Classroom News

Foundation Curriculum News -Term 4, Week 4, 2025

Dear Foundation Parents and Caregivers,

Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks.Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks, along with some important dates for this term. 

Important Dates to Remember:

Reading

In Reading, students are introduced to Sounds-Write Unit 1 Extended Code which focuses on the /ae/ sound. We will be introducing a new Sounds-Write lesson called Seek the Sound in our lessons. They will continue exploring our Seasons and Weather core knowledge unit, where they will listen to texts, discuss ideas as a class, and answer comprehension questions to build understanding and vocabulary.

Writing

In Writing, students will innovate their own Information Text about an animal first by planning their information text using a story planner and story map. Students will use these plans to write their draft and then continue to edit and write a final published copy. 

Mathematics

In Mathematics, students will explore teen numbers by using hands-on materials and visual models to build their understanding of place value. They will learn that teen numbers are made up of one group of ten and some extra ones, helping them develop a strong foundation for future number and addition work.

Biological Science

In Science, students are continuing to investigate the observable changes in the sky and landscape and how these influence our daily lives. Through hands-on observations and guided discussions, they are exploring weather patterns and seasonal changes. Students are also deepening their understanding of how different cultures, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, observe and describe the seasons and their connection to the environment.

Wellbeing

In Wellbeing, students are learning to recognise and celebrate the diversity within our classroom and community. They are exploring ways to be respectful and inclusive of others, understanding that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and kindly. Through stories and discussions, students are developing strategies to solve problems, seek help when needed, and “bounce back” from challenges — building confidence, empathy, and a strong sense of belonging for all.

Foundation Team

Tegan Cochran, Rebecca Gomes, Ashleigh Smith

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Year 1 Curriculum News-Term 4, Week 4, 2025

Dear Year 1 Parents and Caregivers,

Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks.

Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks, along with some important dates for this term.

Important Dates to Remember:

Reading 

In Reading, students have been exploring the ‘oi’ sound through their fluency texts. Each day, they practise reading aloud with a partner to build confidence, fluency, and expressive reading.

Writing

In Writing, students have enjoyed crafting imaginative stories about Traction Man. They have been learning how to include adjectives, adverbs, and conjunctions to make their writing more detailed and engaging.

Mathematics  

In Mathematics, students have focused on understanding numbers to 120 through the use of tens and ones. They have developed their ability to identify and describe numbers that are one more, one less, ten more, and ten less with the support of a number chart.

Science

In Science, students have been learning about light and sound. They discussed how vibrations create sound waves and experimented with boxes, cups, and elastic bands to observe how different vibrations produce different sounds.

Wellbeing

In Wellbeing, students have been learning what it means to bounce back when things don’t go their way. They discussed and practised different strategies and tools that help them return to the green zone, feeling happy and calm.

Year 1 Team

Caroline Morrison, James Thomas, Josephine Rechner

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Year 2 Curriculum News-Term 4, Week 4, 2025

Dear Year 2 Parents and Caregivers,

Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks.

Reading

In Reading, students are exploring the question “Why are Trees So Important?” and reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, a wonderful text that links closely to our Geography unit on sustainability. Through this story, students are learning how authors use persuasive language to encourage readers to care for the environment and make sustainable choices. We are also focusing on identifying cause and effect relationships in texts, discussing how one event can lead to another and how human actions impact the natural world. As part of our ongoing Reading program, students continue to build their vocabulary, strengthen their comprehension, and develop questioning strategies while engaging with rich, meaningful texts about protecting our planet.

Writing

In Writing, students have been learning about the text structure and features of persuasive writing. They explored these elements through reading the letter from Reggie, our friendly neighbourhood alien,  that encourages them to care for the Earth and take action to protect it. Using this as inspiration, students have begun planning their own persuasive pieces, developing their opinion and supporting reasons to persuade their audience. Over the coming weeks, they will move on to drafting, editing, and publishing their completed persuasive texts.

Mathematics 

In Maths, Year 2 students are continuing their learning about fractions. They are comparing and ordering fractions to understand how parts make up a whole. Next, students will begin exploring volume and capacity, focusing on measuring, comparing, and describing how much objects hold.

Geography

In Geography, Year 2 students are learning about the geography of Australia and exploring how understanding our land, our neighbours, and the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples helps us appreciate the different ways people live. This learning also highlights the importance of caring for and respecting our country. Over the next fortnight, lessons will focus on locating Toorak on a map, then zooming out to identify our state, country, and continent. Students will also begin exploring the key geographical features that make Australia unique.

Wellbeing

In Wellbeing, students will continue learning about positive gender relations, focusing on respect, fairness, and inclusion. They will also explore our SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support) matrix, deepening their understanding of behaviour expectations and how these help create a safe and supportive school environment for everyone.

