Learning and Teaching

LS3 Juniors Writing- Clinic 1

This week, Clinic 1 have been writing about what they have in their lunch boxes! 🥪🍎 The children brainstormed lots of different foods they might find in their lunch boxes, including apples, bananas, sandwiches, roti, rice, pasta and so much more. We explored how we can use the word ‘and’ to join two ideas together in a sentence. The children practiced sharing what they might have in their lunch boxes, such as, “In my lunchbox I have an apple and a sandwich”. 

LS3 Juniors Mathematics- Clinic 1

This week, Clinic 1 has been learning how to combine two quantities to find the total using the strategies of counting all and counting on. The students used teddies as hands-on materials to represent different quantities, identify the bigger number and practise counting on to find the total. They also explored counting all the objects together to check their answers. 

Rebecca Xavier

rxavier@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

LS3 Junior Team Teacher

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 

SENIOR EXTRA CURRICULAR EVENTS

GRADE 5 BIKE EDUCATION – CYCLING SKILLS AND SIMULATIONS

Grade 5 students will begin their Bike Education Program in Week 5 on Friday November 6th. They will remain on school grounds completing cycling skills and simulations. 

Students will need to bring their bikes and helmets to school on Friday November 6th. We remind students that if they are riding to school they will need to wear their helmets and dismount their bikes and walk on school grounds. Bicycles and helmets can be left outside the students’ Learning Space. If parents are dropping off bicycles at school, they can remain in the Bike Shed for the duration of the program.

WHOLE SCHOOL EXTRA CURRICULAR EVENTS

TERM 4 SWIMMING

Swimming has begun!! Thanks to all the parents that ensured their child was prepared for their swimming lesson. It made the office ladies job much easier. Thank you also to parents who assisted in the Junior changerooms. If you are rostered on to assist and are unable to, please let me know so we can make alternative arrangements. Please remember that only the parents I have organised will be allowed to enter and assist in the changerooms.

Swimming timetables have been uploaded onto the nForma permission form as an attachment. Please print it off and ensure you have it available at home. Next week’s swimming lessons are:

• Monday – LS1 Seniors, LS1 Juniors and LS3 Juniors
• Tuesday – LS3 Seniors, LS2 Seniors and LS2 Juniors

Students will need to wear their bathers under their uniform (either summer or sports whichever is easier for them to change in and out of) and bring a bag with their towel, undergarments and thongs. Could we please ask parents to ensure all items taken to swimming are clearly labelled with your child’s name including their uniform. It’s extremely hard to work out who clothes belong to, when found, if student names are not on them. 

Students will put their thongs on before leaving for swimming to make changing easier. They will then put their shoes back on once they return to school. Goggles are optional.

Please ensure your child is prepared for their swimming lesson so our office staff do not need to use their valuable time ringing parents and asking them to bring swimming gear.

Parents please note you are welcome to attend Casey Race to view your child’s lesson but photographs and videos are not allowed and only parents who have been contacted by me, are able to assist in the junior change rooms. 

A reminder to parents that swimming is an important part of the PE curriculum and all students are expected to attend. It’s imperative that students know how to keep themselves safe around water. If there is a medical reason your child cannot attend a session, they will then remain at school in another Learning Space.

Any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Giuliana

Extra-Curricular Coordinator

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au 

Environmental  Education News

We have had a busy and exciting Term 3 in Environmental Science! Our students have shown incredible initiative, responsibility, and teamwork during our learning sessions. Their natural curiosity has led to wonderful discussions and a deeper understanding of how our everyday actions impact the broader environment and understanding every big or little choice makes a difference in our journey to becoming sustainable and help become caring stewards of God’s creation.

Seniors Update

Waste Audit with ResourceSmart School Coordinator

During Term 3, Shannon (ResourceSmart Schools Coordinator) worked with the Seniors to conduct a school waste audit. Students audited selected school bins to identify contamination and learned how to sort waste accurately. We also discussed how putting waste into the wrong bin directly impacts our local environment, ecosystems and our community.

Shannon was incredibly impressed with our school, noting that SFS is managing its compost bins with zero contamination—a fantastic achievement compared to many other schools! A huge thank you goes out to the teachers and children who have stayed committed to this program over the years.

