Grade 1 & 2 

Welcome back to another wonderful and busy term ahead. We hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable holiday.

We began Term 4 with many enjoyable activities. Our Inquiry unit is about ‘History’ and will learn about the aspects of daily life and how some have changed over time while others have remained the same. What was life like in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and for some of us, many more years ago? Setting the scene, staff dressed up in clothing worn back in those days, this was definitely interesting. 

In Week 2 we travelled to Jeparit, to the Wimmera Mallee Pioneer Museum. This was an excellent day where the children discovered and explored so much history and the amazing changes to technology and ways of living. 

Our Discovery Centres definitely look a little different this Term, due to the availability of space, but they still created lots of learning and discovering. The centres reflect our Inquiry unit about History and some of the activities (that parents, grandparents or even great grandparents might remember) for the children to discover are: marbles, Knitting Nancy, calligraphy, string figures, lego, card games, snakes and ladders, elastics, chatterboxes, Hopscotch and many other games and activities from our past. 

In Literacy we have been learning about ‘Recounts’. The children have written a Recount of their holidays and will write a Recount of their excursion to Jeparit. Recounts focus on the past, so the children have discovered many verbs and written them in the past tense. We read the book, ‘Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge’ written by Mem Fox, focusing on memories, memories from the past, and we looked at what a memory is and our memories. We also had a guest speaker, Mrs Bron McRae, who came to share items and memories from history, items that were very different from what we use today. Thank you Bron!

On Tuesday, 20th October, we had a visit from Phil the Bucket, from the Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water. Phil awarded Harriet her first place prize award.  She designed and made a poster depicting ways we can be water heroes.  Well done, Harriet!

On Friday, 23rd October, we celebrated Mission Day. This year the theme is “One in Christ, United in Mission”. The primary target for this year is the Diocese of Chikwawa in Malawi. This region has faced severe climate hardships, including devastating heat, droughts, and the lingering destruction of Cyclone Ana. Thank you to all our wonderful families who united together and donated much appreciated prizes for our Lucky Dip stall. It was a great success.

We wish you all a wonderful Term Four and look forward to working with you and the children.

Heather, Anne, Claire, Georgia and Mollie.