Prep
Welcome
Welcome to Term Four!
It is hard to believe we are already at the end of the year! It is wonderful to continue to consolidate your child’s learning in all curriculum areas. We will reflect on our students' growth and learning throughout their first school year. We wish you all a safe and wonderful term ahead. Our doors are always open to support you and your child's educational journey at St Andrew’s.
Our Learning this Term
English
During this term, students will continue with a daily two-hour literacy block. One hour of the block focuses on reading, while the other targets writing.
In Reading, the focus will be on linking letter knowledge when making attempts at segmenting and blending small words and words with digraphs (2 letters making one sound). Students are learning to point to each word, ensuring they match what is written in the text. Within our whole and small group reading, students are learning to read and locate ‘tricky words’, which they will then transfer into their writing. Students will also focus on punctuation to add expression and fluency, when reading, to indicate understanding of the text.
They will identify the characters, setting and events in a narrative and retell them in order. To demonstrate their understanding of texts, students will answer questions and make connections to their own experiences.
In Writing, students use Colourful Semantics to support them in structuring their sentences. Colourful Semantics looks at the who, what doing, where, when and how features that make up sentences. The Preps have amazed us with how quickly they have picked up this skill in their weekend recounts and narrative writing. Students are also practising their letter formation of upper and lower-case letters and using their letter-sound knowledge to spell words. They are learning to re-read their writing and ensure that it makes sense.
Through our Daily Writing Review sessions, students explore new vocabulary based on a storybook or topic and work to understand the meaning of each word. They develop sentences with these challenge words, focusing on the who, what doing and where structure. Students are also learning to write sentences using a capital letter, finger spaces and a full stop
Mathematics
Throughout the term, students will use manipulatives such as counters, blocks, dice, and dominoes to assist with their number development. Lessons are made up of “hands-on” activities, allowing students to discuss, share, and reflect on their new learning.
Term 4 units
Statistics
- Data - students will collect, sort and compare data represented by objects and images in response to given investigative questions that have only 2 outcomes.
Space
- Location - students will describe the position of objects using location words such as under, inside, outside and on top. They will follow and give directions to move an object to a new location.
Number
- Counting and Place Value - students will name, represent and order numbers using physical and virtual materials and numerals. They will make connections between number names, numerals and position in the sequence of numbers, focusing on how many tens and ones each number has.
Measurement
- Length, Mass, Capacity and Time - students will explore long and short duration and compare the duration of events. They will revise and consolidate their understanding of length, mass and capacity and solve problems using direct comparison.
Ideas for maths at home:
- Count, Count, Count!
- Count forwards and backwards, beginning at different starting spots. Ask your child what the number before is and what the number after is.
- Ask your child to make a certain number as fast as they can using their fingers.
- Going shopping? Get your children to count out the fruits and vegetables as they go into the bag. Going for a walk? Count the steps from one house to another. Notice the house numbers; guess what the next number would be. Setting the table? How many people? How many knives and forks? Do the amounts match?
- Compare the capacity of items - which household items hold more or which hold less?
- Can you share items equally? Divide household items into equal groups.
Involve your child in cooking. Let your child help stir, pour, fill, and mix. Get your child counting and measuring.
Religious Education
In Religion, students will explore the creation story in the Bible and sequence the events. They will identify that God created our world as a gift to us all. The Preps will learn about God’s creation by engaging in meaningful dialogue that deepens their understanding and inspires them to take action in caring for the world around them. Students will identify ways that they can care for our environment such as picking up rubbish.
Leading up to the end of the school year, we will reflect on the Advent season, a time to wait and prepare for the birth of Jesus. We will also learn about the special story of Christmas, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Students will have opportunities to listen to the story and celebrate the great joy of Jesus’ arrival.
Inquiry
Our Term 4 Inquiry unit is Earth and Space Science. We are focusing our learning on how the sky and landscapes around us change, both quickly and slowly.
Students will learn to identify natural, managed and constructed environments through hands-on observation, prediction and simple experiments like growing grass and tracking seasonal changes.
This term, our students will attend an excursion to
TwistEd Science where they will engage in a ‘Weather Watch’ workshop and explore various hands-on STEM related exhibits.
SPECIALIST NEWS
Library News
Grades Prep W, and Prep S will borrow books on Tuesdays and Prep D will borrow books on Thursdays, each fortnight on the even weeks of term. Students must ensure that all books they borrow from the library are returned the week before or by the Monday of their library lesson week. They must also have an appropriate Library Bag (not plastic) to protect their books.
