Year 5/6
Level Newsletter
Teacher Email Address Contacts
Upcoming Important Dates
From The Team
We've swiftly settled into Term 2! The first two weeks back at school have been delightful, filled with joy, laughter, and plenty of new learning. Last week, Year 6 students took home application forms for secondary schools in 2025. A big thank you to the families who've already returned them! This week, many of our 5/6 students participated in the District Athletics event with great enthusiasm. They all gave their best and we couldn't be prouder. Additionally, we held our annual ANZAC Day Commemorative Service on Wednesday afternoon.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend, and we're excited to see all the students again on Monday.
What we got up to on the holidays…
Miss Whittington: I finished up Term 2 a couple of days early and went to visit my 39th country - Vietnam! Our trip started in Ho Chi Minh City, where we toured the Mekong Delta, explored the Cu Chi Tunnels, and browsed the bustling Ben Thanh markets. After Ho Chi Minh City, we flew to Hoi An where we relaxed by the pool, rode coconut boats, and lit lanterns on small boats along the river. Our final destination was Hanoi, where we spent the rest of our trip, including a delightful night on Ha Long Bay. Cruising around the bay, visiting beautiful beaches and caves, was a highlight! It was wonderful to visit and explore a new country and add it to my list of travel experiences. The Vietnamese food, especially pho and banh mi, along with their coffee, was a delicious part of the journey!
Mrs Spelman: My holiday break was packed with numerous day trips. One on occasion, we packed our lunch and made our way across the West Gate Bridge to visit the Werribee Zoo. Having served as a volunteer guide at the zoo for nearly a decade, returning there always brings me joy. Interestingly, the Melbourne Zoo elephants will be moving to Werribee at the end of the year. The construction of their new enclosure suggests they'll have plenty of space to explore, which is thrilling! Additionally, we explored the Titanic exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. As a history enthusiast, this exhibition was particularly fascinating for me. It was incredible to view the artefacts that have been recovered from the ocean floor.
Miss Harper: Over my holidays I got to go to Queenstown, New Zealand! It was incredible and my first ever overseas trip! We spent 5 days completing a guided walk through a mountain range to reach the Milford Sound, and it was absolutely stunning! In total we walked 54km, which was about 7-9 hours of walking for 3 days straight. We spent the last day of the walk on a cruise going along with Milford Sound, surrounded by waterfalls. For the last 4 days of our trip, I got to do the largest bungy jump in New Zealand (134m) and I did not realise how hard it actually was until you’re standing on the edge and they tell you to jump. We then did the Nevis swing and got to do skydiving, which was definitely a highlight. The last day of our trip, we topped it off with a spa day which was definitely needed!
Julie: My holidays were lovely and relaxing. I enjoyed lunches with friends, had my son home for three days, did some cooking and gardening, and went to watch the Bombers play.
Josh: On the holidays I was able to get some study done. After that I was able to get to the movies a couple of times, and celebrated my brother’s 29th birthday at the bowling alley. I finished second (had to let my brother win!).
Raelene: Over the holidays I took a short break in Hobart, Tasmania. I visited some great historical buildings and went on a wilderness cruise by speed boat where we saw seals, dolphins swimming along side, fabulous rocky outcrops, and then ate freshly cooked fish on the pier. We had a wonderful time.
Alison: I had a wonderfully relaxing holiday and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful autumn weather with all I did. I am looking forward to a terrific Term 2!
Donna: I had a quiet school holidays, spending time with family. I did have a lovely family afternoon with my brothers, their wives and all my nieces and nephews - we had lots of fun.
Sam: Over the holidays, Lilly and I weren’t very well so we had a very quiet break. We had a cousin from Canada come and stay with us for a few days, and we took her to the Cashmere Cat Cafe in the city. That was probably our highlight. We spent the rest of the time resting, streaming tv shows and playing roblox!
- The 5/6 Team
What We Are Learning
Reminders
Homework
The 5/6 cohort continues our fortnightly homework tasks for Weeks 3 and 4! Remember to read for 20 minutes, 5 nights every week, and fill in your diaries to be checked every Friday. If you can’t read one night, make sure you do yourself a favour and catch up your reading the next night!
Year 6-7 Transition
Last week, applications for Year 7 placements in 2025 were sent home via Compass. All application forms need to be submitted to me by Friday 10th May, 2024. You can submit your child's application earlier if you wish.
As part of the application, you'll need your child's Victorian School Number (VSN). For students who have had their diaries at school, I've written this number on the first page. If your child doesn't have their VSN, please ask them to bring their diary to me as soon as possible.
