News from Year 5/6

Remote Learning

Thank you to all of our class and parents for supporting remote learning in different ways over the last couple of weeks on the extreme fire rating days. Without much notice we all pulled together to make it work. We completely understand that for some families, it is really difficult to make it work sometimes, and we thank you for your communication and openness. 

Parent-Teacher Interviews

It was great to meet/re-meet some parents last week for Interviews. It is really helpful for us to know anything about your child that may be relevent to their learning and time at school, so please keep in touch and we will do the same from our end. Supporting each other is a great way to make sure your child has the best outcomes at school.

Stepping up in 5/6

Over the past few weeks, we have been spending time revisiting our class expectations around respect and responsibility. As members of the senior school, 5/6 are being encouraged to step up in maturity and take greater ownership of their learning.

A key focus has been understanding what it means to be responsible for our own learning. This includes staying focused during lessons, making positive choices, and using strategies to manage distractions rather than being influenced by others. We have discussed practical strategies such as choosing appropriate work spaces, ignoring minor distractions, seeking support when needed, and reflecting on how our choices impact our learning.

We are will continue to support students in developing the independence and self-regulation skills that are so important in the senior years, especially moving into high school.

UYSC Transition

Later this term, we will begin our transition sessions to high school. We have a morning at Upper Yarra Secondary College coming up in the next few weeks (details TBC), and this experience will help students become more familiar with the high school environment and gain a clearer understanding of what secondary school may look like, including the opportunity to experience a range of subjects.

We understand that not all students will be attending Upper Yarra, however, it is a great chance to support all students in building confidence and feeling well prepared for their transition to secondary school, so our whole class will be attending. 

English Novel: War Horse

We are enjoying reading War Horse by Michael Morpurgo as our class novel. The story has sparked thoughtful discussions and deep reflection among students.

As the novel is set during World War I, some themes are quite significant and emotional. We have been approaching these topics with sensitivity and care, ensuring students feel supported while also encouraging meaningful conversations.

Some of the key themes we have been exploring include:

• Friendship and loyalty
• Courage and resilience
• The impact of war
• Loss and grief
• Compassion and kindness
• Hope in difficult times

• The bond between humans and animals

   

You may like to talk with your child about what is happening in the story and how different characters respond to challenges. 

We are very proud of the maturity students are showing in their discussions and the empathy they are developing as we continue through the novel.

Puberty Education

Later this term, we will be exploring puberty and changes, most likely via an online parent/child workshop, which is in the process of being organised. More information to come shortly...