Year Two Team News

Hello Year Two families,

Welcome back to what is going to be another busy and exciting term ahead. Our students have settled back in after a well earned break and it is fantastic to see the excitement they have shown to be back at school with their teachers and friends. We have hit the ground running and have jumped straight back into our regular program. 

We have started the term by acknowledging NAIDOC Week. In each class, we have explored a range of mentor texts written by First Nations authors, conducted some learning about the meaning of NAIDOC week and why it is important to different people, as well as unpacked the meaning of this year’s theme “Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud.” We were very proud of the reflective and mindful approach students took towards these lessons. 

We have a lot to look forward to this term and there will be many exciting whole school events. However, one event in particular that is ours alone is the Grade 2 Sleepover on Thursday 5th of September. There will be lots of discussion about this event in our classrooms throughout the term to prepare our students for the event so that they know what to look forward to and expect on the night. Regular information to inform parents about the event will be coming home with your child at various stages throughout the term.

 Important news: 

• Term 3 Oral Presentation: The topic for the Term 3 presentation is ‘The Ways My Family Played in the Past!’ More information about the requirements of the presentation and the dates that your child will be presenting will be sent home in your childs blue book bag in the coming weeks.
• Homework policy (reminder):  In Year 2, students are expected to undertake 15 minutes of daily reading with a parent/carer/sibling, including during school holidays. This can include opportunities for the student to read to an adult, read with an adult or be read to by an adult. Students in Year 2 will also undertake 5 minutes of spelling practice on weekdays, based on the spelling focus for the week. Students will also prepare for speaking and listening oral presentations each term. Students in Year 2 are not expected to complete more than 20 minutes of homework daily.
• Grade 2 Sleepover: As we are sure you are all aware, a great deal of planning goes into an event like this. Therefore, if there is any information as a parent you think we need to know to support our students, please let us know as soon as possible so that we have adequate time to plan accordingly.
• Parent Helpers for the sleepover: We are looking for some parents to assist us during meals time. Dinner will be from 6pm-7pm and breakfast will be from 7am-8am. If you are keen to help out in some capacity, please get in touch with your child’s teacher.

Please note, if you do wish to help out at school in any capacity (Sleepover, Reading Help, Kitchen Garden etc.), the steps are outlined below. 

Below are the required steps and links. All steps must be completed for the induction to meet our requirements.

(Please note the OHS platform link is also located on the volunteer induction form)

Step One: Register as a WPS volunteer utilising the volunteer induction form available from your Compass newsfeed (please complete all the way to the 'Submit' button).

https://forms.gle/sXNayFr2T8PhfddN6

Step Two: Complete the volunteer OHS online induction.

https://williamstown.locatrix.com/learner/LearnerLogin.aspx

Step Three: Ensure the school office has a copy of your current working with children’s card.

Step Four: Each year level and specialist programs will communicate to families about upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Curriculum Focus: Weeks 3 and 4

Literacy: In Reading, we will be looking at the difference between plot and theme. In Writing, we will be working on compound sentences and beginning to look at persuasive writing. 

Numeracy:  We will be learning about 3D objects. We will also begin our unit on transformations.

Inquiry: We will be continuing to learn about toys from the past and discuss how toys have changed over time. We also analyse why these changes have been made and discuss whether these changes are positive or negative, or a mixture of both.

Willy Kids: Through the pillar of Resilience, we are learning about bravery and the many different ways that we can display bravery in our everyday lives.

Respectful Relationships: This term we are focusing on Gender and Identity. We will be exploring a range of activities that will support students to reflect on their identities: likes, dislikes and strengths. Moreover, develop an awareness of positive and negative gender norms, challenge negative gender norms and develop an appreciation of difference. If you’d like some further information, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. 

Photos from the last two weeks:

Until next time,

The Grade Two Team - Steph Keswick (2K), Joel Kitchen (2J) & Georgia Grainger (2G)