Foundation
Foundation Cluster News
Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for a wonderful start to our school year. We thank you that we have shared in some amazing first 2 week adventures as a Foundation Cluster. We pray that we have a restful weekend and are prepared for week 3 where we step up our learning. Amen
Home Inquiry
Rest and Play
It has been an exciting yet big start to the year. Your children have been working extremely hard all day at school building friendships, learning about our school community and everyday routine.
With such full on days we encourage you to let your child rest and play when they get home.
Some children may want to talk straight after school or some may need some alone time to process the day. Please be mindful of this. We encourage you to talk about the positives in the day and we have some talk points below.
- What went well today?
- What games did you play at recess?
- What was something that made you laugh?
- What game did you learn in Sport?
- Tell me something that you did well?
Fine motor
Having finger and hand strength is really important and so any further practice at home would be amazing. This can include playdough, lego, pegging clothes on the washing line, sewing or threading just to name a few. We do a lot of cutting in class and further practice of this will help build up the confidence at school too. This includes cutting straight or curvy lines while also moving the page around so they don’t cut their fingers.
What a fun start to the students' Foundation journey. We have been building up friendships, learning about our classroom and the expectations as well as lots of hands on exploring. We have been learning about our emotions with the help from our Kimochi friends. We have loved getting to know each child individually and watching them already form friendships.
Week 3 learning program:
Reader's Workshop – Name study
Word Study – sounds: s, a, t
Bookmaking – What is a book? What is in our book box?
Inquiry into Maths
Number 1-10, Shape, Sorting
How We Express Ourselves
Central idea: Through play and the arts, we express our feelings, ideas and new understandings.
Line of inquiry 1: Play using the arts
Line of inquiry 2: Communicating through play
Line of inquiry 3: Play provides opportunity to discover, create, investigate and explore
Key concepts: perspective and form
Learner profile: Communicators, thinkers and risk takers
Christian Studies:
Christian Beliefs
Key Idea: The person and work of Jesus the Christ is central to Christianity
Children identify stories about Jesus and discuss what Jesus said and did
Wednesday - learning consolidation day:
Just a reminder that each Wednesday until week 5 we will be having this day as a learning consolidation day. The purpose of having optional rest days is to build up their learning stamina, as we consider a lot of the children would be used to having three days of kindy and this would look different to them having five days of Foundation learning. We often notice at the start of the year a lot of high emotions and children feeling tired after 3 days of full learning, therefore would like to encourage you take this opportunity to allow your child to rest on those days and help them to slowly get used to being at school for five full days. This means they are to play and have some time with you cooking, creating or just doing something fun together. It is not a day where they do any work. Your child’s wellbeing means a lot to us and we want them to continue to have a smooth transition into Foundation. We know some parents have work commitments, so you are still able to send them to school we just know the importance of building up their learning stamina.
Volunteers
We love having volunteers in the classroom, if you are interested in volunteering, there a few things you will need to have to be able to help in the classroom or come on excursion.
- Current Working With Children Check (WWCC)
- Responding to Abuse, Harm and Neglect training (RRHAN-EC)
- Valuing Safe Communities (VSC) training; and
You can find the information here on the parent portal: https://www.goldengrove.sa.edu.au/parent-portal/volunteering/
Hats
We have a number of students coming to school without a school hat. Please make sure your child has their hat every day, otherwise they will have to remain playing in the shade.
Pick up information
So that we can assist the children at the end of the day, please let us know your pickup arrangements. This sheet was sent with the start of year information email on 17th January.
Please sent this back to school as soon as possible or email us with the days and pick up arrangements.
This is especially important if children are going to GGOSH or kiss and drop.
Family photo: We would love a family photo to put on our family wall in the classroom for children to look at when they miss their family during the day. Please either send a hard copy photo in or email one to us and we can print it off.
Chapel/Assembly: (Mistake in dates) Our Foundations will not be attending weekly assembly or chapel until Week 5 to help them settle into the routines of school. At their first Chapel, Foundation students will receive their Bibles, please join us on Friday 1st March at 8:50am in the Worship Centre.
School Calendar
https://www.goldengrove.sa.edu.au/calendar/
Blessings,
Emma Wachtel
wachtel.emma@goldengrove.sa.edu.au
Amy Hughes