Grade 5/6

Important Term 1 Dates:

Sex Ed Information Night - Thursday 10th February (6:30pm via Zoom)

Interschool Sports - Weeks 3-9

Labour Day - 14th March

Warrandyte Festival - Saturday 19th March

Healthy Harold- 21st-23rd March

Term 1 Ends - Friday 8th April

Welcome everyone to 2022! 

Firstly, we would like to welcome Stuart Jones to ACPS and Grade 5/6. Stuart comes with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for teaching with a big focus on student wellbeing. Also in Grade 5/6 we have Brooke Eastwood who is back in the senior school after a couple of years in Grade 3/4. Brooke's kind and nurturing teaching aids in setting an amazing standard for learning and for students to thrive. Alysha Buzzini is ready for round three in Grade 5/6. Her love for teaching stems from building confidence in students and challenging them to be the best version of themselves. 

This week has been wonderful being back together and building our classroom culture and getting to know each other more. We also had our swimming carnival, in which was a fantastic day as always...A big THANK YOU to Mrs Thornton.

The Grade 5/6 Team are very excited for the year ahead. In our year level we have a range of fun activities and a highly engaging curriculum. 

Please read the below information about Term 1 and some housekeeping to get us started. 

Class Dojo

Class Dojo is an educational technology company. It connects teachers and families through communication features, such as a feed for photos and messages/reminders for the school day and instant messaging. 

The class teacher will send home a document that has a class code to sign up to Class Dojo and be part of your child’s classroom. The feedback from parents over the last couple of years has been great!

Please do not forget to bring in for class: 

- Headphones

- Face Masks

- Tissue Box

- Playing cards

Literacy

Students read and compare complex texts, for enjoyment and learning, and can express their thoughts and opinions about what they have read. They can write a wide variety of well-constructed texts such as narratives and persuasion. Students develop skills to communicate with others in most settings. They can transfer the literacy skills developed to other subjects. 

Students will:

• Analyse and explain how authors organise their texts. 
• Select vocabulary to represent ideas, characters and events. 
• Compare and analyse information in different texts. 
• Use evidence from a text to explain their response to it. 
• Using electronic devices, create detailed texts about a range of topics, including topics they have been studying. 
• Use accurate spelling and punctuation.
• Use speaking strategies including questioning, clarifying and rephrasing to contribute to class discussions. 

In Term 1 we study the novel, Blueback by Tim Winton. This story takes us on an adventure of finding friendships in unusual places and about family, belonging and living a life in tune with the environment.  

Numeracy

During the first term the major focus in number is Place Value. Place Value is covered in all year levels as it provides the foundation for regrouping, multi digit multiplication and the decimal system. Place value enables students to understand the difference between $60 they got for Christmas and the $600 dollars they need to save up for a dirt bike (or something special to them). In year 56 we are working with numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Students will investigate and identify properties of prime, composite and triangular numbers. They make connections between the powers of 10 and the multiplication and division of decimals.

In non-number the focus will be on using measurement -time and length. Students will convert between units of time, reading and using timetables, measuring time, calculate and compare elapsed time. With measurement length they will choose the appropriate units of measurement and convert between units including millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres.

Inquiry 

This term in inquiry learning, students will be exploring many different areas of work. These units of work will entail up to two weeks of lessons. The topics that are to be covered include learning about looking after our social and emotional wellbeing and taking part in a Kids HelpLine program. The information and skills learnt will assist students in understanding what support is available and  where to access if needed. 

Students will also investigate the three levels of government in Australia and what roles and responsibilities each play in our lives. This unit of work will also allow students to identify what it means to live in this country. 

Students will also be involved in personal development lessons including Sex Education and Healthy Harold. Both of these programs will allow students to learn very important knowledge and be able to ask questions anonymously in a safe environment.  

Let's work together as a community for a positive 2022!

Alysha Buzzini - alysha.buzzini@education.vic.gov.au

Brooke Eastwood - brooke.eastwood@education.vic.gov.au

Stuart Jones - stuart.jones2@education.vic.gov.au