YEAR TWO

 Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School provides a range of holistic learning experiences to enable students to:

• Participate in the life and mission of the school.
• Deepen their knowledge and engagement with the Catholic faith and tradition.
• Build the capacity to reason, reflectively, logically and critically continuously.
• Embrace interdependence of human existence as global citizens, who are responsible to and for themselves and others.
• Engage in learning in a multitude of ways, through personalised and self-paced learning.

Religious Education

Our Religious Education units for this term are:

2.6 Reconciliation  

This unit reflects on the human experience of forgiving others and being forgiven. The parable of the Prodigal Son is presented and explored. It presents God as loving and forgiving. The unit explores the concept of reconciliation and living together in peace. It introduces the Sacrament of Penance, exploring how the Catholic community celebrates reconciliation with God and one another.

2.8 Advent 

In this unit, students learn about Advent as a time of waiting and hoping. Through the Jesse Tree, students recall some Old Testament people who waited in joyful expectation for the coming of Jesus. Through the stories of Elizabeth and Zechariah and Anna and Simeon, students are introduced to some people of the New Testament who waited for Jesus, the promised light and saviour who would lead people out of darkness and into freedom. 

Unit B focuses on Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Magi who followed the star to the promised light of Jesus.

You can help your child by:

• Encouraging simple daily prayers with your child
• Attending Mass regularly with your child

English

This term, the students deepen their knowledge of Perspective by understanding that perspective is the lens through which we learn to see the world. It shapes what we see and the way we see it. It includes the values that the responder and composer bring to a text. These values are expressed or implied through the composer's language and structure. Texts include The Twits by Roald Dahl and a variety of Readers Theatres scripts.

In writing, the students will plan and create texts written for different purposes, including paragraphs, using knowledge of vocabulary, text features and sentence structure. The children will also continue the Soundwaves spelling program. 

Talking and listening skills will be developed as the students share their new knowledge from History and Science research tasks.

You can assist your child by:

• Listening to them read nightly and asking them to retell what they have read in their own words. This is essential for comprehension. Also, ask some literal and inferential questions about the text to ensure they have understood what they have read.
• Checking their spelling words during homework and visiting Soundwaves online to play games. Using spelling words to compose a variety of compound and complex sentences will strengthen their skills in this area.

Mathematics

The students will be explicitly taught concepts from the NSW Mathematics K-10 Syllabus with a focus on problem-solving, communication, reasoning and understanding. All activities are differentiated to cater to all student needs and abilities

The topics taught in Term 4 are: Combining and separating numbers, 2D Spatial structures, Non Spatial measure (Time) , Geometric measure - Forming Groups (half, quarter, eighth). At the end of the term we will revise all concepts .

You can assist your child by:

• Revising counting skills (e.g. counting by 2's, 5's and 10's from any given 3 digit number or by 100’s from any 3 digit number)
• Rounding 2 and 3 digit numbers to the nearest 10 and 100. e.g. 26 rounded to the nearest 10 = 30. 
• Revising how to solve simple addition and subtraction problems involving two-digit numbers using a range of efficient mental and written strategies including Forming multiples of ten 
• Identify and describe the orientation of shapes using quarter turns
• Recognise time on an analogue clock face, particularly to the half-past. 
• Measure using metre rulers and create halves, quarters and eighths.
• Go shopping - notice prices, which is more/less, how much altogether
• Play games involving money and trade money eg. coins for notes, notes for coins, and coins for coins.

Science and Technology

The students will continue to explore the Science unit - 'Physical World' and will focus on the identification of light, sound and heat energy, and how they are sensed and produced. The students will further develop their understanding of forces and energy and how these can be used for specific purposes in products. The Digital Technologies strand focuses on digital systems and their components. During Week 5 the year 2 children will participate in a variety of Science Week activities with a particular focus on Species Survival. They will investigate Marsupials that are under threat and present their research in open classrooms.

History

The students will continue to explore local history in this semester's unit "The Past in the Present". The students will explore, recognise and appreciate the history of their local area by examining remains of the past and considering why they should be preserved. They will identify and describe significant people, events, places, sites and changes in the local community over time. They will also investigate the effects of changing technology on people’s lives. Students will develop their ICT skills to research the history behind a person or landmark.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education

Gymnastics

This term K-2 Students will participate in a 6 week gymnastics program. The program is led by Fit Futures. Students will develop essential skills, enjoy expert instruction, and engage in activities designed to boost confidence and fitness. This program aligns with the PDHPE K-10 syllabus outcomes. The program is designed to enhance student's physical skills and overall fitness such as;

• Skill Development: They will have the chance to learn and practice fundamental gymnastics skills, including balance, flexibility, strength, and coordination.
• Expert Instruction: FitFutures’ experienced and certified coaches will lead the sessions, ensuring that all activities are both safe and enjoyable.
• Engaging Activities: The program will feature a variety of activities tailored to different skill levels, from basic gymnastic movements to more advanced techniques.
• Confidence Building: Through fun and supportive exercises, students will gain confidence in their abilities, enhance their body awareness, and improve their overall fitness.

