PRIMARY (F-6)

School Leader Report - Kara

Primary School students have continued to show the college expectations as the Term continues. There is a lot of great learning happening around the spaces with children building strong literacy and numeracy foundations and culminating their terms foci. 

The Christmas Concert rehearsals are in full swing, and students are now thinking about what to wear on the night. 

• Foundation children have been asked to wear a white top. 
• Years 1-6 can wear festive clothing; red, green, headbands, Santa hats, tinsel are all options. 

We do ask students not to ‘dress up’ as characters, instead bring a celebration feel to their outfit for the night. 

Should you have any concert specific queries please reach out to Bliss (Foundation families) or Laura (Years 1-6 families). Further concert specific information can be located on the calendar. 

Class Reports

Foundation

Over the past fortnight Foundation students have continued to consolidate their understanding of place value. Students identified and wrote two-digit numbers, identifying how many tens and ones. They also made the numbers with objects like icy pole bundles, MAB blocks and 10’s frames.

In our book study this fortnight we explored fiction and non-fiction texts and there features. We read the story Thunderstorm dancing followed by an information text about rainbows. Students created their own sun catcher rainbows from craft materials and rain shakers. This week we are exploring Indigenous storybooks and dreamtime stories. We read the story Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo and learnt about the different Indigenous Australian seasons. We compared the six seasons mentioned in the story to the seven seasons traditionally recognised by the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and discussed the differences based on location. 

In Religious Education we have been exploring our life’s journey. We shared and ordered photos we bought in from home of our life’s journey and created a ‘road map’ of our life so far.

Year 1 

The Year 1 students joined our Year 3/4 peers to create Advent Wreaths. 

Together, the children learned about the meaning of Advent and then used natural materials and their creativity to construct their own Advent Wreaths. 

It was a wonderful collaborative activity that helped them deepen their understanding of the season while working hands-on with others.

Year 2

Term 4 has continued to be a busy learning time for our children. Our Religious Education topic has been Advent, with a focus on giving the gifts of love, friendship, kindness and care to everyone. 

Fractions have been the focus in Mathematics, with the children identifying halves, quarters and eighths. They have used collections, length and shapes to explore and identify fractions. 

During Reading lessons, the strategy of monitoring has been explicitly taught. This involves reading a paragraph, stopping to think about what has been read, retelling someone the main ideas of the paragraph and learning strategies for what to do when encountering a word with an unknown meaning.

Assessments have continued over the past fortnight, and there has been a focus on revising spelling words studied throughout the year. It has been pleasing to see the progress in the children's learning that has taken place over the year, particularly as we come to the end of the school year.

Year 3/4 

In Literacy, we have continued reading The One and Only Ivan and explored the themes of friendship, freedom, and animal rights. Students began drafting a persuasive piece on why wild animals should not perform in circuses. They are learning to use strong reasons, supporting evidence, and persuasive language to communicate their ideas clearly. 

In Mathematics, we have been exploring probability. Students have investigated everyday events and described whether they are likely, unlikely, possible or impossible. They have also compared the chances of different outcomes and used simple experiments to record results. 

In Religious Education, students have continued building their Jesse Tree. Each lesson they add a new bauble representing a story or symbol from Scripture, helping them reflect on the people and events leading to the birth of Jesus. 

Year 5

Year 6 Polo Shirts 

Click on the link below for information regarding the Year 6 Polo Shirts for 2026:

Year 5/6 Camp Information

During the past fortnight we have delved into our Connections focus around our upcoming Melbourne camp. We have been learning about Parliament House, the levels of Government, and how rules and laws differ. 

We have watched informative videos, read from websites and engaged in interactive activities to focus and broaden our understanding of the Senate and the House of Representatives and what each level of government is responsible for. Students have been taking notes and summarising information to add to their keynote presentations.

On Thursday, Year 5 children also supported our current Foundation children through literacy block. Students paired up to be investigators, looking and noticing in the environment to identify and check off a Nature Scavenger Hunt. After learning some new vocabulary – sap, seed pods – and locating 18 different nature items students created their own visual of a nature landscape. Using water to add detail. Students then worked together to write a sentence or paragraph about their piece, using words from our scavenger hunt or word wall – flowers, trees, bushes. Year 5 students were wonderful role models, leaders and supports for Foundation children, practicing the skills they will continue to build upon as school leaders next year. 

Year 6

In Connections we have been learning about parliament and the government. We learn’t where Parliament House is and we learn’t about all the different parties. The parliament has two houses, one called the Senate and one called the House of Representatives. In the Senate there are 76 senators who Represent each of the states and territories; 12 senators from each state and 2 senators from the Australian territory and the Northern territory. There are 150 members of the House of Representatives. Each member represents one of the 150 electorates in Australia. Our task was to get into groups of three and choose a district to run for, then we each wrote a speech about why we should be chosen to lead the electorate. We shared our speeches and voted for who we thought would best suit the area. We were in a group together with Millie and we all ran for Mill Park. Here are our posters designed to persuade you to vote for us. 

