Year One

Welcome from the Year One Team

Welcome to Year One!

It has been a joy to see our students settle into their new classrooms and routines over the past few days. The energy, curiosity and smiles across Year One have made it clear that 2026 is off to a fantastic start.

The first weeks of school are all about building strong foundations for learning, wellbeing, independence and relationships, and our students have already shown wonderful enthusiasm as they reconnect with friends, meet new teachers and begin their learning journey for the year.

We look forward to working closely with you throughout the year to support every child in feeling safe, confident and successful in their learning.

Warm regards,

Brent Syme

Assistant Principal – Year One

Meet the Year One Teaching Team

Our Year One classes are supported by a dedicated, experienced team of teachers across three timetables.

Timetable A

• 1A – Justine Rotteveel & Dhana Athukorala
• 1B – James Peterson & Jessica Petrusev
• 1C – Kylie McCluskey

• 1D – Panagiota Mavridis

   

Timetable B

• 1E – Cillian Moloney
• 1F – Chelsea Christie
• 1G – Florence Lang & Jessica Petrusev

• 1H – Mary Mavridis & Jessica Petrusev

   

Timetable C

• 1I – Charlotte Turner

• 1J – Ankia Botha

   

We are also fortunate to have the support of our wonderful Education Support staff who work across Year One throughout the year:

Faria, Linda, Jarrett and Tiarna.

Their support plays an important role in helping all students thrive.

The First 20 Days of Learning

All Year One classes are currently engaging in our First 20 Days of Learning program. This program supports students as they transition into a new year level by explicitly teaching routines, expectations and positive learning behaviours.

Through this work, students are developing independence, learning how to manage themselves as learners, and building strong, respectful relationships with peers and teachers. These first 20 days set a strong foundation for both learning and wellbeing and help prepare students for success across all areas of the curriculum.

Building Class Essential Agreements

A key focus during the opening weeks of school has been the development of Class Essential Agreements. Students have been actively involved in discussing not just what our agreements are, but why they matter.

Through conversation, reflection and collaborative activities, students are learning how their choices and actions contribute to a classroom where everyone feels cared for, valued and supported. This work aligns with our whole-school wellbeing approach and empowers students to take ownership of their learning environment, behaviour and relationships.

Reading

Students are developing a love of reading through daily reading sessions, listening to engaging read-alouds and learning how independent reading works in the classroom. They are being introduced to classroom libraries, reading routines and reading conferences, which support early decoding skills, comprehension and confidence.

We strongly encourage families to support reading at home by ensuring students read regularly and discuss texts together.

Writing

In writing, students are learning how to take pride in their work by developing strong bookwork habits, handwriting skills and an understanding of how writers organise their ideas. Writer’s Notebooks have been introduced as a creative space where students can draw, write and record ideas freely as they begin their journey as confident writers.

Mathematics

In maths, students are learning what a maths lesson looks like, sounds like and feels like. They have been exploring patterns using objects, shapes and symbols, while also developing mathematical language and problem-solving skills. A strong focus has been placed on participation, explaining thinking and building positive maths learning behaviours.

Year One Parent Meet & Greet

We are looking forward to welcoming Year One parents and carers to our Meet and Greet evening.

This event provides a valuable opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, share important information about your child, and discuss how we can work together to support their learning and wellbeing throughout the year.

Date: Tuesday the 17th of February

Time: 12:30pm – 7:30pm

Location: Year One classrooms

Important Reminders

To support student wellbeing, learning and smooth daily routines, please take note of the following reminders:

• Students are required to wear a wide-brim hat during recess and lunch throughout Term One.

• Please ensure your child brings a full water bottle to school every day.

   

Attendance, Absences & Family Holidays

Regular attendance plays an important role in supporting student learning, wellbeing and connection to school. To help us work in partnership with families, please note:

• All student absences must be recorded on Xuno by families as soon as possible on the day of absence.

• If your child is unwell, has an appointment, or will be away for any reason, please notify the school via Xuno, rather than emailing classroom teachers directly.

• If your family is planning a holiday during school term time, a Family Holiday Notification must be submitted through Xuno prior to the leave occurring. This supports accurate attendance records and ensures the school meets Department of Education requirements.

   

Take-Home Reading & Homework

• Take-home reader satchels will commence in Week Three.

• Please ensure students bring their reader satchel and reading journal to school every day, as these will be used regularly as part of our reading program.

• Homework will begin in the coming weeks. Further information will be shared with families shortly, including expectations and how homework will support learning at home.

Warm regards,

The Year 1 Team