Classroom Gallery 

Year 5/6 News – Term 3, Week 2

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope all of our families enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing holiday break. It has been wonderful to see the students return with smiling faces, ready to embrace another exciting term of learning.

Welcome back to Florence, who has returned this week from an extended family holiday. Flo was fortunate enough to visit many wonderful places throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory, including Uluru. We have thoroughly enjoyed hearing about her adventures and learning about the places she explored.

We are also delighted to welcome Anish back to Year 6. Anish has spent the past six months living and attending school in India, and it has been wonderful to hear about his experiences and the different educational opportunities he enjoyed. We are very happy to have him back as part of our Year 5/6 family.

Mathematics

During the first three weeks of this term, our Mathematics focus is Multiplication. Students are learning to select and use efficient strategies to solve multiplication problems while developing a deeper understanding of how numbers work together.

Throughout this unit, students will:

• investigate the meaning of the term product (the answer when two or more numbers are multiplied);
• represent whole numbers as products in a variety of ways;
• identify and explain the factors of whole numbers;
• explore prime numbers (numbers with only two factors), composite numbers (numbers with more than two factors), and understand why 0 and 1 are neither prime nor composite.

By developing strong multiplicative thinking, students build the foundation for fractions, percentages, algebra and many other areas of mathematics they will encounter throughout their schooling.

Have a look at some of the terms we use in Maths time.  

Do you know any of them? 

HSIE – Australian History

This term our History unit explores Australia's journey to becoming a nation. Students will investigate how Australia changed from a collection of separate British colonies into the Commonwealth of Australia through Federation in 1901.

As part of this unit, students will begin by learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of Australia, exploring the richness and diversity of the world's oldest continuing cultures and their enduring connection to Country and Community. Students will then examine Australia's British heritage, the influence of the Westminster system of government, democracy and citizenship, and the many contributions migrants from around the world have made to Australia's economic, cultural and social development. Through stories, historical sources and class discussions, students will develop a deeper appreciation of the diverse people, perspectives and significant events that have shaped Australia into the nation it is today.

Science – Earth and Space: Earthquake Explorers

Our Science unit with Mr Hyatt this term investigates the fascinating world of Earth and Space, with a particular focus on earthquakes and other geological events. Students will plan and conduct scientific investigations, collect and interpret data, and communicate their findings using scientific language. They will explore how earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural events change the Earth's surface, examine why these events occur, and investigate ways communities can prepare for and reduce the impact of natural disasters. Students will also continue developing their understanding of Earth's place within our solar system.

English

English continues to be a busy and exciting part of our learning.

Reading

Students are working on improving their reading fluency (reading accurately, smoothly and with expression) and reading comprehension (understanding and analysing what they read). During Reading Groups, students will explore a wide variety of engaging texts while discussing the author's purpose, audience, message and the choices authors make to influence readers.   

Spelling

This term our Stage 3 students are participating in the SpellEx spelling program. SpellEx provides explicit, systematic instruction in spelling concepts, rules and conventions, helping students understand not only how to spell words but also why words are spelt the way they are.

Students will learn about:

• Phonemes – the individual sounds we hear in spoken words.
• Graphemes – the letters or groups of letters that represent those sounds.
• Morphemes – the smallest units of meaning in words, including prefixes, suffixes and base words.

• Syllables – the beats or parts of words that assist with pronunciation and spelling.

   

Understanding these important concepts enables students to become more confident readers, writers and spellers while strengthening their vocabulary and word knowledge.

Class Novel – Blueback

Our class novel this term is Blueback by celebrated Australian author Tim Winton, who grew up in Western Australia and is renowned for writing stories that celebrate Australia's unique landscapes, wildlife and coastal communities.

Blueback tells the story of Abel and his mother Dora, who share a deep connection with the ocean and the magnificent blue groper they have named Blueback. As Abel grows older, he must make choices about protecting the marine environment while balancing the pressures of change and development. The novel encourages thoughtful discussions about friendship, family, courage, conservation and caring for our natural world.

Creative Arts

To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026, students will create Indigenous-inspired artworks that recognise and celebrate the rich histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The 2026 NAIDOC Week theme, "Fifty Years of Deadly," celebrates the achievements of those who have come before us while recognising the important role today's young people will play in shaping the future. Through their artworks, students will explore Indigenous symbols, storytelling and artistic techniques while developing a greater appreciation for Australia's First Nations cultures.

A special thank you goes to Jen, our Aboriginal Education Assistant, for the wonderful work she has done preparing resources and supporting this learning. Her knowledge, enthusiasm and generosity greatly enrich our classroom experiences.

Religion

This term our Religion unit focuses on the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. Students will deepen their understanding of how the sacraments celebrate important moments throughout a person's life and strengthen our relationship with God and one another.

They will explore the symbols, signs and rituals associated with each sacrament and learn how these continue to guide and support Catholics within the Church community today. Our discussions will encourage students to recognise the importance of faith, belonging, service and compassion in everyday life.

Sport

Students continue to thoroughly enjoy participating in Sport each Wednesday and Friday with Mr Hyatt. During the first five weeks of the term, our focus is Striking and Fielding Games. Students will develop their striking, throwing and catching skills while participating in a range of enjoyable partner, small-group and team activities. Along the way, they will strengthen their movement skills, improve teamwork and communication, develop tactical thinking, and build confidence while learning the rules and strategies involved in striking and fielding games.

A Few Final Thoughts...

There is certainly no doubt that winter has arrived in Walcha! The mornings have been exceptionally cold, but Year 5/6 continue to show resilience, arriving each day rugged up, ready to learn and making the most of our beautifully heated classrooms.

It is also encouraging to see the continued maturity of our Year 5/6 students. All have returned with a positive attitude towards learning, demonstrating increased independence, organisation and responsibility in the classroom. I am particularly proud of the students who consistently complete and return their homework each week. Regular practice at home reinforces classroom learning and contributes greatly to each student's ongoing success.

As always, it is a privilege to watch students grow—not only academically but also socially and personally. Throughout this term, students will continue setting individual learning goals, reflecting on their progress and celebrating the improvements they make along the way. I look forward to another wonderful term filled with curiosity, perseverance and success.

-Anna Flanagan.