Year Six - Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families, 

On Ash Wednesday, the Bethlehem community gathered for a special Mass to mark the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection, renewal and growth. This auspicious occasion held deep significance on many levels. Aligned with the Jubilee of Hope, the Mass served as a reminder of our call to spiritual renewal during Lent. Adding to the significance of the day, our Year 6 students received their leadership badges at the conclusion of the Mass, symbolising their commitment to leading with faith, kindness and responsibility throughout the year.

Next week we are learning about...

Religious Education Focus 

During Religious Education, students explored the significance of Lent, beginning with Shrove Tuesday and the start of this sacred season on Ash Wednesday. They learned that Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, encouraging personal reflection and spiritual growth. As part of our Lenten journey, we are also raising awareness and funds to support the vital work of Caritas Australia. We will continue our journey through Lent, deepening our understanding of its significance.

English Focus

Reading: This term, our students have been engaging with the novel Rivet Boy by Barbara Henderson. Through their reading, they have explored key themes and responded to thought-provoking questions from the text. As part of their literacy development, they have also learned to enhance their writing with adverbials and expanded their vocabulary by studying words with the suffixes -ty and -ity to form nouns.

Writing: This week, our students have been strengthening their writing skills in various ways. They have been completing sentences to enhance sentence structure and meaning. They have also practiced writing statements, questions, exclamations, and commands based on argumentative topics, helping them develop a persuasive voice. Additionally, students have explored how to use appositives to add detail and clarity to their sentences.

As part of their work on persuasive writing, they have analysed the structure of a persuasive text, planned and have begun writing well-organised paragraphs to support their arguments effectively.

Mathematics Focus

This week, students have been focusing on calculating the area of a rectangle using a formula. Through worded problems, they applied their understanding by identifying key information and using the formula Area = Length × Width to determine the total space within a rectangle. This practical approach helped students develop problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of measurement concepts.

Integrated Studies Focus

Students explored the environmental changes caused by colonial settlement and their long-term effects on Australia’s landscape and ecosystems. They learned how colonial settlement dramatically changed the environment and the way of life for Aboriginal peoples. Through their studies, students explained how colonial activities, like deforestation, the introduction of farming practices, and the establishment of towns, changed the natural environment. They also discussed the significant impact these settlements had on Aboriginal peoples, including the disruption of their traditional lands, cultural practices, and ways of life

Social & Emotional Learning Focus

The focus was on intense emotions—understanding their effects and learning strategies to regulate them.

Auslan Focus

In Auslan, we began Unit 2A. Students focused on using different handshapes to represent objects, people, and their spatial relationships. They developed the skills to use their fingers to represent various people, objects, and movements, and to show how these elements are positioned in space.  Key vocabulary includes:

• Yes, no
• Lunchtime
• Recess
• Cross your legs
• Stand in a circle
• Sit in a circle

The Year 6 Team

Reminders

All students are required to wear a wide brim hat for recess and lunch time.

Students need an art smock for Visual Art.

Camp Forms: 

Parents are to please complete the camp medical form (hard copy sent home today). Insert the camp medical form along with the medicines required at the camp with your child's name on the medicines in a zip lock bag. Bring this along on the day of camp and hand it over to Miss Wijeratne. 

The safety learning and respect form (hard copy) sent home needs to be signed and returned to your child's classroom teacher).

The camp packing checklist has been sent home today (hard copy). 

Reach out to your child's classroom teacher for any queries.

Contact Us

bethlehem@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au  OR