School of Foundations
HOS The Net, Week 9, Term 1, 2025
Sometimes there’s nothing better than bright skies and fresh air….and a gorgeous playground to boot! We are so blessed at St Luke’s to have stunning gardens, vibrant playgrounds and wonderful friends to enjoy it all with!
As mentioned in the Parent Need to Knows, throughout the last fortnight, we have been exploring the notion of being in the right place at the right time. This simple yet powerful phrase reminds our students of the importance of being mindful — knowing where they should be and when they should be there. Whether it's arriving to class on time, staying focused in learning spaces, or being respectful in shared areas, this mindset helps our students stay safe, engaged and ready to succeed throughout their school day. By practicing "Right Place, Right Time," we build a positive school environment where everyone can thrive!
This week we celebrated Harmony and Multicultural Week. It was truly special to embrace the cultures of our own community and recognise many more from all “corners” of the planet. We are sure your child/ren will have many wonderful stories to share of the celebrations.
Enjoy the week ahead!
Nicole Emerton
Head of School (Acting)
Kindergarten
English
In Writing, students have been developing their skills to create informative texts. They have been learning to share information about familiar topics, drawing on their own knowledge and experiences. The focus has been on using basic writing conventions, including capital letters at the beginning of sentences, finger spaces between words, and full stops to mark the end of sentences. Students are also practicing using initial letter sounds to help them spell words independently. Through guided writing activities and hands-on practice, they are building confidence in organising their ideas and communicating clearly.
Mathematics
In mathematics, Kindergarten students have been exploring the concept of measurement. Students have used a range of equipment to measure length and area. Students have been able to find objects and compare them to investigate items greater than, smaller than or equal to in length and area.
Religion
In Religion, Kindergarten students have been exploring the Inquiry Question, "Who is my friend?" They have learned that Jesus is always their friend and have discussed ways to follow His example to be kind, caring, and supportive friends to others. Through stories about Jesus and interactive discussions, students have discovered how good friends help each other grow and flourish. Students have also reflected on their own friendships, identifying ways they can show love, compassion, and kindness in their daily lives, just as Jesus did. This learning encourages students to recognise the value of friendship and how their actions can positively impact those around them.
Sport
This term in Kindergarten, we have been learning about our movement skills such as practicing our jumping, hopping, skipping and throwing. We have also been learning to listen to and follow instructions to engage and participate in an activity or play a game. We have also been exploring friendships and how to be a good friend.
Stage 1
English
In Year 2, students are learning how to write informative texts using simple and compound sentences. They are exploring the structure and features of informative writing, including a title, subheadings and facts. As part of their learning, students are researching and writing about important places in Australia, such as the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House and Blue Mountains. They are practising how to present interesting facts clearly and effectively, developing their writing skills while discovering more about Australia's iconic landmarks! Students will then use this informative text to present their findings to their peers creating posters and presentations.
Mathematics
In Year 1, students have been diving into the world of measurement recently! They have explored concepts of length, weight and area. From comparing and recording the height of different objects to measuring and weighing everyday items in the classroom, our young learners are developing strong foundational skills in using tools such as rulers and scales. As our lessons for this unit have been quite interactive and hands-on, we haven noticed the students' engagement and confidence grow when they are immersed in this style of learning. It’s been wonderful to see their understanding and ideas of measurement grow over the last few weeks.
Religion
Our Year 1 cohort had a special moment last week as they celebrated their first Catholic Mass on site at school with Father Gayan. With hearts full of joy and reverence, our students participated in the Mass learning about the significance of the prayers, readings, and rituals. Father Gayan guided them through each part of the Mass, helping the students understand the deeper meaning of the faith at St Luke’s. It was a beautiful time for us to reflect and be together.
Celebration of Learning
On Tuesday, 18th March, Glindas and Tinmen welcomed parents and caregivers into the classroom to celebrate all the fantastic learning happening in Year 2. The focus of the session was maths, with students and parents teaming up to design different shapes and calculate their area. It was wonderful to see so many creative designs come to life and watch everyone collaborate to solve problems. Year 2 students were so proud to showcase their maths skills!
A huge thank you to all the parents and caregivers who joined us.
Stage 2
English
It has been a very productive term in Stage 2, with students learning new vocabulary, reading strategies and writing to entertain a given audience. Over the last few weeks we have introduced the ‘bump it up wall’, where students refer to co-constructed modelled writing with examples of average to extensive work samples. The students refer to the work samples and use them as a scaffold for their own writing.
During our English block, the students participate in a range of activities designed to support their oral language development, consolidating reading strategies and guided reading practice with the teachers.
Maths
Stage 2 recently held a Celebration of Learning, where parents were invited to participate in a hands-on maths lesson. The focus of the session was on addition and subtraction word problems, with students applying two different strategies to solve them. We also presented some challenging questions, and it was wonderful to see so many students confidently giving them a try. The determination and problem-solving skills on display were impressive! 👏👏
It was a pleasure to welcome our parents into our learning space, providing an opportunity to showcase what our Stage 2 students’ everyday learning looks like. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm!
Religion
In Religion, Stage 2 students explored the concept of the "common good" through Caritas Australia Project Compassion. They discussed the importance of considering what is good for everyone, not just ourselves, and how working for the common good helps us live together as a community. As part of this learning, we celebrated Mufti Day, where students wore mufti/casual clothes and made generous donations. These donations went directly to The Ignite Food Store, which provides essential support to individuals and families in our local area. The Mufti Day donations were a meaningful way for students to actively contribute to the common good and help those in need.
History
As part of our History unit this term, Stage 2 are learning about the history of early Australia, particularly the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the impact of colonisation in Australia. We were visited by Living History Australia who recreated for us stories of early colonists before, during and after their travel to Australia. Students also had the opportunity to explore artifacts and try on some costumes, some of which were over 100 years old!
Clay Sculptures in CAPA
Kindergarten, Stage 1 and Stage 2 students have begun creating their own clay sculptures as part of Term 1’s Creative Arts program! During their lessons, students are learning how to roll, pinch and shape clay into fun and unique designs. Kindy are creating turtles, Stage 1 exotic birds whilst Stage 2 are creating animal Bobble Heads.
This hands-on activity helps develop students’ creativity, fine motor skills and imagination. The students are excited to bring their clay creations to life!
Stay tuned for updates on their artistic journey!
