Year 1/2

Year 1/2 Cluster News 

Welcome back! We pray that the school holidays were a restful time and that you and your children were able to enjoy doing some different activities, resting, and spending time together. 

Celebration of Learning  Thursday 21st of August  

The Year 1 & 2 Celebration of Learning will be held on Thursday the 21st of August. There will be two timeslots, 5:30-6:00pm and 6:00-6:30pm. More information to come. We look forward to sharing your child’s learning with you. 

Year 2 Camp at AFL Max Term 3, Week 10, Monday 22nd – Tuesday 23rd September 

Students arrive at normal school time and we return to school on the Tuesday about lunchtime, when students have a Subway lunch then can be picked up or remain at school for a relaxing afternoon https://aflmax.com.au/education/camps/ 

Please register your interest via email to your class teacher if you would like to volunteer to stay overnight. We require volunteer s to remain on site for the duration of the camp. Volunteers are selected across the 3 classes (1/2AK, 1/2Z, 2/3T) and we do not need many as staff remain on site at AFL Max. Please note that your registration of interest does not mean you will be asked to attend. Students need a sleeping bag and pillow. Mattresses are provided. More details for students will be sent out next term. 

Home Inquiry   

What are some places you visit regularly in your local community? You could take some photos or draw pictures and bring them in to share with the class. 

Read decodable/interest/library books etc every night for 10-15 minutes.  

Weekly Timetable – 1/2 Classes 

Learning for Week 2 and 3 

Word Study (previously Jolly Spelling):  

Week 2 

Year 1: ‘ng’ e.g. song, bring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmtOKfTEBh8 

Year 2: ‘wa’ for /wo/ e.g. wand, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1ZXDM3y_CM 

Week 3 

Year 1: ‘ay’ and ‘ai’ for the /ai/ sound e.g. away, play, snail, tail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGrIyCT7nK0 

Year 2: ‘er’, ‘ir’ and ‘ur’ e.g. for the /er/ sound e.g. butter, bird, hurt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhTdmBPL5hU  

Grammar Focus  

Year 1: alphabetical order, nouns 

Year 2: Using a dictionary, proofreading 

Writer’s Workshop: Students have begun learning about how to write a recount and the features of recounts.  

Reader’s Workshop: Tying in with this year’s book week theme ‘Book an Adventure!’ we are reading Are we there yet? Alison Lester and completing some activities related to the book. 

Mathematics:  

Year 1 and 2 students look at pathways and using directional language (e.g. forwards, backwards, turn left, turn right). Year 2s will learn to use half and quarter turns.  

Locations and Directions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnlJzWhsNnw 

Left and right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRbwFq9665k 

 Year 1 and Year 2s will revisit strategies for addition and subtraction, focusing on a different strategy each week. 

 You could practice using strategies at home: 

Rainbow facts/Friends of 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62wRTFwKFys 

Friends of 20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqOzfoMeNpA 

Using a number line or number chart: 

 ABCYA number chart (please use on a desktop): https://www.abcya.com/games/interactive_100_number_chart 

How to use a number line to add and subtract: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quwTYVKZBqo  

Number lines song (Year 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjvd7KziiVo 

 Unit of Inquiry: How We Organize Ourselves 

Central Idea: The built community reflects communities’ needs and wants. 

Line of Inquiry 1: The built environment within a community 

Line if Inquiry 2: Needs and wants within a community 

Line of Inquiry 3: How buildings meet the needs and wants of a community 

Students will explore the question, what is a community? They will identify communities they are part of and ask questions about communities. 

Christian Studies:  

Christian Church: Christians believe the Bible is God’s word. 

Students inquire into why the Bible is organized the way it is and the story of Paul. 

Other Reminders 

Boots are needed for students who want to go into the Nature Play in the muddy winter months. 

Items from home/Canteen money 

We have reminded students to not bring items from home unless this has been a discussion between parents and teachers.  

Students may bring one named ball to play with at break times, however, please ensure it is not a special item in case of loss or damage.  

We have also reminded students that the money they have for the canteen is for their own or sibling purchases and not to buy food for their friends. 

Shoelaces 

Please make sure your child can do up laces themselves if they have shoes with laces. Another option is shoes with Velcro until they learn this skill. 

Bag Tags 

It is useful for students to have a bag tag to identify their bag. Please only put one bag tag on and make sure it is not a special one that will be missed if it is lost as we are not able to monitor this. 

Each day students need to bring the following. Please label everything.  

• hats – these have been sent home for a wash as they are not a requirement for Terms 2 and 3. It is still a good idea to leave them in bags as some days can still have a high UV rating.  
• sunscreen is generally not applied at school during Terms 2 and 3. 
• Take Home Bags, which are also for Library borrowing. 
• a water bottle 
• a fruit snack 
• recess 
• lunch 

Lunch Boxes 

Please pack a substantial lunch rather than lots of recess snacks and put an ice pack in on hot days as the lunches remain in school bags outside. We also ask that you send in ‘nude food’ which does not include wrappers. 

Library Borrowing  

Both classes visit the Library on Tuesdays to borrow 2 books for 2 weeks. 

Take Home books 

Each week students take home 2-3 interest books to read at home. A letter has been sent home explaining the process. During the week, we listen to children and begin sending decodable books or other good fit books home to read.  

Toddle 

We post important information reminders, student learning, photos/videos and assessments on this platform.  Please contact the office if you are not connected. 

Volunteers 

During the year we have excursions, a Year 1 Sleepover and a Year 2 Camp.  

If you are interested in volunteering, there a few things you must have up to date to be able to come along or to help in the classroom. Please do not volunteer unless you have these already. Contact the office if you have any questions. 

• Working With Children Check (WWCC)  
• Responding to Abuse, Harm and Neglect training (RRHAN-EC)  
• Valuing Safe Communities (VSC) training 

https://www.goldengrove.sa.edu.au/parent-portal/volunteering/  

May God bless your week, 

Melanie Arnold and Ellen Zimmer 

Melanie Arnold: Arnold.melanie@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Tim Kriewaldt kriewaldt.tim@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Ellen Zimmer zimmer.ellen@goldengrove.sa.edu.au