Learning and Teaching
Extension Education Showcase
Last week on Wednesday, 6 December, several students presented their work in our Extension Education Showcase. This year, a small group of students from Years 1-6 have been participating in an Extension Education program at St John’s. Each week they have been working on projects of their choice that extend their critical and creative thinking skills. This has provided valuable practice in collaborating, researching and communicating with their peers. This has been invaluable in building their independence, self confidence and engagement in school activities, while developing their incredible skills, knowledge and talents.
Students researched topics of interest which included photography, movie making, gemstones, geology and game design.
Ange Crowe and Mel Kerwin
Extension Education Team
STEM Resources
We would like to give a huge thank-you to the Community Association and the school community for their fundraising efforts this year. The money has enabled us to purchase MICROBITS and MAKEDO resources for our STEM Program.
The microbits have been used by our senior students to learn about simple circuits, to create a variety of electronic devices and to learn all about conductors. The senior students even created a heartbeat using the microbits and experts in understanding circuits now.
The Makedo Kits will enable to students to design and create a variety buildings, characters and so much more, using tools, connectors and their own imaginations. This will be an important part of our Design Technology Program.
Allison Bayliss
Digital Technology Leader
Math’s Yearly Reflection
It has been an absolute pleasure leading the Mathematics Program at St. John's for the past two years. This year has once again been filled with exciting developments, innovative strategies, and engaging activities aimed at fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for Mathematics among our students.
The staff at St. John’s have enacted the Launch, Explore, Summarise pedagogy to help challenge students with their thinking and improve their ability to represent their answers in a variety of ways. Throughout the year, our students were encouraged to explore mathematical concepts through a multitude of avenues. A significant emphasis was placed on number talks, an interactive and reflective practice that allowed students to articulate their problem-solving processes verbally. This approach not only improved their computational skills but also enhanced their ability to communicate and reason mathematically. Students have enthusiastically engaged in discussions, sharing their strategies and reasoning behind solving mathematical problems. This practice not only enhanced their mental math abilities but also promoted a growth mindset, encouraging them to embrace challenges and listen attentively to the opinions of others.
Holiday Maths Tips
As the holiday season approaches, we encourage families to engage in mathematical activities beyond the classroom. We recommend dice games and open-ended challenges that promote mathematical thinking, such as probability-based games or puzzle-solving activities. These enjoyable yet educational activities will keep mathematical concepts fresh in students' minds during the break.
Look for Maths opportunities in everything you do on the holidays. If you are driving to a holiday destination you could:
- read a road map and plan out your journey
- note the distance between various landmarks
- estimate how long the trip will take
- guess how much petrol your tank will need to fill it
- work out the price of petrol when you fill up
- play games adding up the numbers on a car number plate
- work out a budget for the trip
I have attached a link to the Michael Minas YouTube channel which has some great games that you can play with your children.
Have a great break and once again thank you for all your support the past two years.
Rhett Masters