School News and Information

KINDERGARTEN KOALA NEWS

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through our first term at school! We are incredibly proud of how well the students have adjusted to life at big school. Here’s a glimpse of some of the activities and learning experiences we’ve enjoyed during our first weeks of Kindergarten.

Maths:

In Maths, our students have been exploring the idea that Maths is all around us and discovering how much fun it can be! We’ve enjoyed trips to our nature area, where students practiced counting various natural items and identified different shapes using materials found outdoors. They have also been learning to sort objects based on their attributes such as colour, size, and shape. Throughout these activities, students are encouraged to share their thinking by explaining what makes objects similar or different within each group.

English:

In English, we have been exploring a variety of engaging books, including Starting School, Little Nic’s Big Day, and Families. These stories have helped us connect with important themes and experiences relevant to our students. Throughout our lessons, we have participated in a range of activities designed to build our language skills. Students have been developing their personal vocabulary by sharing words that are meaningful to them. We have also been practicing taking turns while speaking with a partner, which helps build listening and communication skills. We have also been encouraging students to confidently share their ideas with the class and express their needs clearly.

Science/Digital Technology:

Students have been learning about the five sense organs and their functions. They have found out how these senses help them observe the world more clearly. They are also learning how living things survive and how to tell the difference between living and non-living things. In Technology we have been very lucky to take part in Technology lessons with Mrs Dunham. During these lessons we have been introduced to BeeBots. We have explored how to use these small, friendly robots by pressing buttons to make them move forward, backward, left, and right. Through playing with BeeBots, the students are developing important skills like following directions, problem-solving, and working together.

PDH:

In PDH, we have been learning about a range of ways to keep ourselves safe and healthy. This includes practising good hygiene, understanding road safety rules, and learning how to recognise and manage our emotions in a positive way. Students have learned about the importance of being a responsible passenger and wearing helmets when riding scooters, bikes and other wheeled equipment. They have also practised a range of strategies, including mindfulness, colouring, building and reading, to help regulate their emotions.

We can’t wait for more exciting learning over the next few weeks!

Maddie Killen, Felicity Pennington and Kim See

LIBRARY AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY NEWS

It has been wonderful to see the library as a place where students can come and connect, escape the lunchtime summer heat, read a book and try their hand at some craft activities also.

The library is now open everyday, second lunch Monday-Friday!!!

On Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s students can visit the library at second lunch to draw, read and colour in. On Tuesday’s and Friday’s Mrs D will be running craft activities.

Kindergarten students have been busy bees learning their left from their right, forwards and backwards and more importantly how we can use this knowledge to code our own robot.

Stage 1 has been learning how important it is to be responsible and safe when using the internet using four Australian animals to help us learn along the way!

The Mighty Heroes are four Australian bush characters who each have an important online safety message for students:

Wanda the echidna: I am responsible – I protect my personal information.
River the sugar glider: I show respect – I am kind and caring to others.
Dusty the frilled neck lizard: I trust my feelings – I ask for help when something doesn’t feel right.
Billie the bilby: I investigate – I question what I see, hear and do online.

Some useful websites for how to set up a Family Tech agreement and Gaming Guide and Advice.

Stage 2 have started their unit ‘Classification of living things’ and have been given the project of completing an application to live on the fictional planet Zog. Planet Zog is a planet just like Earth that has recently been discovered however there is nothing living on the planet yet! The students are to select and research a living thing and then fill out an application form as to why they should be considered to potentially live on Planet Zog.

Stage 3 have been exploring their creative side as well as all the video making equipment we have available to create their own movie preview or breaking news story based around the robots that they have created in class with Mrs Bull. The students could choose to use either Canva, WeVideo or Google Vids to create their videos. I have been so impressed with Stage 3’s creativity and motivation to create what I am sure will be some very entertaining stories which we look forward to sharing soon!!