School of Foundations
From the Head of School
Welcome to Term 3!
Last week our Kindergarten students celebrated 100 days of learning. The students dressed for the occasion as “centenarians” and engaged in activities to demonstrate how they are 100 days smarter! It was wonderful to see the parents join us for this celebration. During the past one hundred days at school the students have learnt so much, including navigating the daily routines of school, developing reading and writing skills and exploring new mathematical concepts. Congratulations to all our Kindergarten students.
Congratulations Kindergarten on being
100 days smarter!
RESPONDING TO BEHAVIOUR
MTSS (Multi Tiered System of Support)
This year St Luke’s has commenced engagement in utilising MTSS approaches to better support and build positive student behaviour across the School of Foundations K-4. This aligns and builds on from our three core expectations:
Multi-Tiered System of Support is an evidence-based framework designed to support ALL students efficiently and effectively. MTSS uses a data-based problem-solving process to develop, implement, and evaluate behavioural instruction and interventions delivered in varying intensities (tiers) based on student needs.
Some students require additional, targeted support and Tier 2 School Based Student Behaviour Support Plans are developed to assist these students with strategies to regulate their behaviours, emotions and responses. Parent engagement and support is a critical factor in helping the student to build their capacity and make positive behaviour choices. When home and school work in partnership, it benefits all.
Thank you for your continued support as in partnership we can achieve great things for our children.
Julianne Rook
Head of School K-4
KINDERGARTEN
English
In English, Kindergarten students have been learning about writing to entertain. At the beginning of the term, they explored various fairy tale characters, reflected on their roles, and used adjectives to describe their traits. They have also been learning how to create a plan for writing a story that includes a character, problem and solution.
Maths
In Maths, Kindergarten students have been learning about time. Students are able to draw and write an O’Clock time on a digital and analogue clock. Students were also able to relate activities they participate in, to the different times of days; morning time, day time, afternoon time, and night time.
Religion
In Religion this term Kindergarten has been answering the driving question ‘How can I show God’s love through my actions?’ We are first exploring how actions are impacting the Earth. We looked at how we can better care for the Earth by recycling. Students got to explore what items can be recycled, and what items need to be thrown away.
Science
In Science, Kindergarten students have been learning about what plants and animals, including humans, need to stay alive, such as food, water, air, and shelter. With the arrival of live eggs and chicks in our classroom, we will closely observe and discuss the life cycle of a chicken. This week, we also visited a farm where all students had the opportunity to feed animals, milk a cow, and recognise that plants and animals can be used as food and/or materials.
Stage 1
Religion
This term our Year 1 students and teachers are working closely with Catholic Mission to study the country of Mongolia. Students will gain an understanding of what children in developing countries face, what it means to show leadership, and how to live out the Gospel values through a range of learning experiences.
Students in Year 1 are also learning how to care for our environment. They have been learning about our red and yellow bins with a focus on how to recycle, what they can recycle and what their contributions do for our environment.
English
This term, Year 2 have been learning about informing an audience through procedure writing. Students have been learning about the different steps involved in playing some of their favourite games. They have learnt how to list the materials required and create a method that details all the steps needed to play that game. Students have been reflecting on how a procedure informs the audience needs to be accurate in order to be followed.
In shared reading we explore a range of texts and comprehension strategies focusing on a different one each week. Students have been learning about how to clarify the meaning of unknown words by using the context clues and the pictures.
Mathematics
In Mathematics over the past few weeks students have been learning about place value and the relationship between dollars and cents. Students have been practising how to partition numbers as well as understanding how to round up numbers to the nearest 10s and 100s. They have been able to show their working out through the use of strategies such as the partitioning tree strategy, expanded form, the use of a hundreds chart and number lines to help partition numbers from smallest to largest and numbers before and after.
History
Stage 1 has started the term exploring the past and present life, looking at family life, education, technology and communication. Students have been working towards discovering what family roles were like compared to now, lifestyle changes, changes in communication and technology. Students have been brainstorming and creating anchor charts with the whole class to assist in their independent task in history lessons. Students are also exploring the difference between their families and those families in the past and understanding how roles change from past to present.
Stage 2
English (Diagons) (Gringotts)
This term, in Year 3, the students have begun to explore persuasive writing. The students are working on exploring and understanding the structure of what a persuasive text looks like and the features in these texts that help us persuade our reader.
Mathematics: 2D Shapes
This Term in Mathematics, students are working on 2D Shapes and exploring the different features they have in the real world. We have been using big words such as symmetry, transforming (to combine and split) and applying them in our learning. Check out some cool photos of our work!
Religion: Catholic Mission
- This term in Religion, students are working with Catholic Mission Australia to raise money for people in Mongolia. Students will be participating in a range of different activities that raise awareness about the struggles certain people face in Mongolia and how we can help.
Art
In art students were introduced to the fundamentals of still life drawing, focusing on a lemon. The lesson highlighted how artists capture the essence of everyday objects.
Each student received a lemon to draw. This simple fruit revealed complexities in texture, light, shadow, and colour. Students practised contour drawing and hatching to bring their lemons to life, enhancing their observational skills.
