Prep Term 1 Overview

Prep 2026 Term One Overview

“Your word is like a lamp, that shows me the way. 

It is like a light that guides me.” Psalm 119:105

Welcome to Semester 1, Term 1

As we begin the 2026 school year at St. John’s Primary, it has been wonderful to see how confidently our Prep students have settled into our lively school community. We are excited to continue nurturing a positive and supportive connection with every child as the year unfolds.

Important Dates

• 10th February - Parent/Teacher Meetings - Meet & Greets 
• 18th February - Ash Wednesday Mass at 10am
• 24th February - Prep Welcome Dinner 6 - 7:30pm
• 2nd March - Twilight Sports 4.30pm - 7.30pm Bill Sewart Reserve
• 3rd March - Prep Class Mass (with Year 5 Buddies) 10:00am
• 9th March - Labour Day Public Holiday
• 10th March - School Closure Day
• 13th March - School Working Bee
• 17th March - Harmony Day
• 19th March - School Photo Day
• 2nd April - End of Term 1

Specialist Teaching Timetable

Religious Education 

At St John’s, we strive to teach excellence in Religious Education, nurturing students’ faith, prayer life, and sense of community. This year, our whole-school focus is SHINE, inspired by the Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. Throughout the year, students will explore how they can bring hope to others and to the world by reflecting on their own unique gifts.

This term, Prep students will begin to establish Prayer Time, learning how to participate respectfully and set positive intentions for the day. They will explore sacred prayer spaces, attend Mass and school prayer services, and engage with key understandings such as:

• Jesus is God’s Son

• Jesus teaches us how to be friends

• How we can share God’s love with others

These concepts will be explored through stories and teachings from the Gospels of Mark and John.

Health

This Term in Health students will learn to recognise how they are growing and changing. They will identify actions that help them be healthy, safe and physically active. Together they will discover different settings where they can be active and how to move and play safely. They will name body parts and describe how their body responds to movement. The students will use personal and social skills when working with others in a range of healthy activities.

English

In Term 1, Prep students will begin building key early literacy skills, with a strong emphasis on developing correct pencil grip, fine motor strength and accurate letter formation. Through a range of hands-on activities, they will practise emerging writing skills such as controlled mark-making, early handwriting strokes and letters. As students become more confident, they will be introduced to recount writing, learning how to create simple, meaningful sentences about their own experiences. 

In Reading, students will develop foundational understandings by learning to differentiate between letters and words, identify key features of a book and practise early reading behaviours that support their growing literacy skills.

Mathematics

At the beginning of Term 1, each child’s mathematical understanding was individually assessed during the assessment days to inform teaching and monitor progress throughout the year. This term, our learning will focus on patterns, measurement - with an emphasis on time, counting, early place value concepts and location. Building strong foundations in these areas will support students in developing mathematical fluency, problem-solving skills and reasoning, while preparing them for continued success in mathematics. One of the main resources that we will be using is Ochre Education.

Social & Emotional Learning

At St John’s, Prep students will commence the term by learning about our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Matrix, which highlights the expectations of being Respectful, Responsible and Safe. These shared values underpin and shape our school community. Through explicit instruction, role-play and drawing activities, students will develop a clear understanding of these behaviours.

As part of our whole-school approach, students will also be introduced to The Resilience Project, where they will begin exploring emotional literacy and personal wellbeing strategies using their own journals and workbooks.

Communication

Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher via email with any school-related enquiries. We will make every effort to respond promptly during weekdays between 8.00am to 5.00pm. If you would prefer to meet face-to-face we are more than happy to schedule an appointment. Your communication is valued and appreciated.

Please read the fortnightly School Newsletter to stay up to date with what's happening at St John's.

With faith and love,

Cara Woolley (Prep A) & Rebecca Stuart (Prep B) - Prep Teachers

cwoolley@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

rstuart@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au