Foundation (Prep)

English

This term we are continuing to practise using dotted thirds paper. It means we are concentrating on sitting letters on the line and making note of letters that need to have either a tall back or a tail that falls below the line. We refer to the thirds as sky, grass and dirt. The letters sit on the grass and the tails go into the dirt, while the tall letters go up to the sky.

We have also focused on two more letters in more detail, Rr and Ww. The students are consolidating the correct formation of these letters, brainstorming words that begin with each of these sounds and practising spelling with these sounds. 

We had fun making Winnie the Witch.

In Term 4, our reading focus will be on character and setting. Students will be exposed to a range of texts to discuss character traits and different examples of time and place. 

We will also focus on comprehension strategies to encourage students to think deeply about different aspects of the text. The strategies include predicting, visualising, connecting, questioning, inferring and summarising. Each week we have a class story for our focus, which will be linked to our Inquiry unit, 'Our Place'. We have started talking about the importance of prediction and visualisation.

Maths

Over the first two weeks of term, we have introduced Fractions and Symmetry. We have watched videos, read books, done paper folding and made examples through Art. Prep C have learnt about a whole, halves and quarters and made caterpillars to show their understanding of Fractions.

Prep C have also been introduced to Symmetry and did a great job showing their understanding on their butterflies.

Inquiry

Our Inquiry topic this term is called 'Our Place'. The unit explores aspects of our community and how it connects to the wider world. We have started by looking at maps of Australia. Prep C have compared the map of Indigenous Australia with the Australian states and territories. We have discussed familiar landmarks that are located in each of the states and territories and made connections with places that, either we or our families, have visited.  

Important Dates:

• Friday 25th October: Grandparents and Special Persons Day 9am-11am
• Wednesday 30th October: CERES Excursion (Indigenous Perspectives: P-2)
• Monday 4th November: Professional Practice Day (Student free) 
• Tuesday 5th November: Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
• Monday 11th November: Remembrance Day
• Monday 2nd December - Friday 13th December: Prep to Grade 2 Swimming (Eltham Leisure Centre)
• Thursday 5 December - ACPS Christmas Carols
• Friday 20th December: Last Day of 2024

Enjoy the weekend,

Mrs Callaway