Junior School Newsletter

Teacher Email Address Contacts

Upcoming Important Dates

*Please note on Monday 2nd November we will be having a curriculum day* 

From The Team

Hello to our wonderful Junior School families!

Welcome back to Term 4! We are delighted to have all our junior School students back at school. We hope everyone enjoyed a restful and enjoyable holiday break and is feeling refreshed and ready for our final term of the year.

What did the Junior School teachers get up to during the holidays?

Miss Whittington: I enjoyed relaxing, catching up with friends and doing some gardening at home.

Mrs Fox: I headed up to the Gold Coast and had an amazing time! It was so much fun taking my son, Liam, on his very first plane ride and roller coaster rides.

Mr Purdon: I spent the holidays at the MCG twice, watching Hawthorn lose the Prelim and then enjoying the thrilling Grand Final between Brisbane and Fremantle. I did some gardening and mowed the lawn approximately 47 times (or four, but it certainly felt like 47), and also continued my cricket pre-season training, all in preparation for another summer of pretending I’m still a professional athlete!

Mrs Maguire: I spent lots of time working in my garden and walking my dog while enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

As always, Term 4 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting term, filled with wonderful learning opportunities and special experiences. Some of our highlights will include our upcoming walk to Woolworths, Market Day, writing persuasive letters to local businesses, getting involved in gardening and exploring school pride through our Integrated Studies unit.

We are looking forward to a fantastic final term filled with learning, laughter and opportunities for our students to continue growing, building confidence and celebrating all they have achieved this year!

Day for Daniel

On Friday 30 October, Scoresby Primary School will recognise the important work of the Morcombe family in educating children about personal safety through Day for Daniel. We invite all students to wear red on the day, symbolising Daniel’s red shirt and representing strength and hope. A short presentation will be held at assembly, and students will participate in age-appropriate lessons focused on personal safety. Leading up to the event, we will also discuss the reasons behind the establishment of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the importance of helping children stay safe.

Market Day

Our much-anticipated SPS Market Day is coming up on Friday 20 November! This is an exciting opportunity for our students to put their creativity, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills into practice. 

This week, we have shared a Compass post outlining some of the items and support we are requesting from families to help make our Market Day a success. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support. We really appreciate our families working alongside us to create such a wonderful and memorable experience for our students.

THINGS TO DO AT HOME

Home Reading

After the holidays, it is important to re-establish a positive home reading routine. We encourage students to read their chosen levelled book each night. Each book includes guided questions and key vocabulary to help develop reading comprehension and support students in understanding what they have read.

As your child reads, encourage them to use the cross-checking strategy to help them read accurately. This involves thinking about three important questions:

Meaning: Does it make sense in the story?

Structure: Does it sound right? Do we speak like that?

Visual cues: Does it look right? Do the letters match the sounds I can hear?

These questions are helpful prompts to use when your child makes an error or comes across an unfamiliar word.

For some extra reading practice at home, your child can also explore the books, games and activities available on Reading Eggs. It is a fun way to practise reading skills and build confidence. Student login details were sent home last term. If you need another copy, please contact your child’s teacher.

We look forward to sharing more updates with you as the term progresses. Here’s to a fantastic Term 4!

What We Are Learning

What are we learning in Specialists Term 4

Science

This term in science, students will focus on the area of Earth and Space Science. We will investigate how the weather is different in each season. We will explore the types of activities and clothing that suit each season. We will learn about the Indigenous Seasons and how they helped First Nations People know when to fish, hunt and pick fruit.

Visual Arts

Foundation

In Term 4 students will explore painting and modelling. They will use house paint to create a self-portrait on a fence paling for a whole school collaborative project and experiment with a dabbed brush and acrylic paint to make a poppy art piece. Students will also create a painted clay pinch pot.

1/2

In Term 4 students will explore painting and modelling. They will use house paint to create a self-portrait on a fence paling for a whole school collaborative project. They will also explore modelling using air-dry clay to create a textured coil or pinch pot and use paper magiclay to sculpt a poppy.

Physical Education

In Term 4 students will participate in a 4-week Gymnastics clinic run by the Sporting Schools program. Later in the term students will be introduced to team games whilst continuing to develop their kicking, throwing and hitting skills. They will discuss and practise fair play, teamwork, inclusion and following rules. 

Cultural Studies

Foundation - Level 2

This term, students will explore First Nations cultures and perspectives through Dreamtime stories and music by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. They will investigate connections between people, Country, animals and the environment, discovering how stories and music share cultural knowledge, express identity and celebrate the diversity of First Nations cultures in Australia today.

Performing Arts

Foundation - Level 2

In Performing Arts this term, students will develop their ability to read and write rhythmic notation using quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes. They will practise performing these rhythms on hand drums, strengthening their understanding of beat, rhythm and timing. Students will also prepare a performance item for the Christmas Concert, developing their confidence when performing with others.

Reminders

• Hats: Hats are now required again as part of our Sun Smart policy. Please make sure your child has theirs at school each day.

• Nightly Reading and Word Practice: Please continue to read with your child each night and record it in their yellow reading log. Foundation students should also practise the focus letters and words in their My Wonderful Words book, while Year 1/2 students should practise a few words from their high-frequency word book. 

Try This... 

Play Shop:

 Label household toys or pantry goods with prices and use play money or handmade paper notes to practice counting, addition, and change. 

Junior School Activities

Marvellous Maths

Junior School has been having a fantastic time exploring Maths this term! From hands-on activities and fun games to problem-solving with friends, our students have been busy building their maths skills while having lots of fun along the way.