Prep
Welcome
Welcome to Term Four.
It is hard to believe we are already at the end of the year! It is wonderful to reflect on our students' growth and learning throughout their first school year. This term, our students eagerly commence Digitech lessons and will attend an excursion to Collingwood Children’s Farm. We wish you all a safe and lovely term ahead. Our doors are always open to support you and your child's education journey at St Andrew’s.
English
During this term, students will continue with a daily two-hour literacy block. One hour of the block focuses on reading, while the other targets writing.
In Reading, the focus will be on linking letter knowledge when making attempts at segmenting and blending small words and words with digraphs. Students are learning to point to each word, ensuring they match what is written in the text. Within our whole and small group reading, students are learning to read and locate high-frequency words, which they will then transfer into their writing. Students will also focus on punctuation to add expression when reading.
In Writing, students use colourful semantics to assist in structuring their sentences and extending their writing. Colourful semantics looks at the who, what, what doing, where, when, and how features that make up sentences. The Preps have amazed us with how quickly they have picked up this skill and are demonstrating the new vocabulary they have learned. Students are also learning to reread and edit their writing.
Students will continue to bring in their Home Reading folders and receive new books each week, as well as practice their ‘tricky words’, which can be found at the back of the Home Reading Diary. Reading with your child at home has many benefits, including fostering a love of reading, developing listening skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary development, building fluency and expression and establishing essential foundational literacy skills.
Mathematics
Throughout the term, the students will use manipulatives such as counters, blocks, dice, and dominoes to assist with their number development. Lessons are made up of “hands-on” activities, allowing students to discuss, share, and reflect on their new learning.
Term 4 units
- Statistics - Data
- Number - Counting and Place Value
- Measurement - Length, Mass, Capacity and Time
Ideas for maths at home:
- Count, Count, Count!
- Count forwards and backwards, beginning at different starting spots. Ask your child what the number before is and what the number after is.
- Ask your child to make a certain number as fast as they can using their fingers.
- Going shopping? Get your children to count out the fruits and vegetables as they go into the bag. Going for a walk? Count the steps from one house to another. Notice the house numbers; guess what the next number would be. Setting the table? How many people? How many knives and forks? Do the amounts match?
- Compare the capacity of items - which household items hold more or which hold less?
- Can you share items equally? Divide household items into equal groups.
Involve your child in cooking. Let your child help stir, pour, fill, and mix. Get your children counting and measuring.
Religious Education
In Religion, students will connect their developing knowledge from our Inquiry unit on Biological science, to learn about God’s creation. Through learning about God’s creation, students engage in meaningful dialogue that deepens their understanding and inspires them to take action in caring for the world around them.
Leading up to the end of the school year, we reflect on the Advent season and the birth of Jesus.
Inquiry
Our Term 4 Inquiry unit is Biological Science. We are focusing our learning on what living things need to survive, grow, and flourish in the world around us. From plants and animals to people, students will investigate how living things meet their basic needs and how we can care for the natural world.
Positive Behaviour for Learning
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole school organisational framework for supporting behaviour and creating safe and positive learning environments.
Our Prep students have demonstrated responsible learning by independently following class routines and taking on classroom jobs.
They have been learning about being responsible friends by helping others and seeking adult assistance when needed.
The Preps have been learning that allowing everyone to learn makes us respectful peers. They continue developing the skills to show others respect by keeping their hands and feet to themselves and using kind words to solve problems.
They are also learning to be resilient learners, always having a go and taking ownership of their feelings. They are learning to identify small problems (like an ant problem) that they or their friends can solve, and bigger problems (like an elephant problem) that require a teacher's assistance.
Classroom Organisation
The Prep students attend the following specialist programs every week: These lessons will take place on Mondays and Tuesdays. Library lessons are every two weeks and Digitech commences from week 2.
Please remind your child to wear their sports uniform and runners on the appropriate day.
Specialist Teachers and Timetable
Italian – Signora White
P.E. – MissPuetz
Music - Mrs Cooper
Art - Mrs Santoro
Digitech - Mrs Cooper
Library - Mrs Polites
Prep M
Monday - Italian and Performing Arts
Tuesday - Art and PE
Wednesday - Library
Friday - Digitech
Prep R
Monday - P.E. and Italian
Tuesday - Performing Arts and Art
Wednesday - Library
Friday - Digitech
Prep S
Monday - Performing Arts and Art
Tuesday - Italian and P.E.
Wednesday - Library
Friday - Digitech
Take-home books - pouches.
Your child will bring home two books in the blue reading pouch each Monday. Please ensure that the pouch is returned to school each Friday and remember to fill in the Home Reading Diary nightly.
School Uniform and Hat
Please ensure that all clothing is clearly marked with your child’s name, preferably in permanent marker.
School hats are required to be worn in Terms One and Four.
The Summer uniform is now required to be worn during Term 4.
Meet and Greet
Please note that classrooms are open from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. for our meet-and-greet time. This is an essential time for students to get themselves organised for their day of learning and establish and maintain relationships with peers. Please ensure you arrive during this time to give your child the best possible start each day.
Fruit Break
The Prep students have a Fruit Break each day to ‘refuel’ on fruit, vegetables, yoghurt or cheese and ‘rehydrate’ with water. Please pack something extra in your child’s lunchbox for them to eat during this time. Students who are well-hydrated and not hungry perform better in the classroom and show increased concentration.
