Prep
Welcome
Welcome to Term Four.
It is hard to believe we are already at the end of the year! It is wonderful to reflect on our students' growth and learning throughout their first school year. This term, our students eagerly commence Digitech and Sustainability sessions and will attend an excursion to Cranbourne Gardens. We wish you all a safe and lovely term ahead. Our doors are always open to support you and your child's education journey at St Andrew’s.
English
During this term, students will continue with a daily two-hour literacy block. One hour of the block targets reading and the other at writing.
In Reading, the focus will be on linking letter knowledge when making attempts at segmenting and blending small words and words with digraphs. Students are learning to point to each word, making sure to match what is written in the text. Within our whole and small group reading, students are learning to read and locate high-frequency words, which they will then transfer into their writing.
In Writing, students use colourful semantics to assist in structuring their sentences and extending their writing. Colourful semantics looks at the who, what, what doing, where, when, and how features that make up sentences. The Preps have amazed us at how quickly they have picked up this skill and are demonstrating the use of new vocabulary learned. Students are also learning to reread and edit their writing.
Students continue to select a take-home reader book each night and demonstrate responsibility by changing this book independently each day. They also practice their ‘tricky words’ each week and can return them on a Thursday to revise with their teacher.
Reading with your child at home has many benefits, including fostering a love of reading, developing listening skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and establishing essential foundational literacy skills.
Religious Education
In Religious Education, students will explore scripture readings of the Feeding of the 5000, Noah’s Ark, and Jesus Healing the Blind Man, making connections between Jesus’ relationships and their own. They will also learn about each week of Advent and the Nativity, with students participating in an Advent liturgy at the end of the term.
Mathematics
Throughout the term, the students will use manipulatives such as counters, blocks, dice, and dominoes to assist with their number development. Lessons are made up of “hands-on” activities, allowing students to discuss, share, and reflect on their new learning.
Term 4 units:
- Measurement - Mass and Capacity
- Place Value, Counting, Addition & Subtraction
- Ordinal Numbers
- Multiplication and Division
- Time
Ideas for maths at home:
- Count, Count, Count!
- Count forwards and backwards, starting at different starting spots. Ask your child what the number before is and what the number after is.
- Ask your child to make a certain number as fast as they can using their fingers.
- Going shopping? Get your children to count out the fruits and vegetables as they go in the bag. Going for a walk? Count the steps from one house to another. Notice the house numbers; guess what the next number would be. Setting the table? How many people? How many knives and forks? Do the amounts match?
- Compare the capacity of items - which household items hold more or which hold less?
- Can you share items equally? Divide household items into equal groups.
- Involve your child in cooking. Let your child help stir, pour, fill, and mix. Get your children counting and measuring.
Inquiry Learning
This term, our Inquiry topic is Earth and Space. Students will investigate how the earth gives us life by looking at the earth’s soil, water, and mineral resources. We will explore how we use these resources, what will happen if those resources change, and what we can do to conserve them. Our excursion to the Cranbourne Gardens will link into our topic by exploring ways to be sustainable at home.
SPECIALIST PROGRAMS
L.O.T.E. Italian
Welcome to Term 4.
This term in Prep will continue to focus on introducing the Italian language and developing the students’ speaking and listening skills. The students will begin the term by revising the language of greetings, introductions, colours, numbers, expressions and parts of the body. They start the term with a talk about birthdays. Why are they important - what do they celebrate? Students are handed a copy of the song and are made aware of its literal translation versus the meaning of the words. The song is sung each time a student celebrates a birthday to recycle the language of birthday greetings. The students will also chat about families and are encouraged to volunteer who is in their family. They are then invited to volunteer the names of Pinocchio's family members and introduce each one using the new vocabulary. Sono Geppetto, sono il papà, sono il gatto, sono il grillo, sono il topo. Students use the modelled language to introduce their family members and draw a picture in their workbook, labelling each in Italian. They then illustrate and complete a family tree to introduce their family. During the lessons, the students will sing songs, play games, recite chants, and complete varied classroom activities to reinforce their knowledge and understanding.
Cordiali saluti,
Signora White
Physical Education
The Preps will continue to work on the fundamental skills needed for all sports, including listening, teamwork and positive communication. We will focus on catching and throwing skills at the start of the term. Towards the end of the term, we will work in groups for many games done in rotation. During these rotations, they will demonstrate all of the skills we have learnt throughout the year - including listening, teamwork, communication, catching, throwing, kicking, etc, using many different objects. Each day will consist of something new and exciting to keep them engaged and enthusiastic about exercise!
We are looking forward to a fun last term of learning!