Year 2 Team

Daniel Lewis, Natasha Williams, Lauren Ely

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Year 3 Curriculum News - Term 4, Week 4, 2025

Dear Year 3 Parents and Caregivers,

Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks.

Reading

In Reading, students will continue to learn about The Vikings. We will be doing a range of activities and reading to learn about the history of Vikings, where they came from and what they are famous for. Students will dive deeper into where vikings explored and how they took land. We will also be doing word study on particular words. Feel free to ask the students about which words they have studied and the meaning of the words.

Writing

In Writing, students will continue learning about persuasive writing. So far we have focused on “Big Ideas” and started to learn how to take efficient notes. Over the next two weeks students will be turning the notes into the first draft of their persuasive piece on the topic of, “Should students do after school activities.”

Mathematics 

In Mathematics, students will continue to learn about area and chance. Looking at simple ways to calculate the area of a shape. In chance, students will learn the vocabulary around the likelihood of events occurring, as well as putting events to these names.

Wellbeing

In Wellbeing, students have worked through some problem solving tasks. We have looked at the “roundabout”  method, where students come up with 4 options to solve a problem, and then choose the appropriate one. 

We have discussed how we all face ups and downs throughout the day, and the benefit of having a positive mindset.

Throughout the next two weeks we will continue to explore more problem solving situations and skills to help solve these situations.

Year 3 Team

Cassie Wilson, Katie Smith, Harrison Yardney

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Year 4 Curriculum Newsletter - Term 4, Week 4 2025

Dear Year 4 Parents and Caregivers,

Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks, along with some important dates for this term. 

Important Dates to Remember:

Reading

In Reading, students will continue exploring Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman. They will build on their understanding of the characters’ experiences and the challenges faced by refugees, using evidence from the text to support their ideas. Alongside our novel study, students will also engage with a range of information texts to learn about Earth and Space Science. Over the next two weeks, students are learning about Eratosthenes and claims that have been made about Earth. They will begin to explore Earth’s surface and how it changes due to different factors. 

Writing

In Writing, students are learning how to craft engaging portal narratives that transport their readers to imaginative new worlds. They will be writing portal stories and have carefully broken down the vocabulary and structure of the model text: Clock Close. Over the next two weeks students will be planning the structure of their text through a boxing up template. They will begin writing an engaging opening to their narrative, including skills such as sensory language, repetition, varied sentences and strong vocabulary.

Mathematics 

In Mathematics, students will continue to explore place value to tenths and hundredths, reading and interpreting decimals on number lines, converting fractions ↔ decimals. In Money, they will use mental and written strategies to solve addition and subtraction money problems. They will estimate sums and differences to check reasonableness.

Biological Science

In Biological Science, students will be discovering constellations seen from Earth, and the largest star we know, the Sun. Alongside this, we are investigating Earth’s movement, its relationship with the Moon, and the processes that shape our planet, such as shifting tectonic plates, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, erosion, and landslides.

Wellbeing

In Wellbeing, students will continue to explore the concept of stress management through the resource 'Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships and ‘Bounce Back’'. They will build a deeper understanding of what stress is, and find tools and strategies to help them manage these emotions. 

Kind Regards,

Year 4 Team

Sam Pallas, Luke Fletcher and Jessica De Angelis

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Year 5 Curriculum News - Term 4, Week 4, 2025

Dear Year 5 Parents and Caregivers,

Below is an outline of our curriculum program for the next two weeks, along with some important dates for this term.

Reading

In Reading, students are continuing reading the text "Heroes of the Secret Underground" by Susanne Gervay. Students have written expanded sentences from kernel sentences, expertly answered questions and written complex and compound sentences.

Writing

In Writing, students have been learning to write and use complex sentences in their work. They have also edited and improved their persuasive writing pieces.

Mathematics 

In Mathematics, students have learned to express fractions with denominators greater than 100 as percentages. They have also practised converting fractions with denominators smaller than 100 and decimals into percentages.

Camp:

Students have returned from Lord Somers Camp, where they took part in a variety of activities including raft building, initiative games, kayaking, the Coolart Walk, and screen printing. Everyone participated enthusiastically in each activity and had a fantastic time.

Year 5 Team

Vanessa Martelli, Josh Bretherton, Vanessa Stimar

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Year 6 Curriculum News -Term 4, Week 4, 2025

Dear Year 6 Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Week 4 of Term 4. The weeks are flying by! Our Year 6 students have been diligently working away enjoying their last term. 

Important Dates to Remember:

Literacy 

In Reading, Year 6 students have been exploring Black Cockatoo and Dirrarn, analysing how the authors use language to express themes of identity, resilience, and connection to Country. Having read up to Chapter 11, students are now deepening their understanding of the characters’ growth, emotional journeys, and the ways cultural values are embedded through imagery and symbolism. They continue to discuss how these stories share important cultural perspectives and promote respect for Country and community.

