Welcome

Welcome to Prep at St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School.

The Prep team consists of Miss Fiona MacNally, Mrs Rosemary Restaino, Miss Bridie Slater and Mrs Natalie Arhontis. Our Learning Support Officers will additionally support your child’s learning.

We are delighted with how the children are settling into their new routines and learning. We trust your child is coming home sharing their new adventures, friendships and knowledge learnt throughout the day.

To achieve the most significant impact on your child’s education, school and home must work together to help them reach their full potential. We welcome contact with you to discuss concerns, achievements and pathways to success.

During the first term, our focus is on:

A sense of belonging – developing relationships with teachers and other students, learning everyone's name and locating items within the classroom.
A sense of being part of the school and parish community.
Participating in the Buddy program – establishing a supportive environment for Prep and Year 5 buddies.
Establishing a daily routine – unpacking bags, lining up, being able to discern between snack and lunch.
Establishing learning routines, eg: take home books, using stationery, writing books, working in groups, collecting materials and getting ready to begin tasks.
Developing friendships – role playing, how to ask someone to play.
Practising role-playing in situations requiring resilience, problem-solving, playing, and turn-taking.
Developing classroom rules and appropriate social behaviours.

English

The English Block is a focused two-hour session running each day. It is designed to support children’s early literacy achievement. Activities include: reading, alphabet and word games, word recognition, letter names and sounds, comprehension and writing. The classroom reading activities include whole class, small groups, guided reading, shared reading, modelled reading, language experience, listening tasks and independent reading experiences.

A large variety of resources are used including non-fiction and fiction materials, presented in many formats, including books, songs, poetry and nursery rhymes.

Each child is regularly monitored in their reading to ensure they are reading texts appropriate to their skill level. The focus always emphasises reading for meaning and promoting a love of reading.

Phonological awareness is a key focus in our literacy program. Phonological awareness is an essential part of the student’s ability to learn the English language. Students learn sounds through systematic phonics instruction. Children will have regular phonological awareness instruction in letter-sound knowledge, word awareness/syllables, rhyme, and eventually first and last, middle sounds, vowels and consonants.

Writing sessions will initially focus on recount writing. Students will be encouraged to draw pictures that represent an element of a past event that they have experienced. Students will be encouraged to use oral language skills to describe their illustrations in sentences. Teachers will model writing, and expectations of independent writing will vary depending on each child’s point of need.

Students will also be instructed in handwriting, learning the beginning strokes and shapes needed for Victorian Modern Cursive handwriting. This includes developing the correct posture and fine motor skills required to create well-formed letters and a steady pencil grip.

Religious Education

In Religious Education, the Prep students are learning about prayer and preparing for Lent and Easter.

Our students will learn about St Andrew and why our school is named after him.

They will be introduced to our prayer table and prayer space in each classroom. Each class member will contribute their handprint to the class prayer cloth to symbolise how each student brings their gifts to our class. They will learn to correctly make the sign of the cross, as well as how to form simple prayers.

The students will learn to sequence and retell the events of Holy Week and discuss the importance of Jesus’ role throughout this week.

Mathematics

The Mathematics focus for Prep students initially is on number. Concepts and skills are taught through concrete materials and experiences relevant to the children’s lives. The Numeracy Program involves a lot of ‘hands-on’ activities, open-ended investigations and real-life mathematics. Counting and number sense will lay the foundations of your child’s maths learning in future years.

Throughout the term, we will also cover Patterns, Days of the Week and Location.

Each mathematics lesson begins with activities and games designed to teach and practise mental strategies, such as counting to 10, building on to 20, and breaking up numbers to 5.

Below is a list of activities that you can do at home to support your child’s Mathematics development:

Make counting part of your everyday life. For example, count toys, shells at the beach, fruit at the grocery store or trees on the street.
When you are out and about, encourage your child to compare sizes of stones, bushes and trees, and describe shapes of leaves, colours of flowers or sizes of birds.
Go for a walk down your street and point out how each house or block has a number in a series. Count the steps between one house and the next.
Use a growth chart or marks on a wall to measure your child’s growing height, and describe to your child what you’re doing.
Involve your child in cooking. Your child can help stir, pour, fill and mix. This will help your child learn to count, measure, add and estimate.

Inquiry Learning

In Inquiry the Prep students will explore their unit ‘How can we be curious learners for life?’.

