Year 5 Update

Hello Hillsmeade families,

We ended Term 3 with an incredible excursion to Sovereign Hill, diving deep into life on the goldfields of Ballarat in the 1850s. After arriving at school bright and early at 6:45am, we embarked on a two-hour bus ride filled with excitement and anticipation. 

Once there, students experienced gold pouring demonstrations, panned for gold, explored historical artefacts, and even attended a recreated 1854 school session. These hands-on experiences brought our learning to life and helped students make meaningful connections to our history unit on immigration, social hierarchy, and life during the gold rush.

In English, our novel study of 1854 Eureka Boys supported this learning beautifully, with students exploring period language, characterisation, and both literal and inferred meaning. Seeing these concepts come alive at Sovereign Hill was a highlight for many.

Our adventure didn’t end there—just as we were preparing to leave, our bus broke down, delaying our return by two hours. We were incredibly proud of the resilience and positivity our students showed during this unexpected challenge, and we sincerely thank our families for their patience and understanding.

Term 4

We have begun our new class novel, Wonder, and students are already making thoughtful connections to its themes.

In Mathematics, we’ve started exploring fractions.

In Humanities, we’re investigating the impact of bushfires on Australia’s past. 

Our Social and Emotional Learning focus is on understanding human rights, respect, and responsibilities for all people.

We’re looking forward to a term filled with curiosity, connection, and growth!

Warm regards,

The Year 5 Teaching Team