The Golden Sun Newsletter

Octavia Community

Year 6

Welcome to 2025 - Grade 6 Octavia Community

 

Dear parents and carers,

We are so excited to kick off this amazing new school year with all of you!  Whether you’re coming back or joining us for the first time, we are ready for a year full of learning, growth, and unforgettable moments.

 

In year 6, you’ll discover new subjects, dive into interesting projects, and work together as a team. We believe in every one of our students and can’t wait to see how they shine this year! Remember, the journey ahead is about learning, making connections, and challenging yourself to be the best version of YOU.

 

Let’s make this school year an incredible adventure!

 

Here’s to a fantastic.

 

We would also like to congratulate the following students on being elected captains, representing their school and their sports house. Well done!

 

School Captains:                 

Anika -6A

Adhish - 6C

Ameerah - 6E

Mehak - 6A

 

House Captains - Red:

Prabhveer -6D

Bhuvi - 6C

 

House Captain - Blue:

Samyra - 6D

Ishaan - 6D

 

House Captain - Yellow:

Levi - 6D

Kavleen - 6D

 

House Captain - Green:

Oscar - 6B-

Maryana - 6B

 

Grade 6 Teachers,

Annalisa, Ayla, Buket, Donna, Scott 

 

Reading 

In reading the focus this term is looking at four main areas:

  1. Alliteration: This is when words in a sentence start with the same sound, like "Silly snakes slither silently." It’s a fun way to make writing sound catchy and memorable.
  2. Descriptive Language: Students will learn how writers use detailed words to paint pictures in the reader’s mind. For example, instead of saying “It was a big tree,” a writer might describe it as “The tall, ancient tree with thick, twisting branches stood proudly in the middle of the yard.” This helps readers feel like they are really there!
  3. Metaphors: A metaphor is when something is described as if it is something else, even though it isn’t literally true. For example, saying "The classroom was a zoo" means the classroom was noisy and chaotic, not that it was actually a zoo. Metaphors make writing more interesting and creative.
  4. Inferring Texts: This means reading between the lines and understanding things that aren’t directly stated in the text. For example, if a character is looking out the window with a sad face, you might infer that they are feeling lonely or upset, even if it’s not said directly.

By practicing these skills, students will become better at understanding and enjoying different types of texts!

 

Writing

In Writing students have explored how to write a captivating and exciting narrative for their readers. They have been learning about figurative language such as similes and metaphors, using words other than ‘said’ such as whimpered and demanded, the rules of dialogue, and how to hook the reader using narrative starters such as onomatopoeia, vivid descriptions and flashbacks. Students were introduced to the rule of ‘But’ and ‘Therefore’ when writing their problem, to encourage them to remove the words ‘and then’ from their narrative and replace these words with ‘but’ and ‘therefore’. Students have enjoyed drafting and publishing narratives about topics that interest and excite them. 

Maths

To start off the new year and Term students have been investigating place value using decimal points and collecting data. They have collected, identified and then made the graph while asking deeper questions on what the data says and what changes could occur from simply tweaking a question asked.

Inquiry

The inquiry unit this term focuses on learning about important events, people, and places in Australia’s past.

Students will explore topics such as:

  1. Early Indigenous History: Learning about the First Nations peoples, their cultures, and how they lived long before European settlement.
  2. European Settlement: Understanding how and why the British arrived in Australia in 1788 and what happened after that.
  3. Key Events and People: Studying important moments in Australian history, like the Gold Rush, the Federation, and major figures who helped shape the nation.
  4. Impact on Indigenous Peoples: Discussing how European settlement affected the First Nations peoples and their land.
  5. Change Over Time: Looking at how Australia has changed and developed as a country, from its early days to now. 
  6. Immigration and migration, pre and post wars

The unit encourages students to ask questions, explore different perspectives, and understand the past to better understand Australia today. It’s all about discovering how history shapes the world we live in!

 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

 

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has commenced for Grade 6 students, focusing on building essential skills for emotional well-being and positive social interactions. As part of this initiative, the Resilience Project has been introduced, delivering engaging, emotionally impactful programs through evidence-based mental health strategies designed to help students develop resilience, manage emotions, and foster happiness, equipping them with the tools to thrive in both personal and academic challenges.

 

 

Reminders

  • School starts at 8.50am -  dismissal at 3.20pm
  • Students are to wear a hat during Term 1 and 4
  • Students are to bring a water bottle each day 
  • Students are to read each night for 20 minutes minimum
  • Students are to practice their times tables every night for 20 minutes