INFANTS

What a fun and productive fortnight we’ve had. Highlights have been welcoming our new Kindy-start students for their first morning at ‘Big School’ visiting Healthy Harold, and of course taking part in the Boorowa Touch Football Carnival for the first time for our Year 2 students.

Our Kindy-start program has commenced, and last Friday our Infants building was full of excited faces, new and old, as our Kindy-start students were dropped off for their first transition morning. It is always wonderful to see our current students so pleased to see them, looking out for their sisters, brothers, cousins and friends, and helping to make it a special day for our newest students. A special thank you to our Year 5 buddies who really helped them settle in and made it a fun morning. They will be here again this Friday morning, and then for 2 full days the following fortnight.

It is that time of year when staff are busily observing and assessing students in preparation for report writing, it is pleasing to see students putting in extra effort and rising to the challenge of tasks set for them. Reports provide families with feedback about areas of strength and challenge and will be issued at the end of the term. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please reach out to your child’s teacher by contacting the front office. Our doors are always open.

Kindy

Our clever Kindergarten students are now learning vowel digraphs, such as ‘ai/a_e/ay, o/o_e/oa, and ir/ur. Learning to read and write vowel digraphs opens them up to spelling and decoding many many more words, helping them to read and write with greater confidence. It is wonderful to see them being proud of themselves and noticing how much they have improved, especially when working individually or in small groups with our support staff.

A highlight of this fortnight was visiting the school garden with Mr McDonald to help with some vegetable planting. The students had a great time digging, planting and watering some chillies and capsicums as well as planting their own sunflower seeds. Students chose between dwarf and giant varieties of sunflowers and are excited to watch these growing over the coming weeks.

More fun again when we got to take part in some NRL workshops with St George Illawarra Dragons. Students played lots of running, tagging and dodging games, showing great skill and having lots of fun. This happened on the hottest day so far this season, and there were some big smiles and very red faces all round!

Year 1

It has been a busy fortnight in Year 1! To end week 2, students from year 3 and up at Boorowa Central School attended the Boorowa tough/ Netball carnival. Year 1 stayed at school with the kindergarten class to enjoy some fun activities together. We had extended play breaks, watched a movie and ate popcorn! We were also lucky enough to be able to celebrate Ms. Brougham’s birthday with her.

In Week 3, we attended Healthy Harold and learned about using resilience when situations are tough. This lesson has coincided well with our PBL focus this fortnight of ‘building resilience’. Students had lots of ideas to share with Harold about positive words to use when we are feeling nervous about something.

In Mathematics, students have just begun a new unit in measurement. We have spent the year considering ‘informal’ units of measurement such as paddle pop sticks, matchsticks, hands, etc. As we near the end of Year 1, students are now being challenged to recognise ‘formal’ units of measurement. We have explored metres and centimetres so far this week.

In English, students wrapped up a unit of with a narrative focus. All students planned, developed, edited and typed up a story of their own. We have enjoyed turning these typed sentences into a small flip book to share with others. Our next unit considers context with the theme of ‘inventions’.

During Week 4, Boorowa Central School was fortunate to participate in a Rugby League clinic with St George Illawara Dragon members. Year 1 greatly enjoyed playing the games and asking questions of the players. Despite the hot day, Year 1 showed positive sportsmanship and fair play during the whole session.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any queries through the front office, as I am currently writing reports.

Ms Friend

Year 1 have been exploring The Past in History and Forces in Our Physical World in Science. As part of these units, we learned about the remarkable David Unaipon, the Ngarrindjeri man who is commemorated on our $50 note. Unaipon is celebrated for his many contributions to science and agriculture, including the invention of the shears that have remained largely unchanged since his design. Inspired by his inventions, we created our own push and pull machines last term.

Today, we had the privilege of seeing these shears in action, thanks to our very own Year 5 student, Kayden Halls, who demonstrated the shearing process at our Agricultural Centre. Kayden taught the Year 1 students about shearing techniques, safety, and shared fascinating facts about the entire process. The students were captivated by how the shears worked and came up with lots of insightful questions about this important part of Australia’s agricultural history.

