aiming to build confident, numerate learners who can apply mathematical concepts to understand the world around them.

To start the Term, students will explore Data Representation and Interpretation by collecting, sorting, presenting, and analysing data. This hands-on approach allows them to apply mathematics to real-life situations and learn more about each other through data. Students will also deepen their understanding of Place Value by exploring different ways to represent numbers. Using a variety of strategies, they will develop flexibility and confidence with numbers. They will also investigate how numbers can be represented and broken into smaller parts, with an emphasis on explaining their thinking and justifying their strategies. Later in the term, students will focus on Addition and Subtraction through engaging activities that build their understanding of key concepts such as combining, partitioning, part-part-whole relationships, and properties of both operations. We are excited to see students grow as confident mathematicians this term!

Key Vocabulary:

Data Representation

Data
Tally marks
Category
Picture graph (Horizontal and Vertical)

Place Value

Ten-frame
Number
Numeral
Number bond
Number Line
100 (Hundred) charts
Digit
Value
Base ten blocks (MAB Blocks)

Addition and Subtraction

Addition
Subtraction
Partition
Subitising
Part-Part-Whole

How can you support your child’s Mathematics learning at home?

Help your child collect and sort items at home, like toys or groceries, and create simple graphs or charts to represent the information. Discuss what the data shows.
Use everyday opportunities to talk about numbers, such as breaking them into tens and ones (e.g., 25 = 20 + 5) and ask your child to explain their thinking.
Play games like rolling dice to add or subtract numbers or use real-life scenarios like counting change or comparing quantities in the kitchen.

Inquiry

Question: “How do we live as families?”

Global Goal: 3. Good Health and Wellbeing

The Inquiry unit this term focuses on the question “How do we live as families?” exploring the diversity of family structures, roles, and relationships. Students will learn about family dynamics, how families evolve with changing technology, and how collaboration and empathy strengthen relationships. This understanding extends to viewing GWPS as a family, where teachers act as caregivers, principals as guiding elders, and classmates as supportive siblings. The unit integrates personal, social, and historical perspectives to highlight how families, including how school families support, connect and grow together.

Key Vocabulary:

Family
Relationships
Diversity
Empathy
Technology
Collaboration

How can you support your child’s Inquiry learning at home?

Explore Family Stories and History: Share family stories, create a timeline of significant family events, or discuss how family routines and technologies have changed over time.
Promote Empathy and Collaboration: Role-play scenarios to practice empathy and discuss appropriate and inappropriate behaviours in family settings.
Discuss Technology’s Impact: Compare how family communication methods have evolved (e.g., letters vs. texting). Engage in activities like writing letters or using video calls to connect with extended family members.

Wellbeing

The Resilience Project

In 2026, we are using ‘The Resilience Program’ to support Wellbeing learning. This program focuses on building foundational skills in Emotional Literacy, Empathy, Mindfulness and Gratitude. Through reflective practices, creative activities, and social interactions, students enhance their self-awareness and connection with others. By exploring themes such as recognising emotions, helping others, seeing different perspectives, and the joy of laughter, they develop habits and insights essential for their personal and social wellbeing. The program aims to build mental resilience and wellbeing amongst educators, children, parents/carers, and the community. You can explore The Resilience Project at Home Hub here.

Key Vocabulary:

Emotional Literacy
Gratitude
Empathy
Perspective
Reflection

How can you support your child’s Wellbeing learning at home?

Engage in Discussions: Ask your child how they felt during their transition to Year 1 and discuss changes in their life as a normal part of growing up.
Practice Gratitude and Laughter: Share funny moments from your day and reflect on things you are grateful for together as a family.
Encourage Helping Acts: Identify small ways your child can help around the house or community to build their empathy and sense of kindness.
Home Learning Gem Chat: Each week, a GEM Chat will accompany the Home Learning task. Take time as a family to discuss it, giving everyone an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas.

Cyber Safety Project

In Term One, our Year 1 students will begin an exciting journey focused on Cyber Safety, with an emphasis on the theme of Responsibility. This program empowers young people with the skills and knowledge to manage their digital safety and wellbeing. The program will be taught via 16 lessons across the year, with four each term. The learning will centre around the four following values: responsibility, integrity, strength and empathy.

Key Vocabulary:

Cyber safety
Technology
Digital

How can you support your child at home?

Ensure your child uses devices in communal living areas.
Discuss safe cyber practices with your child.
Encourage the reduction of screen time and engage in physical or communal activity.

Glen Waverley Primary School Level 1 Newsletter

DREAM. BELIEVE. ACHIEVE. SUCCEED.

Issue 1 · 13 Feb 2026

In this issue