Learning Area News
Foundation News
Literacy
In Literacy, we have been exploring the letters ‘g’, 'k', ‘e’ and 'l' and the sounds that they make. Students have enjoyed identifying words that begin with each sound and coming up with their own creative examples. We have also been practising the correct, lower-case letter formation of these letters, using both whiteboards and paper to strengthen writing skills.
Numeracy
In Numeracy, we have been learning about shapes. We have been identifying shapes in our environment and naming them. We have been using straight lines and curved lines to draw circles and triangles.
Religion
In Religion, our topic is, ‘Our Catholic Church’. Students have been learning about different types of celebrations that happen within our church, at home, at school and in the wider community.
Inquiry
In Inquiry we have been learning about the 4 seasons of the year, Summer, Autumn, Winter and spring, and the changes that occur during these seasons. We have just commenced investigations into the planets in our solar systems. We will be creating our own solar system craft over the coming weeks.
At home you could reinforce learning by:
- Read a story with someone at home.
- Listening to your child read their reader each night.
- Practise writing your name with a capital letter at the start, followed by lower case letters (we may need an adult to assist/model this).
- Practise writing the letters ‘m', 's', 't', 'a', 'p', 'i', 'f', 'r', ‘o’, ‘c’, ‘d’, ‘h’, ‘g’, ‘e’, ‘n’, ‘l’ and ‘k’ using lower case letters.
- Look around your home and identify shapes in your environment. Draw and colour the shapes you find in your environment and discuss what you have found with someone at home.
Shape ‘Who Am I’ - describe a shape without saying its name and get someone at home to guess your shape.
For example:
- I am thinking of a shape with 3 sides and 3 corners. What shape am I?
- I am thinking of a shape with 0 sides and 1 curved lined. What shape am I?
Year One News
In Literacy, students have been learning about suffixes. We have been adding the suffix 's’ to make plurals, adding suffix 'er’ to two-syllable words and adding the suffix ‘ing’ to verbs. Our tricky words are two, three, four, house, because and why.
Numeracy
In Numeracy, students have been learning about measurement. Students have been measuring and comparing the capacity of different size and shaped containers.
Religion
In Religion our topic is ‘Pentecost' we have discussed which signs and symbols are used and how fire can remind Christians that God's Spirit brings light, courage and warmth.
Inquiry
In Inquiry, students have been learning about the seasons. They have been identifying which months belong to each season and discussing the different activities that can be enjoyed throughout the year. As part of their learning, students are now designing outfits suitable for each season, helping them make connections between weather and appropriate clothing.
At home you could reinforce learning by:
Literacy
- Find words in your take home reader with the sound 'ir, ur and er’, as in stir, fur and teacher.
- Practice putting the tricky words two, three, four, house, because and why into sentences.
- Listening to your child read their reader each night.
Numeracy
- Compare containers in the kitchen. Measure their capacity using water and then order them from largest to smallest.
- Use hefting to compare items in the home and determine which has the greater mass.
Year Two News
Literacy
In Literacy, during spelling, we have been learning to double the final consonant when we add the suffix "ing" to the end of a word (swim - swimming). The students then revised the three different rules when adding the suffix 'ing’. They include doubling the final consonant (run – running), removing the bossy “e” (write – writing) and when the word doesn't change at all (jump – jumping).
Grammar
During grammar, the students have been learning about adjectives. When reading a text, they could locate the adjectives and then write sentences by adding adjectives to make the sentence more interesting.
Comprehension
During comprehension, the students have been using the visualising strategy when reading. Students were asked to make pictures in their minds to help them to understand and remember what they were reading about.
Numeracy
In Numeracy, the students have been exploring numbers to 1000. Our focus has been using reading and writing 4-digit numbers, using MAB blocks to break numbers apart and locating numbers on a number line.
Religion
In Religion, we all loved celebrating our special feast day for St Brendan the Navigator. It was so wonderful to have Andrew Chinn join us at school for a workshop and concert. The students were amazing performers on the day!
Inquiry
In Inquiry, students have been learning about space. They read information about the Sun and all the planets in the solar system. They enjoyed learning the order of the planets from the sun and drawing them.
At home you could reinforce learning by:
Literacy
- Write a sentence and then add an adjective to make it sound more interesting.
- Use these words to add the suffix “ing”.
Hop, ride, swim, hope, get, send, run, work, skate, fly.
- Listen to your child read their reader each night. Students could practice using the visualising strategy (making a picture in their mind as they are reading)
Numeracy
1. Can you draw MAB blocks (thousands, hundreds, tens and ones) for the below numbers:
1 234
4 068
1 003
7 972
3 701
2. Now can you put these numbers in order from smallest to largest.
Year 3 News
English
In English, students have finished reading Yirra and Her Deadly Dog, Demon and have been learning about the characters, events and main ideas in the story. They have practised adding more detail to their sentences and using describing words to make their writing more interesting.
Spelling
During spelling, students have continued to practise tricky words, suffixes, final ‘e’ spelling patterns and the drop ‘e’ rule. Students have also edited and published their factual recounts. This week, they will begin exploring our new text, Finding Our Heart.
Mathematics
In Maths, students have been learning about length and measurement.
They have used rulers, measuring tapes and classroom objects to measure, compare and order lengths. Students have also practised choosing the best unit of measurement, such as millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres.
Religion
In Religion, students have just finished the Circle of Life unit, where they learned that Jesus is with us during times of sadness, change and loss. They explored ways people can show kindness, compassion and support to others. Students are now beginning a new unit, Celebrating the Gift of the Spirit, where they will learn about Pentecost and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Science
In Science, students have been learning about living, once-living and non-living things. They have explored local habitats and discussed how water, soil, rocks, air and sunlight help support life. Students have also started learning about life cycles and how plants and animals grow and change.
