What's happening in our learning spaces?
STUDENTS OF THE WEEK
| STUDENTS OF THE WEEK - WEEK 8 | |
| FLW | Billy -For the positive mindset you display each day. You should feel so proud of the way you are growing in confidence and attempting your learning independently each day. What a Superstar you are Billy! |
| FOS | Liliana -For always being a helpful and kind student who tries her best to complete all her learning to a high standard. Keep up the amazing work Liliana! |
| FAM | Adeline For always engaging in your learning with a smile and a positive attitude. Amazing Adeline! |
| 1/2VS | Violet -For being a responsible role model for your peers and always finding ways to help others! You are a valuable member of our learning space! |
| 1/2NA | Minnie -For being a kind friend to all and always looking out for others. Your heart is your superpower! |
| 1/2CW | Evelyn -For always listening attentively, following directions and showing respect in the classroom. Their focus and responsibility set a great example for others. Amazing work Evelyn! |
| 3/4BP | Sam -For showing persistence and resilience towards his learning. Super Sam! |
| 3/4SH | Zara -For her positive attitude, incredible work ethic, and continued dedication to improvement. You always give 110%. Keep it up, Zara! |
| 5/6ZK | Angelina -For demonstrating fairness and an openness to new experiences. The teachers, alongside Josh and Lucy recognised your willingness to try something new and with a positive mindset. |
| 5/6MC | Max -For the contributions you continuously make throughout each day to help others, follow expectations and be a role model to others. Your efforts during our leadership incursion to include and help others to succeed did not go unnoticed. Keep it up, Max! |
| 5/6NT | Ava -Congratulations to Ava, who was recognized by our incursion leaders for striking the perfect balance between stepping up as a leader and stepping back to give others a chance to shine. Well done on demonstrating teamwork and leadership! |
| STUDENTS OF THE WEEK - WEEK 9 | |
| FLW | Eliza -For being so enthusiastic and willing to join in discussions during learning time. You are so positive each and every day at school. Fantastic effort, Eliza! |
| FAM | Arrow -For your amazing manners and the positive attitude you have displayed this week during your learning. Amazing effort, Arrow! |
| FOS | Isla -For being a kind and caring student who always |
| 1/2NA | Madeline -For adding detail to every part of your recount and always striving to improve your writing. Your dedication to learning is fantastic! James -For completing your recount planner and writing in your own words. Keep up the awesome learning superstar! |
| 1/2VS | Ani -For being a responsible role model for your peers. You demonstrate how to be the most wonderful learner by always making good choices. Keep it up admirable Ani! Adam -For being a kind and empathetic learner who cares for others. You always look out for your peers and offer a helping hand. Amazing Adam! |
| 1/2CW | Elena -For consistently showing kindness, respect, and responsibility in the classroom. She always gives her best effort in everything she does. Well done, Elena! |
| 3/4BP | Eva D -For being a super SMART speller each week when practicing your focus words. It’s amazing to see your hard work is paying off. Epic Eva! |
| 3/4SH | 3/4SH class -For being incredible class throughout Term 1! You give 100% each day, you’re kind and enthusiastic. You’ve given your absolute best in everything you’ve done, and you’ve been the best class a teacher could ask for. 3/4SH! |
| 5/6MC | Monte -For consistently being a stand out student in 5/6MC. You have been trying your hardest when completing your learning and taking on responsibilities that make you a great role model to others. Well done Monte! |
| 5/6NT | Skyler -Skyler is a shining example of hard work, reliability, and helpfulness. His positivity and inclusiveness make him a great example to others, creating a supportive and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. Keep up the fantastic work! |
| 5/6ZK | Erica -For demonstrating zest, but especially during our incursion. You were outstanding at inspiring others to show positivity towards challenges presented, and your energy was recognised by teachers and Lucy and Josh. Gemma -For demonstrating leadership during our incursion, you knew how to stand up, stand back and showed encouragement to your peers. We are also so impressed with your efforts, well done Gemma. |
| Wellbeing | Makayla -Your kindness and generosity to help your teachers and peers is admirable. Our community is thankful to have someone like you, who helps others without a second thought. Thank you for being you Makayla, you rock! |
| Maths | Keanu FAM -For demonstrating your amazing number sense and counting skills in our sessions. Thankyou for being such a polite and cooperative learner. |
FOUNDATION NEWS
What an exciting week it has been in the Foundation Learning Space! With the holidays just around the corner, students have been working hard and having lots of fun in their learning.
