Prep Celebration Newsletter

Reading:

In Reading this term, students explored concepts about print. They learned to sweep across the page from left to right and to notice features of words (including letters, uppercase, and lowercase). Through a variety of comprehension strategies such as predicting, determining importance, identifying verbs, making text-to-self connections, and answering literal questions, students deepened their understanding of the material. By predicting what might happen next, making connections based on their own life experiences, answering questions about characters and plot, and determining important facts and key points, students developed a strong grasp of the text. Additionally, students expanded their vocabulary by encountering new words in rich and engaging mentor texts, which enhanced their overall reading and language skills. 

Writing:

This term in writing, we focused on recounts and instructional writing, along with the importance of using precise verbs and simple sentences. Recounts involved narrating or retelling personal experiences or events in an organised manner, typically found in diaries, journals, and personal narratives. Instructional writing aimed to provide directions or explain how to perform tasks, with examples including to-do lists, recipes, and craft projects, offering clear, step-by-step instructions to help the reader achieve specific objectives. In both genres, we continued to expand our knowledge of verbs, nouns, and the structure of simple sentences, including the use of capital letters and punctuation.

Maths: 

This term, students began their mathematical exploration, diving into a range of foundational concepts that set the stage for future learning. They tackled additive operations like addition and subtraction, grasping the essential principles behind these operations and their practical uses in everyday life. Beyond numbers, students ventured into geometry, differentiating between 2D shapes and 3D objects, and uncovering their characteristics. As they progressed, understanding mass became key; they learned to measure and compare weights, gaining a hands-on sense of quantitative relationships. At the same time, students explored statistics, analysing data through engaging activities that involved sorting, organising, and interpreting information. Through interactive and practical lessons, these young learners not only grasped mathematical concepts but also developed a curiosity-driven approach to problem-solving.

Wellbeing:

This term, we celebrated 100 days of school and RUok Day. These events complemented our Four Rs program (Resilience, Rights, and Respectful Relationships) and the Resilience Project. We discussed and engaged in activities such as facing our fears, emotional literacy, and problem-solving skills when interacting with other students. This enhanced their understanding of how to support themselves at school and helped them feel a sense of belonging to the Kismet Park school community.

Inquiry:

This term in Inquiry, students explored where they lived. They described the features of their own places and the meaning of belonging to those places. Later in the term, students investigated Digital Technology. Throughout this unit, they learned to recognize and identify digital systems commonly used in daily life. They explored safe online practices and identified digital systems for specific purposes. Additionally, they followed, described, and represented step-by-step sequences to solve straightforward problems effectively.

PERFORMING ARTS

This term in Performing Arts, Preps developed their dramatic skills and teamwork to explore concepts of inclusion and 'big emotions'. They engaged in various role-plays and social stories to learn how to be good friends and become more inclusive of their peers. Students developed their facial expressions, body language, and use of tone to portray a range of emotions during drama role-play games based on children’s Social and Emotional wellbeing stories. 

VISUAL ARTS

This term, students experienced how to celebrate the world of Visual Arts at our Art Show!  They shared the excitement of presenting their work with family and the community, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment. Throughout the term, Prep students learned to express their ideas and emotions through various artistic mediums, developing their personal voice and style. They continued to develop their creative expression, learning to demonstrate their ideas and emotions through various artistic mediums, developing their personal voice and style.

The art show was a tremendous success, highlighting our students' creativity and talent. The diverse range of artworks captivated the audience, and the enthusiastic support from families and the community made the event truly memorable. The show not only celebrated our students' artistic achievements but also strengthened appreciation for the arts within our school.

JAPANESE

This term our Foundation students were introduced to farm animals and colours using engaging flashcards, interactive games, and catchy songs. They practised saying sentences such as "The cat is grey" in Japanese. Through tracing and copying activities, students strengthened their reading and writing skills, mastering the focus vocabulary. They put their knowledge to practice by creating their very own mini books, filled with colorful illustrations and the vocabulary they've learned. These books were a source of pride as they read them aloud, individually and chorally, with their classmates!  

Students also learned about Tanabata (Star Festival), a celebration of hope, dreams and working hard. It was excited to share this special Japanese tradition with our Foundation students.  

PE 

In Prep PE classes, students focused on learning fundamental movement skills through play-based activities like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. They played basic games while also developing social skills through teamwork and cooperation.