Thursday Recess: For students who are late to return books, an additional time to borrow is on Thursdays at recess. Students can borrow new books once they have returned their books.
This term in the Library, our Prep students will enjoy listening to a variety of engaging stories and picture books. Through whole-class read-alouds, students will explore characters, settings and story events while developing their ability to listen carefully, share ideas and talk about the books they enjoy. Students will discover how authors and illustrators use words and pictures to tell stories, share ideas and bring characters to life. Follow-up activities will encourage them to make connections between the stories and their own experiences, while also supporting the development of key literacy skills such as listening, predicting, and responding to texts.Most importantly, our Library experiences will encourage students to develop a love of books and a lifelong enjoyment of reading.
Parents can support their child by:
- Helping them keep Library books in a safe place at home (such as a special book bag or basket).
- Setting aside a regular time to enjoy the borrowed books together.
- Talking about the story, pictures, or information in the book to build connections and understanding.
- Encouraging children to re-read favourite books to build fluency and confidence.
- Reminding them to pack their Library books on borrowing days so they can return and choose new ones.
Together, we can help students build positive reading habits and a love of books!
Best wishes,
Mrs Milne
LOTE-Italian
Ciao a tutti e bentornati a scuola.
Dear Families,
Welcome to Term 4! This term in Prep, the focus will continue to be on the introduction of the Italian language and on the development of the students’ speaking and listening skills.
The students will be introduced to the written text and family vocabulary through the story of Pinocchio. They will be able to make links between their own family and Pinocchio’s family and reflect on the similarities and differences.
They will listen to the text and explore the language used to describe Pinocchio’s family members and the new vocabulary SONO as a way of introducing oneself; sono Pinocchio- I am Pinocchio sono Geppetto- I am Geppetto, sono il gatto –I am the cat, sono il grillo I am the cricket, sono il topo- I I am the mouse.
The students will be introduced to the new vocabulary for family and family members; il papà- Dad, la mamma- Mum, il fratello- the brother, la sorella- the sister. The students will then use the new Italian vocabulary to introduce their own family members; Sono il papà-I am Dad, sono la mamma -I am Mum etc. They will then draw and label a poster of their family members using Italian vocabulary. Students will revise and practise the new language through chants, songs, classroom activities and games.
Cordiali saluti
Signora White
Italian Teacher
Art
A big thank you to all our Prep students and families for your wonderful support of our Art Show! It was a great success, and it was so lovely to see our youngest artists proudly sharing their creations with our school community. Thank you for helping make it such a special event!
This term, we are bringing Inquiry – Seasons into the Art Room. Students will explore the colours of the four seasons while experimenting with different painting techniques and learning how artists can use colour to represent the world around them.
We will also be exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture, creating some hands-on artworks while learning about colour, pattern and connection to Country.
To finish the year, we will get into the festive spirit with some fun and creative Christmas art activities! 🎄🎨
It’s going to be another colourful and creative term in the Art Room!
Warm regards,
Milena Santoro
Art Teacher
Physical Education
Welcome to the final term of the school year! This term in Prep PE, students will continue developing their fundamental movement skills while building confidence, coordination and teamwork.
We will begin by revisiting throwing and catching skills using a variety of equipment and fun activities. Students will also practise running, jumping, hopping, kicking and rolling through a range of engaging games. Towards the end of the term, students will have opportunities to work in groups and put their skills into practice.
With the warmer weather, some lessons will take place outdoors. Please remember to pack a hat and water bottle for your child on their specialist day.
We look forward to a fun and active final term with our Prep students!
Mr. Min Fa
Prep PE teacher
Performing Arts
Welcome back to Term 4 Preps and Prep Families!
We’re excited to start our final term of their prep year! The students have done a fantastic job learning about rhythms and have progressed very well during Term 3. We’ll continue this understanding of rhythms, identifying and playing notation using percussion instruments. The students will also learn to sing in pitch, using games like Bee Bee and Poison Pitch. While playing, students will focus on listening and copying the tuned notes.
The preps will learn both choreographed dance moves and improvise their dancing to songs like Calypso, Sasa, and songs of their choice. We’ll also be using story-telling to focus on drama and acting, using facial expressions and movements to convey a feeling or idea.
Towards the end of term (but not too early), we’ll be learning about pitch with instruments and our voices as we embrace the Christmas spirit and learn some Christmas Carols and songs! All these activities help the preps build resilience and confidence and develop fundamental social skills such as cooperation and listening and prepare the preps for their transition to year one.
