Year 1/2 Level Newsletter
Teacher Email Address Contacts
Upcoming Important Dates
From The Team
Hello to our wonderful Year 1/2 families!
It has been a busy and exciting couple of weeks in our level! Students loved our whole-school excursion to Scienceworks, especially the Planetarium show ‘Tycho Goes to Mars’, which had everyone fascinated by space exploration. We even learnt about the different shapes and pictures we can see in the night sky.
Back at school, we’ve been busy in the garden as part of our Garden Market Integrated Studies unit. We’ve been planting, weeding and learning how to identify which plants are weeds and which ones to leave to grow. We’ve also been using the rhyme “When in doubt, don’t pull it out” to help us remember to ask an adult if we’re unsure whether something is a weed or a plant.
In Literacy, students have been building their reading fluency through Reader’s Theatre, using expression and teamwork to bring stories to life. The students loved sharing these performances with the level. In Writing, we’ve also been creating Fact Files to accompany the plants that will be for sale at our upcoming Garden Market.
During Wellbeing, we explored ‘Marble Jar Friends’. We learnt how small acts of kindness and trust help to build strong friendships, and what we can do to be a good friend. The Year 1/2s also enjoyed visiting the Year 5/6 Shark Tank Expo on Thursday to see some incredible inventions, as well as participating in our annual House Sports Day, full of fun, teamwork and excitement!
Building Strong Readers at SPS
At SPS, our approach to teaching Reading is guided by Scarborough’s Reading Rope and the Big 6 Components of Reading Development. We use a structured and explicit approach to teaching reading, ensuring every child develops the essential skills needed to become a confident, capable reader.
Research has shown that there are six key components that contribute to successful reading. These are known as The Big 6: oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. These evidence-based frameworks show how different strands of reading weave together to create strong, independent readers.
Across our classrooms, we explicitly teach and practise each of these components through daily Reading, Writing and Spelling lessons. This approach supports students to not only decode words accurately but also to understand, connect with, and enjoy what they read.
- Kate, Jarren and Jordyn
What We Are Learning
Reminders
Pots: We are seeking any spare pots or tins you may have! We would love to recycle them for our special Garden Market project.
High Frequency Words Book & Yellow Reading Log: Continue to help your child to practise their high frequency words in their new book. Record nightly reading in their Reading Log.
Communication folders: Please remember to bring these to and from school each day.
Hats: A reminder that hats are required during Term 4 as part of our SunSmart policy.
School uniform: Students should wear the correct school uniform each day. Long hair should be tied back for safety and hygiene.
Try This...
Sarah goes to the toy shop with 10 coins.
She buys a toy car for 5 coins and a ball for 2 coins.
How many coins does she have left?
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰 (10 coins) ➖ 🚗 (5 coins) ➖ ⚽ (2 coins)
= ?
Scienceworks Excursion
Our whole-school excursion to Scienceworks was an exciting day full of discovery and hands-on learning! Students were amazed by their Planetarium experience, where we watched ‘Tycho Goes to Mars’ and learnt about the different shapes and pictures that stars make in our night sky, also known as constellations.
We then explored a range of exhibits, including ‘Think Ahead’, where students imagined what the future might look like by exploring inventions, design and innovation. The ‘Sportsworks’ exhibit was another favourite, giving everyone a chance to get active and test their skills in different physical challenges such as running, jumping, balancing and even measuring their reaction times! We also all loved racing against Cathy Freeman!
Overall, it was a fantastic day of fun, curiosity and learning, and the students came back buzzing with excitement and new knowledge to share.
Readers Theatre
Over the last two weeks, our classrooms turned into a mini theatre! Students worked on reading with expression and fluency, whilst practising their teamwork skills. They enjoyed sharing their Readers Theatre performances with the level and did an amazing job!
Fun in F-2 Clubs
Our F–2 Clubs have been a big hit! Students enjoyed a fun range of activities, including a dance party, popcorn and movie time, and speed car cookie decorating. It’s been a wonderful way to mix with friends across the year levels and try something new!
Garden Market Preparations
Our little gardeners have been busy! We’ve been planting and caring for our seedlings, getting ready for our Garden Market at the end of term.
Marble Jar Friends
Last week, students explored what it means to be a ‘Marble Jar Friend’. They learnt that it is someone who builds trust and kindness over time. We discussed how each kind action, like including others or keeping a promise, adds a marble to the friendship jar, showing how trust grows bit by bit. We also unpacked how unkind actions, like leaving someone out or breaking a promise, take marbles away and can make the jar feel emptier. Students then wrote or drew ways they can be a Marble Jar Friend, sharing thoughtful ideas about kindness, honesty and teamwork.
House Sports
We had a fantastic time at our House Sports day. After a delayed start due to the weather, we were able to go ahead and it was wonderful to see all the students showing great sportsmanship, teamwork and school spirit as they participated in a range of fun activities.
