Year 5/6 

Overview of Learning

Year 5 

A warm welcome back to students, parents and families to Term 2.  We have a wonderful term ahead, including our exciting camp. 

Our Year 5 students should be proud of how they have approached the challenges and experiences of Senior School and we look forward to seeing the students continue to flourish this term. 

We would also like to welcome Will Graf, who commence as the 5C classroom teacher from Week 5. 

Our Teaching Team this Year:

5A - Kate Bretag (Classroom Teacher - Mon, Tues, Fri) & Fran Gould (Grade 5 Team Leader and Classroom Teacher Wed, Thurs).

5B - Sam Butchart - (Classroom Teacher)

5C - Will Graf (Classroom Teacher) and Chloe Bindloss (Teacher of the Deaf)

Literacy

In Literacy, students will engage in a novel study of "Thomas Appleby: Convict Boy" by Jackie French. This text follows the journey of a young boy sent to Australia as a convict on the First Fleet, providing a rich context for exploring historical perspectives. Throughout the unit, students will examine how different viewpoints are represented and how author's make choices to shape perspective and meaning. They will analyse character development, identify key themes and moral messages, and explore how language features such as similes, metaphors and personification create vivid imagery and emotional impact.

Students will continue to build their vocabulary by learning and applying precise, topic-specific language in their speaking and writing. They will practise varying sentence structures by combining and expanding ideas for clarity and effect, as well as developing their ability to summarise and respond to texts. In addition, students will apply their understanding of text structure to plan, draft, edit and publish an information report, using accurate grammar, punctuation and cohesive paragraphs, to communicate their ideas effectively.

Students will continue participating in the Spelling Mastery program. This structured approach to spelling instruction reinforces their understanding of spelling patterns and rules, contributing to their overall literacy proficiency.

In Speaking and Listening, students will revise effective spoken interaction and listening skills. Through both whole class and small group discussions students will focus on developing skills in expressing and justifying their opinions and asking questions and paraphrasing to clarify their thinking. 

Maths 

In Number and Algebra, students will explore fractions and percentages. They will order fractions on number lines as well as find common denominators to add and subtract them. Students will investigate percentages by recognising that 100% is the same as one whole and use percentages to compare, describe and represent relative size.  They will link percentages to their decimal and fraction equivalents.

In Applied Mathematics, students will revise telling the time on both analogue and digital clocks as well as compare 12- and 24-hour time.  In Measurement, students will learn to choose the correct unit when measuring length, mass and capacity of objects as well as learn to use smaller, more accurate units of measurement (mm, grams, etc).  In Probability, students will conduct change experiments and list possible outcomes. 

Humanities

In Humanities, students are exploring life in colonial Australia during the 1800s. They will investigate the causes and consequences of British settlement, daily life, and the perspectives of free settlers, convicts and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples using historical sources. Students will also examine key events and individuals, and how they contributed to continuity and change in Australian society.

Specialist Timetable

We are looking forward to working in partnership with families to support each child.  If you have any further questions, please feel free to organise an appointment to meet with us.

THANK YOU!

Grade 5 Team,

Fran Gould, Kate Bretag, Chloe Bindloss, Sam Butchart and Will Graf.

Year 6 

Welcome back to school for Term Two! 

We’re thrilled to welcome all our students and families back for Term Two! Term One was filled with exciting events, such as our Sellabration Day. Collectively, we raised over $5000 for charity.

We hope you had a restful break and are feeling refreshed and ready for an exciting term ahead. This term is packed with fantastic opportunities, including interschool sports and our much-anticipated CYC City Camp! This term we welcome Katy Wheeler to 6C as Teacher of the Deaf. 

Our Teaching Team This Year:

6A - Stephanie Geros (Classroom Teacher)

6B - Tasleem Sahib (Classroom Teacher Monday & Tuesday and Grade 6 Team Leader) and Anika Lingam (Classroom Teacher Wednesday - Friday)

6C - Meghan Buchanan (Classroom Teacher) & Katy Wheeler (Teacher of the Deaf)

As always, we look forward to working together with families to ensure we can support all students to meet their full potential. Please feel free to reach out to us should you have any information to share, questions to ask, or simply to say hello.

Teaching and Learning Overview

English

In Literacy, students will engage in a novel study of the text, "Us Mob Walawurru" byDavid Spillman and Lisa Wilyuka. This historical fiction follows Ruby’s journey from a young girl growing up in 1960s Central Australia to adulthood and motherhood, exploring her strong connection to Country and family. 

Students are exploring "Us Mob Walawurru" as part of their Humanities unit on immigration to Australia. Through this unit, they will develop key sentence-level writing skills, including constructing clear and complete sentences, using varied sentence structures and expanding their ideas with precise vocabulary and descriptive detail to effectively communicate their understanding of historical concepts.

In addition to the novel study, students will continue to participate in the Spelling Mastery program.

In Speaking and Listening, students will plan, rehearse and deliver informal and formal presentations for defined audiences and purposes. When interacting with others, they will use vivid vocabulary, select language to acknowledge formality and use appropriate strategies, such as paraphrasing and questioning. Students will also continue to engage in structured book club discussions. 

Maths  

In Number and Algebra, students will improve their understanding of place value with decimal numbers and learn to add and subtract decimals. Students will use estimation and rounding to check their answers. They will also solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions using their knowledge of equivalent fractions. They will then explore the use of rules that generate visually growing patterns and number patterns involving rational numbers. 

In Applied Mathematics topics (Measurement and Geometry, Statistics and Probability) students will be focusing on measurement and applying their knowledge of decimals to the metric system. They will develop their skills converting between units of length, mass and capacity. Students will explore elapsed time and interpret and use timetables to plan journeys and solve real life-problems. 

Humanities

In Humanities, students are exploring key moments in Australian history, including the establishment of the colonies, Federation and migration between 1900 and 2000. They are developing their historical inquiry skills by asking questions, analysing primary and secondary sources and examining different perspectives to understand how and why Australia has changed over time. Students are also learning to organise events chronologically, explain causes and consequences and use evidence to construct clear, informed interpretations of the past.

Year 6 Camp

Camp will be held this term, on Monday 25th of May to Wednesday 27th of May. We will attend CYC City Camp, situated in a fully-refurbished 1910 heritage-listed building in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Students will participate in a variety of experiences during their stay. They will become ‘tourists in their own city’ and utilise public transport when navigating the streets of Melbourne. We will be sending out relevant information via Compass shortly and be sending students home with a packing list and a medical form. Please keep an eye on Compass to stay up to date.

Looking Ahead 

Year 6 is a special time where we look back and celebrate all the wonderful years the students have spent at primary school. Looking ahead to Term 4, students will create a special scrapbook celebrating their primary school years. We encourage students to begin collecting photos, keepsakes and meaningful memories now, so they can thoughtfully reflect on and capture their journey at primary school.

Specialist Timetable

Again, welcome back to school for Term Two, and please remember that at RGLPS we see education as a three-way partnership between the family, teacher and child. If you have any questions or concerns, we invite you to make an appointment to meet with us.

Thank you,

Grade 6 Team,

Tasleem Sahib,  Stephanie Geros, Meghan Buchanan, Katy Wheeler and Anika Lingam