Have a great term, and happy singing and dancing,
Mrs Emma Cooper
Performing Arts Teacher
PBL - Positive Behaviour for Learning
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole-school organisational framework for supporting behaviour and creating safe and positive learning environments. There are 3 specific expectations: RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT & RESILIENCE.
Our Prep students have demonstrated responsible learning by independently following class routines and taking on classroom jobs. They have been learning about being responsible friends by helping others and seeking adult assistance when needed.
The Preps have been learning that allowing everyone to learn makes us respectful peers. They continue developing the skills to show others respect by keeping their hands and feet to themselves and using kind words to solve problems.
They are also learning to be resilient learners, always having a go and taking ownership of their feelings. They are learning to identify small problems (like an ant problem) that they or their friends can solve, and bigger problems (like an elephant problem) that require a teacher's assistance.
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 Thursday.
Specialist Teachers and Timetable
Italian – Signora White
P.E. – Mr Min Fa
Performing Arts - Mrs Cooper
Art - Mrs Santoro
Library - Mrs Milne
The Specialist timetable is as follows:
Prep D
Monday: Performing Arts and Art
Tuesday: Italian
Thursday: P.E, Library (fortnightly)
Prep S
Monday: Performing Arts and Italian
Tuesday: Art, Library (fortnightly)
Thursday: P.E
Prep W
Monday: Italian and Art
Tuesday: Performing Arts, Library (fortnightly)
Thursday: P.E
*Library: Students will need to return their library books on a weekly cycle.
e.g. Prep S and Prep W borrows on a Tuesday and they will return on
the following Tuesday.
Prep D borrows on a Thursday and will return the following Thursday.
Take Home Reading Books and Pouches
Each week, your child will take home a decodable book that supports the learning that is happening in the classroom. These books are to be read multiple times throughout the week to help develop your child’s letter-sound knowledge and ability to sound out words and blend them back together. By reading the books multiple times, they will also build other reading skills such as comprehension, fluency, pace and expression. These books are to be recorded in their Home Reading Diary and returned in their blue pouch on your child’s reading day. Please ensure your child brings their reading pouch on their assigned day, as this allows time for your child to read with their teacher. Within the Home Reading Diary, there are tricky words that your child is to practise and these will be set by your child’s teacher.
School Uniform and Hat
Please ensure that all clothing items are clearly marked with your child’s name, preferably in permanent marker. School hats will be left at school each day. Students are required to wear a hat when the UV rating is 3 or above, so please ensure they have their hat at school during Term 4.
Morning Routine
The school gates will be open from 8:25am. If your child is at school between 8:25-8:40am, they are to place their bag in their class line outside their classroom. Classrooms will open from 8:40am so that students can put their bags away and complete their morning routine. Once the bell rings at 8:45am, the school day will begin and we ask that all families leave the classroom at this time. Students who arrive after the bell has rung at 8:45am need to sign in at the school office. Please ensure that your child arrives at school on time to give them 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 cheese 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. This is a friendly reminder that we encourage a nut-free environment in the school.
Key Dates
Friday 16th October - School Assembly - Prep D presenting
Wednesday 21st October - Italian Day
Friday 23rd October - Prep Excursion to TwistEd Science
Friday 30th October - School Assembly - Prep W presenting
Monday 2nd November - School Closure Day
Tuesday 3rd November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Wednesday 11th November - Remembrance Day Liturgy
Thursday 12th November - Andrew Chinn Visit
Friday 13th November - School Closure Day
Friday 20th November - School Assembly - Prep S presenting
Wednesday 25th November - Prep W and Prep D attending Parish Mass
Monday 30th November - St Andrew’s Feast Day
Wednesday 2nd December - Prep S attending Parish Mass
Monday 7th December - Move Up Session 1 with 2027 Class
Tuesday 8th December - Move Up Session 2 with 2027 Class
Wednesday 9th December - Move Up Session 3 with 2027 Class
Thursday 10th December - Learning Celebrations
Tuesday 15th December - End of Term 4
*As dates can be subject to change, please check either the school newsletter or notifications on the Audiri App.
How to Contact Us
Karen Williams: kwilliams@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Martina Duong: mduong@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Bridie Slater: bslater@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
We politely request that there is an understanding that emails will be responded to within a 48 hour time frame and within the hours of 8.00am-4.45pm.