Reading

This fortnight, Year 6 students have continued reading our class novel I Am Malala. As the story progresses, students have been exploring the changes taking place in Malala’s life and in Pakistan, and how political events affected her access to education. Through class discussions, we have examined equality, access to education and the role of young people in advocating for change. Students have also been focusing on making different types of connections in their reading, including text-to-self, text-to-text and text-to-world. These strategies help deepen their understanding of the text and encourage them to think more critically about the ideas and experiences presented in the novel.

‘In this chapter we read last, it was described how Malala went to Islamabad, the Capital of Pakistan’ - Ibrahim 6A

‘In the novel it described she when power went out and that reminded me of when the power went out in my house during a storm.’ Qasim 6B

‘I am Malala is a good book for us to be reading it helps us to be grateful for the education we have the right too because Malala has to fight for that’- Riyansh 6C

‘Malala is an activist in Pakistan and standing up for girl’s rights to an education, she is speaking to the media about it.’ - Devrim 6C

Writing

Year 6 students have continued to focus on fluency and legibility of their writing. Handwriting will continue to be a weekly focus throughout the year.

Students have continued to explore root words and suffixes. Last week we focused on the suffix -fy (to make or become) and -ery / -ary (relating to). Students were able to explore these suffixes and how the meanings of words can change.

This last fortnight, Year 6 students have enjoyed learning about the process of how to use our Writers Notebooks and creating purposeful writing. Students have all chosen a seed (created by themselves) to explore through the writing process and will create their own piece of writing. Students have been researching and drafting and we can't wait to share some of the final pieces of writing with you in the coming weeks.

‘Writing has been fun, we are researching our own topics and then we will be publishing it. I have enjoyed these lessons’ - Mahrosh 6A

‘I like practising my cursive when we do handwriting.’ Zander 6B

‘We are practising our handwriting and how to do Victorian Cursive neatly’ - Aaron 6C

Maths

In maths, we have been focusing on order of operations and how we can show our thinking using algebraic tables. Year 6’s have also been learning about integers and how to represent numbers in a variety of way, such as positive and negative numbers on a number line, using symbols of greater than and less than to unknown quantities and using their knowledge of ascending and descending numbers in order from smallest to largest and largest to smallest. Students have also been playing co-operative games to consolidate the concepts taught.

‘Having a challenge in maths is fun. I have enjoyed maths being a little more challenging, as I am learning more’ - Ivan 6A

‘We use integers in the real world like weather forecasts.’ Jack 6B

‘ I really like solving BODMAS equations because I find them fun and like a puzzle, and now I can solve them’- Artaaz 6C

‘We learnt how to solve BODMAS and how to solve it in the right order of operations’- Jehansa 6C

Inquiry

This fortnight in Inquiry, Year 6 students have been learning about the influences that shaped Australia’s system of government. They explored how the Westminster system from the United Kingdom and the Washington system from the United States influenced the development of Australia’s political structure during Federation. Students examined how these ideas helped shape the creation of the Constitution and the structure of Parliament. As part of this learning, Year 6 students also researched key figures who played an important role in the early days of Federation and considered the impact of their contributions. Students practised historical research skills and discussed what makes a source appropriate and reliable when investigating events from the past.

‘It was interesting learning about important people during federation’ - Reema 6A

‘I had fun learning about Edmond Burton, he was the first prime minister of Australia’ - Aj 6A

‘ I had fun researching on a Famous Australian and creating a poster’ - Senuli 6B

‘Australia was inspired by the British and American systems Westminster and Washington’- Christine 6C

Social and Emotional Learning

This fortnight, students practised our assembly expectations, focusing on walking into the gym in an orderly manner, using full body listening, and standing respectfully for the national anthem.

We discussed why these behaviours are important and how they help create a calm, safe, and respectful environment for everyone. Students demonstrated great effort in following these expectations and are continuing to build their confidence and responsibility during learning and whole school gatherings.

‘We have been learning the importance to demonstrate our school values and showing full body listening during learning time and at events, such as, assembly’ - Evan 6A

‘We can be kind to others by listening.’ Kirat 6B

‘Kindness is important and it is one of our school values’- Santa 6C

AUSLAN

This fortnight, Year 6 students learnt about Auslan signs related to the shops and shopping. Students joined in on a shopping trip when purchasing items.Students learnt signs for Shops, shopping, buy, Supermarket, Chemist, Bank, Fruit shop, Butcher, Coffee shop - cafe, Toy shop and Ice-cream

shop.

Students also explored signs for outside the house. Students watched a video looking at the different parts of the house and learnt signs for Backyard, grass, fence, gate, BBQ, shed, letterbox, bucket, hose, garage, lawnmower, garden, trees. Students were able to practise past learning by adding in some colour and signing, such as, green tree, red letterbox and brown fence.

‘I have been enjoying learning more words in Auslan, some are challenging and hard to remember but others are simple. I want to continue learning Auslan and becoming better’ - Ina 6A

‘I like learning how to sign and learning different words with my hands’ - Mohamed 6A

‘I enjoyed learning how to sign words that related to shops and backyard objects’- Paige 6B

‘We learnt about signing different words in Auslan for shopping’- Ronan 6C

Special Event

CPS - Athletics day

Last Friday,CPS held their annual Athletics Day at Meadowglen International Athletics track.

It was a very hot day but we all had a lot of fun. The Year 6 students were able to choose from the events: 100m, 200m, long jump, triple jump, discuss and shot put.

Students were able to dress in their house colours and support their house team teams by earning points for their house.We are so very proud of the Year 6 students, they showed amazing sportsmanship, friendship and skill while having a great day. We all can't wait to hear who the winning house was. Which house do you think won?

‘It was such a fun day trying all the sports, I didn't win anything but I tried my best and hadfun’ - Marcus 6A

‘I had a go at all the activities on Athletics day and I had lots of fun’ - Ibrahim 6A

‘My favourite event was the 200 m race.’ Ryder 6B

‘I loved throwing the disc in discus’- Zach 6C

‘Participating in all of the events with my friends was really fun’- Alexandra 6C

Dream and Lead Conference

On March 18, the Year 6 school leaders had the exciting opportunity to attend the Dream and Lead Conference in Melbourne. Throughout the day, they listened to inspiring keynote speakers, including Australia’s youngest senator and Maddy Prespakis from the Essendon Football Club AFLW team who inspired them to be the leaders they were meant to be.

Students learned valuable lessons about leadership, including the importance of using their voice, leading by example, and understanding that they are never too young to make a positive change in their school and community. The experience was both inspiring and empowering for our young leaders as they continue to develop their leadership skills.

Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) Program

Pascoe Vale Girls College offers a Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) program for gifted and talented students in Years 7–9. The program provides a faster-paced curriculum with opportunities for deeper learning, enrichment and the development of higher-order thinking skills. Students may also accelerate their studies, with opportunities to complete VCE subjects earlier.

Applications for 2027 close on Monday 24 August 2026, with entrance testing held on Saturday 29 August 2026.

For application details, visit the Pascoe Vale Girls College website or contact the college for further information.

Easter Celebrations