5/6 CLASSROOM
It has been a very busy and exciting few weeks in Grade 5/6 as we move closer to the end of the year. The students are working hard in all areas of their learning while also preparing for their upcoming graduation — a very special milestone for them and our school community.
Reading
In literacy, we are continuing our whole class novel Finding Bear, exploring themes of family, courage and survival. Students have shared thoughtful predictions and connections throughout the story. We have also been enjoying Bridge to Terabithia as a shared text. Through this novel, students have been discussing friendship, imagination and dealing with challenging emotions, while developing skills in inference, vocabulary and summarising. Many students have particularly enjoyed comparing the way characters are brought to life across both texts.
Writing – Buddy Stories & Secret Place Narratives
A highlight for everyone has been creating buddy stories for our Foundation friends. Students planned and drafted imaginative narratives that included their buddy as a main character — from brave superheroes to explorers discovering magical worlds. There has been lots of creativity in illustrations and storybook design as students prepared their final published copies. We are excited to present these special books to our buddies on Friday and celebrate the joy of storytelling together.
Last Thursday, while the Grade 6 students participated in their Retreat, the Grade 5s worked independently on a free-choice narrative based on a descriptive writing prompt:
Imagine you discover a secret place that no one else knows about. Describe what it looks like, what you can hear, smell, and feel as you explore it. What makes this place special or unusual?
Students used their success criteria to guide their writing, focusing on describing their setting using their senses, including interesting adjectives, writing in complete sentences and paragraphs, and rereading to improve their work. Their stories ranged from hidden forests and magical waterfalls to underground treasure caves and floating islands — full of detail and imagination!
Inquiry – Australian Landmarks
In Inquiry, we have continued our learning about Australia’s unique landmarks. Students selected a landmark of interest — such as the Sydney Opera House, the Twelve Apostles, Uluru, the MCG, or the Great Barrier Reef. Using research prompts, they gathered important information on location, First Nations significance, history, environmental importance and tourism. Students are now turning their research into visually appealing tri-fold brochures using Canva, incorporating labelled maps, photographs and key facts. They have enjoyed taking pride in their digital design skills while ensuring their information is clear and accurate.
Religious Education – The Beatitudes
In RE, students participated in a guided meditation focused on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–10). They were encouraged to think about how the messages of Jesus can be lived out in our daily actions. Students reflected on examples such as including someone who is feeling left out, resolving a disagreement peacefully, showing forgiveness, or comforting a friend who is upset. After meditation, students created a drawing of what they visualised and wrote a personal reflection sentence explaining what the Beatitude means to them. This activity supported mindfulness as well as deeper understanding of compassion and kindness.
Graduation Mass - Friday December 5th at 12.00pm in St Mary’s Church
We are looking forward to presenting the Graduation Mass this Friday, and everyone is warmly welcome to attend. Each student in Grade 5/6 will have an important role during the celebration, and we hope to see you there to support and share in this special occasion.
We are incredibly proud of the maturity, creativity and teamwork shown by our Grade 5/6 students. With many exciting events still to come, we look forward to celebrating their achievements as we approach the end of the school year!
