Year 5/6 Term 1 Overview
Year 5/6 Term One
Welcome back to the 2024 school year! It has been an exciting start to the year with new teachers joining our 5/6 team, along with our amazing Learning Support Officers.
Our classes are as follows:
5/6A - Joyce Qiu and Lipo Li
5/6B - Allison Bayliss, Elina Li (Thursday), and Ruby Schneider
5/6C - Tracey Farrar, Melissa Sedony (Wednesday) and Kristin Sardellis.
Religious Education
In Religious Education this term, we will begin using scripture to help us unpack the meaning of courage from our Catholic faith. Together we will be looking at relevant parables and Bible stories from the New and Old Testaments, where the teachings of courage can be explored more deeply. Exploring the Season of Lent will commence our journey into Easter, where the focus will be on The Stations of the Cross, leading to Jesus’ crucifixion.
Inquiry
Our first term unit of Inquiry learning will be closely linked to our theme of courage as we investigate Geography. We will be seeking to answer our ‘Big Question’: How does interconnection between people and ‘their place’ call for courage in our global world? This question will provide the opportunity to research the continents and countries of various cultural groups around the world, while investigating the environmental events that can challenge them and the effects of their actions on the land.
English
This term, the senior students will develop their reading comprehension, speaking, listening and writing skills based on the assessments carried out at the beginning of the year. During our reading time students will be exposed to a variety of text types, to further develop their comprehension skills. They will have opportunities to discuss ideas and share their opinions about the various texts. The students will do this in teacher focus groups and through taking an in-depth look at our class novel, Paper Planes by Steve Worland. Students will also have access to Reading Eggs and other online activities, to practise and develop their new learning.
This term in Writing, the senior students will be focusing on creating narrative texts. During this time they will focus on developing the text structure of their writing and adding language features for emphasis. They will also work on spelling, vocabulary and punctuation. Students will write for a range of purposes and audiences.
Mathematics
In Mathematics this term, students will consolidate their understanding of place value, fractions and decimals, as well as addition. During Mathematics this term students will:
- Practise recall of known number facts and build mental calculation strategies
- Recognise, represent and order numbers to at least hundreds of thousands, and recognise decimal numbers up to and beyond hundredths
- Compare and order common fractions and locate these on a number line
- Solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions
- Make connections between equivalent fractions and decimals
- Build knowledge of addition strategies to add whole and decimal numbers
Social Emotional Learning
This term in SEL our whole school focus is on Positive behaviour for learning (PBL) and what our modified behaviour expectations matrix now looks like. For Year 5/6 students, this will include setting shared expectations to address safety in our learning and shared spaces, as well as building respectful relationships with our peers and teachers, while showing responsibility in our learning. Student leaders from all leadership areas will also have opportunities to engage in activities to develop their leadership skills throughout the term.
Home Learning
Home learning will once again be given to students in year 5/6 on a fortnightly basis beginning in week 4 of this term. They will receive a matrix of curriculum based activities, with occasional supplementary activities such as maths practise or spelling. Students are also encouraged to read on a daily basis, aiming for approximately 15-20 minutes per day. We see home learning as a terrific opportunity for students to develop and improve in their organisational skills and time management skills in preparation for high school. We greatly appreciate family support with this. If your child requires additional support with home learning please discuss this with their class teacher.
Weekly Specialist Timetable
5/6 A
Wednesday - Performing Arts
Thursday - Visual Arts
Friday - P.E. and Chinese
We also have sports on Wednesday afternoon.
5/6 B
Wednesday - Performing Arts
Thursday - P.E.
Friday - Chinese and Visual Arts
We also have sports on Wednesday afternoon.
5/6 C
Tuesday - Chinese
Thursday - Performing Arts
Friday - Visual Arts and P.E.
We also have sports on Wednesday afternoon.
Please note in your calendars:
Parent Curriculum Information Evening - 15 February
Founders Day Mass - 18 February
School Photos - 19 February
District Swimming - 28 February
Twilight Sports - 4 March
Labour Day - 11 March
NAPLAN - 13-15 March
Last day of term - 28 March (1:00pm finish)
All other school dates will be on the school online calendar.
Communication
Effective communication between family and school is an important factor in a student’s learning. Please make contact with us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
We will endeavour to respond to emails within 24 hours, during weekdays.
jqiu@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
tfarrar@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
abayliss@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
Tracey Farrar, Allison Bayliss and Joyce Qiu
tfarrar@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au