Year 2 Celebration Newsletter
We are thrilled to share with you the incredible learning journey that our Grade 2 students have embarked upon this term. The progress and enthusiasm they’ve shown in various areas of their education have been truly remarkable. Here’s a glimpse into what’s been happening in our classroom:
Reading
This term, our focus in reading has been on enhancing fluency and expression. We’ve noticed a significant boost in the students' confidence as they read aloud to the class. Each student eagerly takes their turn, showcasing their developing fluency skills with pride. A major highlight has been our emphasis on non-fiction texts. The children have been exploring these books to uncover main ideas and new facts. They’ve enjoyed discussing short passages, expanding their vocabulary, and sharing intriguing facts they’ve learned.
Writing
In writing, our students have been busy learning about effective information layout. They had the opportunity to choose a topic of personal interest, conduct research, and create their own published books. The end products were neat, informative, and beautifully presented. The students took great pride in reading their books to the class, using clear voices and appropriate body language. Following this, we transitioned to writing about animals, which allowed the students to further refine their research and writing skills. The growth in their writing abilities has been outstanding!
Math
Mathematics this term has been full of hands-on activities, particularly focusing on multiplication and division. One of the standout experiences was creating ‘array cities’, where students built visual representations of multiplication concepts. They also tackled word problems, both solving and writing their own, which provided a practical and engaging way to understand these mathematical operations. The enthusiasm for tackling math problems and working with arrays has been a highlight of our math lessons.
Inquiry
Our inquiry focus this term has been the Olympics, and what a journey it has been! The students learned about various Olympic sports, kept track of medal tallies, and explored different Olympic games with various teachers. They were also tasked with writing a piece on a Paralympian, which allowed them to delve into inspiring stories and understand the spirit of the Paralympics. The depth of knowledge and interest in this topic has been fantastic to witness.
Wellbeing
In our wellbeing sessions, we have been working on strategies to manage overwhelming feelings. The students have learned various coping mechanisms, such as colouring, going for walks, and practicing deep breathing. We’ve also discussed the importance of friendships and how our words and body language can impact others. The children are developing a strong understanding of empathy and how to support one another, which is heartening to see.
Art Show
We had a fantastic opportunity to showcase our artistic talents at the Art Show. The students’ creativity and effort were on full display, and they were incredibly proud to present their work. The art pieces were vibrant and full of imagination, reflecting the hard work and dedication of our young artists.
Book Week
To celebrate Book Week, our students dressed up as their favourite book characters. It was a joyful and imaginative event, with the children excitedly sharing their chosen characters and discussing their favourite stories. The enthusiasm for reading and literature was catching, and it was wonderful to see the kids engage so creatively with their favourite books.
We are incredibly proud of all the hard work and enthusiasm our Grade 2 students have shown this term. Their progress across various subjects and their commitment to their personal growth have been truly impressive. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. We look forward to the next term and all the new adventures it will bring!
PERFORMING ARTS
This term in Performing Arts, Grade Two students worked as a team to choreograph a dance performance to the popular song ‘Can’t Stop This Feeling’. They focused on their gross motor skills and timing while learning and rehearsing various dance steps, as well as remembering stage positions and rotations. They built upon critical thinking skills when giving and receiving feedback with each other and developed their on-stage confidence when they performed this dance at our school assembly in week 7 to a large audience of very proud family members!
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, Year 2 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 in Japanese, the Grade 1 and 2 students developed their Japanese vocabulary through the book ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?’. Students were supported to read the book chorally. Students used flashcards to help with their recall of 8 animals and 8 colours. They participated in games and songs to support their learning. Students learned to use the animals and colours in new sentences. They developed their reading and writing skills through tracing and copying activities of the focus vocabulary. Students participated in rotational activities to support their engagement and learning of term 3 vocabulary, as well as revising previously learned vocabulary.
PE
In Grade 2 PE classes, students continued to build on their fundamental movement skills through fun and interactive activities. They engaged in more structured games and sports, learning basic rules and teamwork. Students also explored concepts like spatial awareness and developed social skills through cooperative play.