Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families,

In Week 6, students explored Religious Education through learning about the sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation, including their symbols, actions and the importance of forgiveness. They also explored how people use their gifts to serve and support others within a faith community. In English, students revised key Stage 8 reading skills, including prefixes, suffixes, multisyllabic words, the /ul/ ‘le’ spelling pattern, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. In Writing, students continued exploring The Little Refugee by sequencing events, making inferences about Anh Do’s character and examining how his journey changed throughout the story. Students also planned, wrote and improved their own writing, with a focus on adding detail, strengthening word choices, handwriting and editing.

Learning for the Week 7/Term 3:

Religious Education:

For Religious Education in Week 7, students will explore how Catholics use prayer, the Rosary, music, silence and gestures to deepen their relationship with God. They will learn how the Rosary helps Catholics remember important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary and discuss how different forms of prayer can help people reflect, remember and feel connected to their faith.

English:

For Reading in Week 7, students will focus on the suffixes -ive and -ish, learning how these suffixes change the meaning and function of base words. They will practise reading, spelling and building words with these suffixes and apply their understanding when writing sentences. Students will develop vocabulary through words such as effective, decorative, distinguish and outlandish. They will also build fluency and comprehension through the Parrot Detective text,

For Writing in Week 7, students will explore how authors show a character’s feelings and thoughts through language, punctuation, illustrations, humour and exaggeration. Using the text about Frank and broccoli, students will identify clues that reveal how Frank feels and explain how his feelings change. They will then apply their learning by planning and writing a persuasive letter, clearly stating an opinion and supporting it with reasons. Students will also complete an independent writing task, focusing on adding detail, improving word choices and editing their work

Mathematics:

For Maths in Week 7, students will explore and create number patterns that increase and decrease. They will identify the rule in a pattern and practise continuing patterns by adding or subtracting ones, tens and hundreds within 1000. Students will also explain how they know what comes next by using their understanding of place value and number relationships. 

Integrated Curriculum:

For Integrated Studies in Week 7, students will explore how dance and drama are used to communicate stories, culture, celebrations and traditions. They will identify how movement can represent ideas and experiences and will use their voice, facial expressions and body movements to help tell a story through drama.

Auslan:

For Auslan in Week 7, students will use visual thinking to support story planning. They will practise picturing actions and events in a story and showing these ideas through Auslan signs, movement and expression to help communicate meaning clearly.

Social & Emotional Learning:

For SEL in Week 7, students will learn to recognise different types of harm and understand how their body can give warning signs when something feels unsafe. They will identify examples of harmful behaviour, recognise physical or emotional warning signs, and discuss safe actions they can take, including moving away, saying no and seeking help from a trusted adult.

What you can do at home

• Read together each night and talk about the message in a story. Ask your child what the author might want the reader to think, feel or learn.

   

• Practise maths in everyday life by noticing patterns at home or outside, such as patterns in tiles, clothes, blocks, counting, or nature. Ask your child to describe what repeats or what changes.

   

• Talk and share signs together by asking your child to teach you an Auslan sign or facial expression they have learned at school. Practising together helps build confidence and communication skills.

Important Classroom Reminders:

• Fidget Toys

  We kindly ask that students do not bring fidget toys to school unless their use is a planned adjustment in consultation with Allied Health Professionals. Students who bring fidget toys without an approved adjustment will be asked to place them in their school bag for the remainder of the day to take home. We appreciate your support in encouraging your child to leave fidget toys at home.

• Spare clothes/change of clothes

  Please pack spare clothes with a pair of socks and underwear to be placed in the front zip pocket of your child's school bag in case of a toileting accident or when they get muddy during recess and play time. 

• Please ensure that you are labelling all your child's belongings.
• Please remind your child to change their reading books when they need to. 

Important Dates to Remember:

• Monday 24th August - Book Week Dress Up Day and Parade
• Friday 4th September - Father's Day Morning - 8:25am - 9:30am
• Thursday 17th September - Last Day of Term 3
• Monday 5th October - First Day of Term 4

Enjoy your weekend,

The Damascus Team

Contact us @Damascus

damascus@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au  (all teachers) or