Year 5/6
Welcome
What an exciting start to the term we've had! Fresh from Forest Edge camp's adventure and team spirit, our Year 5 and 6 students have returned with stories, confidence, and stronger connections with their peers. Camp provided wonderful opportunities for students to step outside their comfort zones, develop independence, and build resilience — skills that will continue to support their learning throughout this term.
We look forward to diving into rich learning experiences across all curriculum areas, including our engaging Ochre and War Horse unit in English, hands-on science investigations into Matter, and continued growth in leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking.
5/6M
Joachim Min Fa
5/6P
Natalie Arthontis (Monday-Wednesday) /Daniella Polites (Thursday-Friday)
5/6V
Gabi Vass
5/6DW
Sarah De Guzman-Wettenhall
Literacy
Year 5 and Year 6 students will explore War Horse by Michael Morpurgo in their Reading and Writing lessons this term. This powerful historical novel tells the story of Joey, a horse who experiences the challenges of World War I, and his deep bond with his young owner, Albert.
Students will learn how language can evoke powerful images and emotions by analysing examples of grammar choices from the text and applying grammar in their own writing.
In Writing lessons, students will:
Write character and setting introductions. They will also plan, write, and review a problem and resolution paragraph for a narrative text. They will be encouraged to use a variety of sentence types and interesting vocabulary to hook their readers.
Students will also write a persuasive text on ‘Should horses have been used in World War 1?’ They will brainstorm and discuss key ideas for both sides of the argument. Teachers will briefly preview the structure and essential key language features of a persuasive text, such as rhetorical questions and emotive and persuasive language. Editing procedures when reviewing writing will be an important part of our writing sessions.
This Novel Study unit will not only build literacy skills but also encourage empathy and historical understanding. We’re excited to see the thoughtful responses students will create.
Mathematics
Students will complete a one-hour daily mathematics lesson. There will be a focus this term on:
Weeks 2 & 3: Fractions
Weeks 4 & 5: Space ( 3D Objects)
Weeks 6 - 8: Decimals
Weeks 9: Probability
Week 10: Location and Transformation
To help reinforce key mathematical concepts and strengthen students' long-term memory, we will continue to incorporate daily 10-minute reviews at the start of each Maths lesson. Each student will have their whiteboard and marker, allowing them to participate and share their answers quickly and actively. Teachers will also use high-participation strategies to make these reviews and lessons effective and engaging, such as Think, Pair, Share, Choral Response and Reversal, Non -Volunteers and Gestures.
Practising number facts regularly at home will benefit the students greatly.
SPECIALIST SUBJECTS
Students will have Performing Arts, Italian, Physical Education and Art every Monday. Please ensure that the correct Sports Uniform is worn.
Library Borrowing Times
All classes will borrow books on Tuesdays each fortnight. Students must ensure that all books they borrow from the library are returned during their non-library week. They must also have an appropriate Library Bag (not plastic) to protect their books.
Winter Interschool Sports
Every Thursday, students will compete against other schools in the zone. They must come to school wearing their Sports Uniform and have their hats and water bottles ready.
Week 3 - Home game vs Oakleigh South
Week 4 - Home game vs Oakleigh Grammar
Week 5 - Away Game Vs St Paul's
Week 6 - BYE
Week 7 - Away game vs St Peter’s
Week 8 - Away game vs Murrumbeena
Week 9 - Home game vs Coatsville
Week 10 - Winter Sports Finals (only teams that make it)
Religious Education
During the Month of Mary, Year 5 and 6 students will explore the life, faith, and significance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her role within the Catholic tradition. This unit will encourage students to reflect on Mary's example of faith, trust, and discipleship, and how her life can inspire their own.
Students will:
Learn about key Gospel stories involving Mary, such as the Annunciation, Visitation, and the Wedding at Cana.Explore the significance of Marian prayers and devotions, including the Hail Mary, the Rosary, and May as a traditional time of honouring Mary.Reflect on Mary’s qualities—such as compassion, courage, and humility—and how these can be lived out in their own lives.
And finally, understand how Mary is honoured across different cultures and Christian communities worldwide.
In our next study cycle, students will deepen their understanding of the Church and how it is more than just a building. Our teaching will focus on the role of the Catholic Church as a faith community that exists to serve others, spread the message of Jesus, and contribute to a more just and compassionate world. This unit will help students recognise that faith is not only personal but lived out in action and community, encouraging them to see themselves as part of a larger story of compassion, hope, and service.
