5/6 Classrooms

Week 5 has been short but jam-packed, highlighted by the conclusion of Tier 2 Mathematics for 2025, and the introduction of the 2026 Student Leadership program.

Mathematics

Over the past three weeks, students have been completing their final Tier 2 cycle, focusing on fractions, decimals, and percentages. In response to recent data, they have been learning targeted skills and concepts ranging from identifying equivalent fractions to converting between expressions to solve multistep problems. We’ve been so impressed by the effort and commitment students have shown throughout this phase. Early analysis of the data for 2025 suggests that growth across Tier 2 sessions has been exceptionally strong, reflecting the focus and perseverance students have brought to their learning.

English Literacy

In Literacy, we are nearing the end of our class novel Rivet Boy. Students have thoroughly enjoyed following the journey of the protagonist, John, and have been analysing quotes from the text to infer meaning and gain a deeper understanding of scenes and characters. The novel has also provided the perfect springboard for students’ narrative writing, immersing them in rich language and inspiring their own creative pieces. We have explored a range of literary devices, including personification, simile, and metaphor, and it has been wonderful to see these techniques come to life in their engaging stories filled with imaginative plots and expressive language.

Spanish Literacy

Students in Years 5 and 6 have been exploring creative writing in Spanish. After reading short stories, they learned how authors build characters, settings, and plots. Inspired by these examples, students began developing their own narratives. It’s wonderful to see their confidence and imagination grow as they write in another language. We’re looking forward to sharing some of their original stories soon!

Year 5

This week, Luke joined the Year 5 students for a session on leadership. Together, they explored questions such as 'What is leadership?', What makes a good leader?' and developed a shared understanding of what leadership means in our school. Post-session, some Year 5s reflected that leadership is a mix ofvision, values, behaviour, and unconditional support for others. 

Later in the week, our current student leaders shared their own experiences, helping the Year 5s gain insight into the opportunities and responsibilities that come with these roles. It was wonderful to see the curiosity and enthusiasm they brought to the discussion. Students can access this presentation on SeeSaw in case they were absent or would like to review it.

Year 6

Our Year 6 students have been busily finalising their Yearbook pieces and rehearsing for graduation. Excitement is building as they prepare to celebrate their final weeks at Newlands and share their achievements with the community. It’s a special time filled with reflection, pride, and anticipation for what lies ahead.