It was a fantastic hands-on learning experience for our Year 1 students, and we are incredibly grateful to Kayden for generously sharing his knowledge and passion for sheep and shearing with us!

Ms Phoebe Wood

Year 3/4

Wow! The first half of Term 4 has flown by in our Year 3/4 classroom!

This term has been packed with meaningful activities and exciting new learning across all our subjects. In English, our usual routine of Sound Waves, Daily Edit, Sentence a Day, and Reading Fluency are continuing strong. Students have been deeply engaged in exploring the significance of Dreaming stories for Indigenous Australians, uncovering the layers of cultural meaning behind these narratives. To broaden our understanding of cultural stories, we even explored some traditional Māori tales with help from Miss Parker, our SLSO, who shared her knowledge of New Zealand’s rich storytelling traditions. The students loved learning about these unique stories, appreciating how storytelling can connect us all.

In Maths, we’ve taken on an exciting new challenge with Ninja Maths! Each day, students race against the clock to complete as many number problems as possible in five minutes. They’re earning “ninja rankings” along the way and enjoy seeing their improvements over time. Times tables practice is going strong, too, with students pushing to move up a level! We’re also tackling fractions, focusing on recognising, writing, and understanding equivalent fractions—a fun challenge that everyone has embraced with enthusiasm.

Our Other KLAs have been just as dynamic! In Sport, students are sharpening their soccer skills, building teamwork and fitness each week. Science lessons with Mrs Shore have been all about forces, where students are exploring pushes, pulls, and how they make things move. Geography with Miss Wood has taken us on a virtual journey through Australia’s neighbouring countries, sparking curiosity about our place in the world.

The Touch Netball Carnival was a highlight of the term so far. The students represented our school with fantastic behaviour and a positive spirit. A big thank you to everyone who participated and helped make it a day to remember! Looking ahead, the excitement is building for our end-of-term excursion to Wagga Wagga, where we’ll finish Term 4 with new experiences and memories. With all these exciting events and rising temperatures, it's important students remember to stay safe in the sun and bring their hats to school so we can stay safe and comfortable during outdoor activities.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out. We look forward to an amazing rest of the term together!

Charlotte Groves

3/4 Classroom Teacher

Year 4/5

This term, our 4/5 class has been buzzing with energy, enthusiasm, and an impressive focus on learning across a variety of subjects. Here's a sneak peek into the exciting activities and learning adventures your children have been diving into.

In our class, we know that mastering the basics is the foundation of great learning. Each week, we've been honing our spelling skills through games, competitions, and creative exercises that keep the students engaged and constantly improving. They’re not just learning to spell; they’re developing strategies to decode any word confidently.

Our reading program has been equally dynamic. We’ve been exploring Anh Do’s powerful book, ‘The Little Refugee’, which has sparked fantastic discussions about resilience, compassion, and the power of storytelling. The students have been moved by Anh’s journey, and it has been amazing to see them connect to such an inspiring story. They’re not just reading; they’re learning about the world and reflecting on what it means to be strong and empathetic.

In our ongoing “Stronger Smarter” initiative, we’ve been focusing on building each student's confidence and self-awareness. Through activities that promote resilience and positive self-talk, we’re seeing students step out of their comfort zones and approach challenges with a growth mindset. This semesters focus is all about change.

Art classes with Miss Wood have also been a weekly highlight! Miss Wood has brought out their creativity through a range of mediums, and the results have been incredible. It’s been wonderful to watch them experiment, make mistakes, and create art that reflects their unique personalities.

We have also continued with our Sentence a Day program, where students craft a daily sentence that pushes their vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar skills. It is impressive to see the creativity and complexity in their sentences as they tackle new literary techniques. These budding writers are not just meeting expectations, they’re exceeding them, finding their voice and developing the confidence to share their thoughts in writing.

