Curriculum Matters
Foundation
Paper Chain Challenge
Our Foundation students have been busy exploring the concept of length by designing and measuring their very own paper chains!
With strips of paper, plenty of enthusiasm and a lot of careful linking, students worked collaboratively to create chains of all shapes and sizes. The real learning came as students then explored how to measure their chains. Rather than using rulers, they were introduced to informal units of measurement including hand spans and footsteps to check how long their creations were. This sparked great discussions about fairness and consistency, recapping some of the measuring rules we had discussed during the previous lesson.
Through this activity, students began to understand key concepts of length, comparison, and estimation, all while developing teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Most importantly, they enjoyed learning and challenging themselves in the beautiful Autumn sunshine!
Level 1
Level 1 have made a fantastic start to the term, diving straight into a very busy few weeks with our swimming program.
The students have shown impressive responsibility and independence, particularly when it comes to getting themselves changed before and after lessons. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow so quickly in this area.
Despite our full schedule, we have continued to prioritise our learning routines.
We have been fitting in our Little Learners program and Heggerty sessions wherever we can—sometimes even incorporating them into our time at the pool!
The students have done an excellent job staying focused and engaged, even with the change in routine.
We are very proud of how positively Level 1 has adapted to the busy start of term.
Their enthusiasm, resilience, and responsibility have set a great tone for the weeks ahead.
Level 2
Our Level 2 students have been thoroughly enjoying their 2-week swimming program! Throughout the sessions, they’ve been gaining confidence, refining their swimming techniques, and developing important water safety skills.
It’s been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and progress as they stay active and have fun in a supportive environment.
Level 3
The Level 3 students have made a wonderful start back to Term 2, ready for all the exciting activities coming our way this term.
We have started our procedural writing topic by creating our very own wombat stew. We went searching around the school for some disgusting, grubby and crunchy ingredients to put in our wombat stew. Once we had all the ingredients, we wrote our procedure on how to make our stew.
In maths, we read a story about a wombat who needed to share his snacks with his friends. He did this by cutting them into fractions, equal parts to share with his friends. To consolidate what we learnt, we created our fraction echidna. We folded paper into ½, ¼, and ⅛ to create these fraction masterpieces.
It was lots of fun.
Level 4
Level 4 students have had a fantastic start to Term 2, settling in quickly and showing great enthusiasm for their learning.
In Mathematics, we have been exploring fractions, with a particular focus on understanding and creating equivalent fractions. Students have been building their confidence through hands-on activities and problem-solving tasks.
In Inquiry, we have begun our new unit, Places Near and Far, where students are starting to explore different environments and locations around the world.
It has been wonderful to see their curiosity and engagement as we dive into this exciting new topic.
Level 5
In preparation for Anzac Day, the Level 5 students created a collaborative art piece in the form of a wreath.
Each student in the level drew their own, unique poppy and cut it out. We then collaged them together to create a beautiful display, which was laid at the base of the flag during our JPPS Anzac Ceremony. We watched videos together explaining the war efforts, and read a book about the symbolism of the poppies.
During reading, the students learnt about Papua New Guinea and it’s involvement in the war, answering comprehensions on what they’d learnt.
Level 6
Level 6 students were invited to the 1000 steps also known as the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk in the Dandenong Ranges National Park to be part of the ANZAC ceremony. Students listened to many guest speakers and were even invited to place a wreath during the ceremony. For many students this was the first ANZAC ceremony they had been a part of.
The students then took on the challenge of the 1000 steps and completed it with ease. All students successfully walked up and down the steps and they received a sausage in bread for lunch.
The school captains worked together to use their experience from the ceremony to host one of our own at school on Friday the 24th of April in the school courtyard. They did a fantastic job hosting a heartwarming ceremony for ANZAC day.