Foundation News 

Dear Families, 

We have had a very busy and fun-filled first 6 Weeks of the Year!

Literacy

Over the past few weeks we have learnt sounds of 'w', 'ck', 'll', 'ss', 'ff', 'sh' ,'qu' ,'ee', 'v', and 'x'. With the introduction of digraphs, where two letters make one sound, the children have been able to sound out more words and understand how there are often more letters than sounds when writing. They have also been able to sound out new words in their environment, with two students enthusiastically reading the word 'Cherry' during Choose-day garden activities with Jacqui, and reading of signs on our various outings. 

Book Week

Last week we celebrated Book Week with a walk to the Nagambie Library to meet with Bonita (a real life flight attendant which was very on topic for our 'Book an Adventure' theme!) and Dixie. They read us 'The Wobbly Bike' by Darren McCallum and 'Spiro' by Anna McGregor before leading us through a scavenger hunt and colouring activities. We talked about how the library is for anyone to use and a great place to find and borrow new books,magazines, and all sorts of other things for free! 

On the walk down the children were very proud to be in their book week costumes with one student remarking, "How will people know we're from St. Joseph's without our uniforms on?"

Nagambie Library Opening Hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-5:30pm, and Saturdays 10am-12:30pm.

Maths

In the first three weeks of term we focused on Addition and Subtraction, introducing '+' '-' and '=' symbols to help us to communicate our number knowledge. The students loved making number stories such as "3 cows were on the farm, then 2 ducks came. Ther are 5 animals on the farm now." and then representing them through number sentences "3+2=5". To finish off this learning, we spent some time at MacKillop Walk using our subtraction knowledge with natural materials. 

We then moved onto looking at Measurement and Capacity, which provided great opportunities to get out and about, describing and comparing the heights of buildings, trees, and objects around the classroom and school. At Buckley park we collected materials and practiced ordering them from smallest to longest, and even had a go at ordering ourselves from shortest to tallest! There was some great lateral thinking shown when they were asked to switch the order and one student said, "Well the tallest person can just lead the line back over there!", instantly re-ordering the line without any extra comparison effort!

Op-Shop Detour

We've been very busy practicing for our musical, and on our way back from the hall we made a little detour to the op-shop. The children had some ideas for their families for Father's Day, and so the lovely staff at Op Shop helped by setting out some items for us to purchase. We showed great respect and manners, and happily toddled back to school, ready for us to create with!

100 Day Takeover

As the Foundation students have been at school for over 100 days, and with the 3-6 students off in the City, F-2 thought it was high time they rule the school! After some heavy consultation rounds, they wore casual clothes and walked into decorated doorways before beginning their special day. Starting with their usual Art lesson, they then played some sports games with Miss Gen before recess.

After recess we all walked down to MacKillop walk where different groups built stick forts, did still life drawings of the birds in the trees, or hunted for evidence of monsters outside the drain pipe (we are reassured that there is definitely hard evidence for this being the case, because how else would a chip packet get in the drain?)

For lunch they were treated to hot chips, party pies and sausage rolls, before settling into a movie, party games in the Foundation room, or free play. 

It was a lovely day all round filled with lots of laughter, joy, and celebration. 

Miss to Mrs Gab!

While Miss Gab has been away, we have missed her quite a bit with the children often asking when she is coming back or what she has been up to. She was kind enough to send us some photo updates of her wedding and holidays, and the children took some time to create wedding cards for her big day. The children are very excited to have her back next week and to show her how much of the moo-sical they've learnt in her absence!

Happy weekend!

Miss Evie