They will explore words they can use to identify, describe and shape their emotions. As well as reflect on how their words and actions affect themselves and others. Students will learn strategies to build a positive classroom community and ensure everyone feels a sense of belonging in the St Andrew’s community.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Circle Time

In the morning all classes participate in circle time from 8.45 – 9.05am. This is an important time when students engage in activities to build relationships with their peers and teacher and learn social-emotional skills to contribute to a positive learning environment within their classroom. Please ensure that your child is on time for school, as these activities are essential to their overall experience at school.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

The Positive Behaviour for Learning framework comprises three focus values: Respect, Responsibility and Resilience.

During the term, respect, responsibility, and resilience will be addressed through weekly focus sessions. This is an important time when students engage in activities to build relationships with both their peers and teacher and learn social-emotional skills to contribute to a positive learning environment within their classroom.

Our School Wide Acknowledgement System awards Class Dojo Points and weekly awards to students who demonstrate positive behaviours for learning across all school settings, i.e. (classroom, specialist lessons, playground & incursions/excursions). This engages and motivates students, opens our learning to parents, and provides an opportunity to celebrate the learning students are doing in our classroom.

Classroom Organisation

Every week the Prep students will attend the following Specialist programs.

Please remind your child to wear their sports uniform and runners on the appropriate day.

Specialist Teachers and Timetable

Italian – Signora White

P.E. – Ms Puetz

Performing Arts - Mrs Cooper

Art - Mrs Santoro

During the month of February the specialists timetable will be:

Prep M

Week starting: 17th February

Week starting: 24th February

Monday: Italian and Performing Art

Tuesday: Library, Art and P.E

Monday: Art and P.E

Tuesday: Italian and Performing Art

Prep R

Week starting: 17th February

Week starting: 24th February

Monday: P.E and Italian

Tuesday: Performing Arts, Art and Library

Monday: Performing Arts and Art

Tuesday: P.E and Italian

Prep S

Week starting: 17th February

Week starting: 24th February

Monday: Performing Arts, Art and Library

Tuesday: P.E and Italian

Monday: P.E and Italian

Tuesday: Performing Arts and Art

*Library: Students will need to return their library books on a weekly cycle, e.g. Prep S borrows on a Monday, they will return on the following Monday. Prep M and Prep R borrow on a Tuesday and will return the following Tuesday.

Please note that after rest days have finished the specialist timetable will change.

We will email the updated timetable when applicable.

Take home books - pouches

Every Friday, your child will bring home a language experience book in the blue reading pouch. We encourage your child to talk about the book they have been reading in the classroom throughout the week. Every day, they will be given a new sentence to read with a family member. Parents can support their child by pointing underneath each word as they read it together. Reader books will be sent home later in the term.

School Uniform and Hat

Please ensure that all clothing items are clearly marked with your child’s name, preferably in permanent marker.

Meet and Greet

Please note that classrooms are open from 8:30 - 8:45 am for our Meet and Greet time. This is an essential time for students to get themselves organised for their day of learning. It also allows students to establish and maintain relationships with peers. Please ensure you arrive during this time to give your child the best possible start each day.

Brain Food Break

During the morning teaching block, the Prep students will have a Brain Food Break to ‘refuel’ on vegetables, salad, fruit or dairy and ‘rehydrate’ with water. Please pack something extra in your child’s lunchbox for them to eat during this time. Students who are not hungry and are well-hydrated perform better in the classroom and show increased concentration. Friendly reminder that we encourage a nut-free environment in the school.

Key Dates

Wednesday 12th February

Prep Literacy and Numeracy Interviews - No Classes

Wednesday 19th February

Prep Literacy and Numeracy Interviews - No Classes

Wednesday 26th February

Prep Rest Day - No Classes

Friday 28th February

Curriculum Day - No Classes

Sunday 2nd March

Prep Welcome Mass

Wednesday 5th March

Ash Wednesday

Monday 10th March

Labour Day

Tuesday 18th March

School Photos

Monday 31st March

Parent/Child/Teacher Interviews

Friday 4th April

Term 1 Concludes

How to Contact Us

Fiona MacNally: fmacnally@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Rosemary Restaino: rrestaino@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Bridie Slater: bslater@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

SPECIALIST PROGRAMS

Library

Welcome to Term One! We are excited to kick off the year and aim to provide a fun-filled, interactive experience where we read, discuss, and engage in creative activities related to entertaining books. A big thank you to everyone who has already brought their library bags! These bags are essential for keeping our books safe and sound, ensuring you can borrow fortnightly. Well done to all the students who have come prepared! For those who haven’t yet, please bring your library bag next time you visit the library. We ask all students to remember the importance of treating books with care, respecting the space, and maintaining a quiet environment for reading. This helps everyone enjoy the library to its fullest!