A big thank you to all the families who came along to the school Community Day last Sunday - it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces enjoying the day!
As writers, we have been using sentence stems to support us in beginning and structuring our sentences, listening for initial sounds in words to write, and making connections with our sight words to include these in our writing. We have also been using the words on our word wall to build confidence and independence in our writing. Please be sure to include your child's sight words in their green folder as we regularly encourage them to use these to support them in their writing.
As mathematicians, we have been deepening our understanding of numbers 0-10, exploring their written names and making meaningful connections between collections and their numerical representations. Through hands-on activities, games, and group discussions, students have been using their counting strategies to match, sort, and compare different collections, developing a strong number sense that will support their future learning.
Last Friday we celebrated Miss Marscico’s upcoming nuptials to her partner Adrian. At our Whole School Assembly our incredible Foundation students performed a fun dance down the aisle and shared the secret video they made on their 14th day of school to surprise Miss Marsico. We wish her all the very best in the lead up to her Wedding this coming weekend and look forward to seeing her back at school soon with lots of photos to share. Congratulations to Alycia and Adrian!
Reminders: Next Friday the 4th of April, the whole school will be participating in a Stations of the Cross reenactment. All Foundation students are asked to wear something simple, like a dressing gown or a piece of material, to represent the crowd in the time of Jesus. See photos for examples - there is no need to purchase anything new!
We are looking forward to another great week of learning
This week, we will be learning about…
- Numeracy: Developing our understanding of connection numbers to their written names
- Reading: The blending and segmenting of three sounds and linking he sound /t/ to the letter T
- Writing: Developing our writing using initial sounds, incorporating sight words into our writing, descriptive words.
- Inquiry: Being a collaborative learner and incorporating our Agreed Ways into our daily routine.
- Religion: The Stations of the Cross
- The Resilience Project: Kindness and building positive friendships.
As this is the last newsletter for the Term, we would like to wish all our students and families a wonderful holiday and Easter break. Thank you to the Foundation students for the way you have participated throughout the term in your learning, you are all amazing! Thank you to the parents and carers who have supported us during Term 1 in settling your children into the routines of school. We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday 22nd April ready, relaxed and rested for Term 2!
Foundation Team,
Leanne Wenckowski, Olivia Sargent and Alycia Marsico
YEAR 1/2 NEWS
It’s been another busy and exciting week in the Year 1/2 learning spaces! We kicked off the week with school photos and a special visit from players of the Essendon Football Club. As part of our inquiry into collaboration, we’ve been exploring what it means to be a strong team player. During the players' visit, we had the chance to ask them insightful questions about teamwork and what makes a successful group effort.
We also participated in a range of drills and activities designed to challenge our skills and put our teamwork abilities to the test. Through these exercises, we practiced important skills such as:
- Encouraging our teammates
- Sharing ideas and responsibilities
- Listening to others with respect
- Solving problems together
It was a fun and valuable opportunity to develop these skills together!
This week, the students are practising the spelling rule: The digraph /ck/ making the sound ‘k’ as in ‘duck’. The students have additional spelling words on their list this week. At the bottom of the list, you may have noticed a space for 'BOB' words. This stands for 'Back of the Book'. These are selected words that have been spelt incorrectly and written at the back of each child's Writing book. Please practise them as you would the other words :)
As writers, we have continued to find out about recount writing. During our reading sessions, we have explored various recount examples and identified key language features, such as sequencing words, adjectives, and past tense verbs. As thinkers, we are applying this knowledge to write recounts about our weekend and school experiences. Additionally, we are learning about the writing process, which includes planning, drafting, editing, and publishing. We are also learning to use a checklist to help edit our writing effectively. To further enhance our skills, we’ve been placed in triads throughout the week (small groups of three) to share our writing and offer each other constructive feedback. This collaborative approach helps us continually improve our writing abilities!
As mathematicians, we are tuning in to the concept of addition. We are starting by understanding and applying the "count on" strategy, which involves placing the larger number in our head and counting on to find the total. To help us grasp this strategy, we will be using various materials, which will support our development of this technique so that it becomes a mental math strategy. This week, a new math rubric has been sent home, featuring a range of place value and addition activities. Thank you for supporting your child with these activities at home each week!
