Grade 1/2
Welcome!
Welcome to our first newsletter for 2022. We hope everyone had a wonderful break over the summer. We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you this year to ensure your child can achieve their highest potential. We recognise that in order to be successful, children need support both at school and at home. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. We are looking forward to a fantastic year!
Important Dates:
15 Feb - Information Night 7:00pm
22 Feb- Meet the Teacher (3:50pm-8:00pm)
24 Feb- Meet the Teacher (3:50pm-5:00pm)
28 Feb - School Photos
14 March- Labour Day (no school)
19 March - Warrandyte Festival Parade
21-23rd March - Healthy Harold Life Education Van
8 April - Last day of Term 1 (2:30pm finish)
SMART Spelling:
Last year saw the introduction of SMART Spelling, which allows for a consistent approach to spelling from F-6. Students will choose from a list of words each week, which follow a spelling pattern and complete activities on Seesaw as part of their weekly homework. Those students who are working towards mastering the reading of their Magic Words will continue to do so.
Speaking and Listening:
In Speaking and Listening, we will be learning how to ask good questions, speak and project clearly and further develop our listening skills.
Reader’s Workshop:
In Reader’s Workshop this term, we will focus on what good readers do, as part of our “Start-Up” program. We will investigate and develop our decoding skills during Reader’s Workshop and focus on how to retell a story.
Writer’s Workshop:
In Writer’s Workshop this term, we will focus on what good writers do, as part of our “Start-Up” program. We will also focus on the Writer’s Workshop procedures: planning, writing, revising, editing and publishing. Students will be given the opportunity to share their writing with their peers in a variety of ways. We will be exploring the structure and features of Recount Texts.
Maths:
In Maths, we will continue to include a 5-minute warm-up at the start of our lessons. These warm-ups are designed to engage students and help with a quick recall of number facts.
In Number, students will be learning about number patterns and place value. In Non-number, we will focus on 2D shapes, representing and interpreting data and time duration.
Inquiry:
During the first two weeks of term, we have spent time getting to know one another, unpacked our school values and we created our classroom expectations through our ‘Start-Up’ program. For the remainder of the term, we will be learning about 'Body Safety'.
SunSmart:
Term 1 is SunSmart! All students will need to wear their hats and Slip Slop Slap.
No hat, no play, no fun today!
Class Representatives:
1D and 2SB are looking for a class rep. Please let your classroom teacher or Jo at the office know if you are interested in helping out.
Headphones:
Students will need access to their own pair of headphones in the classroom. Please send a named pair in a zip lock bag with your child ASAP if you haven’t already.
Homework:
It is an expectation that your child will read for 15 minutes daily and record this in their Home Reading Journal. In Grade 1 students will continue to practise the Magic Words and the Grade 2 students will practise their SMART words. They will be tested on these weekly. A gentle reminder that your child is marked for their Homework on their school reports. Students’ reading logs will help determine their mark. Please help us make sure this is accurate by filling in this information. Please do not feel that you have to fill the comments section on a daily basis, as long as we can see they are reading.
Reading Eggs and Mathletics:
Students will continue to use Reading Eggs and Mathletics at school but can also access these programs at home should they wish to do further reading or maths practice. Student logins will be sent home soon.
The Grade 1/2 Teachers:
1O: Jessica O’Sullivan - Jessica.OSullivan2@education.vic.gov.au
1D: Peta Dibb - peta.dibb@education.vic.gov.au
2SB: Karen Sharland - Karen.Sharland@education.vic.gov.au
Sarah Bailey - Sarah.Bailey2@education.vic.gov.au