Digital copies of the application form for you to complete are available on Compass. If you prefer a hard copy, please email me directly or have your child come see me and I'll arrange for a copy to be sent home.
You can find your child's designated neighbourhood school for Year 7 in 2025 by visiting www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me.
Jordyn Whittington
Year 7 Transition Coordinator
Try This...
What We Are Learning In Specialist Classes In Term 2
Visual Arts
This term students will explore and discuss Australian Aboriginal art. They begin the term creating Rarrk art (cross hatching) inspired by artists in Arnhem land, and create landscapes inspired by author and illustrator Bronwyn Bancroft. Students will further explore Aboriginal symbols, creating their own family story with guidance from Rheanna Lotter, a contemporary Aboriginal artist and Yuin woman.
To finish the term, students will learn about facial proportions and create a soft pastel portrait.
Please provide a smock for your child to wear in Visual Art.
Mandarin
Year 5/6 students will delve into expressing emotions and discussing hobbies in Chinese. Also, as part of their cultural immersion, they will finish watching the movie "Mulan" and engage in discussions about Chinese culture portrayed in the film. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in fun activities related to the Dragon Boat Festival. These activities will further enrich their understanding of Chinese culture.
Science
In Term 2, Year 5/6 students will be learning about physical science, in particular looking at energy - how a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity and how electric circuits enable energy to be transferred to another place and then to be transformed into another form of energy.
Performing Arts
In Performing Arts this term, students will rehearse with classroom instruments in an ensemble setting. They will have some autonomy over the parts they focus on and their instrumental positions. Students will be encouraged to learn multiple parts and attempt multiple instruments for each piece of ensemble repertoire. They will also be learning/refreshing the following chord shapes on the ukulele: C, F, A minor G, E minor, D7, and will work towards changing between chords with fluency to perform songs.
Physical Education
The focus this term is Soccer and Basketball. Aside from further developing their dribbling, shooting and passing skills, students will practise offensive and defensive tactics in game situations.
Our School Cross Country will be held on Tuesday 30th April. Students may then be selected to represent our school in the District Cross Country Competition which is on Friday 17th May.
Students also participate in Winter Sport, competing against local schools, in Weeks 8 and 10. More details will be given later this term.
In early Term 3, students will also have the opportunity to participate in Hoop Time at the State Basketball Centre.
District Athletics
On Wednesday 24th April, our SPS Athletics Team - comprising selected Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 students - braved the elements at Ringwood Athletics Track for the District Athletics event. Despite the cold and wet weather, our students showcased their determination and sportsmanship, giving their best in various track and field events. It was a day filled with cheers, teamwork, and a resilient spirit that truly embodied our Scoresby HEART values. A big thank you to Mrs Coster for her organisation of the day, and to Miss Harper and Ms Symons for attending with our students.
ANZAC Day Commemorative Service
Our ANZAC Day Commemorative Service was held on Wednesday 24th April. Well done to Tommy, Annie, Jayden, Alisha, Shianne, James and Kabir, who hosted the service. We commemorate ANZAC Day to honour the memory of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli during World War I. It has since become a day of remembrance for all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The day serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of war and the sacrifices made for freedom and peace. It is a time to reflect on the virtues of courage, mateship and resilience, values that define the spirit of the ANZACs and are deeply embedded in the national identities of both nations.
Baking With Julie
While some of our Year 5/6 students were busy at District Athletics on Wednesday 24th April, those who remained behind had a delightful time baking delicious ANZAC biscuits with Julie in the hall. We decided to make these biscuits, not just for their scrumptious taste, but also to honour and remember the sacrifices made by our soldiers during wartime. The smell of freshly-baked biscuits filled the air, and no-one could resist taking a bite of them. They turned out to be absolutely delicious, leaving us all with smiles and full bellies!
Friendology
We have hit the ground running with our whole-school wellbeing program - Friendology. Friendology 101 is a friendship curriculum that inspires our students to feel empowered, develop a strong sense of self, and love themselves while learning to manage the most important thing to them… their friendships. Over the last 2 weeks, the 5/6 students have learnt how to squash “ANTS” (Automatic Negative Thoughts) that creep into their everyday thoughts, and what is normal in friendships through the 4 Friendship Facts. The program will also focus on how to be a good friend, navigating conflict and tricky situations, and the importance of expressing how you feel and being a good listener. We look forward to working with, and supporting our students through, this engaging curriculum.
