Learning and Teaching

 Literacy

Over the past few weeks, learners from Years 3–6 who expressed interest in the Lion’s Club Public Speaking Competition have been busy preparing, writing, and practising their speeches. 

As part of the process, learners presented their speeches to a panel of judges during St Mary’s in-house competition. The quality of the content, along with the innovation and creativity on display, was truly impressive. Equally inspiring was the confidence and courage shown by each speaker as they delivered their speeches. 

Year 3-4:  

1st Place Harvey Brown, 2nd Place Kara Rogers and 3rd Place Holly Bourke 

Year 5-6:  

1st Place: Audrey Dobeli,  2nd Place Joel Nunan and 3rd Place Will Warren 

We congratulate all participants on their dedication and achievement, and those who will be moving on to the next round on Sunday 22nd June.

Maths Challenge – Term 1 & 2 Highlights 

Fifteen learners from Year 3 and 4 were selected to participate in the Maths Challenge, organised through the Australian Maths Trust, during Term 1 and Term 2. These learners were chosen based on their achievements in Mathematics, as identified through the February PAT Adaptive Assessment. 

This exciting program gave students the opportunity to work collaboratively on a range of challenging maths problems. Learners worked in groups of two or three, building both teamwork and problem-solving skills. 

It was fantastic to see students deeply engaged in problem-solving, sharing ideas, and explaining their thinking to one another. The focus on collaboration and critical thinking helped develop both their mathematical reasoning and communication abilities. 

Here’s what some of our students had to say: 

Brady (Year 3) – “It’s been fun and I felt really challenged – like I was in the learning pit! I’ve enjoyed working with the Year 4s.”  Harvey  (Year 4) – “It’s been great solving maths problems in groups. Some of the challenges were tough, but I liked discussing different ways to solve them with my team.”  Olivia (Year 4) – “The Maths Challenge has been hard but also fun! I liked working in groups and explaining our answers in different ways.”  Finn (Year 4) – “I like how in the Maths Challenge we get to work in groups. The questions are harder than our classroom work and put me in the learning pit. Since the Maths Challenge, I’ve worked out new ways to solve questions.” 

Looking Ahead: Maths Competitions for Semester 2

Next semester, all learners in Years 2 to 6 will be invited to opt into the Australian Maths Competition. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves and develop their problem-solving skills. 

Additionally, our top 10 learners from the May PAT Mathematics assessment will be selected to participate in the ICAS Mathematics Competition, further extending their mathematical learning and excellence. 

Year 2

Over the past few weeks, Year 2 students have been developing their understanding of addition and subtraction by applying their knowledge of place value to solve equations. They have explored a variety of strategies such as, using number lines and modelling with MAB blocks, which has made the learning process both engaging and exciting. These hands-on approaches have supported their confidence and deepened their mathematical thinking. 

 Year 4

This term in Inquiry, students have been exploring the question: How can we listen to, learn and preserve Indigenous history and culture? Through rich discussions and creative activities, students deepened their understanding of Aboriginal culture and traditions. To celebrate their learning, each student invited a special person to join them in creating a unique artwork together, using traditional Aboriginal symbols to tell their shared story.