Key Dates
- Monday, October 6th: Term 4 commences
- Friday, October 17th: Assembly
- Saturday, October 18th: Working Bee 8:30 am - 10:30 am
- Thursday, October 30th: All Souls Day and All Saints Day School Mass 12 pm
- Monday, November 3rd: School closure day - Staff TIL day
- Tuesday, November 4th: School closure day - Melbourne Cup
- Friday, November 14th: Assembly
- Friday, November 21st: School closure day
- Thursday, November 27th: Saint Andrews Feast Day
- Friday, December 12th: Final assembly
- Tuesday, December 16th: End of Year Mass
- Tuesday, December 16th: Last day of school
How to Contact Us
Fiona MacNally: fmacnally@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Rosemary Restaino: rrestaino@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Bridie Slater: bslater@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Milena Santoro: msantoro@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
We politely request that there is an understanding that emails will be responded to within a 48 hour time frame and within the hours of 8.00am-4.45pm.
SPECIALIST PROGRAMS
Library
This term in Library, our Prep students will enjoy a selection of engaging stories that link with our Biological Science topic. The books chosen for whole-class read-alouds eg. Walk of the Whales by best-selling author Nick Bland will help students explore how living things grow, change, and rely on their environment to survive.
Through shared reading and discussion, students will build their understanding of the natural world and learn the importance of caring for animals, plants, and the environment. Follow-up activities will encourage them to make connections between the stories and their own experiences, while also supporting the development of key literacy skills such as listening, predicting, and responding to texts.
We encourage Prep students to make the most of our Library by visiting before school from Monday to Thursday between 8:30 and 8:45 am on days when they don’t have a Library lesson. This is a great chance for them to return and borrow new books regularly.
Parents can support their child by:
- Helping them keep Library books in a safe place at home (such as a special book bag or basket).
- Setting aside a regular time to enjoy the borrowed books together.
- Talking about the story, pictures, or information in the book to build connections and understanding.
- Encouraging children to re-read favourite books to build fluency and confidence.
- Reminding them to pack their Library books on borrowing days so they can return and choose new ones.
Together, we can help students build positive reading habits and a love of books!
Best Wishes, Mrs Polites
L.O.T.E. Italian
Ciao a tutti e bentornati a scuola.
Dear parents, welcome to Term Four.
This Term in Prep, the focus will continue to be on the introduction of the Italian language and on the development of the students’ speaking and listening skills. The students will be introduced to written text through the story of Pinocchio. They will be able to make links between their own family and Pinocchio’s family and reflect on the similarities and differences. The students will listen to the text and explore the language for Pinocchio’s family members and the new vocabulary SONO as a way of introducing oneself; sono Pinocchio- I am Pinocchio, sono Geppetto- I am Geppetto, sono il gatto –I am the cat, sono il grillo I am the cricket, sono il topo- I am the mouse. The students will be introduced to the new vocabulary for family and family members: il papà- Dad, la mamma- Mum, il fratello- the brother, la sorella- the sister. The students will use the new Italian vocabulary to introduce their own family members; Sono il papà-I am Dad, sono la mamma -I am Mum, etc. They will then draw and label a poster of their family members using the vocabulary. Students will revise and practise the new language through chants, songs, classroom activities and games.
Cordiali saluti,
Signora White
Physical Education
Welcome to the last term of the school year!
This term, the prep students are continuing to work on the fundamental skills needed for all sports, including listening, teamwork and positive communication. We will focus on catching and throwing skills at the start of the term while using many different objects. Toward the end of the term, we will work in groups for games done in rotation. During these rotations, they will demonstrate the essential motor skills we have learnt throughout the year - including running, skipping, jumping, catching, throwing, and kicking. These fundamental movements have been keeping the prep students busy all year while improving their confidence and coordination. Each day will consist of something new and exciting to keep them engaged and enthusiastic about exercise!
Now that the weather is warming up, we will be doing some lessons in the sun! Please ensure your child has a hat during the specialist day.
We are looking forward to a fun last term of learning!
Miss Puetz
Art
In Term 3, Foundation students explored a variety of fun and creative projects. They made “love bugs” for Grandparents Day using fingerprint art, built 3D carousel horses, created colourful leaf and beetle artworks, designed Mondrian-inspired gift boxes for Father’s Day, and celebrated AFL team spirit through flags and decorated footballs. These activities helped students develop their skills in colour, line, shape, pattern, and 3D construction, allowing them to express their own ideas.
In Term 4, students will explore Aboriginal art, learning how stories, symbols, and patterns show connections between animals, water, and Country. We also look forward to spring-inspired artworks and festive Christmas creations to celebrate the season.
Warm Regards,
Mrs Milena Santoro
Performing Arts
Welcome to Term 4 to our Preps and their families!
The preps have done a marvellous job in Performing Arts all year! This term, we’ll be focusing on contrasting sounds within music to convey an idea or theme. Students will use their instruments to play loud and soft or fast and slow to represent sound stories and communicate concepts.
The preps will also learn a song to sing and a dance to perform, which will be presented either live or recorded and distributed as a video later in the term. They’ll also be exploring different movements in dance to match the music (both in time and in style) and also to convey a pirate-style theme.
Lastly, the preps will be encouraged to explore their facial and physical expressions when speaking to convey drama, with the goal of performing later in the term.
To support your child at home, please encourage them to sing, dance or “pretend”(act) as much as possible. Pop the radio on in the car and enjoy some carpool karaoke! Get them to show you their best dance move or most hilarious grumpy face. And as always, feel free to share their dancing/singing with me at any time!
Happy singing, dancing and acting!
Mrs Emma Cooper
Performing Arts Teacher