School News and Information

KINDERGARTEN KOALAS NEWS

The Kindergarten Koalas class have been very busy this term and our brains are getting very sweaty with all of our learning!

A big welcome to Mrs Killen replacing Mrs Williams who is on maternity leave. Last week Mrs Williams welcomed a new baby girl named Eloise into their family. CONGRATULATIONS Mrs & Mr Williams! We would love you to bring Eloise in for news one day soon!

Maths learning:

We have been learning about mass and using comparative language such as light/lighter/lightest, heavy/heavier/heaviest/about the same. We loved using the equal arm balances and trying out different materials to balance them.

Kindergarten Koalas are also becoming fabulous mathematicians as they represent numbers in different ways, such as on ten frames, drawing the number, writing a number sentence etc.

English learning:

One of our favourite books we read this term was called The Big Book of Bugs. This informative text had lots of information about bugs, spiders, insects and other creepy crawlies. We also learned that an informative book has a contents page and often an index. We can start reading an informative book at any page as you don't have to read it in order like a narrative (a made up book). The kids are now describing different books as narratives or information texts. WOW!

After reading one of the pages in The Big Book of Bugs, we made spiders using natural materials, making sure our spiders had 8 legs and 2 body parts. We then drew the spiders and labelled our diagrams.

Fine Motor Friday and Nature Play:

One of our favourite activities for the week is Fine Motor Friday and Nature Play time. During Fine Motor Friday and Nature Play, the students go to different activities set up around our classroom or out to the Nature Area. We might even find some veggies to eat from the school veggie garden! It may look like we are just playing, however

fine motor activities are beneficial for kindergarten students for several reasons:

Skill Development: These activities help develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and control over small movements, which are essential for tasks like writing, cutting, and using tools.
Cognitive Growth: Engaging in fine motor tasks stimulates brain development, promoting problem-solving skills and cognitive functions as children learn to manipulate objects and understand spatial relationships.
Independence: Mastering fine motor skills fosters a sense of independence in young learners, allowing them to perform tasks on their own, such as dressing, feeding themselves, and completing school activities.
Preparation for Writing: Fine motor skills are directly linked to writing readiness. Activities that strengthen these skills can enhance a child’s ability to hold a pencil, form letters, and complete written assignments.
Creativity and Expression: Fine motor activities often involve art and crafting, which encourage creativity and self-expression, allowing children to explore their imagination.
Social Skills: Many fine motor activities can be done collaboratively, helping children develop social skills like sharing, taking turns, and communicating with peers.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Felicity Pennington, Maddie Killen and Kim See

RFF News

Dancing and Maths and Learning, Oh My!

Disco Dancers

Students in Stages 1, 2 and 3 have danced through the first half of the term with energy and pizazz! Recently, we focused on the vibrant disco era of the 1970s; a time when the hair was big and the dance moves were bigger! We learned some iconic disco moves and grooved to the sounds of legendary bands such as ABBA, Earth, The Bee Gees and Wind & Fire. Check out our fabulous moves!

Stage 1 have been exploring the significance of dance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Traditionally, these cultures have passed down stories, history, and lessons through oral storytelling, song, and dance. With this in mind, students were tasked with recreating an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander stories of country through dance. They created and performed their own interpretations, and each student did a fantastic job!

Meanwhile, Stage 2 is busy choreographing a short dance sequence in small groups, utilising the elements of dance. They are documenting their choreography using words and symbols while diligently applying their understanding of dance vocabulary.

Stage 3 are busily preparing for the upcoming ACOS with weekly dance practices. We can't wait for you to see our performance next term!

Marvellous Mathematicians

As always, Miss Randall’s Stage 2 Maths group have been hard at work, engaging in challenging mathematical tasks and expanding their knowledge. This term, we have explored a variety of topics including measurement and geometry, data representations, number work, and fractions and decimals. Be sure to check out our posters on decimals below (some of the fractional parts tried to blow away in the wind)! In these posters, students have showcased their understanding of measurement, decimals to the thousandths and millionths, equivalent fractions, and percentages.