Level 6: Connect

Salutations

The Grade 6 students have blown the teachers away with their phenomenal approach to new routines, senior expectations, general learning and conduct. It is really exciting to teach a group of students who genuinely love reading, coming to school, and trying to be their best. 

Maths

The past fortnight, we have been working on prime, composite, and square numbers. Students have used class time to examine divisibility rules in order to qualify types of numbers. Here is a reference guide that students have in their books:

Moreover, students have begun to look at index notation for squared numbers. We used arrays to identify squared numbers and labelled them in expanded notation. Next, we showed the same values, abbreviated with index notation. Students were able to identify uses for index notation and commented on how much quicker it is to write an expression in the abbreviated format. 

Literacy

We are knee deep in figurative language, right now! Runt is a masterclass of personification, similes, and metaphors. Our students have been analysing the power of verbs that creating vivid imagery.  Craig Silvey uses personification to give inanimate objects and abstract concepts human qualities, making them feel more alive or meaningful. We have been impressed by the way this study has lifted our students' writing.

Inquiry

Students have started our unit on Australia as a Nation. The key vocabulary we have begun to unpack Federation, Colonies, Constitution, and Government. 

Wellbeing

Along with our daily check in, students are learning the value of having a GEM practise. GEM stands for Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness. This is explicitly taught and explored in The Resilience Project (TRP). Students are encouraged to play with different types of GEM to find what they like and what works best for them. You might like to share some of your own GEM practises with them or have them share what they have done at school. Hugh van Cuylenburg, the founder of TRP was inspired the children he worked with in a very remote town of India. Ask your child if they can tell you more about this:

Buddies

This Tuesday we resumed our Buddy program with our former Prep buddies. We spent the afternoon in the JLC with Grade 1, playing a board game. The purpose of the sessions is to support the learning and wellbeing of our junior school friends. A group of Grade 6 volunteers will lead and facilitate the delivery of an activity each fortnight. 

Reminders

• Diaries must travel to and from school every day. 
• Reading must be recorded in the diary and signed by a parent each day. Teachers will sight diaries each day and sign them once per week. 
• A fully charged laptop is required to be at school each day.
• No hat = students must remain in the shade, on the steps at the front of the new Grade 1 building.

Important Dates

February

• Friday 21st February 4:30 – 6:30pm - Twilight Games/ Welcome Picnic

March

• Thurs 6th March - District Swimming (qualifying students)
• Mon 10th March - Labour Day holiday
• Wed 12th March - Division Swimming (qualifying students) 
• Wed 26th March - TCB House Cross Country

April

• Friday 4th April - Term ends

Wishing you a fantastic fortnight ahead.