Classroom News

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the final semester of your child’s primary school journey!

As we wrap up this term, let’s take a moment to celebrate the many wonderful achievements of the year so far. We’ve embraced a new teaching style, welcomed new teachers and classmates, stepped into leadership roles, and made fantastic academic progress. Along the way, friendships have blossomed - some new, some renewed - and we’ve seen incredible personal growth in every student.

In Religious Education, we explored the meaning of Pentecost and examined the symbols used in our sacraments. A highlight was joining the Reconciliation Mass in Benalla, where we gathered with students from other Catholic schools - a truly special experience.

This term in English and History, we read two powerful books: Us Mob Walawurra and Free Diving. These texts led us into rich discussions about the 1967 referendum and life for First Nations Peoples in the 1960s. Our writing focused on factual recounts, challenging us to step outside our comfort zones and grow as writers.

In Mathematics, we tackled a range of topics including fractions, 3D shapes, decimals, probability, and patterns. Some concepts were tricky, but our resilience and positive attitudes helped us persevere—and we were so proud of our strong test results!

Staff also participated in a professional development course called Classroom Mastery, which focuses on effective strategies for managing student behaviour. All Sandhurst schools, including secondary schools, are part of this initiative, which recognises that behavioural expectations must be explicitly taught. We’ve begun implementing these strategies gradually, including simple but effective routines like cues for starting activities and procedures for entering and exiting the classroom.

(If you're interested, the 7.30 Report recently featured a segment on a school trialling this approach. You can watch it here: Innovative solutions for disruptive student behaviour in classrooms | 7.30)

A special thank you to Cadel, Finn, and Henry for their outstanding leadership this term. As School Captains, they’ve demonstrated responsibility, resilience, and school spirit—well done, boys!

Thank you once again for your continued support. Your children are a credit to you.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!

Warm regards,

Cathie, Lucia and Helen