Year 1/2
Welcome
Dear Families,
Welcome to Term Four! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break with your families. We look forward to working with your children and celebrating their achievements and progress throughout the final term
Our Learning This Term
English
Year 1
In Term Four, students will continue developing their Literacy skills through the InitiaLit program and the Impact Curriculum Writing resources. This term, they will build on their knowledge of sounds, spelling and grammar while continuing to develop their reading fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. Students will continue applying their understanding of vowel sounds, digraphs and suffixes, while developing their ability to use descriptive language and increasingly complex sentences in their speaking and writing. They will also continue practising Tricky Words and applying their phonics knowledge to decode and spell unfamiliar words.
In Writing this term, students will continue exploring both persuasive and imaginative writing through the mentor texts ‘Where the Forest Meets the Sea’, ‘Looking After Country with Fire’, ‘The Imagineer’, and ‘Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge’. Through these engaging texts, students will explore how authors use descriptive language, interesting vocabulary and text structure to communicate ideas effectively. Students will plan, draft, edit and publish their own persuasive and imaginative texts, developing their ability to express opinions, provide reasons, create imaginative ideas and engage their audience. They will continue developing their use of adjectives, suffixes such as ‘-ly’, sentence structure and punctuation to make their writing clear, detailed and engaging.
InitiaLit program. This term, our learning will focus on three key areas: Spelling, Comprehension and Grammar.
Spelling:Students will explore spelling choices when adding suffixes to words. For example, when adding -ing, students will learn to:
- Drop the ‘e’ before adding -ing (e.g. make → making).
- Double the final consonant when appropriate (e.g. run → running).
- Simply add -ing (e.g. jump → jumping).
Year 2
Comprehension:During our comprehension lessons, students will continue developing important reading strategies. They will practise predicting what might happen next in a text and making personal connections between what they read and their own experiences.
Grammar:This term, students will develop their understanding of pronouns and how they are used in writing. They will practise using pronouns such as he, his, she, her, we, us and I to make their writing clear and avoid repetition.
We look forward to another term of building confidence and strengthening our literacy skills!
In Writing this term, Year 2 students will be focusing on Narrative writing. They will develop their ability to create engaging stories with a clear beginning, middle and end.
Students will learn to:
- Structure their stories: Introduce characters and the setting at the beginning, share events in a logical order in the middle, and provide a clear resolution or describe how the characters are feeling at the end.
- Focus on small moments: Rather than rushing through a long list of events, students will learn to zoom in on one specific event and describe it using interesting details.
- Build cause and effect: Students will explore how one action can lead to another by introducing a simple problem and developing a solution.
- Enhance vocabulary: Students will be encouraged to use descriptive action words, feeling words and time-order words, such as first, then, next and finally, to make their stories more engaging for the reader.
We look forward to seeing students use their creativity and imagination to develop their narrative writing skills throughout the term!
PBL
The PBL Leaders have been attending Student Voice Meetings this semester where they represent their class and bring with them specific ideas and suggestions to be discussed as a team.
In our Respectful Relationships program we have been learning about what stress is. This term, we will be focusing on ways of coping with stress and practising a number of relaxation techniques. When we are feeling overwhelmed and worried, some examples of coping strategies are: quietly drawing, playing with friends, filling your lungs like big balloons and talking to a trusted adult in your family.
The second half of the term will focus on Help Seeking and the importance of asking for help when problems become too hard to deal with by ourselves. The students will also be given specific scenarios in which a student requires help and the class will problem solve what they would do in this situation to assist their peers.
Students continue demonstrating Respect, Responsibility and Resilience in their actions and behaviour and have been awarded for this through weekly certificates from their class teachers.
Take-Home Reading
Take-home books continue to go home weekly. Please ensure your child’s Reading Log is filled in each night after reading. Nightly reading plays a vital role in Literacy development and has many benefits, including improving listening skills, spelling, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and overall confidence. We will continue with students’ reading days throughout Term Three. If you require a copy of this, please contact your child's teacher directly.
Parent Helpers
We look forward to welcoming Parent Helpers into the classrooms. Please ensure that you have a current Working with Children Check, as this is a legal requirement. If you are interested in assisting in the classroom, please contact your child's teacher.
Mathematics
Students have begun Term 4 by developing their understanding of Location. This has been a very active unit, with students getting up and moving as they practise interpreting and following directions using positional language such as forwards, backwards, left and right. Students are also learning to create their own movement instructions, such as “move two steps to the right” or “take one step forward,” to guide others.
Students have also been exploring simple maps of familiar places. They are learning to identify key features on a map and use positional language to describe where things are located.