Swimming Program

Our Swimming program is run by Neilson’s Swim School at Caringbah Leisure Centre. They provide qualified, experienced instructors who teach water safety and race readiness. The swimming program is part of the school curriculum and is compulsory for all children. The intensive swimming program will run for 5 days. Each lesson is 40 minutes. 

Week 3 & 4 (See Compass for details)

2B: 9:50 am - 10:30 am

2G: 10:30 am - 11:10 am

2W: 11:10 pm - 11:50 pm

In sport lessons, Year 2 students they will learn various modified sports, fostering a deeper understanding of teamwork and sportsmanship. Through drills, games, and friendly competitions, students will develop their skills while emphasising the values of respect and fair play. 

Peer Support Program

Peer Support will commence this term and run for five weeks. This year's Module is, “Strong Together”.

The module aims to enhance student safety and wellbeing by promoting positive relationships, positive behaviours and expectations. It leverages peer-led leadership, encouraging older students to guide their younger peers with engaging activities. The approach emphasises strengths-based strategies and calls for a whole-school commitment to ensure sustained effectiveness in creating a safe and supportive school environment that aligns beautifully with our SPBL and Mercy Values.

This mini module aims to develop leadership as well as:

• Students to know their strengths.
• Establish expectations of positive behaviour and what it looks like.
• Clarify how to take action to make things better.
• Develop resilience.

Wellbeing

Open Parachute will then continue for the remainder of the Term. Open Parachute aims to provide practical support on mental health to students. The program aims to reduce stigma and generate authentic dialogue in classrooms about the real issues students face. The psychological skills-building exercises aim to increase empathy, self-compassion, self-awareness, mental health literacy, and self-efficacy in students.

Amadeus Music Program

Students will continue participating in the Amadeus Music Education program, introduced by Sydney Catholic Schools to our school this year.

Students will participate in activities in listening, performing and organising sound (Kindergarten to Year 6), within their regular Classroom Music lessons. Within these lessons, students will:

• Sing in unison and in parts
• Play tuned and untuned percussion instruments
• Play available instruments such as Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard

Creative Arts

In Music with Mr Parlato, students perform using their voices and various sound sources to make music.  They will also begin to notate their ideas using shapes and symbols.

In class, the students will engage in Visual Art lessons based on The Twits novel where they design ‘monsters’ and describe their features and characteristics. Students will develop sketching techniques to draw their portraits and add elements to their original drawings using a variety of mediums. 

Mandarin

Our students continue to enjoy participating in the Chinese language program called the Meg Language Program. The Meg Curriculum is written by the co-author of the Australian Curriculum. All students and teachers will participate in the digital learning platform via Zoom weekly sessions with educators in China.

Homework 

Homework will follow the same structure as Semester One. It is recommended that Year 2 students spend up to 20-30 minutes of homework per day. Homework consists of daily reading, spelling and mathematics activities. This includes 10 minutes of reading every night. The students will complete the Mathematics Mentals book this term therefore other options will be made available to continue to reinforce the concepts covered in class. Year 2 also has access to the reading and comprehension site Raz-kids.

These activities are to be completed weekly. Homework is due each Thursday and will be sent home every Friday. Week Seven is Sabbath week and no homework will be sent home so that everyone can enjoy precious family time.

Thank you for your partnership and support. We are looking forward to another very busy, productive term!

2B - Mrs Katrina Hedges

2G - Mrs Lauren Govers

2W - Mrs Alison Bofinger and Mrs Carly Beaven

Important Dates for Year Two

Sports Days are as follows:

2Blue - Monday & Tuesday

2Gold - Monday & Tuesday

2White - Monday & Tuesday

Students are to wear their sports uniform on these days. 

Library 

Each week, students will have the opportunity to borrow books from our school library. Please ensure your child brings their Library Bag to school on their allocated day. 

2Blue - Tuesday

2Gold - Tuesday

2White - Tuesday

2024 - School Term 4

 Parent calendar available at this link