Additionally, students will be introduced to library procedures and expectations and have already been learning to identify the different parts of a picture book (title, author, illustrator, blurb, spine, front and back covers). During our book chats, students will be encouraged to recall the characters, events and make personal connections to them. Students have begun to follow our procedure of borrowing books, share it at home and return it by placing it in the class library box on their non-library week. We’ve added many exciting new titles to our collection this term and will do so throughout the year. Significant days will be explored through different texts, and writing and illustration styles of many popular authors /illustrators will be studied, too.

We hope every student takes the time to explore the library, dive into new books, and make the most of the opportunities we offer. Happy reading !!!

Congratulations to our 2025 Library Leaders - Nibedita and Bella

Best wishes

Mrs Daniella Polites

L.O.T.E. Italian

Ciao a tutti e felice anno nuovo. Dear parents, welcome to 2025.

The Preps will be introduced to the Italian classroom and the expectations in Italian. This term will focus on learning about Italy and the Italian language. The students will be introduced to the Italian language through the alphabet and its sounds, through gestures and expressions and songs and games. They will interact with their peers and the teacher and respond to the language associated with greetings, saying sorry and expressing thanks. The students will recycle the new vocabulary by completing written and oral activities.

L’Italia- Italy L’Europa- Europe

Lo stivale- the boot L’italiano- Italian ( the language)

La bandiera- the flag

I saluti: (Greetings)

Buongiorno - good morning / hello

Ciao - hello / hi, goodbye (familiar) Mi scusi- Excuse me.

Arrivederci – goodbye (formal) Perdono I’m sorry A dopo- see you later

Grazie- Thank you Grazie mille- Thank you very much.

A presto.

Signora White

Physical Education

Welcome to term one!

So far, the preps have done a magnificent job with our introduction to Physical Education. Term one will focus on developing fundamental skills for all sports, including listening, teamwork and positive communication.

Students' social skills will be developed when working in groups through various activities, including games with and without equipment. Students will demonstrate and practice keeping themselves and others safe, cooperating and communicating positively with their classmates, and listening to and following the rules of various activities. Students will also participate in a Body Movement Unit and learn fundamental throwing and catching skills using various objects.

We are looking forward to a fun first term of learning!

Miss Puetz

Art

Welcome to all our new preps for term 1 to the art room. The preps have already been introduced to the art room and had lots of fun making some patty pan fish. The children in prep are given opportunities to feel free and confident to express ideas and are encouraged to respond to the artwork of others. In the art room, we incorporate art making and appreciation and help the children develop a visual arts language. Our artworks support various units within their inquiry units of study and religious celebrations, which are being explored in the classroom. We promote learning through the arts as fundamental to the whole child's development, motivating creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and social interactions. Over term one the children will experiment with various media, including painting, drawing and collage, continuing to practise their cutting and pasting skills throughout their first year at school.

We look forward to having lots of fun, too!

Mrs Santoro

Performing Arts

Welcome to St Andrew’s prep families!

I have loved getting to know the brand-new preppies and singing, dancing, and acting with them. This term, students will focus on keeping time to the beat, using their voices, dance moves and instruments. They’ll be learning how to go fast and slow or loud and soft along with the music and stopping and starting at the right moments. The songs we’ll be working on include a dance/song called Haida, a song with actions called Funga Alafia and another song with instruments called Play and Stop. The students will show their fantastic sharing skills using our special Fuzzy clowns, singing My Friend Fuzzy and sharing the clown puppets with their friends. Preppies have also been sharpening their acting skills blowing up a pretend balloon and letting it go, making movements and sounds like a crazy balloon (someone’s balloon even burst!)!

We’ll also be learning how to play percussion instruments that you can either tap, shake or scrape to make music! See if your preppie remembers our favourite rule in music “if you play before I say, the instrument goes away”. Instruments are definitely the highlight of the performing arts class so far, and I’m pleased to report that students have been very respectful and careful with them.

To help your students enjoy performing arts, please encourage them to dance and sing to music as often as possible at home and feel free to join in with them.

Happy singing and dancing!

Mrs Emma Cooper

Year Level Newsletter

Term 1 /2025 · 17 Feb 2025

In this issue