Argus-Xenica

Welcome to the Argus/Xenica Community Newsletter, as we arrive at the end of the year, we are mesmerised to see so many enthusiastic kids reinvigorated with energy to boost their knowledge. Students have established a crucial step in their learning this year, developing a strong base for the 12 other years in the schooling system. As we approach the year's end, we teachers reminisce about the great memories we have formed throughout the year with our students. We hope all our students have enjoyed learning and being taught by us as contently as we have been teaching them. Good luck with your future endeavours in and outside of school! 

Reading

In Reading, we are currently working on procedural texts. This consists of describing how to follow a certain set of instructions, and step-by-step providing a procedure to perform something. This topic also consists of analysing and critiquing these sorts of texts and dividing substantial components of the text. We have started and will continue this topic for another 2 weeks. We have already observed success in the understanding of students regarding this topic. Students are showing improvement in individual reading sessions as they are increasingly able to read more and more difficult books. We are also practising letter sounds to increase understanding of the pronunciation of certain words and articulations. 

Writing

We are currently engaged in a comprehensive exploration of procedural texts, which serve as a foundational genre in fostering clear communication and structured thinking. In this initiative, we have prompted our students to create procedural texts that outline various processes and methodologies. This practice is designed to deepen their understanding of the genre while honing their ability to articulate instructions in a clear and concise manner. To align with the principles of effective procedural writing, we encourage students to present their instructions in a numbered format. This structured approach not only enhances readability but also guides the reader through the process step by step. Teachers have observed significant progress in student engagement and understanding of this topic.

Maths

We are currently teaching a foundational level subtraction skill. To enhance their comprehension and build confidence in this area, we are actively encouraging students to engage with word problems that require the application of subtraction. By presenting mathematical concepts within real-world contexts, we aim to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills, making the learning experience both relevant and engaging. In conjunction with our focus on subtraction, we are also introducing students to the principles of measuring and analysing weight. This aspect of our curriculum involves prompting students to evaluate various items based on their weight, enabling them to develop an intuitive understanding of comparative weight concepts such as "heavier" and "lighter." To deepen this learning experience, we have recently incorporated a weighing scale into our activities. This hands-on tool allows students to conduct practical measurements, providing them with the opportunity to explore weight in a tangible manner and reinforcing their understanding through direct interaction.

Rippon Lea Estate

As part of our inquiry curriculum, students participated in an incursion by a member of the Rippon Lea Estate. This incursion took place at the beginning of the term. Students had a lot of fun dressing up as students from the olden days and had fun learning how schooling was in historical times. 

Crazy Hair Day

On Friday, October 11th, the school celebrated Crazy Hair Day. A huge thank you goes out to parents who put so much effort into the Prep cohort. It was amazing to see so much creativity and craziness all at once!

Summer Hats 

As we are approaching summer, please make sure your kids are equipped with hats. We follow a no hat, no play regulation so please make sure students have a hat that has your child’s name on it.