Later in the term, students will explore Fractions and Mass and Capacity. In our fractions unit, students will develop their understanding of halves, quarters and eighths, with a focus on dividing wholes into equal parts. They will investigate fractions through shapes, objects and everyday experiences, developing an understanding that, for example, one quarter (¼) represents one of four equal parts.
In Mass and Capacity, students will compare and order objects based on how heavy or light they are and explore how much different containers can hold. They will use mathematical language such as heavier, lighter, holds more than and holds less than to describe their observations. Through hands-on experiences, such as weighing classroom objects and pouring water into different-sized containers, students will develop their understanding of how measurement helps us describe and compare the world around us.
Inquiry
This term, our Year 1/2 students will be exploring the fascinating world of Earth and Space Science through our learning topic, Night and Day! Students will investigate how the Earth’s movement causes day & night and how the Earth’s tilt and journey around the Sun create the four seasons.
Throughout the term, students will participate in a range of hands-on experiments and activities to bring their learning to life. Using balls and torches, they will model how the Earth rotates, explore the relative sizes of the Earth, Moon and Sun, and investigate how shadows form and change throughout the day. Students will also discover the different phases of the Moon and learn about sunrise, sunset and time zones.
Our young scientists will develop important skills by making predictions, asking questions, following instructions and recording their observations. They will also have opportunities to work collaboratively, share their ideas and explain what they discover through practical investigations and creative activities.
By the end of the unit, students will have a deeper understanding of the world beyond our classroom and the changes we observe in the sky each day. We look forward to seeing their curiosity grow as they investigate the wonders of our planet and the solar system!
Classroom Organisation
The students in Year 1/2 need to continue to develop independence. Students are encouraged to develop this at school through such things as being responsible for:
• Unpacking bags at school
• Organising their personal belongings
• Handing in any notes
• Bringing back library books and bags on their assigned day
• Being punctual to class and ready for learning
Gates are now open from 8.25 a.m and students can drop their bags off in their designated area and play on the playground between 8.25 and 8.40 a.m. At 8.40 a.m the classroom doors open and music begins to play. Student classroom settling is between 8.40 and 8.45 a.m and parents are welcome during these times.
From 8.45 - 8.55 a.m there are the school and class prayers and the attendance roll is taken during this time.
Teaching and learning commences at 8.55 a.m.
After 8:55 am, students must report to the office to be registered as late for the day.
If your child is absent from school, we must receive notification of this in writing, either via the Audiri app, an email to the classroom teacher, or a note handed to the teacher.
All 1/2 students will participate in the Specialist Program on Wednesday: Italian, Art, Performing Arts, and PE. Please remember that every Wednesday, the students are expected to wear their runners and P.E. uniforms to school for Physical Education.
On all other days of the week, students should wear their school shoes and full school uniform.
Library Sessions have commenced this term and will take place every two weeks. Please return all Library books and bring a Library bag before your child’s lesson. Books are to be returned on the second Wednesday after your child’s lesson and placed in the library tub in your child’s room.
Class lesson days and times:
1/2L, 1/2K - Tuesdays
1/2G, 1/2C - Thursdays
Key Dates
October
Wednesday 21st - Italian Day
Friday 30th - Assembly @ 9.00 a.m.
- World Teachers’ Day
November
Sunday 1st - All Saints Day
Monday 2nd - All Souls Day
Monday 2nd - School Closure Day
Tuesday 3rd - Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
Thursday 5th - 1/2C Class Mass @ 9.15 a.m.
Friday 6th - P&F Trivia Night
Saturday 7th - Working Bee
Wednesday 11th - Remembrance Day Liturgy
- SAC Meeting @ 7.00 - 8.30 p.m.
- Thursday 12th - Andrew Chinn School Visit
- Friday 13th - School Closure Day
- Saturday 14th - P&F Family Portraits
- Friday 20th - School Assembly @ 9.00 a.m.
- Thursday 26th - Year 1/2 Excursion to Scienceworks
- Friday 27th - School Assembly @ 9.00 a.m.
- Sunday 29th - First Sunday of Advent
- Monday 30th - St Andrew’s Feast Day
- St Andrew’s Feast Day Mass @ 9.15 a.m.
December
Thursday 3rd - 1/2L Class Mass @ 9.15 a.m.
- Sunday 6th - Second Sunday of Advent
- Thursday 10th - 1/2G Class Mass @ 9.15 a.m.
- Learning Celebrations @ 2.45 p.m.
- Friday 11th - Final Assembly @ 9.00 a.m.
- Sunday 13th - Third Sunday of Advent
- Tuesday 15th - End of Year School Mass @ 9.00 a.m.
- Last Day of Term 4 - Students conclude school @ 1.30 p.m.
- Guard of Honor @ 1.15 p.m.
*As dates can be subject to change, please check either the school newsletter or notifications on the Audiri App.
