Year 2

Term 2

We have had a wonderful start to Term 2, with all students settling back into classroom routines quickly and positively. It has been pleasing to see the students return with enthusiasm, focus, and a readiness to learn. Everyone is working hard and showing a positive attitude as we prepare for another busy and exciting term ahead, filled with many learning opportunities and experiences. It has been especially pleasing to see our class live out our focus on The Common Good—do what is best for everyone not just yourself. Our classroom has truly become a space where students feel safe, valued and heard.

A few of our favourite things...

Mother's Day

We were also delighted to celebrate Mother’s Day at school with a beautiful liturgy and pampering afternoon. It was a special occasion for our students to honour and give thanks to the important mothers, grandmothers, and special women in their lives. The students participated reverently and joyfully, helping to create a meaningful celebration filled with prayer, reflection, and gratitude. It was wonderful to see our school community come together to celebrate the love, care, and support that these special women provide each day.

InitiaLit

During Term 2, students are continuing to develop their understanding and implementing the use of the code of reading through the InitialLit program. There is a strong focus on strengthening letter–sound relationships, recognising and applying phonemes and graphemes, and using this knowledge to read and write multi-syllable words with increasing confidence. Students are participating in more targeted teaching opportunities tailored to their point of need, allowing them to build accuracy and fluency when decoding and encoding words. They are working hard to apply their growing knowledge of sounds, tricky words and spelling patterns during reading and writing tasks. It's been great to see so many students having success. 

Writing

At the beginning of Term 2, students are continuing to develop their understanding of different writing genres through information reports and procedures. They are learning how to organise their ideas using simple text structures, including titles, headings, facts, materials and steps. Students are working on writing complete sentences, using correct punctuation and including topic-specific vocabulary to clearly communicate their ideas. Through modelled, shared and independent writing opportunities, students are building confidence in planning, creating and publishing informative texts for a purpose.

Numeracy

At the beginning of Term 2, students are continuing to develop their understanding of place value and are using this knowledge to solve addition and subtraction problems with increasing confidence. They are exploring a range of strategies to support their mathematical thinking, including partitioning numbers, using number lines, doubles and near doubles, and applying efficient mental strategies. Students are also strengthening their ability to explain and justify their mathematical thinking using appropriate mathematical language.

Later in the term, students will investigate measurement concepts including mass, volume and capacity. They will participate in hands-on learning experiences to compare, estimate and measure using informal and formal units, while developing an understanding of how measurement is used in everyday life.

Year 2 have been enjoying our warm-up games from Love Maths. You may like to watch the clip and challenge your child to a game of “1, 2, 3, 4 – Win Them All.”

Religion

This term in Religion, students will explore the role of the Holy Spirit in the mission of the Church through learning about the feast of Pentecost. They will reflect on Pentecost as the beginning of the Church and discover how Jesus fulfilled his promise by sending the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Students will learn about the ways the Holy Spirit guides people to live with courage, kindness and faith within their communities.

Students will also participate in the Grief and Loss unit, where they will explore the nature of change and loss in creation, the seasons and the life cycles of people and animals. Through discussions and reflection, students will develop an understanding of feelings connected to loss and death and learn about the different ways families, cultural groups and the Church remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died.

Inquiry 

In this Year 2 unit The Geography of Places, students will explore various places and people within Australia. The students will begin by identifying on a map of Australia, the place where they live. They then engage with their local area to learn about their neighbourhood and how they connect with its people and places. Students will explore the interconnectedness of different regions, states and territories by examining where their food comes from and tracing its journey from farms to supermarkets. Through this process, they will understand the significance of connections beyond their neighbourhood. The unit will conclude with students considering the cause and effect of changes in communication and transport technologies, and the impact this has had on connection between people and places.  

PE

Students have been thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to participate in PE lessons outdoors, where they can stay active, run around, and develop their physical skills in a fun environment. They have shown great enthusiasm and engagement in all activities, consistently trying their best in each game. It has been wonderful to see students demonstrate positive sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience, and encouragement towards their peers throughout our PE sessions.

Melbourne AFLW visit

We were incredibly lucky to welcome the Melbourne AFLW Team to our school today. It was such an exciting experience, and we really enjoyed having the opportunity to ask the players questions, hear about their experiences, and learn more about teamwork, dedication, and life as professional athletes.

Homework 

We introduced homework towards the end of last term to reinforce the learning taking place in the classroom. Students have responded very positively, enjoying the added sense of responsibility and showing great enthusiasm in completing their tasks. It has been pleasing to see how quickly they have settled into a consistent routine, demonstrating independence and pride in their work.

Looking Ahead

 We will keep supporting students to grow academically, socially and emotionally, while continuing to nurture their confidence and love of learning.

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout Term 1. Your partnership plays a vital role in your child’s success, and we truly appreciate your communication and involvement.

We look forward to another fantastic term ahead

Important Dates

                 May 🌻

22nd - National Walk Safely to School Day

             Whole School Mass - 

             Our Lady help of Christians12.30pm

             Assembly 2.30pm  

27th - National Simultaneous Storytime

                 June 🌦

5th -   Pupil Free Day for student Wellbeing and Safeguarding 

8th -   Pupil Holiday - King's Birthday

12th  Whole School Mass - 

            Feast of the Sacred Heart  12.30pm

19th - Yr 1/2 Class Mass 12.30pm

              School Assembly 2.30pm

26th - Student's Last Day of Term 2

ONGOING REMINDERS

No Hat, No Play

St John’s is a “No Hat, No Play” school, which means all students are required to wear their hats every day. Please keep this in mind when doing hairstyles in the morning—high ponytails and buns can sometimes make it difficult for hats to sit properly.

Label Everything

Please ensure all items are clearly labelled. You’ll hear this reminder often throughout the year! While we may all grow tired of saying it, labelled belongings can be quickly returned if misplaced.

Friday Treats

Zooper Doopers are available for $1, and Cake Raffle tickets are 50c. Both take place every Friday.

Lunch Orders

Lunch orders are available every Wednesday.

Library

Library visits are on Fridays. Please remember that borrowed books must be returned before a new book can be issued.

Birthday Invitations

We are happy to distribute invitations at school if the entire class is invited. However, if only some children are being invited (which we completely understand), we kindly ask that invitations be shared privately. While disappointments are a part of life, missing out on a party can feel especially significant at 7 or 8 years old, and we would prefer school not be the setting for that upset.

tramsden@sjeuroa.catholic.edu.au

kanderson@sjeuroa.catholic.edu.au

phone: 57952937

Thank you,

Thomasina, Kristy, Keira & Dee