 Cooking- Silverbeet and Cous Cous Dishes

We wrapped up the term with a fun cooking lesson. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to collaborate, work in teams, and apply their mathematical skills to accurately measure out ingredients. Prior to the cooking lesson we learnt about being safe in the kitchen, cooking methods and vocabulary to describe taste, texture, appearance and smell. 

Juniors Update

Cooking- Lemon Biscuit Baking

The Juniors kicked off the term by baking delicious lemon biscuits using fresh lemons from the garden and eggs collected straight from our school chickens. Our juniors excelled at taking turns, practicing safety and responsibility in the school kitchen, and waiting patiently for their treats to bake! We used words to describe texture and taste during our cooking lesson. 

Recycling for the Art Show

As part of our learning around waste management, the Juniors explored how everyday items can be repurposed. Keep a look out at the upcoming Art Show to see how they have given old items a new life! We are proud to state that the majority of our art show materials used for Environmental Science are recycled, reflecting our ongoing commitment to being a RSS school.

In the Community Garden

Students have spent valuable time maintaining our garden beds and planting new crops ready to be harvested in spring. Through hands-on work, they have learned the vital roles that weeding and mulching play in retaining soil nutrients and providing optimal growing conditions. All of this hard work has resulted in a vibrant, flourishing garden that students truly love spending time learning about growing food organically and working together.

Fundraising, Donations & Community Spirit

We are truly grateful for the amazing community support we received last term:

• Clyde Compost: Generously donated 35 bags of organic compost.
• Bunnings Cranbourne: Kindly donated seedlings and other gardening items to support our hands-on learning into Term 4.
• Our Senior Bakers: Thank you to the Seniors who gave up their playtime to bake and sell delicious cookies. They were a massive sell-out!
• Rita’s Environmental Action Team: Thank you for planting and selling beautiful succulents. Also planting beautiful succulents outside the school hall.
• The Chicken Shed Roof: Thanks to the cookie and succulent sales, we raised the part of the funds needed for a new chicken shed roof! A massive thank you to Emmanuel’s dad Sam and grandad, who volunteered their time over the school holidays to install a new roof. The new roof keeps our SFS chickens safe from harsh weather and keeps the coop much cleaner.
• Community Market Stall: Thank you to all the families who have purchased organically grown produce from our stall. To all  Seniors helping prepare and assist during the market stall and to all staff sending out reminders fortnightly.  All funds raised go directly back into maintaining the garden.
• Parent support to help us be sustainable: Thank you to families dropping of items such egg cartons and paper grocery bags that can be reused. Also remembering to pack a nude food lunchbox every Tuesday.

Term 3 Holiday Community Gardening

Our holiday gardening session was a wonderful way for parents and children to connect. We now have more garden beds available and would love to welcome volunteers during the school term. If you are interested, please let us know. 

NUDE FOOD LUNCHBOX WILL BE MOVED TO WEDNESDAYS EVERY WEEK STARTING NEXT WEEK. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL TO BE RUBBISH FREE ON A WEDNESDAY!

Volunteers Needed!

Summer Holiday Chicken Care 

We are looking for volunteer families to help care for our five school chickens during the upcoming summer holidays.

Even if you are able to commit to just 2 to 3 days it will be an immense help!

Our chickens are incredibly friendly and easy to look after. You just need to let them out in the morning, lock them up safely in the afternoon/evening, top up their provided feed, and do a light clean every few days. You get to collect and keep all the fresh eggs during your rostered days!

Please let Rebecca (Environmental Education Specialist) or Ashleigh (Senior HG Teacher LS2) know if your family can help. Your time and support will be greatly appreciated!

On a sad note…

We are sad to share that our oldest chicken passed away in August due to old age. Approximately 8 years of age, she lived a well and happy life at SFS and was there to witness many students grow from prep to grade 6. Some of the seniors shared fond memories and prayed for her. Thank you to all past and present staff and students involved in caring for her over the years. 

God bless you all!

Rebecca Soysa

Environmental Education Specialist Teacher