Prep-2 Sector 

PREP

We had an incredibly busy last few weeks in Prep. As Term 3 comes to a close, we are proud of all the amazing progress our prep students have made this term! It’s been a wonderful few months filled with learning, fun, and important celebrations.

This term, our focus in literacy has been on Functional writing. The children have been learning and practicing writing for real-life purposes, which is both exciting and meaningful for them. We’ve covered a variety of functional writing, including letters, postcards, shopping lists, emails, invitation and cards. 

These activities help our little learners understand the value of writing to communicate and connect with others.

 It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they explore these different formats!

Here are some samples of newsletter articles written by our students about the R U OK? Day celebration.

Last Thursday Prep took part in R U OK? Day celebration Brookside style! R U ok? is a special time to check in with each other and talk about the importance of kindness and mental health. The kids learned simple ways to support their friends and express care, fostering a positive and supportive classroom environment.

We also had an incredible time at the Colour Fun Run! The children enjoyed running, laughing, and getting splashed with vibrant colours. 

It was fantastic to see everyone’s energy, smiles and happiness—thank you to all the parents who helped make this event so successful.

 Following the fun run, the Prep students were able to participate in a range of fun activities that kept their smiles. 

As we head into the holidays, we want to wish all our families a happy and safe break.

 We look forward to welcoming your children back in Term 4, refreshed and ready for our final term of exciting learning adventures in Prep.

The Prep Team

Year 1

What a busy and exciting few weeks it has been in Year 1!

In Mathematics, we’ve been diving into addition and subtraction, exploring a variety of strategies to help us become confident problem-solvers. Year 1 students have been practising doubles, bridging through ten, and refining their counting on and counting back skills. It’s been fantastic to see their confidence and problem-solving skills grow with each lesson.

In Reading and Writing, our focus has been on poetry and rhyme. Students have enjoyed listening to poems, identifying rhyming words, and even creating their very own quatrain poems. They have also explored shape poems and acrostic poems, showing off their creativity in fun and imaginative ways. 

In Science, our curious learners have been investigating animals and their habitats. The highlight was our Zoo Excursion, where students were able to see animals up close and discover how they survive in their environments. 

In Humanities, we’ve been learning about the Kulin Nation’s 7 seasons. The children were fascinated to discover that these seasons are guided by changes in nature and animal behaviour, rather than by a calendar. 

In Health, our focus has been on healthy eating. Students have been learning how different foods help our bodies grow strong, give us energy, and keep us feeling our best. 

It’s been a fantastic few weeks filled with learning, creativity, and excitement—we are excited for Term 4! 

'You can if you think you can'

The Year 1 Teachers

Year 2

What a joyful and action-packed term it has been in Year 2! Our students have embraced every opportunity to learn, create, and celebrate together, and we are so proud of the effort and enthusiasm they bring to school each day.

In Maths, students have been developing their skills in statistics and data by creating surveys, collecting results, and representing their findings in tables and graphs. They have also been building on their addition and subtraction strategies, applying them to real-life situations such as calculating costs, transactions, and change when working with money. These skills have helped our Year 2s grow in confidence as problem-solvers and mathematicians.

Our Writing program has been filled with creativity. Alongside our ongoing Author Study of Bob Graham, students have explored different forms of poetry, experimenting with list poems, acrostic poems, and even shape poems. They have enjoyed playing with words and structure to express their ideas in fun and imaginative ways. 

In Phonics, we have introduced and practised new sounds, learned how to identify syllables in words, and built fluency by reading passages aloud and joining in with call-and-response poems. These experiences have helped strengthen both reading confidence and a love for language.

In Science, students explored how objects move and investigated how pushes and pulls affect motion. A highlight was making and testing paper helicopters. Students predicted what might happen when the helicopters were dropped, then worked in pairs to test their ideas. They discovered how gravity pulls the helicopter down, while air pushes up against the wings to make it spin. This hands-on experiment sparked curiosity, encouraged problem-solving, and helped students clearly see the forces of push, pull, air, and gravity in

 action.

We also enjoyed many exciting school-wide events this term. From showing kindness and checking in with others on RUOK Day, to celebrating school spirit during House Colour Day, to the joy of shopping with their hard-earned tokens at the SWPBS shop, our Year 2s made the most of every moment. 

The term ended on a high note with the vibrant and energetic Colour Run, which was a highlight for many.

It has been a fantastic term of learning, laughter, and growth. We couldn’t be prouder of our Year 2 students and can’t wait to see what they achieve next term!