Year 1/2
Welcome
Dear Families,
Welcome to Term Two! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable Easter break with your families. We look forward to working with your children and celebrating their achievements and progress throughout the second term.
Our Learning This Term
English
This term in Reading, Grade 1 students will focus on learning digraphs through the InitiaLit reading program, including sounds such as th and oo, and applying these in spelling (e.g. there, school). They will also learn to choose appropriate digraphs, such as ai and ay. Students will explore nouns, verbs, and adjectives, while continuing to develop their “super sentences” using correct punctuation, including capital letters and full stops.
In Writing, students will engage with Little Dog and the Summer Holiday and The Day the Crayons Quit. They will build vocabulary from these texts and use new words in their own sentences. Students will respond to writing prompts using simple and compound sentences, helping them share ideas, strengthen writing skills, and reinforce phonics and high-frequency words. They will also begin developing persuasive writing skills by expressing opinions and supporting them with reasons.
This term in Reading, Grade 2 students will continue to build their phonics knowledge through the InitiaLit reading program, focusing on more complex vowel patterns and digraphs such as ee, ea and e_e. They will practise applying these patterns when reading and spelling words (e.g. wheel, beach, theme) and develop their fluency and comprehension by reading a range of texts. Students will also deepen their understanding of grammar, including nouns, verbs and pronouns. They will continue to strengthen their sentences by using correct punctuation, including capital letters, full stops and commas.
In Writing, students will engage with a variety of rich mentor texts to inspire their ideas and build vocabulary. They will use the following texts to support their own writing, creating simple and more detailed sentences.
- The Shop Train (imaginative)
- The Fabulous Friend Machine (imaginative)
- The Lorax (persuasive)
- The Boy and the Elephant (persuasive)
Students will respond to a range of prompts, allowing them to share their ideas clearly while developing their spelling, grammar, and use of high-frequency words.
Mathematics
This term in Mathematics, Grade 1 students will develop their understanding of place value by working with numbers from 1 to 120, while Grade 2 students will extend this knowledge to numbers up to 999. Students will explore how numbers are formed using tens and ones (and hundreds for Grade 2), supporting their ability to read, write, and represent numbers confidently. In Measurement, students will focus on length, learning to compare, measure, and describe objects using informal and formal units. They will also build their skills in addition and subtraction, using a range of strategies to solve problems and explain their thinking. To conclude the term, students will investigate patterns, identifying, creating, and continuing repeating patterns, helping to strengthen their understanding of number relationships and mathematical reasoning.
Religion To begin this term in Religion, students have been learning about prayer and why people pray. Each class has been discussing ‘Our Place Of Prayer’ and how this can differ for everyone. Students will explore the different types of prayer and discover that we can pray to God at various times and in different places.
Prayer is an important part of the life of St Andrew’s. The children pray daily with the Grade 6 leaders, reading the St Andrew’s prayer over the PA system. This is a wonderful way for classes to join as a school community.
As we get further into the term, the students will be studying the significance of key events and celebrations within the liturgical year.
Inquiry
In Inquiry this term, students will explore the concept of push and pull and how forces affect the movement of objects. They will investigate key ideas including friction, force, gravity, floating and sinking. Through a range of engaging, hands-on experiments, students will develop their understanding of how these forces operate in everyday life.
To further enrich their learning, students participated in an incursion on Tuesday 5th May, providing an exciting opportunity to deepen their understanding through interactive experiences.
SPECIALIST NEWS
Term 2 Library News
Get ready to kick goals with reading! National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is back for 2026, and St Andrew's is excited to join millions of children across Australia in sharing the same story at the same time on Wednesday 27 May. This wonderful annual event celebrates the joy of books, literacy and imagination together through storytelling.
This year’s featured story is Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller by Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd, illustrated by Jake A. Minton. The story follows Luna Roo, a courageous young kangaroo and rookie soccer captain, as she learns to trust herself, work with her teammates and face challenges with determination and heart. Filled with action, humour and vibrant Australian animal characters, Luna Roo is a fun and inspiring story that encourages resilience, teamwork and confidence.
