School News
Prep
What a fabulous fortnight we have had in Prep. We are thoroughly enjoying our Investigations spaces this term, with the zoo and animal rescue being very popular amongst the students. This reflects the students' keen interest in learning about animals and their habitats.
In Maths last week, we learnt all about Capacity and learnt how to compare the capacities of different containers. To end the week the students were placed in teams with the goal of making a container out of paper, icy pole sticks and masking tape. The container had to be able to hold 500 counters! The teams were all very successful and showed fantastic teamwork when challenges arose.
The biggest highlight was of course was the colour run. The Prep students were beautifully behaved throughout the whole event and it was so lovely to see each student out on the course having fun. The zooper doopers were very appreciated by all students after the messy run. A shout out to Mrs. Harrison for being a great sport and agreeing to be slimed. The students took great pleasure in seeing the big green mess!
The Prep Team
Elyce Munnecke, Laina Brebner, Allie Harrison and Kayla Hartrick
Grade 1 & 2
What a fantastic fortnight it has been for our delightful Grade 1 and 2 students! They have worked hard and supported each other so beautifully, both in and outside of our classrooms. We are still on a high after ending Week 5 with our magnificent Colour Run! The afternoon was filled with laughter, vibrant colours, water, slime and a wonderful sense of community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all families for your amazing support. What a fabulous way to wrap up the week!
Our fabulous young readers have been honing their skills in reviewing and analysing texts that they read. They have also showcased their knowledge through a range of reading assessments. This week, we focused on strengthening our ability to read fluently by paying close attention to punctuation, practicing ‘scooping’ words to read smoothly, and recognising how bold, italicised and capitalised words add emphasis and meaning in texts that we read.
Our young authors have wrapped up their persuasive writing unit with a fun and exciting project, choosing their favourite holiday destinations and using persuasive techniques to make their writing shine! With a focus on organisation and structure, they planned and drafted well-crafted pieces that expressed their ideas convincingly. We have shifted our focus to personal recounts, guiding students to reflect on memorable ‘Wow’ and ‘Ouch’ moments as inspiration for their writing.
Our young mathematicians have had an exciting fortnight, diving into open-ended math tasks and demonstrating their skills through a variety of assessments. We have now launched into learning all about multiplication. Students have explored key vocabulary, practiced using number lines to solve simple multiplication facts, and discovered how multiplication connects to repeated addition. It has been such a joy to see their enthusiasm and progress, they really are math champions!
Our Grade 1 students have been exploring safety within friendships, discussing how friends can help them feel secure and identifying trusted people they can turn to if they feel unsafe. They also deepened their understanding of ‘growth’ versus ‘closed’ mindsets, learning to recognise and apply a positive, growth-oriented approach in a range of situations.
In Grade 2 our students developed their understanding of stress and how to manage it. Recognising and identifying what it looks and feels like, while exploring healthy relationships. They learned that friendships are unique - like flowers, they add colour to our world and help us to thrive and grow. They also explored how to create a sense of ‘calm’ within, by slowing down their thinking and actions. Through partnered and group work, our students used movement to capture peacefulness in action.
The 1/2 Team
Sally Newton, Llinos Poole, Tim Huntington, Veronica Paps and Emma Wright
Grade 3 & 4
Hi Level 3&4 Families,
What a wonderful week we have had in 3/4! Here is what our students have been busy working on.
In Reading and Writing, students have begun a Multi-Genre Writing Project about a topic of their choice. We have read a variety of story books this week looking at ways authors make books engaging for readers, focusing on sizzling starts, building tension using a pebble, rock and boulder, and exciting endings. In Writing, students have used these strategies to write their own narrative about their chosen topic!
In Maths, students have enjoyed exploring fractions including finding equivalent fractions, comparing and ordering fractions and placing them on a number line, and fractions of a group/collection. We made our own fraction walls by folding paper strips into a range of fractions including halves, thirds, quarters, and sixths. It has been wonderful to see all their hard work, especially trying to fold paper into fifths!
Through Inquiry, students have begun building their sets and props, getting ready to film our stop animations. Students have used a variety of recyclable materials to bring their storyboards to life, ready to start filming soon! The students are excited to see all of their brainstorming and planning coming together to produce their short film.
We have also enjoyed participating in STOMP. This has been a highlight for many students being able to learn some groovy dance moves. It has been fantastic to see our 3/4s giving this their best efforts to learn new routines each week!
The 3/4 Team
Damien Smith, Sarah Jones, Hayley Peirce, Renee Barnden and Brent Smith
Grade 5 & 6
Senior 6 students also participated in Life Education this week. We covered lots of different topics but focused primarily on the upcoming changes that their bodies may be experiencing. We learnt about the importance of daily showers, deodorant, clean clothes and the changes that we all go through during puberty (physical, social and emotional changes).
Students assisted our facilitator Tara in labelling parts of the body with the proper and scientific names and we even learnt about consent.
If you would like some help in keeping this conversation going at home, click the button below to access Life Education's Parent/Carer resources.
Students role played how they would decline consent in a range of social and emotional situations and did a great job at standing their ground and saying no.
The 5/6 Team
Megan Pepprell, Alarna Creed, Ashleigh Wilson, Sam Younes, Rachel Boyle and Brendan Van Haaster