Inquiry Learning
In our Inquiry unit, Year 5 and 6 students explore Matter and how the observable properties of solids, liquids, and gases can be explained through the motion and arrangement of their particles (atoms). They will investigate how mixtures and solutions are formed and explore what happens when combining different substances.
Understanding the difference between reversible changes (like melting, freezing, and dissolving) and irreversible changes (like cooking or rusting) will also be studied. Conducting hands-on experiments safely, including asking scientific questions, identifying variables, making informed predictions (hypothesis), managing risks, and recording and reflecting on results, will further develop their understanding of the properties and behaviour of matter through hands-on learning, while practising key science skills like observation, analysis, and collaboration.
Wellbeing
Our PBL captains have been doing a fantastic job attending their weekly democratic meetings with Mrs Lloyd. They are responsible for reporting back their student voice to their class on issues within the school, offering suggestions on how they can be resolved respectfully. In addition, they have been asking their peers for feedback on possible solutions or issues affecting them. Mrs Lloyd and the Student Voice Team have created a child-friendly version of the Child Safety Policy, which each class has discussed and will refer to throughout the year. Our students engage in short, targeted lessons designed to build strong learning behaviours each week. These lessons focus on key skills such as respect, resilience, collaboration, and responsibility, helping students academically and socially grow. By reinforcing these positive behaviours, we aim to create a supportive, focused, and inclusive learning environment for all. Each class will continue to use the Class Dojo Reward System to acknowledge those students who display these values in all areas of their school life.
Homework
In line with our St Andrew’s Homework Policy, it is an expectation that Year Five and Year Six students complete the following as homework tasks:
- 20 minutes of reading per night to be recorded in their diary ( Title, pages/chapters read)
- 10-15 minutes of other tasks per night as set by the 5/6 teaching team. This will generally be 1-2 weekly Literacy/R.E./Maths/Inquiry task(s) linked to our current classroom learning.
Our Homework program aims to strengthen home-school partnerships and reaffirm the role of parents and guardians as partners in education. It is an opportunity for students to reinforce and share their classroom learning and develop productive routines and time management skills.
CLASSROOM ORGANISATION
- Any student who bring a mobile phone to school must hand it in to the school office in the morning. They can collect it at the end of the day.
- Sports shoes are only worn on Mondays (Specialists) and Thursdays (Interschool Sports). Children are expected to bring their Library Bags to school on designated Library days.
- Students are expected to use their Chromebooks responsibly at school and home. When carrying their Chromebooks to and from school, they are expected to use the Chromebook case supplied by the school. Please note that parents and guardians are responsible for monitoring their children while using their Chromebooks at home. Students are encouraged to use their Chromebooks in a shared space. It is expected that Chromebooks will be charged in readiness for the school day.
Key Dates 2025
Term Two
May 9th - Science excursion to Twist Ed Moorabin
May 21st - National Simultaneous Story Time - The Truck Cat @ 12pm
May 30th - Sports Day (3-6) 11.40- 3.15pm
June 9th - Public Holiday ( King’s Birthday)
June 30th - Parent Teacher Interviews
July 4th - Last day of Term Two
As dates can be subject to change, please check the school newsletter weekly.
How to Contact Us:
We would like to see ourselves as the first point of contact regarding your child’s learning. Please feel free to contact us by the following: We politely request that there is an understanding that emails will be responded to within 48 hours and within 8.00 am-4.45 pm.
School Phone: 9551 5094
Daniella Polites: dpolites@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Joachim Min Fa: jminfa@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Sarah De Guzman-Wettenhall: sdeguzman@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Natalie Arthontis narhontis@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Gabi Vass gvass@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
SPECIALIST PROGRAMS
L.O.T.E. Italian
Ciao a tutti,
The students will begin the term by revising previously acquired language through different activities and games. They will continue to share their personal profiles orally with the class by reading them out aloud. Students will also continue working on the topic of ‘Melbourne—our city’.
Students will use newly acquired and familiar vocabulary to create an acrostic poem using the letters in the word "Melbourne," e.g., M-magnifica E Elegante. They are reminded that the word "Melbourne" is feminine; therefore, the adjectives used to describe the city also need to be feminine.
Students, in pairs, will listen to each other read the acrostic poem aloud to elicit correct pronunciation. They will use the modelled language and grammar to write a postcard in Italian about a famous landmark using adjectives, language structures, vocabulary, phrases and key sentence beginnings. e.g. il grattacielo di Eureka è il più alto della città: nel Giardino Botanico ci sono tanti alberi e fiori.
