Foundation News 

Welcome to Term 2! 

After a refreshing three-week break, it's wonderful to have the students back together. We've embraced our morning connection time, allowing everyone to bond and share holiday experiences. To help re-establish our routines, we've introduced calming activities such as beading, colouring and water painting which has helped set  a positive tone for each day. The children have also enjoyed playing their own made up version of 'The Floor is Lava.'

We also welcome Kason to our Foundation class! We have loved having a new member in our group, students have been welcoming and supportive in showing Kason the routines of St. Joey's! 

Literacy

Thanks to those who completed their literacy tasks over the break. These activities were designed to reinforce concepts we've previously explored, ensuring continuity in learning. This fortnight, students have focused on the vowels 'i' and 'a' allowing them to begin blending sounds to form words. Using concrete materials such as magnetic letters they've been constructing CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, placing the vowel in the middle. Their ability to blend sounds is improving daily, preparing our young learners for reading which will commence in the next few weeks. 

Mathematics

Our mathematicians have been revisiting number awareness through engaging games and counting exercises. Activities like Bingo and 'Roll and Collect' have helped reinforce numbers 1–20. Some students have been introduced to the concept of bundling tens and understanding place value, using concrete materials to represent tens and ones

Community Project: 'Ngurra – Telling Stories Through Art'

As part of our Visual Arts unit, we visited the Mitchelton Aboriginal Art Gallery. There, they explored how stories are conveyed through Aboriginal artwork, sparking curiosity and thoughtful questions. Outdoors, students sketched the landscape, capturing its essence. 

In addition to this, students had also participated in a creative provocation in the hall, where a variety of materials were provided under the theme 'Telling Stories Through Art'. Students had the opportunity to create pieces that resonated with this theme, expressing their interpretations and insights. 

Mother’s Day Reflections 

This week, we've taken a moment to reflect on the wonderful qualities of our mothers and the many ways they support and care for us. Students have been busy crafting thoughtful gifts. I hope you enjoy the creations they've made. We thank Jacqui Anderson for generously providing all the materials and dedicating her time to help assemble the gifts in your little brown box. 

I also would like to applaud the courageous efforts of Mila, Bailey and Caoimhe with their short yet beautiful speech at the Mother's Day Afternoon Tea. They modelled how it's ok to be nervous yet step outside our comfort zone! Well done. 

Overall, it's been a delightful return to routine! We wish all our families a Happy Mother's Day. We look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday, ready for another week of learning and growth. 

A reminder to please return your photo forms by Wednesday 14th of May-ready for our school photos. 

Miss Gab