Year 1

Welcome to Term 4

It is crazy to think that we are half way through the term already, but still so much more ahead of us to round out 2026! We are busy preparing for our Christmas Concerts, as well as looking forward to our group swimming lessons and the many fantastic activities that take place at the end of the year.

Term Three Excursion

Here are some photos of our excursion at the end of term 4. What a terrific day we had! Starting with our Tiny Tails incursion, where Sharon showed us some of her beautiful reptiles and a Bettong, followed by our bus trip to Shepparton to see Room on the Broom and then a play and lunch at the Aquamoves playground by the lake.

We were extremely proud of the way the students represented St. John's whilst out in the community. We had such an amazing time!

Assembly

It was our turn to lead assembly in Week 1 and together with Mrs Swan and the Year 1 class, we said a lovely prayer about our Catholic Social Teaching of Care of Creation. Some brave friends in our class got up to lead us in the actions for the song.

Literacy

This term in InitiaLit lessons, we look at:

InitialWrite-1 will focus on finishing Information reports and Writing a Procedure, before revisiting imaginative retell and persuasive texts with a focus the History learning area.

Students will have spelling words coming home each week in their reader bag again from next week (week 6). We ask that you practise these, alongside their nightly reading to help reinforce the InitiaLit focus and tricky words for the week.

Paired Share Reading Time

An important skill in Year One is to build reading fluency. Partner reading is just one helpful way to build fluency. Reading aloud to a partner gives children the opportunity to practise the same text several times in a supportive environment. With repeated practice, children develop greater confidence, accuracy, expression and reading speed. It is a simple and enjoyable way to help children become more fluent readers. Each day in the literacy block, students get together with a reading partner and read their reader or share a book of interest for the more able readers.

Exploring the world through Story books

These are the storybooks we have been exploring though the first half of term 4.

Something Wonderful tells the heartwarming story of a very creative boy named Sam who is able to solve problems on his family farm with his inventions.

When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the circus animals must make their way to the shore of a small island. At first the townspeople view them with suspicion, but it's not long before locals and animals are sharing the island in harmony. Loosely based on a true historic event, The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dosen is a story about the bonds of friendship and community.

Award-winning author Jane Godwin and illustrator Anna Walker have created this picture book about families’ busy lives, and the joy of an open day.

‘A busy week, a slower day, brings time to dream and time to play.’

It has been fun to explore with the grade 1's what they like to do on a day with no plans and has also tied in nicely to learning the days of the week in math.

Supporting your child's reading development at home

Parent resources - Five from Five

Mathematics

Ochre has a new name and a new home. For the past 2 years we have been using the Ochre Curriculum for our Numeracy lessons. This is now called Impact Curriculum and will also be a platform for assessment. The lessons and structure haven't changed, just a new impactful name!

Collecting Data: We have begun the term with a unit on collecting data. Anderson Street is usually busier than the Hume Fwy during our normal learning block, but the day we want to collect data, the tradies and truckies must have been having an RDO!

Nonetheless, we still got out and counted traffic that uses Anderson and Binney Street within a 10 minute period.

Location: Week 2 saw students learning our Left and Right and following paths using directions given to each other including forward, back and turn. We invented our own pathways through obstacle courses, tested our direction skills on the playground and used the Bee Bots to program our steps. By the end of the week we had learnt so much that we were able to synchronise the Bee Bots so that they all danced at the same time.

RE: Learning about the Gospels

We are learning about the part of the Gospel that tells the stories of Jesus' time. This is known as the New Testament. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John can be found here. Students love the opportunity to read a story from the Gospel, especially when they can be the teacher!

Godly Play is one of the great ways we share with the students the Parables within the Bible. Here Mrs Timperley led the students through the Parable of The Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14).

Inquiry - Family History

Our Inquiry Units this term have had a taking another look at families and how they change over time. The students have had a great time learning about what families might have looked like in the past, what chores and traditions they created and what children living in Euroa might have done for fun.

Japanese

Fun with origami.

In Japanese this term we are learning the story of the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Crazy Sock Day for Wellness Wednesday

On Wednesday 28th October, grade 5 students and Mrs Robinson held activities to promote mental health and wellbeing in our school. We got to wear crazy socks to school!