Senior School News
Year 5
Literacy
In Literacy, our Year 5 students have continued exploring the novel Convict Boy while developing their understanding of the historical context surrounding transportation to Australia. Students have been working through a range of writing activities based on the experiences of convicts who made their way to Botany Bay, exploring the impact of the Industrial Revolution, the American Revolutionary War and the development of penal colonies. Through their writing, students are building their ability to use historical information, develop characters and settings, and communicate ideas from the perspective of people living during this significant period in Australian history.
Maths
This week, our Year 5 students have completed their unit on angles, consolidating their understanding of acute, obtuse, right and reflex angles. Students have been identifying, measuring and constructing different types of angles and applying their knowledge to solve a range of problems.We have now begun our new unit on decimals. Students are exploring place value beyond the decimal point and developing their understanding of tenths, hundredths and thousandths. They will be using this knowledge to compare, order and represent decimals in a variety of ways.
Topic
Our Year 5 students are finishing their exploration of sacred places in Australia and the deep spiritual and cultural significance these places hold for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Students have explored places including Jukurrpa Gorge, Uluru and Budj Bim, considering the connections between Country, culture, spirituality and community.
Next, students will begin exploring the many different Aboriginal language groups across Australia. They will learn that Australia is home to hundreds of distinct language groups, each with their own languages, cultures, traditions and connections to Country. This will help students develop a deeper appreciation of the rich diversity of Aboriginal cultures and the importance of language in maintaining culture and identity.
Religion
We had a beautiful Mass on Friday celebrating Mary MacKillop with our buddies. This week, we will be learning about Mother Mary and exploring her significance in our faith and in the life of Jesus. We will also explore the Assumption of Mary, developing our understanding of what this means and why it is an important belief in the Catholic faith.
Buddy Lunch
Each Friday we have been lucky enough to spend sometime with our buddies whilst we eat our lunch orders.
Fernhill
We are very lucky to have a group of students visit Fernhill every fortnight, where they spend time connecting with the residents and playing games together. Last week, 5T had the opportunity to visit, and we had lots of fun playing BINGO! It was a wonderful afternoon of connection, laughter and shared experiences.
Year 6
Our fabulous year 6's running assembly.
Literacy
In English, Year 6 students have been reading Once by Morris Gleitzman, exploring the experiences of Felix, a young Jewish boy living in Poland during World War II. Through the novel, students have been developing their understanding of historical fiction, character perspectives and the impact of significant historical events.
Students have also been researching Poland and using their findings to plan and write an information report. They are learning how to locate relevant information, take effective notes, organise ideas into clear sections and use subject-specific vocabulary. Students are applying their understanding of informative writing to create structured reports that communicate factual information clearly to their readers.
Maths
Maths In Mathematics, Year 6 students have been learning about units of measurement for length. Students have been developing their understanding of millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres and when each unit is most appropriate to use.
We have been focusing on converting between centimetres and metres, using our understanding that 100 centimetres is equal to 1 metre. Students have been practising converting measurements in both directions and applying their skills to a range of real-world problems involving length.
Topic
In Science, Year 6 students are exploring the Sun, Moon and Earth and developing their understanding of how these celestial bodies interact. Students will investigate the rotation and orbit of Earth, the phases of the Moon and how the movement of the Earth and Moon creates familiar patterns such as day and night, seasons and tides. Through models, investigations and discussion, students will build their understanding of our place within the solar system.
A friendly reminder that students are only to wear small hoops or stud earrings to school, and please make sure they are in the correct sport uniform or full school uniform on the appropriate days. This helps keep everyone safe and supports our uniform expectations.
Key Dates
- September 4th Year 5 incursion
- Sexual Education Parent Zoom Tuesday August 18th
- Fathers Day assembly September 4th
Matilda Tench
mtench@shsandringham.catholic.edu.au
Orla Moloney
omoloney@shsandringham.catholic.edu.au
Kate Newey
knewey@shsandringham.catholic.edu.au
Luke Homer