How to Contact Us
Jordan Lonergan jlonergan@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Sally Kuszner skuszner@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Rachel Gurvich rgurvich@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Emily Casaceli ecasaceli@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Maggie Sproul maggie@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Natalie Arhontis narhontis@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.
SPECIALIST NEWS
Library News
Grades 1/2K, and 1/2L will borrow books on Tuesdays and 1/2G and 1/2C 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 Year 1/2 students will enjoy exploring a variety of engaging stories and picture books. Whole-class read-alouds, including Maggie the Dragon by Tony Armstrong, will encourage students to listen, discuss and share their ideas as they explore different characters, settings and story events. Through shared reading, questioning and activities, students will learn how authors and illustrators use words and pictures to communicate ideas and bring stories to life. These engaging Library experiences will help students build confidence as readers while encouraging curiosity, imagination and a lifelong enjoyment of books. These sessions also help strengthen key literacy skills such as comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking. Through regular Library experiences, we aim to nurture their curiosity, imagination and growing love of reading.
Parents can support their child to borrow and return books regularly 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 borrowed books together.
- Talking about the story, pictures, or information to build understanding and curiosity.
- Encouraging children to re-read favourite books to build fluency and confidence.
- Reminding them to pack their Library books on borrowing days.
Together, we can help students continue developing positive reading habits and a lifelong love of books!
Best wishes,
Mrs Milne
L.O.T.E. Italian
Ciao a tutti e bentornati a scuola.
Dear parents, welcome to Term 4.
The students will begin the term by revising previously learnt language through quizzes, chants and games. They are introduced to the sequence of courses (like entree, main course, dessert) as they are presented in the story. They discuss the importance of that sequence in Italian culture. The students will also be encouraged to reflect and make observations about similarities and differences in family cultural practices and will be able to make links between their own family’s cultural practices when eating a meal and those presented in the story.
Students work in groups to role- play the story. Following a model, each student takes on a specific role.
After a few practices, the students present it to the class.
The students will also be introduced to a song. Once familiar with the vocabulary in the song, students join in with the singing and are encouraged to include actions.
During the lessons the students will be participating in singing songs, playing games, reciting chants and completing varied classroom activities so as to reinforce their knowledge and understanding.
Cordiali saluti,
Signora White
ART
Year 1/2 Visual Arts – Welcome to Term 4!
A big thank you to all our Grade 1/2 students and families for your wonderful support of our Art Show! It was a great success, and it was lovely to see the students so excited and proud to share their artwork with our school community. Thank you for helping make it such a special event!
This term, we are bringing Inquiry – Day and Night into the Art Room. Students will explore the differences between day and night through colour, shape and texture, while learning and experimenting with a range of fun painting techniques.
We will also explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture, creating hands-on artworks while learning about colour, pattern, connection to Country and storytelling.
To finish the year, we will get into the festive spirit with some fun and creative Christmas art activities!
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to another fun, creative and inspiring term in the Art Room!
Happy art and crafting,
Mrs. Milena Santoro
Physical Education
Welcome to Term 4!
As we head into Term 4, students will continue to develop their fundamental movement skills, physical fitness and confidence through a variety of fun and engaging physical activities. Our focus will remain on participation, skill development, teamwork and demonstrating positive sportsmanship during PE lessons.
Students will be encouraged to challenge themselves, work collaboratively with their peers and demonstrate resilience when learning new skills and participating in different sports and activities.
Students will have opportunities to practise and refine skills such as passing, catching, throwing, kicking and moving into space, while learning how to apply these skills in game situations.
Students will also be encouraged to develop their understanding of game rules, tactics and strategies, helping them become more confident and effective participants in a range of sports.
Mr Alex Heenan
Performing Arts
Welcome back 1/2 Students and families for the final fun term of Performing Arts.
This term, classes will be focussing on pitch (high and low) and identifying notes using their beautiful singing voices as well as tuned instruments such as boomwhackers, glockenspiels, xylophones and metallophones. We’ll be singing two songs (I turn on the tap and I walk to the stream) and then combining both songs in a mash-up style medley. This allows them to develop listening and audiation skills (hearing the songs without any distraction) and is great for brain training!
There will be plenty of opportunity for both playing along with notes and improvisation, particularly to songs like Icka Backa and Jazzy Jive. The 1/2‘s will also have an opportunity to learn some new dance moves and create some of their own with Jazzy Jive as well.
Students will have an opportunity to start learning a few notes on the staff, how to identify notes on the treble clef using solfege hand signs, our staff wars game, and a play along with boomwhackers. Towards the very end of the term we’ll also be singing and playing some Christmas Carols to get into the festive spirit!
Happy singing and dancing!
Mrs Emma Cooper