St John's School Newsletter

Learning and Teaching

Chinese

This term in Chinese, our prep to grade four students have been focusing on learning the topic of food. We not only learnt to introduce some of our favourite food in Chinese, but also explored the cultural meanings behind Chinese food and dining etiquette. The grade 5/6 students have been learning about our school in Chinese. We learnt to introduce our school subjects and the school environment in structured Chinese sentences, and we further compared and contrasted schools in China and Australia. We also use the learnt knowledge to design our school and timetable. 

Students had opportunities to take part in different cultural activities, including lion dance, chopsticks competition, and Chinese hacky sack kicking. These experiences deepened students’ understanding of various beliefs and customs in Chinese culture. 

Maths News

As we come to the end of another exciting school year, it’s a wonderful time to reflect on the journey of learning in mathematics that our students and teachers have experienced.

Earlier in the year, our F-2 team participated in professional learning related to the Science of Learning and high impact teaching strategies to ensure that all students are active participants in the learning process at all times. They trialled evidence based resources in the classroom as well as exploring the notion of Daily Reviews. The Year 3-6 teachers followed suit and began exploring the strategies in their classrooms also. 

 

Mel, Kim, Lipo and I went along to Monash University to learn about the intervention program called GRIN - Getting Ready In Numeracy. This program helps students get ready for learning by preparing them for their upcoming maths lesson; familiarising them with key concepts and vocabulary and modeling what they can expect to see or do in the lesson. Small groups of students have participated in the program this year at St John’s and have noticed an improvement in their numeracy learning and confidence.

Maths was certainly visible around the school through a variety of experiences for the students. It has been great to see the engagement and excitement from students during these opportunities. 

Some of these included:

  • Celebrating International Maths Day

  • Participating in Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge

  • Participating in the Australian Mathematics Competition

  • Introducing a new leadership position - Maths Leader

  • Participating in STEM Week

  • Family Maths Challenges in the newsletter

  • Maths Extension Group and the Final Showcase

As we look forward to the Summer holidays, it’s important to keep the joy of learning alive. Maths can be fun and engaging in everyday life! Below are some simple yet enjoyable maths-related activities that you can try at home or around Melbourne with your children during the break:

  1. Treasure Hunt with Shapes and Numbers – Create a treasure map with clues based on shapes or number patterns. This can be a fun way to incorporate geometry and problem-solving while exploring the local area.

  2. Cooking Together – Cooking is a wonderful opportunity to practice measurements, fractions, and basic operations. Let your child help with preparing recipes and measuring ingredients!

  3. Maths in Nature – Take a walk in one of Melbourne’s many parks or gardens. Encourage your child to look for patterns in nature, count the petals on flowers, or measure the height of trees using shadows and basic math.

  4. Visit Melbourne Museum or Scienceworks – These places offer exciting exhibits that integrate science and math in a hands-on way. Explore interactive displays that make math come alive.

  5. Board Games and Puzzles – Games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, or even card games such as Uno help strengthen math skills like counting, addition, and strategy. Puzzles are also a great way to develop spatial reasoning.

  6. Outdoor Measurement Activities – Measure the distance between objects, the height of playground equipment, or the perimeter of a park. This can introduce concepts like length, area, and estimation.

The holidays are a great time to relax, but also to continue fostering a love of learning. A little maths each day can make a big difference!

I would like to wish all our families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May this festive season bring joy, peace, and memorable moments with your loved ones. 

Thank you for your support throughout the year. I look forward to working with everyone again in 2025, for another year of growth, learning, and excitement!

 

Maths Extension Showcase

 

Last Wednesday afternoon, the Maths Extension Group celebrated their year of learning with a showcase. The students proudly presented their projects to parents, teachers and students. The projects included self-directed projects, open ended Maths investigations and a research competition organised by The University of Melbourne. 

 

Upon reflection, the students commented that they enjoyed the variety of maths tasks, opportunities to work both independently and in small groups and appreciated the value placed on the extension group and the consistency of sessions. A big thank you to Mel and Lipo for assisting with the group throughout various times of the year.

Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge Round 2

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Earlier this term, the students in Years 3-6 participated in ROUND 2 of the 

Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge. The students were able to work independently or in small groups. 

The Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge is an international initiative aiming to engage students in computational thinking and problem solving skills in a fun and interactive environment. 

Congratulations to the following students for achieving the following results. 

They will be receiving a certificate at the End of Term assembly on Tuesday, 17 December.

HIGH DISTINCTION

  • Jasmine

  • Stephanie

CREDIT

  • Jan

  • Abigail

  • Isla

  • Ava

  • Kirralee

  • Ethan J

  • Jackson

  • Lachlan H

  • Elliot

Thanks for supporting the great learning in Maths this year and I am looking forward to supporting your children again next year.

Mrs Anna Hendy

St John's Maths Leader

Marathon Club

Our last Marathon Club for this year was on Thursday, 5 December. All students who attended Marathon Club throughout the year were invited to gather for a special celebratory breakfast at Halliday Park.  Special thanks to Mr Van Rooy, Ruby and Mrs Bayliss for helping Julie cook the breakfast.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Marathon Club this year, we’ll see you all running again in 2025. 

Julie, Mel K, Lipo and Ange

 

PE - Term 4 Sporting Highlights

Term 4 has been filled with incredible sporting activities that encourage participation, skill-building, and fun across all year levels. Here’s a snapshot of the events that got our students moving!

 

Gala Cricket Day – Grades 5/6

Our Grade 5/6 students shone brightly at the Gala Cricket Day as they played against other schools within the district. The passion for the game shone brightly and the students showcased outstanding sportsmanship and team comradery, truly embracing the spirit of the game. 

Hockey Clinic with Doncaster Hockey Club – Grades 3-6

Students in Grades 3-6 were treated to a hands-on hockey clinic run by the experts from Doncaster Hockey Club, with a focus on dribbling and ball control as they practiced their skills and played different hockey games. We are fortunate enough to have Doncaster Hockey Club return in term 1 2025 to provide more enjoyable lessons for our students.

 

Downball Day – Grades 3-6

One of the term’s standout events was Downball Day, where students in Grades 3-6 competed in friendly matches of this classic schoolyard game. The courts were buzzing with energy, and continued to buzz at recess and lunch throughout the term. There’s potential for the student’s to compete in a tournament against other local schools in 2025, so there’s more practicing to be had!

 

Division Athletics – Grades 4-6

A group of determined students earned the chance to represent our school at the Division Athletics Carnival, competing in a variety of track and field events. A special congratulations to one talented student who progressed to the Regional Athletics competition—an outstanding achievement!

 

Tennis Program with Mitcham and Donvale Tennis Club

Lisa from Mitcham and Donvale Tennis Club delivered an engaging tennis program for all St John’s students. The sessions focused on building foundational tennis skills, and it was amazing to see so much improvement in the students throughout the program. There were some intense back-and-forth rallies!

I have loved teaching all of your children Physical Education this semester and look forward to being back for more great sporting highlights in 2025.

Michael van Rooy

St John's Phys. Ed Teacher