- Eleina Mori & Heli Chauhan

Year 6 Rites of Passage

Students in Year 6 will take part in a Rites of Passage Day on Tuesday 2 December at the Shepparton South Community Centre, 290 Archer St, Shepparton where students will take part in reflection activities as well as outdoor games. Students will then travel to Star Bowl, 116 Fryers St, Shepparton to take part in ten pin bowling. Students will travel back to the college by bus, returning at 3pm. This day is an out of uniform day and therefore students can wear casual clothing. Students must pack adequate food and water for the day. A permission has been sent for this excursion via PAM. Please ensure you answer this prior to the excursion.

Specialist

Foundation 

This term students have been learning about food with Il bruco Malto Affamato and how to say Io mangio (I eat) and Tu mangi (you eat), the names of pizza toppings, fruits and vegetables and how to count in Italian. We have also been learning all about Italian Christmas traditions such as La Befana and making La Befana crafts. 

Grade 3/4 

The Grade 3/4 students have been learning about foods, how to describe them and how to order different meals at a restaurant through role-play this term. The students also conducted a survey about which gelato flavour was their favourite, making sure that they asked and answered in Italian. With Christmas approaching, we have also been learning about different Christmas traditions such as playing Tombola (a game that is similar to bingo) as well as the special foods eaten such as panettone and La Befana. 

Grade 5 

Grade 5 students learned about different holiday destinations in Italy this Term by planning an Italian holiday. Students researched the time of year they would visit, what clothing they would need, activities they would do, places to stay and different historical landmarks.  

Grade 6

This term the Grade 6 students have been learning how to discuss their holiday plans, such as how to say where they are going, different forms of transport they would use, what they would like to do there and role-played booking a hotel room/being the concierge. Students have also been learning about a variety of Italian Christmas traditions such as eating seafood on Christmas Eve and playing Tombola.  

Foundation 

Students have been learning all about Dreamtime stories and have learned how the kangaroos got their tails which comes from Arnhem Land. Inspired by this, we have been making our own kangaroos using papier mache. Students sculpted the body using foil and masking tape, then layered strips of newspaper on top with PVA glue. The Foundation classes have had lots of fun painting their kangaroos. 

Grade 3/4  

The Grade 3/4 students have been learning how to use recyclable materials creatively to depict an image of nature. Students have brought in items from home to create animals and landscapes using art forms such as collages, sculptures, dioramas and more.

Reminders:

The Opening The Doors Foundation (OTDF) invites eligible families to apply for a 2026 student grant. Grant applications are currently open and close on 2 April 2026. 

The Foundation prioritises students with the highest financial need to ensure fair access to support. Applicants with a Health Care Card or Pension Card will be processed first. Other applications are still welcome however processing may be slightly delayed.

• Please attach a copy of your Health Care or Pension Card to your online application.
• Missing documents will delay processing.

All applications must be submitted online via the OTDF Grant Portal.

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🎒 Items you can apply for from OTDF:

• School books & stationery
• School uniforms
• One pair of shoes (school or sport shoes)
• IT equipment (laptops, calculators, etc.)
• VCAL/VET levies 
• School camp costs

⚠️ Funding is up to the OTDF grant limit and up to OTDF Trustee discretion. You may not receive the full amount requested.

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🚫 What We Don’t Fund

• Independent school fees (families are responsible for paying private school fees and levies)
• Applications where OTDF funds are used for school fees may affect future eligibility.

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⚖️ Other Funding

If the student is already receiving support from:

• Traditional Owner education grants
• First Nations scholarships
• Other charities
• School financial assistance

The application may not be successful. Final decisions are made by OTDF Trustees.

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✅ Eligibility

To apply, the student must:

✔️ Be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent

✔️ Provide a Confirmation of Aboriginality

✔️ Be enrolled in a Catholic or Independent school in Victoria (Prep–Year 12)

❌ OTDF does not support students attending government schools

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🎟️ How Grants Are Provided

• Grants are mostly provided as vouchers from approved suppliers
• Vouchers must be used by 31 May 2026
• For camp levies, school uniforms, or school IT items, funds may be sent directly to the school if the school supplies these items​

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📅 Key Dates

* Applications Open - 10 November 2025

* Applications Close - 2 April 2026 (strict deadline)

* ALL Vouchers expire on - 31 May 2026

Apply here!

Parents/carers are reminded there is a very important process to follow if your student must leave the college at any time throughout school hours. Please ensure you follow these steps:

Parents/carers MUST provide a note to the front office, at the start of the school day, stating the following:

- Student Name

- Date of leave required

- The time the student must present to reception to take their leave

- If they will return to the college the same day, and if so what time they will return

- The reason for the leave being requested

- The parent/carer’s name and signature

Please note, students will only be permitted to be collected by their parent/carer unexpectedly and without a note if it is an emergency.

We remind all that the college opens at 8:30am. This enables educators time to prepare for their day ahead. We appreciate your support in helping our educators be successful. Yard duty staff begin at 8:30am to monitor play spaces before the school day begins at 8:55am.

Upcoming Dates

Please refer to the calendar on PAM for upcoming dates for activities and events.