From the Year 1 Classroom

Hello Grade 1 Families,

Wow, this term is flying by! We’re heading into the busy end of the term. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll enjoy warmer weather (please ensure your child has their school hat), take part in End of Year concerts, begin our swimming program, and so much more! During this exciting time, we remind everyone to be kind to themselves as we navigate the busyness—taking moments to pause and appreciate all we’ve achieved this year.

Literacy

Last week we explored some beautiful indigenous texts, written by Adam Goodes. Goodes, a proud Adnyamathanha and Narungga man and former Australian of the Year, has written a beautiful series of children’s books called “Welcome to Our Country.”

These books, including Somebody’s Land, Ceremony, Back on Country, and Dreaming, have helped the children explore big ideas like belonging, respect, and the stories that have been passed down for thousands of years. Through simple language and vibrant illustrations, these texts explained why this land has always been somebody’s land and why it’s important to care for it. The children were able to infer what the aboriginal words meant through finding clues in both the text and images.

We were so impressed with how the children then transferred this learning into their writing lessons, creating their own compound sentences using some of the aboriginal language explored in the texts. This week we will continue to explore indigenous texts, written by talented indigenous authors and begin to create our own narratives about exploring country.

We have been revising the spelling of words with the ‘ir’ and ‘ur’ digraph including- girl, first, birthday, twirl, swirling and thirsty, as well as burst, hurt, turning, sunburn and disturb.

*Please continue to read the decodable texts online, as this is a really valuable and enjoyable resource to access at home.

Maths

To complete our learning in Maths for the year, we are focusing on building confidence and skills in addition and subtraction. Students will learn efficient strategies such as counting on and back using a number line, starting with the larger number, and exploring the connection between addition and subtraction. We will also work on adding multiple numbers and partitioning two-digit numbers into tens and ones to prepare for future work with bigger numbers. Throughout the unit, we encourage students to think about how they solve problems and to talk through their strategies, helping deepen their understanding.

Religion – Advent: Preparing for Jesus

In our current unit, students are learning about Advent as a special time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. They are exploring what this season means in the Church and wondering what it means for them personally. Students have shared experiences of getting ready for special events and learned how Mary and Joseph prepared for the birth of Jesus. Through stories, discussions, and creative activities, students are developing an appreciation of the religious meaning of Christmas.

Inquiry – Play Fair, Play Together

As we continue our ‘Play Fair, Play Together’ unit, we are focusing on fair play and teamwork through structured games and reflection. Students are learning how to play fairly, solve small problems independently, and show good sportsmanship—winning and losing respectfully, encouraging others, and celebrating effort. These skills help build cooperation, resilience, and a positive attitude towards working and playing with others.

Parent Tip: Ask your child to share one way they encouraged a friend or showed fairness during a game. Talking about these moments helps reinforce positive behaviours at home.

Important Dates

Friday 28th November - End of year concert at 5pm
24th – 28th November: Book Fair in Library
Monday 1st December to Friday 5th December - Swimming lessons

Thanks for all of your support and take care,

Kristy, Sarah, Mikaela, Emma and Mel