Foundation 

Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families,

Week 8 has been another fantastic week in Foundation! Our students have been showing great focus and determination in their learning, and it has been wonderful to see how much their confidence has grown. They are continuing to develop their skills, take on new challenges, and support one another with kindness and teamwork. We are so proud of their efforts and the positive learning habits they are building each day!

Religious Education Focus:  

This week in Religious Education, we listened to a Caritas story and learned about how Caritas helps people in different parts of the world. We talked about the places where these communities live and how their lives might be similar to, or different, from ours. We reflected on how we can show kindness, compassion, and care for others, no matter where they live.

English focus:

We read “Are We There Yet?” by Alison Lester, a book about a family travelling around Australia and exploring many different places, landscapes, and experiences along the way.

Phonics:

During explicit phonics instruction, we focused on the /n/ and /o/ sound/s.

We introduce sounds based on the Little Learners Love Literacy book, ‘Milo’s Birthday Surprise’.

Mathematics focus:

This week in Maths, students learned how to make 3-part repeating patterns. They practised identifying and creating patterns while learning to find the unit of repeat, which is the part of the pattern that repeats over and over. Students explored different ways to build and recognise these repeating sequences.

SEL:

This week in SEL, students learned that sometimes it is important to speak to a trusted adult when they need help or support. We discussed who trusted adults might be within our school community and outside of school, and students identified five trusted adults in their own lives that they could talk to.

Integrated Curriculum: Geography 

This week in Integrated Learning, students learned about maps and how they help us understand where things are. They explored how maps show places from above, use symbols and shapes, and help us see where different things are located. Students discussed how maps represent real places and what we might find on them.

AUSLAN: 

This week we learnt the signs: excuse me, can I have a drink?, right or wrong, copy me, Lord here our prayer, Amen.

Next week we are learning about... 

Religious Education: Students will learn about Holy week, Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday

Integrated Curriculum focus: Next week we will learn about Assessment/ weather and seasons

English focus: Next week we will continue reading the book: Are we there yet? By Alison Lester.

Mathematics focus: Next week we will begin to explore time.

SEL: Next week we are learning about strategies for calming out bodies

AUSLAN Focus: Students will consolidate their learning and understanding of the signs that we have learnt so far.

Ways to engage with the newsletter:

• Read or watch the weekly book with your child at home (there is often a read aloud on you tube). Talk about what the book's most important ideas are. Point to words that begin with this week's sounds.

• Ask your child to retell the story using their own words.

• Talk about who the characters are, where the story is happening.

• Practise handwriting using the visuals provided.

• Take the idea around Mathematics and ask students to repeat an activity they did at school, with you.

Important Reminders

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

• Can we please ask for a socks and underwear to be placed in the front zip pocket in case of a toileting accident. 

• Comprehension questions to ask when reading with your child to support early reading development.

  "Point to where it shows...." the .......sound

  “I wonder why…”

  "what makes you think...."

  “This reminds me of…”

  "Show me where it says"

  “I didn’t understand that part, so I’ll reread it.”

  Use a mix of Who, What, When, Where, Why, How questions based on the book.

Important Dates

TERM 1 KEY DATES — 2026

• Thursday 2 April - Holy Thursday — Last Day of Term 1

   

  TERM 2 START DATE

• Tuesday 21 April - First Day for Students

Contact Us 

galilee@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au  all teachers