What's Happening in the Senior School
Year 5
What’s Happening in Year 5 in Weeks 1 and 2
Welcome back. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break. We are looking forward to another busy and fun-filled term. We welcome Mr. Farmer to 5W and the Year 5 teaching team.
Students will be allocated a Year 1 Reading Buddy who they will read with weekly. Students will also continue their leadership workshops with the Year 1s and will engage with other year levels as well.
The House Athletics Carnival is on Monday of Week 2. Students will have their final training session on Thursday of Week 1. Students have engaged in training sessions for each event and should feel confident going into carnival. Students are asked to wear their house colours on the day. Please ensure your child has appropriate clothing for the events and weather as we will be outside all day.
Wellbeing
Students will learn how to recognise emotions and engage in positive self-talk through Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships lessons.
Literacy
The students will begin the novel study for Dirrarn, the sequel to Black Cockatoo. The novel study will guide the Literacy unit in both reading and writing for the first 3 weeks. Students will continue to focus on sentence level writing structures and will learn how to write a factual recount of Jandamarra, First Nations hero of the Kimberly. We will continue our Word Origins spelling lessons. The students are enjoying finding out the meaning of new morphemes each week.
Maths
In Maths we will focus on fractions. Students will learn how to represent fractions on a fraction wall, compare and order fractions with related denominators on a number line, and how to simplify fractions. They will also learn how to use multiplication and division to convert fractions from mixed numerals to improper fractions.
Knowledge Unit
Geography is the focus for this term’s Knowledge Unit. In this fortnight the students will learn about the different biomes present on each continent, the geographical features of continents and how countries around the world are interconnected with Australia. They will also learn about how places have changed over time and how these changes are managed.
Big Question
How do people and environments influence one another?
Lines of Inquiry
How do the environments and culture of Europe, North America and Asia, compare to Australia?
What factors influence the way people adapt to the climatic conditions in these regions? (culture, technology)
What impact do we as humans have on the environmental features of places?
What can be learnt from traditional land management techniques?
How can the impact of natural disasters on people and places be reduced?
How do sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions affect Earth’s surface?
Homework
Mathletics tasks
30minutes of reading each night
Reminders
Monday 28th July- House Athletics
Year 6
What’s Happening in Year 6 in Weeks 1 and 2
Year 6 Term 2 Highlights
Term 2 was packed with learning, reflection, and action for our Year 6 students! In Mathematics, students deepened their understanding of fractions, decimals and shapes through hands-on investigations and problem-solving. They explored the power of words by diving further into morphemes during Word Origins lessons, and used this knowledge to help craft persuasive speeches about local and global issues they felt passionate about.
As part of our Wellbeing focus, students engaged in thoughtful discussions around respect, consent, and intention. They also took part in the Reach and Courage to Care programs, which encouraged empathy, resilience and standing up against discrimination.
The term also saw the beginning of rehearsals for our school musical, Aladdin, and students proudly represented our school at the Cross Country event. Year 6 have embraced every opportunity and should feel proud of their achievements in Term 2!
Welcome back to Term 3!
Wellbeing
Over the next fortnight, Year 6 students will continue their Wellbeing learning through the 4R’s Program – Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships, as part of the Victorian Curriculum. They will explore the concept of consent, respectful relationships and how to be an upstander when witnessing unsafe or inappropriate behaviour. Using real-life scenarios, students will unpack how to give, ask for and refuse consent clearly, and discuss strategies for responding to gender-based violence. They will also learn about laws relating to harassment and abuse, and the importance of seeking help when needed. This learning promotes empathy, integrity and respectful behaviour both online and offline.
Literacy
Over the next two weeks, Year 6 students will begin exploring the inspiring novel The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Through this text, they will examine themes of resilience, innovation and community, while building their comprehension and analytical thinking skills. In addition to diving into this powerful story, students will also continue to strengthen their grammar skills through targeted lessons that support their writing and communication.
Maths
Over the next two weeks, Year 6 students will be exploring the concept of probability. They will learn to describe and estimate probabilities using numerical scales, helping them to better understand the likelihood of different outcomes. Students will also apply their knowledge to real-life situations, using data and reasoning to make informed predictions. Through engaging activities and discussions, they will develop a deeper understanding of how probability plays a role in everyday decision-making.
Knowledge Unit
In the next two weeks, Year 6 students will begin their new Knowledge Unit in Science, focusing on physics and energy. They will be introduced to key concepts such as different forms of energy, how energy is transferred, and how electricity works. Through investigations, students will explore how energy powers our world and develop their understanding of the role it plays in everyday life.
Homework
Students are expected to read for a minimum of 15-30 minutes, five times a week, to improve their reading skills. We would love to see students bring in their Additionally, they will receive Mathletics tasks every fortnight to reinforce and build on their mathematical knowledge.
Reminders
- Monday 28th July – House Athletics
- Wednesday 30th July - Prep 100 days of school celebrations – The Year 6 students will be joining the Prep students for their celebrations on this day, including a special lunch together. Please still pack a snack and water bottle. Year 6 students are also invited to dress up in their pyjamas for the day (which the Prep students will be doing, too!)
Please remember to consent and pay for both events (100 Days of School - Prep & Year 6 Lunch 2025 and House Athletics Carnival) prior to both days.
