From the classroom

5/6 Team

Grade 5/6 have had a very busy start to Term 4. We have started reading our class novel, His Name was Walter. This is a book written by Emily Rodda and it is a mysterious and engaging story about four students who discover an old handwritten book. The children have really enjoyed the start of this book.

In writing, the children have been producing persuasive pieces to convince people about something that Rochester needs. This has ranged from pools, new stores, dog parks, sports clubrooms and McDonalds. The quality of the pieces have been really pleasing as children are using a wide range of persuasive devices, sophisticated vocabulary and creating some very convincing pieces. 

In maths, we are finishing up our Location and Transformation unit. Children have been learning how to read and plot co-ordinates and describe how shapes can be moved. 

Our inquiry unit is Civics and Citizenship. We had an online session learning about the Origins of Parliament. Children have now formed their own political parties and came up with a name and slogan for their party.

We have continued to be busy with sport. We have played basketball and our teams that have qualified for tennis in Swan Hill are busily getting ready. We are also preparing for our cricket tournament in Rochester next Thursday.

We have had a great start to term 4 and are really excited about what is still to come!

New Reporting Format 2027

The Department of Education has updated its student reporting policy to support a more consistent statewide approach to reporting student achievement and progress. The changes are intended to make reports clearer for parents and easier for teachers to prepare. Where comments are used, they provide plain English information about what a student has learned, and the progress they have made. The updated approach will also improve the consistency of information shared when students move between schools, particularly from primary to secondary school. 

During the year, you will get other updates on your child's learning when:

• we hold parent/carer conferences to talk about achievement and progress 
• we send student work and assessments home. 

You will not see the new Department report until June 2027 but in preparation, we have changed our end of year reports in 2026 to reflect this and we are sending one Mathematics piece and one English piece home that has been marked. Please keep an eye out for these and celebrate your childs work with them.