In Writing, students are focusing on biographies, studying the structure and features of this text type. They have begun researching and writing about significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, crafting informative biographies that highlight the achievements, resilience, and lasting contributions of these inspiring individuals. This would be a great opportunity for parents and guardians to ask who the students are researching any interesting facts they have discovered. 

Mathematics 

In Mathematics, Year 6 students have recently completed their unit on percentages, applying their understanding to real-life contexts. They have since been investigating area, calculating the surface of triangles, parallelograms, rhombus and composite shapes, exploring how these concepts connect to other measurement topics. Students are now beginning their Algebra unit where they will learn to identify and use patterns, write simple expressions, and solve equations.

Geography 

In Geography, Year 6 students have been exploring Australia’s natural disasters, examining the causes and effects of bushfires and floods. They are learning how these events shape communities, influence land use, and highlight the importance of preparedness and environmental responsibility.

Wellbeing

In Wellbeing, Year 6 students have continued to develop their social and emotional learning through our Respectful Relationships focus on Stress Management. They have been learning strategies to recognise and manage stress in healthy ways, as well as understanding how to support themselves and others during challenging times, particularly as they prepare for the transition to secondary school.

Our recent Step Up Transition sessions were very successful, highlighting the importance of building practical skills to support students who may find the move to high school challenging. Students practised reading timetables and opening locker combinations (a skill trickier than many teachers remembered!). Presenters also explored ways to manage anxiety and uncertainty that can arise during this transition, helping students feel more confident and prepared for the next stage of their journey.

Graduation

We have sent out the Save the Dates for the Year 6 Graduation!

Our theme this year is “Golden” This will be reflected in our decorations and the Graduation song, Golden. However, students are not required to dress in gold. The dress code for the evening is smart casual, so students are welcome to wear something that makes them feel comfortable and confident.

Further information about the event will be shared in mid-November. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the dress code or the Graduation itself, please don’t hesitate to email the Year 6 teachers or come and speak with us in person, we’re happy to help.

Year 6 Team

Renee Kociski and Ryan Bolger 

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Specialist  Curriculum Newsletter - Term 4 , 2025

Dear Parents/ Caregivers,

Below is an outline of our specialist curriculum program for Term 4.

Performing Arts-Music

CHOIR: This is held each Friday during lunch.The Choir is open to all students in Year 2 and above.

This term in Music, Foundation students will continue to explore the elements of beat, tempo, and dynamics through hands-on experiences with both tuned and untuned percussion instruments. They will take part in singing, dancing, and body percussion activities designed to nurture their rhythmic awareness in playful and engaging ways. They will learn to explore new musical instruments and will continue to expand their knowledge of elements of music.

Year 1 students will extend their learning about instrument families while exploring a variety of musical instruments. They will practise recognising and performing rhythmic patterns, with a continued focus on tempo and dynamics. On the xylophone, students will work with the notes C, D, E, F,G,A B C (C scale)  building confidence in pitch recognition through singing and performing a range of songs. Lessons will also introduce students to body percussion, movement, and the music of well-known composers. 

Year 2 students will develop greater confidence in reading and performing rhythms, strengthening their understanding of beat and notation through movement, body percussion, untuned percussion, and xylophones. Recorder studies will continue with new notes and an introduction to playing in harmony, giving students opportunities to perform short pieces together.

Year 3 students will continue their instrumental learning on violin, viola, or cello, as well as the xylophone, ukulele, and percussion. They will deepen their pitch awareness through singing and begin to develop skills in reading and writing basic musical notation. Movement and body percussion activities will complement their instrumental learning.

Year 4 students will refine their musical technique and expression through singing, string studies, and percussion work. Body percussion and movement will remain an important part of lessons, supporting rhythm and coordination. Students will also focus on building confidence in ensemble playing and performance.

Year 5 students will broaden their instrumental skills by learning more advanced ukulele chords and being introduced to the guitar. They will continue working with tuned and untuned percussion while developing their ability to read and write notation, compose rhythms and melodies, and perform pieces from a range of musical styles and cultures

Year 6 students will explore music technology by composing and arranging their own music using GarageBand. They will also learn to play the guitar, focusing on basic chords, strumming patterns, and simple melodies. Performance skills will be developed both individually and in groups. 

We’re excited for a vibrant and creative term ahead, full of musical discovery, joyful learning, and dynamic performances!

Visual Arts

Drawing Club: This is held each Monday during lunch. Students from any year level can attend.                                                                                                                                                         

Foundation students will experience the fundamentals of directed drawing, and be prompted to use their imagination to create a wobbly eye funny face. The students will express their understanding of colour, shape, line and pattern to create a robot artwork. They will  be exposed to the different indigenous art symbols and their meaning and respond to Jimmy Pike's artwork, the Rainbow Serpent to create an artwork that represents themselves on the scraper paper they have made. The students will take inspiration from Henri Mattise to create a collage.

