Foundation Newsletter

Welcome back to Term Three at St. Agatha’s!

We hope you enjoyed a restful break and are feeling recharged for another exciting stage in Foundation 2026. It has been wonderful seeing the children return with growing confidence, deeper friendships, and a bright enthusiasm for learning. 

This term, we continue building on the strong foundations established across the first half of the year. You’ll notice your child becoming more independent, more curious, and increasingly engaged as they settle further into school routines. Our Foundation team remains committed to supporting each child’s learning journey and ensuring they feel safe, valued, and ready to thrive.

We deeply value open communication and encourage you to reach out at any time. Working together helps us create the best possible learning environment for your child.

In this newsletter, you’ll find:

Key dates and upcoming events for Term Three

Learning focus areas

Ways to support learning at home

Updates on routines and celebrations

We’re looking forward to a term filled with growth, discovery, and joyful moments. 

Important Dates

What we’re learning 

Religion

This term in Religion, students will explore what it means to belong to a family, school, and Church community. They will learn that people celebrate in different ways and that Catholics have special celebrations throughout the liturgical year. Students will also learn that Baptism is the sacrament that welcomes people into the Church community.

Students will listen to and respond to stories about Jesus from the Bible, talking about what they notice and how these stories connect to their own lives. They will continue sharing informal prayers and begin learning some traditional prayers in simple, meaningful ways.

Our classroom prayer space will support quiet reflection, helping students recognise symbols, share prayers, and notice God’s presence in kindness, relationships, and everyday experiences.

English

This term, students will continue developing their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills while exploring a wider range of texts.

Reading & Viewing

• Students will learn how images, words, and sounds work together to create meaning in stories and informative texts. They will keep building phonemic awareness by blending and segmenting one‑syllable words, using their knowledge of letters and sounds to read and spell CVC words and familiar high‑frequency words. Students will practise recognising capital letters, full stops, and the most common sound–letter relationships, and will read both decodable and authentic texts to build fluency and comprehension.

Literature

• Students will explore a range of literary texts, identifying characters, events, beginnings, and endings.

Speaking & Listening

• Students will practise delivering short spoken texts using clear voice features, and continue sharing ideas and responding to texts during class discussions.

Writing

• Students will create short written texts to record and share ideas, using familiar words and early writing strategies. They will continue practising letter formation, writing simple sentences, and using capital letters and full stops correctly. Students will also take part in shared editing, focusing on meaning, spelling, and basic punctuation.

Mathematics

This term, students will continue developing their early number and data skills through hands‑on activities, games, and real‑life problem‑solving.

Number

Students will represent practical situations involving addition, subtraction, and quantifying amounts using physical and digital materials. They will use counting and subitising strategies to solve simple problems and explore everyday scenarios, including early financial situations such as recognising coins or comparing small amounts of money. Students will also work with equal sharing and grouping, using objects and virtual tools to model how quantities can be split into equal parts or organised into groups.

Statistics

Students will collect, sort, and compare simple data using objects and images. They will respond to investigative questions with two possible outcomes (for example: yes/no, like/don’t like) and represent their findings in ways that help them compare results and talk about what the data shows.

Science

This term in Science, students will explore how plants and animals have observable features that help us group them in different ways. They will look closely at similarities and differences, describe what they notice, and learn how scientists use features to classify living things.

We will also be going on our excursion to Myuna Farm, where students will observe real plants and animals up close, make connections to our classroom learning, and deepen their understanding of how living things can be grouped.

Capabilities

Personal and Social

This term, students will continue developing important personal and social skills that help them build confidence, independence, and positive relationships at school.

Building Independence; Students will practise everyday routines that help them become more responsible and self‑reliant. This includes:

• unpacking their own bags
• organising their belongings
• completing simple tasks independently

These skills support a smooth start to the day and help children feel capable and confident.

Caring for Others & Belonging to Groups

Students will explore the different groups they belong to — their family, class, and school community. They will learn:

• how to include others
• how to show care and kindness
• how friendships are formed and maintained

This helps students understand the importance of connection and belonging.

Communication & Collaboration

Through role‑play, discussions, and group activities, students will practise:

• recognising verbal and non‑verbal communication
• responding respectfully to others
• working with peers to complete simple tasks
• using strategies to navigate social situations, including resolving small conflicts

These experiences help students develop strong social skills and positive relationships.

Supporting Learning at home

Small, consistent routines make a big difference. Here are simple ways to support your child’s English development at home:

• Daily reading
• Talk about pictures and words in books — ask what your child notices.
• Use new vocabulary in everyday routines (shopping, cooking, play).
• Point out capital letters and full stops in signs or books.
• Chat about characters and events in stories.
• Share stories from different cultures and talk about similarities.
• Practise blending and segmenting simple words (cat, dog, sun).

Maths learning happens naturally in everyday routines. Here are easy ways to support 

• Daily counting backwards/forwards (0-20 and beyond)
• Use real‑life adding and subtracting (“We had 4 grapes, now 2 are gone”).
• Practise sharing and grouping with snacks or toys.
• Play quick counting or subitising games with small objects.
• Explore simple money concepts with coins or pretend shops.
• Collect simple yes/no data (“Do you like apples?”) and compare answers.

Reminders for Term Three

Uniform & Hats

• Students are required to wear their winter uniform this term, with black school shoes.
• On sports days and PMP days, students should wear the correct sports uniform.
• All hats should be kept at home - washed and ready for Term 4.

Lunchboxes & Fruit Break

• Please pack nude‑food style lunchboxes with minimal packaging.
• Include a piece of fruit or vegetables for our daily fruit break.

Label Everything

• Ensure all uniforms, lunchboxes, drink bottles, and personal items are clearly labelled.
• Lost items can be checked at the student office.

Hair & Accessories

• Hair longer than shoulder length must be tied back for safety and hygiene.

Toys & Personal Items

• Students are encouraged not to bring toys or personal items to school.
• Comfort items are acceptable only if discussed with the classroom teacher.

Arrivals & Departures

• Please ensure students arrive on time to support a smooth start to the day.
• If collecting your child early, please sign them out at the student office.

Independence

This term, we are continuing to encourage students to build their independence in their daily routines. To support this, we kindly ask parents to begin saying goodbye at the door, allowing children to settle into their morning routines on their own. 

Successful independence looks like:

• Students walking themselves into the classroom
• Students unpacking their bags independently
• Students beginning their morning tasks without assistance

Communication

We value open and clear communication with families to support your child’s learning journey.

To stay connected, we encourage you to:

Regularly check your emails, the school app, and SeeSaw for important updates, event details, and messages from teachers.

For specific inquiries:

To report an absence or for general inquiries, please contact the school office on 

03 5996 2724.

To reach your child’s teacher directly, you can use the email addresses listed.

Please note: SeeSaw is an informal communication platform intended for sharing learning activities and updates.

For all inquiries, please use email to ensure they are received and addressed efficiently.

We’re here to help—don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

TEACHER CONTACTS

Casey Thomson (FT) cthomson@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au

Priscilla Maddelena (FM) pmaddelena@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au

Keely Deighton (FD) kdeighton@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au

Shevaun Lazarus (FL) slazarus@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au