Year 5

A warm welcome to all students, parents, and families in the 2026 Year 5 community!

It has been wonderful to see our Year 5 students settling into their new classrooms with enthusiasm and confidence. The students have been busy getting to know their new teachers, as well as building friendships, and embracing new routines. We are looking forward to an incredible year of learning, growth, and new experiences.

Our Teaching Team this Year:

5A - Kate Bretag (Classroom Teacher - Mon, Tues, Fri) & Fran Gould (Grade 5 Team Leader and Classroom Teacher Wed, Thurs).

5B - Sam Butchart - (Classroom Teacher)

5C - Chloe Bindloss (Classroom teacher) and Katy Wheeler (Teacher of the Deaf)

Literacy

In Literacy students will take part in novel study of 'Bindi' by Kirli Saunders. This is a verse novel about an 11-year-old Indigenous girl on Gundungurra Country, who navigates a difficult year of drought, a broken wrist, and devastating bushfires. The story explores themes of climate change, healing, and caring for Country through the lens of family, art, and friendship

Through this text, students will deepen their reading comprehension by analysing how the author uses plot and character development to convey the themes and key messages of the text. The novel study will also provide opportunities for writing an information text, with a focus on the structure and language features of an information report, including appropriate tense, voice and use of technical vocabulary.

Students will also be participating in the Spelling Mastery program. This structured approach to spelling instruction reinforces their understanding of spelling patterns and rules, contributing to their overall literacy proficiency.

In Speaking and Listening, students will revise effective spoken interaction and listening skills. They will express their point of view and opinions during class discussion, book clubs and small group work in a respectful, productive manner.

Maths

In Number and Algebra, students will start the year by revising place value concepts. This includes exploring number patterns and equivalent number sentences using decimal numbers. Students will develop their understanding of multiples and factors and use this knowledge to solve related multiplication and division equations.

In Applied Mathematics (Measurement, Space, Statistics, Probability) students will revise length calculations and unit conversions, explore area through multiplication and study 3D shapes and their nets. Students will also interpret data displays and graphs to make observations.

Science and Humanities

In Science and Humanities, students will learn about different geographical features around the world and explore how these features were formed, whether through sudden events or changes that took millions of years. They will investigate how rapid geographical changes and extreme weather events can affect the Earth’s surface and impact the communities living in those areas.

Students will also learn what natural disasters are, how they are measured, and explore their effects, both locally and globally.

Specialist Timetable

ART

AUSLAN

P.E.

STEM

PERFORMING ARTS

LIBRARY

5A

Friday

9:50-10:40

Friday

10:40-11:

Monday

2:40-3:30

Wednesday

9:50-10:40

Wednesday

10:40-11:30

Thursday

1:10-2:00

5B

Monday

10:40-11:30

Friday

9:50-10:40

Wednesday

9:50-10:40

Wednesday

10:40-11:30

Monday

2:40-3:30

Tuesday

1:10-2:00

5C

Monday

2:40-3:30

Thursday

2:40-3:30

Wednesday

10:40-11:30

Friday

9:50-10:40

Wednesday

9:50-10:40

Thursday 1:10-2:00

Camp

This year’s Grade 5 camp will be happening in Term Two from Wednesday 29th April to Friday 1st May. We will be going to the Summit Adventure Camp, whose stated mission is to 'provide inspiring and life changing experiences through meaningful programs and powerful activities that build self-worth, character, success and happiness.'

More details about camp will be provided closer to the date.

We are looking forward to working in partnership with families to support each child. If you have any further questions, please feel free to organise an appointment to meet with us.

THANK YOU!

Grade 5 Team,

Fran Gould, Kate Bretag, Chloe Bindloss, Katy Wheeler and Sam Butchart

Year 6

Welcome to all students, parents and families within the 2026 Grade 6 Community!

Over the past week it’s been great to see our Year 6 students beaming with pride and taking on the responsibility of being our leaders within the school. Some highlights so far have included meeting Prep buddies and settling in with new classmates and teachers.

