Learning Centre News...
Learning Centre One
How is it possible that we've reached the final term of the year already? Our prep students have returned to school with such enthusiasm for learning! They’ve fully engaged with everything they've been exploring and are making remarkable progress.
This week, the students enjoyed an exciting excursion to Werribee Mansion, which perfectly tied into their inquiry unit on history. For many of the preps, it was their first time on a bus, and their excitement was truly infectious!
At the mansion, the preps took a guided tour, experiencing what life was like for children in the past. They had the chance to write on chalkboards, examine historical clothing, bedding, toys, and learn about the people who worked there. Exploring the various rooms of the mansion was a highlight for everyone.
They also got a firsthand look at how laundry was done in the past—everything was washed and hung out by hand! To wrap up their visit, the preps explored the grotto and lake, where they learned about its construction and history. It was a fantastic day filled with discovery, lots of walking and fun!
The preps had such a fun day learning about the past and we thank the parent helpers for coming and assisting us with our excursion - we really appreciate all the support.
Swimming
Please begin practicing with your child drying themselves and getting dressed as this is something they will need to be doing at swimming after they get out of the pool, and prepare to come back to school.
List of things to pack:
- Towel
- Clean dry clothes
- Plastic bag for wet clothes
- (bathers to be worn under school clothes each morning)
- Hats
- Goggles/cap if needed
Any questions, please see a learning group teacher or Amanda for clarification.
Some friendly reminders:
- Sunday 20th October - Community Mass at OLSC Hall 10am
- Monday 21st October - Swimming program begins
- Friday 25th October - Whole School Mass 12 - 1pm
- Monday 28th October - Assembly 9am Hall
- Monday 4th & 5th November - Melbourne Cup Holidays - No School
- Friday 8th November - School Disco Night 5 - 8pm
- Friday 15th November - Whole School Mass 12 - 1pm
- Friday 22nd November - Multicultural Day
Prep Team - Amanda, Dasanthi, Donna, Kelsey,
Kiah, Natasha, Rachael, Sarena, Teagan and Tina
Learning Centre Two
Welcome back to our senior students and their families as we begin the final Term of 2024. We would like to share some of what we have been doing over the last two weeks and a little about what we have got coming up in the Important Dates section.
LITERACY
This term each class is reading and responding to a shared class novel. Students read along with their teacher each day and then answer questions to demonstrate their understanding of the story. They form new understandings of interesting vocabulary and use the book as a model for their writing.
Krystin and Zach are reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio with the students in 5/6 Yellow. They began by making predictions based on the front cover and the blurb. The students looked at the different front covers the book has and also enjoyed reading the picture book version.
Ann and 5/6 Orange have begun reading Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton. They have been looking carefully at Georgina, one of the main characters, and have been creating a profile of her, using quotes from the text, after they read each chapter.
Ben's group are enjoying the second in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton called Five Go Adventuring Again. They have been creating their own secret codes using symbols for their peers to solve.
Scott and 5/6 Blue have begun learning about the brilliant mind of Roald Dahl, author of many children's stories and creator of his own 'Dahlisms'. The students have been learning about Roald's amazing life, created their own Hornswogglers and have started to read his book, Matilda.
Chelsea has been reading We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad with her students. This story is set at the end of World War II and the 5/6s have been learning about the historical events between Russia and East Prussia. They have been asking lots of questions and have been listening intently to the story so far.
INQUIRY
The students of LC2 have begun their Geography inquiry unity by looking at different types of maps and their features. This week, we focussed on the acronym BOLTSS as a way of remembering the important parts we need to include on our maps. B = border
RELIGION
In Religion lessons, we have been learning about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by reading the book We Are All Born Free. The 5/6 classes have engaged in interesting conversations about these rights and took inspiration from the front cover of the book to create their wall of parachutes. Each parachute has one of the 5/6s chosen right that they believe is most important.
Please keep the following students in your prayers this weekend as they prepare to be baptised on Sunday morning at the Community Mass; Max Christie (not pictured), Antonio Pritchard, Seth Bippus (and his younger sister Charlotte). We ask that they receive God's love and blessings on their special day. Please join us at the Community Mass if you are able.
IMPORTANT MACKILLOP DATES
For those Year 6 students who are attending MacKillop College in 2025:
- Thursday 24th October – Open Day 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Tuesday 29th October - Year 7 2025 Parent Information Evening 7:30 pm (see information attached below)
- Wednesday 13th November - Year 7 2025 Transition Morning (with OLSC staff) 8:45 am -11:00 am
- Wednesday 4th December – Year 7 2025 Orientation Day - 8:25 am – 3:20 pm (students to wear their primary school sports uniform with orange polo top) Families to get students to the college for this day.