Year 1 students will take inspiration from Henri Matisse and study organic shapes. They will create their own wax resist and printed paper using bubble wrap to construct a fish artwork. The students will experience blending chalk pastel and using a template to make a cat themed  artwork. They will take inspiration from Claude Monet and paint a waterlily artwork that uses short brush stokes as the impressionist himself did.

Year 2 students will take inspiration from French fauvist painter Raoul Dufy and  experimented with watercolour paints and oil pastels to create a seascape. The students will experience the technique of straw blowing watercolour paint to make a parrot artwork. They will take inspiration from American painter Wayne Tiebaud to construct a cake and dessert creation.

Year 3 students will continue to experience painting with plasticine to create some bird artwork. They will take inspiration from American painter Wayne Tiebaud to construct a cake and dessert creation. The students will experience the technique of straw blowing watercolour paint to make a parrot artwork. 

Year 4 students will take inspiration from John Behnke and create a cityscape. They will explore their ability to blend watercolour, combine cut paper and coloured markers. The students will study still life and draw images in proportion. They will experiment with different grades of lead pencil to shade their images and experience blending charcoal and chalk pastel to add dimension to their works.

Year 5 students will continue to explore the technique of adding value to their still life picture using watercolour paint. They will experiment with printing foam and using acrylic paint to construct a three colour animal print.

Year 6 students will continue to take inspiration from famous fashion illustrators and brainstorm ideas for a fashion range. The students will experiment with different drawing mediums to present their finished designs and fashion illustration on a croquis. They will experience using watercolour paper and blending watercolour paint to create a bird artwork.

Physical Education

Foundation students will be learning new movement activities and games that incorporate the fundamental movement skills of an overhand throw and ball bounce. They will enjoy a range of activities from obstacle courses to team games. 

Year 1 and 2 students will be learning new minor games, focusing on demonstrating fair play and inclusion. Students will be developing their fundamental skills through a variety of individual and group tasks, including modified basketball activities. All Foundation to Year 2 students will begin preparing their skills for the upcoming Junior Sports Day. 

Year 3 and 4 students are busy preparing for their upcoming Ultimate Frisbee gala day. Students will develop frisbee specific skills, team strategies and an understanding of the rules. Students will have the opportunity to referee their own activities. This term, Year 3 and 4 students will participate in a cricket unit to develop their striking and fielding skills and strategies. 

Year 5 and 6 students have started developing their cricket skills in a variety of small group and whole class games. This term, students will participate in a netball round robin. The focus of these lessons will be to work cooperatively in teams, learn the rules and practice new strategies to be successful in games. Students will then start preparing for their Beach Volleyball gala day. Students will practice the skills of a dig, set, spike, block and serve in games of Volleyball. They will learn the rules required to play a game and practice different team strategies. 

French

This year marked our school’s very first participation in the Berthe Mouchette Competition, organised by the Alliance Française de Melbourne. Open to students across Melbourne, the competition had an incredible 9,900 participants this year!

Students from Grades 3 to 6 were invited to take part voluntarily, memorising and reciting a French poem by heart — a wonderful challenge that showcased their pronunciation, confidence, and love of language. We were truly impressed by the many excellent performances from our students.

A huge bravo to Juliet Prassanah-Brady (Year 3) and Penelope Eichler (Grade 5), who both achieved outstanding results and were awarded prizes in this prestigious competition!

Our students are continuing their exciting French learning journey this term! Here’s what each year level will be exploring in class:

Foundation

Students will learn how to say “J’aime” (I like) and “Je n’aime pas” (I do not like) when talking about different foods. They will also learn classroom action words such as “Asseyez-vous” (Sit down) and “Levez-vous” (Stand up).

Grades 1–3

Students will build on their knowledge by expressing their likes and dislikes about both foods and activities. They will create a fun booklet about their own preferences and continue practising action words such as “Asseyez-vous” and “Levez-vous.”

Grade 4

Students will consolidate vocabulary related to taking turns, including “À mon tour” (My turn) and “À ton tour” (Your turn). They will also revise numbers from 1–20 and extend their learning to numbers up to 100.

Grades 5–6

Students will consolidate their ability to hold conversations about the weather and how they are feeling, while also practising how to express likes and dislikes in French.

Key Phrases We’re Learning

• J’aime … – I like / I love …
• Je n’aime pas … – I don’t like / I do not love …
• Le chocolat – Chocolate
• Les œufs – Eggs
• Le riz – Rice
• Les gâteaux – Cakes
• La laitue – Lettuce

Song of the Term

This term, we’ll also be singing “A E I O U” by Paky Saura Garcia, which you can find on YouTube if your child would like to sing along at home. The song helps students practise expressing likes and dislikes in French, while also exploring how French vowels sound different from English vowels.