School of Foundations
Term 3 has begun with plenty of energy across our School of Foundations, with classrooms already alive with inquiry, rich discussion and exciting entry events that spark curiosity and wonder in our learners. Whether students are…
…stepping back in time during a History lesson — with our Stage 2 classrooms “travelling” to faraway places and ancient civilisations to explore how people once lived
…unpacking the meaning of Scripture in Religion — with our Year 1 students exploring the Parable of the Good Samaritan and reflecting on questions such as, ‘In light of Scripture, how can we love and care for our neighbours?’
…applying mathematical thinking in Year 2 to work out how 120 lollies could be shared evenly amongst 10 friends and then transferring that same strategy to sharing pencils fairly with classmates at their tables…
…or crafting persuasive arguments in English — including our Kindergarten students using convincing and high modality language to passionately argue that dogs are far better pets than cats! — our focus remains on making learning meaningful, relevant and connected to the real world.
A key part of this process is encouraging students to think deeply about their learning. Throughout lessons, teachers regularly ask questions such as, “So, what does this mean for you?” or “How could you apply this in another situation or context?” These conversations help students move beyond simply recalling facts and instead consider how their learning shapes their thinking, decisions and understanding of the world around them.
By making these authentic connections, we continue to nurture curious, reflective and capable learners who understand that learning extends far beyond the classroom walls.
We all know that when we ask our children at the end of the day, “How was school today?” or “What did you do today?”, a very common response can often be… “Nothing!”
You might like to try reframing the question a little to spark some more meaningful and interesting conversations about learning at home. Some questions you could try include:
- What was the most interesting thing you learnt today?
- What made you think really hard today?
- What are you still wondering about?
- Did anything surprise you today?
- What problem did you solve today?
- How could you use this learning at home or somewhere else?
What would you like to learn more about?
Sometimes a small shift in the question can open the door to wonderful conversations about your child’s learning, thinking and growth — because the best learning conversations often begin with a little curiosity.
Nicole Emerton
SOF Head of School (Acting)
The Net Kindergarten Term 2 Week 3
English
In English, we have been continuing our learning about letter sounds and tricky words. We are applying this knowledge in our reading by identifying sight words and stretching out unfamiliar words. It has been wonderful to see students engaging with their readers each day.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, students have been exploring teen numbers, developing their understanding of numbers before and after. We have used counters, hundreds charts, and number lines to identify one more and one less than a given number.
Students have also been investigating mass by hefting objects to determine whether items are heavy or light. Hefting involves lifting or holding an object to estimate its weight. There has been great interest in this activity, with students confidently identifying and comparing the mass of different classroom objects.
Religion
In Religion this term, our Kindergarten students have been exploring what it means to be a kind and caring neighbour. Through stories, videos, and class discussions, they are learning that everyone is created in God’s image and deserves dignity and respect.
Students have explored ways to include others, show compassion, and “fill each other’s buckets” with kindness. They have also been learning about community—who is part of it and how we can contribute positively—while following the loving example of Jesus in their everyday actions.
Other
We have loved hearing about the students’ holiday experiences as we have returned to school this term. We have jumped straight into a busy and meaningful start, with special events such as the Risen Christ Liturgy and our ANZAC Day ceremony. We were incredibly proud of the reverence and respect shown by the students on these occasions.
The Net Stage 1 Term 2 Week 3
English
In English, Year 1 students have been learning how to write informative texts. They have been exploring the different features that help us share facts, such as titles, table of contents, subheadings, bold print, picture captions and diagrams.
Students have been enjoying writing informative sentences about Australian animals. They are learning how to create “super sentences” by using capital letters, full stops, writing about a clear topic, and making sure their sentences make sense. Students are also starting to edit their work to check that it makes sense and to make improvements.
It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and growing confidence as young writers!
Mathematics
These two weeks, we have been learning that the equals sign means “the same as,” “is equal to,” or “is equivalent to.” Students have been using equivalence, especially related facts or number family, to solve addition and subtraction problems. We’ve also been exploring other strategies like drawing, ten frames, and number lines to help us think in different ways. It’s been wonderful to see students building confidence and proudly sharing their thinking!
Religion
This term in Year 2 Religion, students are exploring the question: “How can I love my neighbour?”, with a focus on understanding that everyone is our neighbour.
The unit began with a fun entry event where teachers acted out kind and unkind scenarios. This encouraged students to reflect on their own ideas and experiences. They shared that loving others means being kind, respectful, caring, and treating neighbours like family, recognising that kindness is a way of showing love.
Students also posed thoughtful questions to guide their learning, such as: Who is my neighbour? Is everyone our neighbour? Why do we need to be kind? and What does good friendship look like?
Throughout the term, students will continue exploring how they can show love and kindness to others in their daily lives.
Science
Year One had a fantastic time at our “Mad Scientist” incursion! Students explored exciting concepts about weather and light through hands-on experiments. They investigated UV light using colour-changing beads, created “snow,” and observed processes such as evaporation and steam. It was a fun and engaging way to bring science to life while sparking curiosity and wonder.
The Net Stage 1 Term 2 Week 3
English
This term in English, students are learning about informative texts. They are developing skills in identifying and collecting key words to help them understand key information and organise their ideas when reading and writing. Students are using these key words to write clear and concise summaries that demonstrate their understanding of the texts they have explored.
Students are also learning to compose different types of sentences, including simple, compound, and more complex sentences. This supports them in expressing their ideas clearly and creating more engaging and informative pieces of writing.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, students have been learning to model and represent fractions. They are developing their understanding of a fraction as a part of a whole and representing fractions as halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, and eighths. Students are also exploring complementary fractions, identifying equivalent fractions, and representing simple equivalences using a fraction wall, including fractions of 1 metre.
Religion
This term, Stage 2 students will be learning about conscience and free will. They will explore how their conscience helps guide them to know right from wrong and how it can be informed by the teachings of Jesus, the Bible, prayer, and trusted members of our community.
Students will also deepen their understanding that we have the ability to make choices and are responsible for our actions. Through discussions and real-life scenarios, they will practise making thoughtful, fair, and compassionate decisions, even when it can be challenging.
We encourage families to support this learning at home by asking: 💬 “What helped you make a good choice today?”
History
Stage 2 recently took part in an engaging History incursion, where students explored the rich cultures and traditions of different Aboriginal groups. This hands-on experience deepened their understanding of Australia’s First Nations peoples and their ways of life.
In class, students have also been learning about the ancient civilisations of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas, discovering how these societies lived, what they believed, and where they originated. Through engaging activities, students stepped into the role of young historians, exploring artefacts and asking questions about the past.
Below are some snapshots from the incursion and classroom activities that capture a fantastic day of learning and discovery.