Our students will take part in special literacy activities inspired by the story and join in the nationwide reading celebration. We can’t wait to share this energetic and heartwarming Australian story together.
L.O.T.E. Italian
Dear parents, welcome to Term 2.
This term, the Years One and Two will continue to build on familiar language and grammar through the Italian picture story book entitled Il mio fratellino ‘My little brother’. Students are introduced to an action rhyme which exposes them to some of the language they might hear at the market through Andiamo al mercato and then they make a class booklet using the new language structures and what they have bought at the market. E.g. Sono andato al mercato e ho comprato .........
They are also introduced to a new grammatical structure and the vocabulary for ‘him’ and ‘her’ as they appear in the story. Mio- my (masculine singular) mia- my (feminine singular) lui-he, lei-she. Students then create an illustrated poster of a market stall and label the goods using the new vocabulary.
They will also work in groups to role play the story. Following a model, each student will take on a specific role. After a few practices, the students will present it to the class and will be free to add and/or change any of the expressions and vocabulary.
During the lessons the students will continue to participate in playing quizzes and games, singing songs and completing written and oral activities to reinforce knowledge and understanding of new language and grammar.
Cordiali saluti
Signora White
ART
It has been a busy and creative start to the year in the Grade 1/2 Art program! Students explored the colourful world of Pop Art, focusing on the work of Andy Warhol. Inspired by his bold use of colour and repetition, students created a beautiful autumn Pop Art piece that has truly brought our hallway to life.
We have also been busy learning about ANZAC Day, creating thoughtful artworks that helped students understand the importance of remembrance in an age-appropriate way.
Looking ahead, students will begin exploring 3D paper sculptures, drawing inspiration from Charles McGee. Later this term, we are especially excited to begin working on a collaborative mosaic piece, where students will contribute individual elements to create a larger shared artwork.
We are also working very hard as we prepare for our whole-school Art Show, and we cannot wait to display all of the amazing creations.
📅 Save the Date! Our Art Show Opening Night will be held on September 1st (Term 3) in the school hall. We look forward to celebrating our students’ creativity with you.
♻️ Donations Appreciated
A big thank you to everyone who has donated recycled materials such as newspapers and cardboard paper towel rolls. These materials are incredibly valuable for our art projects.
We are still happily accepting donations, so please keep them coming!
Thank you for your continued support of the Visual Arts program. We look forward to a fantastic Term 2 filled with creativity and exploration! 🎨
Warm regards,
Milena Santoro - Art Teacher
Physical Education
Welcome back to term two!
During this term in Physical Education, 1/2 students will engage in a Body Movement unit, where they are learning to develop fundamental throwing and catching skills with a variety of objects. Completed individually, in partners, and group activities, they are continuing to explore how to work together in teams to coordinate their actions.
Additionally, the 1/2 students have been developing hand eye coordination skills through a variety of activities with different objects such as bouncy balls, tennis balls and hoola hoops.
We are exploring a variety of athletics events, including proper running form for sprinting and how to use their learnt teamwork skills in relay races.
We are excited for another fun term ahead!
Miss Puetz
Performing Arts
Welcome back 1/2 Students and families! Congratulations to the Students for their enthusiasm and creativity during Term 1.
Term 2 will see students exploring their creativity whilst practising their knowledge of rhythmic notation. In class we’ll practise rhythms using the games and rhyme ‘Shimmy Bop’ and continuing with our bucket drumming to learn how to play in time with each other. Students will be able to apply this new rhythmic knowledge to create their own rhythm, and sharing with a friend they will perform these rhythms on their percussion instruments. I can’t wait to hear what they come up with! Students will also be able to express themselves through dance, including making dance moves to Syncopated Cyril.
Later in the term, we’ll be doing sound experiments, to tie in with the 1/2 inquiry unit. Students will see how sound waves react to instruments, comparing high and low instrument sound waves. This will help develop a pitch in their voice later in the year. You can help your student by singing along in the car to your favourite song on the radio! The more singing they hear, the better!
