Year 1/2

Year 1/2 Cluster News 

What an exciting day on Friday for the Colour Run and it was lovely to see lots of families on Tuesday enjoying a chat and muffin for Middle Of Term breakfast in the warmth of the Worship Centre. 

Gumboots 

Students may leave a pair gumboots at school if they would like to go into the Nature Play area during the winter weather. Please make sure they are named and in a plastic bag that can be hung on the bag hook.  

Incursion 

Year 1 students will host a visit from Wilbur’s Wildlife on Thursday 12th June from 11.15 - 12.15pm to hear about how the needs of animals are connected to their habitats. https://wilburswildlife.com.au/  

Home Inquiry   

Where do you use measurement at home? Do you estimate (guess based on your knowledge)? List the different units of measurement you use. You could draw a design and/or build something or use a recipe. We would love to see a photo or taste a sample! 

Read decodable/interest/library books etc every night for 10-15 minutes.  

Weekly Timetable – 1/2 Classes 

 Learning for Week 6 and 7 

Word Study (previously Jolly Spelling):  

Week 6 

Year 1 /double vowels/ e.g. ee, ie, oa, ue 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fb3Pdt8kxg 

Year 2  silent k 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azmkPcW-TVY 

Week 7 

Year 1 ‘ch’ e.g. chop, cheese 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWg2uzAuSe4  

Year 2 Soft c for /s/ e.g. place, mice 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1eCU5yZOJk 

Grammar Focus  

Year 1: verbs, conjugating verbs (changing the form to match the sentence e.g. jumping/jumped) 

Year 2: sentences and verbs, adjectives 

Writer’s Workshop: We begin a unit looking at the craft of writing. Students are engaging in conversations and considering how to use feedback from peers and adults to improve their writing. 

Reader’s Workshop: Students identify the features of a non-fiction book as we use them to research during our Unit of Inquiry. They practise reading non-fiction books aloud as a ‘teacher’ (think David Attenborough) to keep the interest of the listener.  

Mathematics:  

Both year 1 and 2 students will begin inquiring into measuring the length of shapes and objects using informal units (e.g. blocks, counters, pencils). Year 2 students will use their understanding of halves, quarters and eighths when measuring. 

Unit of Inquiry: Sharing the Planet 

Central Idea: People make connections through observing their surroundings. 

Line of Inquiry 1: How the needs of living things are connected to their habitats (Year 1) 

Line if Inquiry 2: Earth is part of a solar system (Year 2) 

Line of Inquiry 3: God blesses people through creation. 

Year 1 students (with Mrs Zimmer) are inquiring into what is living/non living and the basic needs of pets. 

Year 2 students (with Mrs Arnold) are inquiring into the first astronomers and their understanding of patterns e.g. moon, sun, constellations.  

Christian Studies:  

Christian Beliefs: Christians believe God is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Students inquire into patterns they see in creation e.g. fractals (repeating patterns such as a fern leaf). 

Other Reminders 

Items from home/Canteen money 

We have reminded students to not bring items from home unless this has been a discussion between parents and teachers.  

Students may bring one named ball to play with at break times, however, please ensure it is not a special item in case of loss or damage.  

We have also reminded students that the money they have for the canteen is for their own or sibling purchases and not to buy food for their friends. 

Shoelaces 

Please make sure your child can do up laces themselves if they have shoes with laces. Another option is shoes with Velcro until they learn this skill. 

Bag Tags 

It is useful for students to have a bag tag to identify their bag. Please only put one bag tag on and make sure it is not a special one that will be missed if it is lost as we are not able to monitor this. 

Each day students need to bring the following. Please label everything.  

• hats – these have been sent home for a wash as they are not a requirement for Terms 2 and 3. It is still a good idea to leave them in bags as some days can still have a high UV rating.  

• sunscreen is generally not applied at school during Terms 2 and 3. 

• Take Home Bags, which are also for Library borrowing. 

• a water bottle 

• a fruit snack 

• recess 

• lunch 

Lunch Boxes 

Please pack a substantial lunch rather than lots of recess snacks and put an ice pack in on hot days as the lunches remain in school bags outside. We also ask that you send in ‘nude food’ which does not include wrappers. 

Library Borrowing  

Both classes visit the Library on Tuesdays to borrow 2 books for 2 weeks. 

Take Home books 

Each week students take home 2-3 interest books to read at home. A letter has been sent home explaining the process. During the week, we listen to children and begin sending decodable books or other good fit books home to read.  

Toddle 

We post important information reminders, student learning, photos/videos and assessments on this platform.  Please contact the office if you are not connected. 

Volunteers 

During the year we have excursions, a Year 1 Sleepover and a Year 2 Camp.  

If you are interested in volunteering, there a few things you must have up to date to be able to come along or to help in the classroom. Please do not volunteer unless you have these already. Contact the office if you have any questions. 

• Working With Children Check (WWCC)  
• Responding to Abuse, Harm and Neglect training (RRHAN-EC)  
• Valuing Safe Communities (VSC) training 

https://www.goldengrove.sa.edu.au/parent-portal/volunteering/  

May God bless your week, 

Melanie Arnold and Ellen Zimmer 

Melanie Arnold: Arnold.melanie@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Tim Kriewaldt kriewaldt.tim@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Ellen Zimmer zimmer.ellen@goldengrove.sa.edu.au