Miss Puetz
Art
Welcome to the last term of the year in the art room. The children finished off last term making beautiful collage butterflies. This term, they've begun experimenting with oil pastels and blending colours. They will continue practising their various art skills, including more precise cutting. We will be creating artworks to enhance our learning in our inquiry topic, as well as artworks coming up towards Remembrance Day and the season of Advent.
We anticipate a fun term ahead,
Mrs. Cathy Bartlett (Visual Arts Teacher)
Performing Arts
Welcome back to Term 4 Preps and Prep Families,
We’re excited to start our final term of their prep year! The students have done a fantastic job learning about rhythms and have progressed very well during Term 3. We’ll continue this understanding of rhythms, identifying and playing notation using percussion instruments. The students will also learn to write and play the symbols using songs like Lemonade Crunchy Ice and Rockin’ Rhythm. While playing, students will focus on dynamics (loud and soft) and tempo (fast and slow).
The preps will learn both choreographed dance moves and improvise their dancing to songs like Calypso, Sasa, and songs of their choice. We’ll also be using story-telling to focus on drama and acting, using facial expressions and movements to convey a feeling or idea.
Towards the end of term (but not too early), we’ll be learning about pitch with instruments and our voices as we embrace the Christmas spirit and learn some Christmas Carols and songs! All these activities help the preps build resilience and confidence and develop fundamental social skills such as cooperation and listening.
Have a great term, and happy singing and dancing,
Mrs Emma Cooper
Positive Behaviour for Learning
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole school organisational framework for supporting behaviour and creating safe and positive learning environments.
Our Prep students have demonstrated being responsible learners by independently following our class routines and have begun taking on the responsibility of classroom jobs.
They have been learning about being responsible friends by helping others and finding an adult to assist if necessary.
The Preps have been learning that allowing everyone to learn makes us respectful peers. They continue developing the skills to show others respect by keeping their hands and feet to themselves and using kind words to solve problems.
They are also learning to be resilient learners, always having a go and taking ownership of their feelings. They are learning to identify what is a small problem (an ant problem) that they or their friends can solve and what is a bigger problem (an elephant problem) that needs a teacher's assistance.
Classroom Organisation
The Prep students attend the following specialist programs every week: These lessons will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Please remind your child to wear their sports uniform and runners on the appropriate day.
Specialist Teachers and Timetable
Italian – Signora White
P.E. – Miss Puetz
Performing Arts - Mrs Cooper
Art - Mrs Bartlett
Prep C
Tuesday- Art
Wednesday - Performing Arts, P.E. and Italian
Thursday - Sustainability and Library
Friday- Digitech
Prep R
Tuesday- Performing Arts
Wednesday- Art, Italian and P.E.
Thursday - Sustainability and Library
Friday - Digitech
Library
The students can visit and borrow from the library each Thursday. Moving forward, they are allowed to borrow two picture books each. Please ensure that these library books are well-looked after at home and returned to school in your child’s library bag by the following Thursday.
Take home books - pouches
Your child will bring home a book in the blue reading pouch each day. Please ensure that the pouch is returned to school each day and remember to fill in the Kluwell Book (yellow book) nightly.
School Uniform and Hat
Please ensure that all clothing is clearly marked with your child’s name, preferably in permanent marker.
School hats are required to be worn in Terms One and Four.
The Summer uniform is now required to be worn during Term 4.
Meet and Greet
Please note that classrooms are open from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. for our meet-and-greet time. This is an important time for students to get themselves organized for their day of learning and establish and maintain relationships with peers. Please ensure you arrive during this time to give your child the best possible start each day.
Fruit Break
The Prep students will have a Fruit Break to ‘refuel’ on fruit, vegetables, yoghurt or cheese and ‘rehydrate’ with water. Please pack something extra in your child’s lunchbox for them to eat during this time. Students who are not hungry and are well-hydrated perform better in the classroom and show increased concentration.
Key Dates
- Tuesday 29th October - St Andrew’s Got Talent at 2:15pm
- Monday 4th November - Assessment & Reporting Day (Pupil free day)
- Tuesday 5th November - Melbourne Cup Day
- Thursday 14th November - Prep Excursion to Cranbourne Gardens
- Friday 22nd November - School Closure Day (Pupil free day)
- Monday 9th - Semester 2 Reports available on Nforma
- Monday 9th - Move Up Session 1
- Wednesday 11th - Move Up Session 2
- Friday 13th - Move Up Session 3
- Tuesday 17th - End of Year Mass
- Tuesday 17th December - School concludes at 1.30 pm
How to Contact Us
Rosemary Restaino: rrestaino@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Milena Santoro: msantoro@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au
Holly Capomolla: hcapomolla@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au