Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families,

We have had another fantastic week in Foundation and are so proud of the enthusiasm and effort our students continue to show each day. On Wednesday our Foundation students participated beautifully in our school Mass. They demonstrated our school-wide expectations of Safety, Respect and Learning by listening attentively, showing reverence, and representing our year level so well. We are incredibly proud of the way they conducted themselves. We look forward to another exciting week of learning ahead!

Reminder: School photos will take place on Wednesday 5th August. Please ensure your child is in full school uniform.

100 Days of School - Friday 24/07

Last Friday, our Foundation students had a wonderful time celebrating 100 Days of School! The day was filled with fun and engaging activities as we recognised this exciting milestone. Students enjoyed completing the writing activity Things I've Been Told 100 Times, sharing their ideas in If I Had $100, I Would..., creating colourful 100 Days of School crowns, and celebrating with a delicious cupcake treat. It was a fantastic day, and we are so proud of how much our students have grown and learned over their first 100 days of school.

We hope you enjoy looking through some of the special moments captured in the photos below!

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FD

Learning for the week ahead

Religious Education:

In Religious Education, students will be learning about Saint Mary MacKillop and why she is an important person in the Catholic faith. They will explore how Mary followed God by praying, helping and caring for others, and reflect on simple ways they can follow her example by showing kindness, compassion and care in their own lives.

English:

In English, we will be continuing our reading of 'The Gruffalo's Child' by Julia Donaldson. This story follows the Gruffalo's curious daughter as she ventures into the deep, dark wood in search of the mysterious "Big Bad Mouse," despite being warned not to go. Along the way, she meets a range of woodland animals and discovers that things are not always as they seem. Using this engaging story, we will develop our comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and writing skills through a range of fun and interactive literacy activities.

If you would like to read the story with your child, please follow the link below.

Mathematics:

In Mathematics, students will continue exploring addition and subtraction within 10 using number tracks. Students will practise counting on to find the total, counting back to subtract, and finding the difference between two numbers. We will build confidence using number tracks to solve simple number problems.

Integrated Curriculum: 

This term, our Integrated learning will focus on The Arts.

Next week, students will continue exploring The Gruffalo through dance and drama. In Dance, they will use different levels, pathways and movement to imagine travelling through the dark wood, creating and repeating their favourite movements. In Drama, students will experiment with slow motion and silence to build suspense, while using their bodies and facial expressions to show the contrast between feeling safe and feeling scared.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL):

In SEL, students will continue exploring the idea that interests, toys, colours, games and activities are for everyone. They will learn that our choices are not determined by whether we are a boy or a girl, and that everyone should feel included and respected. Through stories, discussions and classroom activities, students will practise being fair, celebrating differences, and including others in play and learning.

Auslan:

Next week, students will continue revising and practising the signs they have learnt, building their confidence and communication skills through games and interactive activities.

What you can do at home

• Reading together at home is one of the best ways to support your child's learning. Enjoy this week's focus book by reading it together or listening to a read-aloud online (many can be found on YouTube).
• While reading, you could:
• Discuss the main events and important messages in the story.
• Ask your child to retell the story in their own words.
• Talk about the characters, the setting and what happens throughout the book.
• Look for words that begin with our focus sound/s.
• Encourage your child to think deeply by asking questions such as:
  • Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?
  • I wonder why...
  • What makes you think that?
  • Can you show me where it says...?
  • What do you think will happen next?
  • That didn't make sense to me. Let's read it again.
• You can also support your child's learning by:
• Practising correct letter formation and handwriting.
• Bringing our Mathematics learning into everyday life.
• Look for other opportunities to talk about maths during your daily routines. Example of this could be:
  • Count everyday objects, such as toys, fruit, stairs or cars.
  • Look for numbers on houses, letterboxes, clocks and number plates.
  • Talk about shapes you can see around your home or neighbourhood.
  • Compare quantities, such as "Who has more grapes?" or "Which pile has fewer?"
  • Use maths language like more, less, bigger, smaller, before, after, next to, behind and between.
  • Involve your child in cooking, asking them to count, measure or estimate ingredients.
  • Play simple board games or card games that involve counting, matching or recognising numbers.
  • Practise number stories using everyday objects, for example, "There were 8 strawberries. We ate 3. How many are left?"
  • Ask questions while shopping, such as "Can you find 5 apples?" or "Which item costs more?"
  • Notice patterns on clothing, wrapping paper, tiles or fences and encourage your child to continue the pattern.

Important Reminders:

• Fidget Toys

  We kindly ask that students do not bring fidget toys to school unless their use is a planned adjustment in consultation with Allied Health Professionals. Students who bring fidget toys without an approved adjustment will be asked to place them in their school bag for the remainder of the day to take home. We appreciate your support in encouraging your child to leave fidget toys at home.

• Wednesday 5th August - Photo Day - please use QR code in the flyer below
• Monday 24th August - Book week dress up day and Parade
• Thursday 17th September - Last day of Term 3
• Monday 5th October - First day of Term 4

You may have noticed the beautiful new garden bed beside the Bethlehem Building.

A semicircle of murnong, also known as yam daisies, is beginning to grow. Murnong is an Indigenous plant that is native to our local area on Bunurong and Boon Wurrung Country. The FIRE Carrier Team will continue adding seeds and caring for the garden. As a school community, we will be able to watch these important plants grow and develop over time.Planting species that belong naturally in our local environment is one way we can care for and help heal Country. The plants we are beginning with grew across this area for thousands of years before European settlement.

Students are encouraged to participate in the Premier's Reading Challenge.

Stickers with usernames and passwords have been placed on the back of the Little Learners Love Literacy tag on your child’s reader pouch. A bookmark containing a QR code linking directly to the challenge website has also been placed inside your child’s reader pouch.

The Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge concludes on Friday, 4 September 2026. Students must complete their reading and have all of their books logged online before this date to finish the challenge.

Alternatively, families can access the website using the link below:

• Please ensure that you are labelling your child's belongings.

• Can we please ask for a pair of socks and underwear to be placed in the front zip pocket of your child's school bag in case of a toileting accident.

Enjoy your weekend,

The Galilee Team

Contact Us @ Galilee

galilee@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au  (all teachers) or