They will present their postcard to the class to deepen their reading and speaking skills. During the lessons, the students will continue to participate in playing quizzes and games and completing interactive tasks on Duolingo to practise their oral and speaking skills and deepen their vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
Cordiali saluti, Signora White
Physical Education
Welcome to term two!
In term two, the 5/6s will be working on a variety of athletics events skills - including sprinting, throwing events such as shotput and discus, and jumping events including long jump, triple jump and high jump
Additionally, the 5/6s will participate in a range of activities that correspond to the sports played in interschool sport. These include AFL, tennis, soccer, netball and sofcrosse. Students will practice and develop the skills needed for these sports, and learn about the rules for each.
Our interschool sports and physical education lessons emphasise positive sportsmanship and teamwork. Students express their understanding through listening, communication, and cooperation with their classmates and teammates.
Interschool sports games will be played on Thursdays, either at home or away to the following schools: Coatesville, St Peter's, St Paul's. Oakleigh South, Oakleigh Grammar, and Murrumbeena.
On Thursdays, students will need to bring the following to school:
A small bag for their items
Water
Snack
Proper footwear and sports attire, including a hat and any additional equipment they may use for their sport.
Deodorant
We look forward to a fun term of learning!
Miss Kayla Puetz
Art
Welcome to the Art Room – Term 2 Update!
We’ve had a fantastic and creative start to Term 2, especially with all the fantastic artworks students have been making in preparation for Mother’s Day. The Art Room has been full of colour, imagination, and busy hands!
Students will embark on a creative journey filled with discovery, experimentation, and problem-solving this term in Visual Arts. They’ll explore different ways of seeing and making art using various visual techniques and materials. We aim to help each child grow in confidence as they develop their own artistic style while also learning to appreciate and respect the work of others.
We’ll also be exploring how people around the world use art to express ideas and tell stories. By learning about art from different cultures, students will begin to see the world from various perspectives and reflect on their roles as global citizens.
An important part of our learning will include examining the relationship between the viewer and the artwork and how the way we display art can help share its message or meaning.
It will be a term full of exploration, creativity, and learning!
Looking forward to a wonderful term ahead,
Mrs. Milena Santoro 🎨
Performing Arts
Hi 5/6 Students and Families,
I’m really excited to have the 5/6 students back in the classroom and ready for another term of Performing Arts after the fun of camp. The focus on this term will be learning and practising material for Mary Poppins, our production in Term 3. Students will be using the Mary Poppins songs and script to practice a multitude of skills, including:
- Pitching their voice through singing, going from chest to head voice.
- Singing a part different to others, and staying in tune.
- Acting through singing to convey a message or feeling.
- Developing movement skills including timing, use of space, individual body movement, energy levels and actions to planned choreography.
- Using movement and dance to convey a message or feeling.
- Remembering lyrics and choreography and combining the two.
- Literacy interpretation of a script, using the clues in the script to convey a message or idea.
- Using their voice, body and expressions to convey an idea or feeling.
Even students not participating in the production will have an opportunity to learn from the material.
Lastly, we’ll learn what comprises a musical chord and then build on students’ ukulele skills to play at least four chords, allowing them to play many pop songs!
If your students would like to practice any of the Mary Poppins songs at home, please see the link to the songs below.
Here’s to a great term!
Mrs Emma Cooper
Library News
Have you read a great book lately?
Do you like cereal?
Are you ready to create the world’s most interesting book report?
Year 5 and 6 students have been diving into creative reading and speaking with their Cereal Box Book Reports this term! After reading a novel of their choice, students designed imaginative cereal boxes featuring key story elements — from character profiles, a rating system, a setting description, plot summaries, to catchy titles and even a game or puzzle with a prize inside. The project will culminate in an oral presentation, where students are encouraged to confidently share their work with their class, highlighting the book’s themes, setting, conflict, and resolution. Seeing such enthusiasm and creativity as students develop their literacy and public speaking skills has been wonderful. Year 5 and 6 students will also explore the Dewey Decimal System as part of their library learning. As they study how nonfiction texts are organised, they develop their reading skills by integrating vocabulary, grammar and knowledge of text structure. Library time will remain valuable for students to strengthen their reading and viewing skills through engaging texts and activities. As we read together, students make meaningful connections between the characters’ experiences and their own lives, helping them understand both the surface and deeper layers of stories. They are also becoming more confident in expressing their thoughts and opinions about what they read.
Additionally, students are exploring how authors use creative language and literary techniques to set the mood, convey meaning, and capture the reader’s interest. Congratulations to all senior students for displaying book care and continued responsibility in returning their borrowed books.
Well done to all!
Best wishes - Mrs Daniella Polites