Vania Sparano, Vivian Boggis, Nadia Ascenzo, Chloe Wang & Olivia Bovolato
1/2 Team
YEAR 3/4 NEWS
As members of a faith community, our Grade 3 students engaged in a Reconciliation Workshop on Monday, facilitated by Mrs Gasbarro. During our retreat, we engaged in prayer and considered what Reconciliation means to us and why we participate in this sacrament. We created artworks to help deepen our understanding and celebrated the day with a hot dog lunch. Thank you to Mrs Gasbarro for organising this day for us.
On Thursday night, we celebrated our Reconciliation with our families and community. We asked Father for forgiveness for the poor choices we have made throughout our lives. Congratulations to all the students who participated in this sacrament!
As responsible individuals, we engaged in a Responsible Pet Ownership incursion and were lucky enough to meet a beautiful Duck Tolling Retriever dog named Prancer. We learned how to pat, respect and care for dogs under the guidance of our facilitator, Leonie. We also learned the importance of desexing cats. Did you know that a female cat can give birth twice a year, typically producing a litter of 4 kittens each time? Imagine how many kittens that would be within 5 years! https://www.pettown.vic.gov.au/
As future high school students, our Year 4 girls joined over 200 students from 14 different schools for Mercy High School’s ‘Explore Day’ on Thursday, 20th March. We had the opportunity to try out subjects like food technology, science, art, dance, drama, and sport - we had such a good time! We were guided throughout the school by existing students and got a glimpse into high school life. The day ended with a delicious sausage sizzle, making it a fun and memorable experience for all!
Thank You
As we wrap up Term 1, we’d like to thank our Year 3/4 families for their continued support and enthusiasm throughout the first few months of the school year. Our students have made fantastic progress, and we’re excited to see them continue to grow and thrive. Wishing you all a restful and joyful Easter break - enjoy this special time with your loved ones, and we look forward to seeing you in Term 2!
Year 3/4 Teachers
Belinda Panzarino & Sarah Hogan
YEAR 5/6 NEWS
What an incredible start to the year we've had in Term 1! Throughout the term, we have deepened our understanding of the SMART Spelling program, focusing on key spelling patterns such as ea, c, g/gh, cc, and ou. This week, we explored the digraph si, which produces a "zh" sound, as heard in words like division.
Beyond spelling, we have reflected on the qualities that make great leaders and explored the many ways we can demonstrate leadership in our daily lives. Adding to the excitement, we have participated in the engaging Character Builders incursion and either have already visited or are eagerly anticipating our visit to The Huddle.
With so many enriching experiences behind us, we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!As learners, we have embarked on an exciting literary journey with our new class novel, The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett. Set during World War I, the story follows two sisters, Marcelle and Coco, as they help a blind soldier find his way home. Along the way, he shares four captivating fables about donkeys, each weaving powerful themes of honesty, loyalty, and courage against the backdrop of war. Through this novel, we will continue to explore figurative language and fables.
As writers, we have been honing our skills by delving into figurative language techniques, including similes, personification, and metaphors. Students have been identifying these devices in texts and crafting their own vivid examples to elevate their writing.
This is a gentle reminder that on Friday, April 4th, at 9:15 a.m., we will gather for our Stations of the Cross mass. Families are warmly invited to attend this special occasion.
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our parent volunteers: Sarah, Tarnia, Tara, Cesar, Maria, Erica, Angela, and Phillip. We truly appreciate your generosity and support this term, and we look forward to welcoming more of you into the classroom and on future excursions.
Finally, thank you to all our families for your ongoing support - whether it's attending interschool sports or assisting with homework, your efforts do not go unnoticed. We wish you all a joyful and restful Easter break and look forward to another fantastic term ahead. See you on Tuesday, April 22nd, for the first day of Term 2!
Term 2 Important Dates:
APRIL
- Monday 21st April Easter Monday Public Holiday
- Tuesday 22nd April First Day Term 2
- Thursday 24th Saint Fidelis' Feast Day
- Friday 25th April Anzac Day Public Holiday
MAY
- Friday 2nd May Interschool Sports (Winter) Begins
- Monday 26th to Wednesday 28th Year 5/6 School Camp
JUNE
- Monday 9th June King’s Birthday Public Holiday
JULY
- Friday 4th July Last Day of Term 2
Have a wonderful week and holiday break,
5/6 Team,
Bianka Zorzut, Vicky Karalis, Maddie Comrie and Nick Tresize