Our Teaching Team This Year:

6A - Stephanie Geros (Classroom Teacher)

6B - Tasleem Sahib (Classroom Teacher Monday & Tuesday and Grade 6 Team Leader) and Anika Lingam (Classroom Teacher Wednesday - Friday)

6C - Meghan Buchanan (Classroom Teacher) & Maddi Huglin (Teacher of the Deaf)

As always, we look forward to working together with families to ensure we can support all students to meet their full potential. Please feel free to reach out to us should you have any information to share, questions to ask, or simply to say hello.

Leadership

Some of the best opportunities to develop leadership skills occur during the senior school years. We encourage all Grade 6 students to model the school values through their behaviour and work ethic both within and beyond the school grounds. These include wearing the correct uniform and following whole school rules and routines. Students need to be aware that they are looked upon as role models by younger students.

It has been wonderful to see our Grade 6 students arriving on time at 8:50 am, independently following the morning routine and starting the day ready to learn at 9:00 am. The atmosphere has been positive and cheerful and we are well set up for a great year together!

Teaching and Learning Overview

English

In Literacy, students will engage in a novel study of the text, "Can You See Me," by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott.

Through this text, students will explore how the author uses vivid and emotive language to create mood, develop character and build tension. They will expand their own writing skills by experimenting with new vocabulary, a variety of sentence structures and the use of connectives to show relationships between ideas. Alongside this, students will deepen their comprehension by making inferences about characters, examining figurative language and reflecting on the personal and social messages within the story.

The study will also include opportunities for persuasive writing, allowing students to analyse arguments and apply persuasive devices in their own texts.

In addition to the novel study, students will participate in the Spelling Mastery program.

In Speaking and Listening, students will participate in structured discussions, including Book Clubs, by clarifying and challenging ideas, developing and supporting arguments and sharing and evaluating information. They will also develop strategies to interact effectively in more formal discussion settings.

Maths

In Number and Algebra, students will further develop an understanding of place value and the properties of numbers. They will also focus on comparing and locating fractions on number lines. Students will apply efficient strategies and use estimation to solve mathematical problems and investigate positive and negative numbers, including within financial contexts.

In Applied Mathematics (Measurement, Space, Statistics, Probability), students will focus on locating points in the four quadrants of the Cartesian plane. They will compare cross-sections of objects and recognise their relationships to prisms. They will also develop their skills in data representation and interpretation. They will investigate categorical and numerical variables using data displays and tools. Students will use terms of mode, range and shape when describing information represented by data sets.

Humanities

In Humanities, students are learning about consumerism and the factors that influence purchasing decisions, including personal and financial choices. They will explore different types of resources (natural, human and capital) and how these are used to meet needs and wants, as well as how social, economic and cultural factors can impact financial decisions.

As part of the unit, students will conduct market research, develop a business plan and run a school market. They will also decide how to donate the proceeds, building an understanding of financial responsibility and community contribution.

Year 6 Camp

Camp will be held during Term Two, on Monday 25th of May 2026 to Wednesday 27th of May 2026. We will attend CYC City Camp, which is situated in a fully-refurbished 1910 heritage-listed building in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Students will participate in a variety of experiences during their stay. They will become ‘tourists in their own city’ and utilise public transport when navigating the streets of Melbourne. More details about excursions and camps will be provided closer to the dates. Please keep an eye on Compass to stay up to date.

Specialist Timetable

ART

AUSLAN

P.E.

STEM

PERFORMING ARTS

LIBRARY

6A

Tuesday

10:40-11:30

Monday

9:50-10:40

Wednesday

2:40-3:30

Tuesday

9:00-9:50

Thursday

10:40-11:30

Friday

9:00-9:50

6B

Friday

10:40-11:30

Tuesday

9:50-10:40

Monday

9:50-10:40

Tuesday

10:40-11:30

Wednesday

2:40-3:30

Thursday 9:50-10:40

6C

Monday

9:50-10:40

Tuesday

10:40-11:30

Friday

10:40-11:30

Wednesday

2:40-3:30

Tuesday

9:50-10:40

Thursday 9:00-9:50

Again, welcome back to school for 2026, and please remember that at RGLPS we see education as a three-way partnership between the family, teacher and child. If you have any questions or concerns, we invite you to make an appointment to meet with us.

Thank you,

Grade 6 Team,

Tasleem Sahib, Stephanie Geros, Meghan Buchanan, Maddi Huglin and Anika Lingam

NAPLAN 2026