Humanities
In Humanities, students have continued their journey around Australia while filling in their passports along the way. They have explored different states, territories and significant landmarks, including the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Ningaloo Reef and the Pinnacles. Students have also discussed First Nations Peoples and their connection to Country.
At home, you can reinforce learning by:
Reading a story and retelling the beginning, middle and ending.
Choosing a simple sentence, such as “The dog ran,” and expanding it by adding extra detail about when, where or why it happened.
Practising our tricky words by saying them aloud, writing them twice and using each word in a sentence.
Measuring five objects at home using a ruler and recording each length in centimetres.
Choosing three objects and ordering them from shortest to longest.
Estimating the length of a table, bed or room, then measuring it to check how close the estimate was.
Year 4 News
Our Year 4 students have continued to work hard throughout Week 6 and should be very proud of the positive learning habits they are demonstrating. It has been wonderful to see students showing confidence, working collaboratively, and taking increasing responsibility for their learning across all areas of the curriculum.
A major highlight over the past fortnight was our Year 4 Camp. We are extremely proud of the way students conducted themselves throughout the experience. They demonstrated excellent behaviour, resilience, teamwork, and enthusiasm while attempting all activities. It was wonderful to see students encouraging one another, stepping outside of their comfort zones, and building positive relationships with their peers.
Camp provided many valuable opportunities for students to develop independence and confidence, and we congratulate them on representing the school so positively.
Below is an overview of what we have been learning across key areas, along with some suggested activities to support learning at home:
English
In English, we are publishing our factual recounts on the topic of The Colonisation of Australia and the Impact on First Nations People. We are continuing with the SpellEx program and further developing our spelling skills through compound words, prefixes, and suffixes. Some spelling assessment will also take place through students’ writing tasks.
Next week, we will begin our new novel The Arrival and shift our focus towards narrative writing.
Numeracy
In Numeracy, students are learning about 2D shape concepts including symmetry, patterns, and composite shapes. Students have been engaging in hands-on learning activities to identify, create, and investigate different shapes and patterns.
Religious Education
In Religious Education, we are beginning our new topic Mission and the Church. Students will explore the role of the Church and how people are called to live out God’s mission through service, community, and faith.
Science
In Science, students are continuing to explore distance forces. They are learning about how forces such as gravity and magnetism can act on objects without direct contact, and investigating how these forces influence movement.
Humanities
In Humanities, we are continuing our unit Managing Earth’s Resources. Students are learning about renewable energy, waste management, reducing waste, and how to care for and protect the environment.
At Home You Could Reinforce Learning By:
Independent/Guided Reading
It is the expectation in Grade 4 that your child practises reading independently or to a family member for at least 10–20 minutes each night. This helps develop strong reading habits and reinforces reading fluency. Students are encouraged to borrow books from the classroom or school library.
Students are also welcome in the library from 8:30am each morning to borrow and return books, read independently, or read with a staff member.
Fluency Practice
To support classroom learning, students are encouraged to practise their number facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Strong foundational skills help students tackle more complex mathematical concepts with confidence. Even 5 minutes of practice each night can help improve speed and accuracy.
Narrative and Recount Writing
Encourage your child to write short recounts or imaginative narratives about topics that interest them.
Spelling Skills
Support spelling development by practising tricky words, compound words, prefixes, and suffixes at home.
Maths
Explore symmetry, patterns, and 2D shapes around the home and environment.
A major highlight over the past fortnight was our Year 4 Camp. We are extremely proud of the way students conducted themselves throughout the experience.
They demonstrated excellent behaviour, resilience, teamwork, and enthusiasm while attempting all activities.
It was wonderful to see students encouraging one another, stepping outside of their comfort zones, and building positive relationships with their peers.
Camp provided many valuable opportunities for students to develop independence and confidence, and we congratulate them on representing the school so positively.
Here are some photos of some of the highlights from camp:
Year Five News
The children have completed our Religious Education study on the Risen Christ by conducting an interview with either Mary Magdalen as she encountered Jesus at the empty tomb, the disciples as they travelled the road to Emmaus or Peter who Jesus entrusted to lead his followers.
The interviews showed the emotions, feels and expectations as we as Christians are encouraged to be followers of Christ. Our next unit of study is Reconciliation. As Christians, we hope for a future when we relate to each other, the environment and to God in the way that Jesus showed us.
English
In English we are coming to the end of our unit on Black Cockatoo and Dirrarn, with the children writing a factual recount based on Jandamurra, a First Nations hero.
Mathematics
In Mathematics we begin a study of probability as we explore the chances of events occurring, making predictions and testing out our thinking.
The children continue to work hard being there best, acting responsibly and respecting each other.
Just a Reminder:
We have many children bringing in squishy toys, fidgets or other items that are distracting our learning.
We understand that some children require these to help them settle and feel at ease, however when they become trading items, are lost or broken, then they defeat their purpose.
If you child requires one of these please let us know and we will try and make sure they are used as they intended for.
Need something to do at home?
Turn off the TV, put all devices away and spend time with your child. You could play a board game.
Challenge them to a game of cards or UNO. Get your child to plan an organise a family meal, then help them prepare and serve it.
Spend time reading with your child each school night for at least 20 minutes – read with them, listen to them, read to them. Then practice the timetables. 30 minutes of quality time together is the best learning you will ever experience.
Year 6 News