- Thursday 30th January 2025 – Year 7 & VCE Students Return
- Friday 31st January 2025 - All Students Return
For those Year 5 families who have enrolled their children at MacKillop for Year 7 in 2026:
- Friday 18th October 2024 – Year 7 2026 Letters of Offers will be emailed
- Thursday 24th October 2024 – Open Day 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Friday 8th November 2024 – Final day for families to accept Year 7 2026 offer
IMPORTANT DATES
- Sunday 20th October - Community Mass 10 am OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Friday 25th October - Whole School Mass 12 pm OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Monday 28th October - Assembly 9 am OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Monday 28th October - Year 5 Student Leaders Day
- Monday 4th November - Pupil free day (no school)
- Tuesday 5th November - Melbourne Cup public holiday (no school)
- Friday 8th November - Year 5 Student Leadership speeches
- Friday 8th November - School Disco Night 5 - 8 pm
- Wednesday 13th November - MacKillop Transition morning 9 am - 11 am (Yr 6)
- Friday 15th November - Whole School Mass 12 pm OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Friday 22nd November - Multicultural Day
Year 5/6 Team: Ann, Anna, Ben, Chelsea, Cheryl, Danielle, Kristina, Krystin, Selena, Scott and Zach.
Learning Centre Three
We have had a fantastic and busy start to Term 4!
During Literacy, we have been reading books about being in the water safety. Learning about how to be safe around water and what rules we need to follow.
In Maths, we have been exploring data, why we collect data, ways to collect data and read data in the graphs. Students got to go on the oval and collected data about the colour of the cars that went past our school.
We have started exploring the parable of The Good Samaritan. Students participated in Goodly play and retold the story. Students created their own helping hand and wrote about ways they could help others.
For Inquiry, we will be learning about how things have changed over time. We have looked at how phones have changed and participated in a whole day immersion about History. Students experienced how people participated in dance, family life, games and school over 50 years ago and how technology and transport have developed.
SWIMMING
Swimming has been very successful. Thank you to all the families who helped prepare their children to get themselves changed after the pool. It has been amazing to see the progress of all the students and their confidence grow in the pool.
Year 1/2 Team - Bianca, Gabby, Gillian, Imogen, Janeen, Jamie, Jordan, Marion, Mary, Shalome, Tina and Sue.
Important dates:
- Sunday 20th October - Community Mass 10 am OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Friday 25th October - Whole School Mass 12 pm OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Monday 4th November - School closure day
- Tuesday 5th November - Melbourne Cup day (School closure day)
- Friday 8th November - School Disco
Learning Centre Four
Welcome to Term 4! We hope you have all enjoyed the break with a chance to rest, renew and re-energise for the term ahead.
Inquiry
Over the last fortnight in Inquiry, students have been creating timelines as we learn about Australian history from 1770-1800. We looked at maps showing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia names and how they are made up of many different and distinct groups, each with their own culture, customs, language and laws. Students explored the meaning and importance of Acknowledgement of Country and in mixed groups students created their own version in response.
Literacy
In Literacy, we continued learning about Australian history through reading and viewing the text My Place. Students used their visualisation skills to draw a picture of Mumuga, a fabled monster of the Tharawal. By comparing the book and video over the decades, we made self-to-text and text-to-text connections. Students used colourful semantics to record and retell the text structure.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, we have been collecting and documenting data using graphical representations. Students learnt how to sort the different data sets into categorical and numerical data. We brainstormed some questions, where students then collected data from peers and recorded it using appropriate graphs.
Religion
In Religion, through the Catholic Social Teaching Principles, students engaged in activities to develop their understanding of how their actions in the world could have a negative or positive impact on others. We had discussions and activities about the concepts of Human Dignity, Care for Common Good, Solidarity, Subsidiarity/Participation and Caring for Creation.
Wellbeing
In Wellbeing, students revisited the PBL Matrix to review school values and expectations. We played Human Bingo, a game which taught us about our similarities and differences as students collected and compared their interests and personal traits with peers. Students created Individuality Wheels that explained how to appreciate and respect the difference and similarities between people.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Sunday 20th October - Community Mass 10am OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Tuesday 22nd October - Regional Athletics
- Wednesday 23rd October - Junior Hooptime Finals
- Friday 25th October - Whole School Mass 12pm OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Monday 28th October - Whole School Assembly 9am OLSC Hall - ALL WELCOME
- Monday 4th November - Pupil free day (no school)
- Tuesday 5th November - Melbourne Cup public holiday (no school)
Year 3/4 Team: Adam, Alison, Amelia, Anastasia, Beth, Elizabeth, Emma, Hayley, Helen, Jannine, John, Josh and Milla.