What's Happening in the Middle School
Year 3
What’s Happening in Year 3 in Weeks 3 & 4
We’ve had a fantastic start to Term 4 with our Year 3 camp! The children had an amazing time taking on new challenges, working together, and making lots of wonderful memories. It was a fantastic way to start the term, and we’d like to thank both the children for their enthusiasm and the parents for their support in making it possible.
Over the next two weeks, we will be learning about...
Wellbeing
Our first two wellbeing lessons will focus on encouraging a growth mindset. We will be learning about the difference between a fixed and growth mindset and how to ‘flip your thinking’ to encourage students to challenge themselves and show greater persistence and resilience with their learning. Please model to your child this type of thinking by discussing times you’ve failed at something/found something hard but kept practicing and persisting. A key concept we will introduce is the idea of ‘YET’. For example, I don’t know my 4 x tables YET! But with daily revision, I will by the end of the year.
Literacy
Over the next two weeks in phonics, we will be beginning to look at low frequency spellings. We will focus on the /ear/ sound, alternate spellings of the long /a/ sound (such as ei, ey, eigh, aigh, and ea), alternate spellings of the long /u/ sound (including ew, eu, ue, and ou), and the different sounds made by ough (/aw/ and /o/). This fortnight, we're focusing on developing our writing skills with an emphasis on using subordinating conjunctions to create more complex and detailed sentences. We are practising the Read-Write-Discuss-Revise cycle to improve our understanding and expression. We're also working on sentence expansion techniques and using the SPO (Statement, Proof, Opinion) strategy to summarise texts effectively. As part of our persuasive writing unit, we are learning how to write introductions, plan and write body paragraphs for our arguments, and clearly structure our ideas to build a strong piece of writing.
Maths
Students will be learning about location in Week 3, using directional language and learning to read simple maps and locate features using an alphanumeric grid e.g. B3. In Week 4, students will be learning about probability, describing events as certain, likely, even, unlikely and impossible. Number facts will continue to be a focus. Parents, please continue supporting your children with their multiplication facts knowledge!
Knowledge Unit
Students will be introduced to Chemical Science with a focus on the Properties of Materials. Students will explore how the characteristics of natural and made materials—such as fibres, metals, glass, and plastics—affect their use and potential for reuse. Through observation, discussion, and hands-on investigations, we’ll be developing an understanding of why certain materials are chosen for specific purposes in everyday life.
Reminders
- Open Afternoon Friday 31st October 3pm in classrooms
- The 2025 BPS Yearbook is able to be ordered on Qkr! Orders close 7th November.
- Please ensure your child has a named hat for break times
- Please ensure Library books are brought to school to be returned or reborrowed on your child’s library day
- It is expected that all students are reading 5 times a week for at least 20 minutes, this can be recorded in their diary and will be checked by their teacher
Year 4
What’s Happening in Year 4 in Weeks 3 & 4
We have all settled into the final term for 2025 and are all looking forward to the planned events. These include a visit to the Zoo, the Bike Education Program, as well as the annual Beaumaris Primary School Carols. Please make sure you check Compass regularly to stay up to date with all the information regarding these events, as they are posted.
Over the next two weeks, we will be learning about...
Wellbeing
Students will be participating in a program specifically focused on reminding students who they can ask for help. Students will be identifying trusted people in their lives and how to identify problems that require adult assistance.
Literacy
The Year 4 students will continue their study of the novel, ‘Nim’s Island’ and further their writing skills at a sentence level. Our spelling program, Word Origins, will continue to be implemented throughout the fourth term.
Maths
Over the coming two weeks, maths sessions will be focusing on probability as well as mass and capacity. The four processes will also be revisited and revised during these sessions.
Knowledge Unit
Our Knowledge Unit in Term 4 is geography. Some of the questions we will be investigating include;
- How are the continents of Australia, Africa and South America similar and different?
- What are the geographical features and cultural practices that make these places unique?
- How do people and animals in different climate zones adapt to their environments?
Homework
The Year 4 students are expected to read every night and record their progress in their personal diaries. It is the responsibility of the student to bring their diary to school every day and take it home each night to log their reading. Classroom teachers will be checking and signing these diaries regularly to monitor student reading habits. The student diary will also be used to highlight important dates and reminders.
Important Year 4 Dates:
Open Afternoon Friday 31st October 3pm in classrooms
Monday 3rd November – Curriculum Day
Tuesday 4th November – Melbourne Cup Day
Friday 7th November – Visit to the Zoo
The 2025 BPS Yearbook is able to be ordered on Qkr! Orders close 7th November.
Please ensure your child's Bike Check form is returned by Monday 10th November, in readiness for the Bike Education program in Week 7.
