Foundation 

Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families,

Week 6 has been another fantastic and productive week in Foundation! Students have been working hard across all learning areas and are showing wonderful growth in their confidence and skills. It has been lovely to see them supporting one another, participating enthusiastically in class discussions, and taking pride in their work. We are so proud of their positive attitudes and the way they continue to shine each day!

A reminder to families that Monday 9th March is a public holiday - St Thomas the Apostle Primary School will be closed.

Religious Education Focus:  

This week in Religious Education, students listened to a story from Caritas and reflected on how people in different parts of the world help others in need. We connected this to the idea of caring for our own community and environment, and took part in Clean Up Australia Day, learning the importance of looking after the places we live and how small actions can make a big difference.

English focus:

We read “Somebody’s Land” by Adam Goodes, a powerful picture book that celebrates Country, community, and connection. Students learned about the importance of caring for the land and respecting Aboriginal culture and stories. Through reading and discussion, we reflected on how everyone has a role in looking after the places we live and the people around us.

If you would like to read this online with your child, please find the link below.

Little Learners Online Book Library- 

This week, we have sent home student log in's for you to access at home. This will support our home readers which will commence next Tuesday. 

Phonics:

During explicit phonics instruction, we focused on revising the sounds we know m, a, f, s, c, i, p, and t.

We introduce sounds based on the Little Learners Love Literacy book, ‘Milo’s Birthday Surprise’. 

Mathematics focus:

This week learned about patterns. We looked at what a pattern is and what it means when we talk about a 'unit of a repeating pattern'.  This is when two items repeat to create a pattern. 

SEL:

This week we explored big emotions. We used our school’s readiness-to-learn continuum to help students recognise how they are feeling and identify whether they are calm, focused, and ready to learn, as well as practise strategies to move themselves into a positive learning space.

Integrated Curriculum: Geography 

This week in Integrated Studies, students explored location and maps. They learned how to identify different places, read simple maps, and use landmarks to describe where things are. Through hands-on activities, students practised finding locations and understanding how maps help us make sense of the world around us.

AUSLAN: 

This week we learnt the signs: yes/no, lunchtime, recess, cross your legs, stand in a circle and sit in a circle.

Next week we are learning about... 

Religious Education: Students will learn about Caritas story, they will also learn about connecting to places in the world.

Integrated Curriculum focus: Next week we will learn about people and their connection to places.

English focus: Next week we are reading the book: 'My 2 Blankets’ by Irena Kobald. A gentle story about a young girl who moves to a new country and learns to feel safe and at home. 

Mathematics focus: Next week we will be learning about patterns and how to identify repeating patterns.

SEL: Next week we are learning about trusted adults.

AUSLAN Focus: Students will learn please look (at me), look at that, look at each other, please listen, come here, go there and repeat all together.

Late last term all families were emailed links to some Welcome to Saint Thomas Newsletters.  

If you would like to revisit any of these they can be found at the links below.

Ways to engage with the newsletter:

• Read or watch the weekly book with your child at home (there is often a read aloud on you tube). Talk about what the book's most important ideas are. Point to words that begin with this week's sounds.

• Ask your child to retell the story using their own words.

• Talk about who the characters are, where the story is happening.

• Practise handwriting using the visuals provided.

• Take the idea around Mathematics and ask students to repeat an activity they did at school, with you.

  Important Reminders

• Please ensure that you are labelling your child's belongings.

• Can we please ask for a socks and underwear to be placed in the front zip pocket in case of a toileting accident. 

• Comprehension questions to ask when reading with your child to support early reading development.

  "Point to where it shows...." the .......sound

  “I wonder why…”

  "what makes you think...."

  “This reminds me of…”

  "Show me where it says"

  “I didn’t understand that part, so I’ll reread it.”

  Use a mix of Who, What, When, Where, Why, How questions based on the book.

Important Dates

TERM 1 KEY DATES — 2026

• Monday 9 March - Public Holiday — School Closed

• Thursday 2 April - Holy Thursday — Last Day of Term 1

   

  TERM 2 START DATE

• Tuesday 21 April - First Day for Students

Contact Us 

galilee@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au  all teachers