Year 5/6 - Senior Unit

Welcome back to Term 4!

It has been fantastic to see how quickly students have settled back into school routines after the break. Term 4 is always a busy and exciting time, with many special events ahead. In the coming weeks, our Grade 5 students will begin applying for 2026 student leadership positions, while our Grade 6 students look forward to graduation and their Celebration Day as they prepare for secondary school.

Literacy

This week in Literacy, students have been studying poetry, with a focus on Banjo Paterson’s The Man from Snowy River. They have explored the features of Australian bush ballads and how poets use structure and language to create meaning. Students have discussed how these poems reflect the time, place, and culture of early Australia, while also analysing imagery, similes, and metaphors that bring characters and settings to life. In writing, they have enjoyed creating their own stanzas, experimenting with rhythm and rhyme, and rewriting sections from new perspectives to capture the voice and spirit of the Australian bush.

Numeracy

In Maths, students have been exploring angles and how to identify, measure, and draw them accurately. They have explored different types of angles, including right, acute, obtuse, straight, and reflex, and learned how these appear in everyday environments. Using protractors, students have practised estimating, measuring, and drawing angles with correct notation, while developing benchmarks such as 45°, 90°, and 180° to support their estimates. They have also applied their understanding to solve problems involving angles on a straight line and find unknown angles.

Inquiry

This term students will be focusing on Chemical Science. This week, students have been exploring solids, liquids, and gases by building on what they already know about matter. They have been discussing and sharing their ideas, then creating their own definitions for each state of matter. Students explored Oobleck and used these observations to develop a deeper understanding of the properties of different materials and how they can change from one state to another.

Year 5 Events

On Thursday 23rd October, Year 5 students will take part in a Leadership Day, where they will have the opportunity to identify their own leadership qualities and skills, and explore what leadership looks like in action. We are still seeking additional guest speakers for the day, so if you or someone you know would like to present, please contact Katie Cashen. This can be a short overview of your leadership journey or experiences.

Year 6 Events

This is a very busy term for our Year 6 students, with many exciting events coming up! Information about Graduation and the Graduation Dinner at the Vic Hotel in Woodend will be sent out soon. Students will select their meal options in class.If your child did not attend Woodend Primary School in Prep, please send a hard copy of their Prep photo to school or email a digital copy to Katie Cashen.

Our Celebration Day has also been booked, with the Year 6 students choosing to visit the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC). They’ll enjoy a day of fun including a pool inflatable course, diving board, wave pool, and casual swimming. Students will begin fundraising for this event shortly so that we can finalise the cost and share details with families.

Year 5/6 Teachers

Katie Cashen (56C), Brenda Elliot (56E), Ann Ireland (56I)