Maths this term has focused on building fluency, with students working hard on fractions and decimals. They’re not just learning rules but exploring these concepts with hands-on activities, puzzles, and games that make numbers come to life. Our goal has been to help every student feel comfortable and capable in maths, and they are making fantastic strides. The enthusiasm in the classroom is infectious as they tackle tricky problems, discuss strategies, and celebrate those “aha!” moments together.

With Halloween just being completed and Christmas around the corner, the 4/5 class enjoy celebrations. This fits perfectly with our Celebrations Unit with Mrs Shore, where they’re exploring the various ways people celebrate across cultures and communities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to appreciate our differences and recognise the values that unite us all.

Last but certainly not least, our drama lessons have been filled with energy as students explore the six elements of drama. Through role-playing, improvisation, and team exercises, they are learning about voice, movement, and how to convey emotions effectively. Drama has been a fantastic tool for building confidence, encouraging teamwork, and letting each student’s personality shine. The laughter and engagement in these sessions have been incredible, and it has been exciting to see students step into new roles and bring their imaginations to life.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support. It’s a pleasure to work with such a talented, lively, and enthusiastic group of students. As always if you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me matthew.rowley12@det.nsw.edu.au

Primary

The weather is warming up – and the conditions are dry and hot in the playground! Due to this, we have to remind parents that each student needs a BCS school bucket hat for term 4 – for both playtimes and PDHPE/Sport times. If kids don’t have BCS bucket hats, they’ll be asked to play in the shade. If kids don’t have hats for PDHPE/Sport they will be marked out of uniform and could face disciplinary procedures for repeat offences. Our uniform policy is endorsed by the School P&C and it’s in the safety of all kids in our harsh summer environment. Please help us with this.

Well done to Emmett and Amali for representing BCS, Cowra District and Western PSSA at this years NSW State PSSA Athletics Championships in Homebush. Amali didn’t quite reach her personal best jump of 1.33m, but definitely gave the competition a warning with her excellent skills. Emmett set his own personal best of 1.30m in his competition, and was very proud of his achievements. Our school and wider community are so proud of you both and look forward to seeing your achievements in future years! Next stop, the Olympics!

A few reminders:

Term 4 is ‘No Hat, Play in the Shade’ rule for BCS K-6. Students must be wearing school bucket hats, or they will spend their playtimes in the shade.

The Y3-6 Primary Excursion is set for Tuesday 3rd December. The students will be in Wagga for the day (7:30am-6:00pm Approx.). Y3/4 will visit FLIPOUT and Year 5/6 will visit VORTEX. We will then check out a few museums and galleries, and then a quick stop at the Junee Chocolate Factory on the way home. We have focused specifically on cost-effective excursions this year in order to help the highest number of kids attend. The total cost for the day is $100 per student and details were sent out to families last week via COMPASS.

Our canteen is open Wednesday-Friday this term, so lunch orders can be placed in the morning of these days.

If you require any additional information or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: jason.stuart3@det.nsw.edu.au

Jason Stuart

Assistant Principal Primary (Relieving)

5/6 Classroom

The year 5/6 class has finished the August & Me novel study and begun a unit on the short animated film ‘REPLAY’. This is an absorbing and challenging text, that deals with a post-apocalyptic world, the meaning of life and how lucky we are as students in such a great country. In Mathematics, we have begun a unit on fractions, decimals and percentages – specifically looking at finding out quantities of these. In Science we are looking at forces, specifically gravity, friction and propulsion. Real rocket-science stuff! In PDHPE we are working on team skills, specifically being a good team-mate and playing by the rules – something that some of our classmates need a lot of assistance with. This is a work in progress – but we hope to enjoy ourselves along the way.

As always, please get in touch if you require any further information: Jason.stuart3@det.nsw.edu.au

Jason Stuart

5/6 Class Teacher

Assistant Principal Primary (Relieving)

WK	Term 4 2024	Time	Event
5	Monday 11 November	11.00am	Remembrance Day
5	Monday 11 to Thursday 14		Half Yearly Exams Year 7 to 10
5	Friday 15 November	9am - 3pm	Kindy Start Full Day
	School Fees		Reminder School Fees are now due in Compass

Diary Dates and Notices