Learning News

Learning News Weeks 3-4, Term 4 2024

Learning News

It is that time of the year again when teachers are completing formal assessments as well as ongoing formative assessments to continue to guide teaching and learning and assist with reporting requirements.  Our students have joined students across the diocese in completing PAT testing (Progressive Achievement Tests) in both reading and mathematics, as well as PM Benchmarks (which assess student’s reading accuracy, fluency, behaviour and comprehension using unseen texts) and Cold Writes (assessing writing skills on an unseen stimulus).  

It’s a busy time of year for both our students and teachers as we analyse the data collected to guide our next steps in learning and assist our students to be ready to move to the next stage of their education.

On top of this, students across the school have been channelling their creativity and have started practising items for the end of year presentation as well as the K-2 musical, so make sure you mark those dates into your calendar.

Yours in learning,

Cathy Shepherd

AP/LoP

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, we have been learning to describe and write about characters. As part of this exciting learning, we have read picture books that engage with exciting characters like Koala Lou, Olga the Brolga and Nannie from Nannie Loves. Kindergarten have also been learning that words have special jobs in sentences. We have learned that nouns are people, places and things. As part of that learning, Kinder made these creative posters identifying nouns. 

Year 1

In Year 1, we have been learning about persuasive writing. When the students went out to play on Monday morning, they found that the sandpit was taped up with caution tape and there was a letter below explaining why the sandpit ‘had quit’ for the day. The students had to come up with a variety of reasons why the sandpit should or should not open. Due to their fantastic writing, they convinced the sandpit to reopen at lunch time. Well done Year 1 on your fantastic writing. 

Mrs Gall & Miss Myers. 

Year 2

In preparation for Remembrance Day, Year 2 created a simple yet beautiful artwork that symbolises those who fought and died in war. For this artwork, we used paint to create colourful representations of these important symbols. We also learnt about using different shades of paint to make shapes and spaces stand out. The students didn’t use any stencils to draw their circles or paint their poppies, it was all free handed. 

Beautiful work Year 2! 

Miss Rasche 

Year 3/4

In Mathematics, Year 3/4 have been learning to estimate and measure lengths in millimetres, centimetres and metres so that they understand the importance of accurate measuring in everyday life. Students estimated how long they thought a metre was and then used this knowledge to select and use appropriate instruments and units to measure and record various lengths. Year 3/4 have learnt how to compare and order lengths using different units and have begun converting between millimetres and centimetres and between centimetres and metres. 

Fantastic work in Mathematics this week, Year 3/4!

Miss Maunder 

Year 5

In our writing this term, Year 5 has been focusing on stories and traditions that are connected to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures. These stories often include ideas such as imagery, symbolism and connotation. To investigate the use of imagery, we have looked at examples of figurative language (similes, metaphors and personification) and the use of description in a text. In writing, the students have written their own descriptive sentences and passages using figurative language. 

What fantastic work by Year 5. 

Mr Beaumont.

Figurative Language (Possum) By Eloise Trotter

As the crimson, red, oily sun came down, out came a small fluffy possum. As it climbed up and down it mumbled its words of aggression trying to find the perfect spot to sit. It yelled out to the children, who were squealing because of the sound the possum made. It sounded like a chainsaw!

Figurative Language (Cheetah) By Josie Duff

As the sun rose, the black-spotted cheetah was walking along the plains. It spotted a Zebra from a distance and preyed upon it! Waiting for the right chance to pounce… After a delicious meal and now with a full tummy the cheetah goes back home to a comfortable spot to have a long, good sleep.

Year 6