Happy singing and dancing!
Mrs Emma Cooper
Positive Behaviour for Learning
This term the students continue to focus on Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) and its three school wide expectations: Respect, Responsibility and Resilience.
We have started teaching Respectful Relationships lessons and this term we are focusing on the first two topics: Emotional Literacy and Personal Strengths.
In Emotional Literacy, students will review different emotions including anger, excitement, fear and happiness and how we might look and act when feeling these ways. They will also investigate situations that trigger these emotions and ways that we can respond when experiencing certain emotions .
The students will learn about acts of kindness and ways in which we can have positive relationships with our friends and family members through choosing our words and actions.
Students will learn about a wide range of personal strengths that assist us in feeling positive, having good experiences and forming friendships. These personal strengths include being honest, fair, forgiving, patient and kind.
Class Meetings are held on a weekly basis where everyone is given a voice to share their thoughts and feelings about any issues that they would like to raise. This is also an opportunity to celebrate all of the positive things that are happening in the school. The PBL Captains have been doing a wonderful job taking class responses to PBL Meetings and sharing suggestions with other PBL Leaders.
Classroom Organisation
Independence is an essential skill that the students in Year 1/2 continue to develop with the support of their teachers and families.
Teachers encourage students to develop this at school through being responsible for:
• Following their class’ morning routine, which includes:
- Unpacking of their bags at school
- Organising their personal belongings
• Handing in any notes
• Bringing back library books, take home books and bags on their assigned day
• Being punctual to class and ready for learning.
After 8:50 am, students must report to the office to be registered as late for the day.
If your child is absent from school, it is a requirement that we receive notification of this in writing either via the Audiri app, or contact the office directly.
All 1/2 students will participate in Specialist classes on a Wednesday - Italian, Art, Performing Arts and PE. Please remember that every Wednesday, the students are expected to wear their runners and P.E. uniform to school for Physical Education.
Students must wear their school shoes and full school uniform on all other days of the week.
Library Sessions have commenced this term and will take place every 2 weeks. Please return all Library books and bring a Library bag before your child’s lesson. Books are to be returned on the second Wednesday after your child’s lesson and placed in the library tub in your child’s room.
Class lesson days and times:
1/2L, 1/2K - Tuesdays
1/2G, 1/2C - Thursdays
Key Dates
May:
Friday 15th - School Assembly @ 9:00am
- Walk Safely to School Day @ 8.15 am
- Movie Night @ 6.15 pm
Thursday 21st - 1/2K Class Mass @ 9.15 am
Sunday 24th - Year 1/2 Level Family Mass @ 11.00 am
Thursday 28th - 1/2G Class Mass @ 9.15 am
Friday 29th - School Assembly @ 9.00 am
Saturday 30th - Working Bee @ 8.30 am - 10.30 am
June:
Thursday 4th - 1/2C Class Mass @ 9.15 am
Friday 5th - School Closure Day
Monday 8th - Public Holiday: King’s Birthday
Friday 12th - School Assembly @ 9.00 am
Thursday 18th - 1/2L Class Mass @ 9.15 am
Monday 22nd - Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences @ 2.30 - 7.00 pm
Wednesday 24th - SAC Meeting @ 7.00 - 8.30 pm
Thursday 25th - Learning Celebrations @ 2.45 - 3.30 pm
Friday 26th June - School Assembly @ 9.00 am
- Last Day of Term Two
*As dates can be subject to change, please check either the school newsletter or notifications on the Audiri App.
How to Contact Us
Jordan Lonergan jlonergan@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Sally Kuszner skuszner@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Rachel Gurvich rgurvich@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Emily Casaceli ecasaceli@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Maggie Sproul (Fri) maggie@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Anna Kolodziej (Fri) akolodziej@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
We politely request that there is an understanding that emails will be responded to within a 48 hour time frame and within the hours of 8.00am-4.45pm.