The Learning Zone

NAPLAN - Year 3 and Year 5

NAPLAN begins this week for our Year 3 and 5 students. The teachers have been working with the students in class to ensure they are familiar with the testing process and to complete practice questions. Even though students are well prepared, it is important to remember NAPLAN is only one of many ways that teachers gain information about students' strengths and what the next steps are to continue in their learning journey. 

NAPLAN testing days for our students are as follows: 

• Wednesday 15th March - Writing (Year 3 pencil and paper test)
• Thursday 16th March - Reading
• Monday 20th March - Conventions of Language (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation)
• Tuesday 21st March - Numeracy 

Please see the NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers or the Week 6 Newsletter for further information. 

Please don't hesitate to contact the school of you have any questions.

Armidale Diocesan Mathematics Initiative (MaST)

Once again this year our whole school from K-6 are part of an Armidale Diocesan Mathematics Initiative known as the MaST Project. Please see the information below to assist your child at home.

Maths At Home:

Kindergarten - Whole Numbers

This week, Kindergarten are continuing their unit on Whole Number. They are learning to read numerals and represent whole numbers to at least 20. The poster below shows the many different ways numbers can be represented.

Stage 1 - 2D Shapes

Stage 1 are learning to recognise, describe and represent shapes including quadrilaterals and other common polygons. Did you know ...

• 'Quadrilateral' comes from the Latin quadrilaterus, meaning four sides or flanks. Squares and rectangles are examples of quadrilaterals.
• 'Polygon' comes from ancient Greek and means many angles. Pentagons (five angles), hexagons (six angles) and octagons (eight angles) are all examples of polygons.

Stage 2 - Position

This week, Stage 2 begin their unit on Position. They will be learning to use simple maps and grids to represent position and follow routes. The unit also includes activities where students will need to use compass directions.  Try this maths game where you mark the route for a walking track on a rainforest map by following instructions and choosing sections on track based on distances, compass directions and coordinate references.

Stage 3 - Decimals

Stage 3 are learning to compare, order and calculate with decimals up to at least three decimal places e.g. 0.5, 0.125, 0.25.  We use decimals every day while dealing with money, weight, length etc. Decimal numbers are used in situations where more precision is required than the whole numbers can provide. 

Coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress,

and working together is success". - Henry Ford

Have a great week of learning and fun!

Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole