Foundation and Junior Semester Overviews

English

This semester students have explored narrative, exposition and informative texts and letter writing. They identified the features of these texts in both reading and writing and applied their new and prior knowledge to create texts. Students have worked to develop fluency in their reading with some familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary.

Students have focussed on nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. They have had the opportunity to distinguish between sentences and fragments and used their knowledge of spelling patterns to read and write high frequency words. Students were encouraged to use punctuation such as capital letters, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks in their writing.

Students developed their oral language skills when taking part in conversations during ‘think, pair, share’ activities and presentations to the class.

Mathematics

This semester students have been exposed to ways to represent, recognise and order numbers. They have focused on skip counting, partitioning numbers and place value. Students have been developing their skills in the four operations using concrete materials and moving to formal symbols when ready, to solve a range of problems. They have been using formal and informal measurement to compare length and capacity, and have been learning to about time. Students have been developing their knowledge of 2D and 3D shapes, identifying their features and classifying the shapes based on common attributes. They have had the opportunity to gather and display and interpret data, and to count and order Australian coins and notes. 

Religious Education and Inquiry

In Term Three our Inquiry learning focused on Thinking Outside of the Box. Students actively honed their critical and creative thinking skills through immersive engagement in STEM activities. The focus was on understanding how things work and problem solving. Through these activities, students delved into design processes, contemplating the selection of materials and their properties, and devising innovative solutions to various problems. The term's emphasis on critical and creative thinking not only encouraged students to explore the practical applications of STEM concepts but also nurtured their ability to approach challenges with a thoughtful and inventive mindset. During Term Three, the Religious Education curriculum centred on the theme of God's gifts to us and an exploration of the Holy Trinity. Students delved into the rich tapestry of Creation stories, examining narratives from diverse religions and cultures to learn about the varied perspectives on creation.

In Term Four, students delved into the theme of Walking Together in both Inquiry and Religious Education. The curriculum integrated practical experiences and religious teachings to instill a sense of community and inclusivity. Community safety professionals, including the Police and CFA visited our classrooms and shared insights, fostering a responsibility for collective well-being. A visit from St. Vinnies emphasised compassion and practical ways to aid the less fortunate, reinforcing a commitment to community service. Biblical stories about Jesus walking with others served as moral guidance, inspiring reflection on interpersonal relationships. The term also included a focus on Advent, connecting spiritual preparation for Christmas to the theme of walking together.

French

Students have been learning how to interact with each other and teachers through action related talk and play. Students have been learning how to exchange greetings, respond and ask questions, and key classroom words. Students have been listening to nursery rhymes in English and French and learning about French culture.

Physical Education

FOUNDATION- Physical Education this semester focused on the development of object control skills including rolling, catching, bouncing, throwing, kicking and striking through active participation in activities, games and movement challenges. Students participated in partner, small group and whole class games, demonstrating the development of their personal and social skills in order to follow rules and cooperate with others. The students enjoyed the RUCCIS Circus incursion, the Cricket Victoria skills development clinic and benefited greatly from the Sporting Schools Tennis program. Finally, student overall skill development was highlighted through the F-2 Summersalt excursion.

JUNIORS-During Physical Education sessions this semester students have been concentrating on the development of loco-motor and object control skillsincluding rolling, catching, bouncing, throwing, kicking and striking while participating in minor games and team challenges. Students experimented using different equipment and parts of their body. They examined positive ways to interact with other children and investigated the rules required to participate fairly in physical activities and apply them in simple games. The students enjoyed the RUCCIS Circus incursion, the Cricket Victoria skills development clinic and skill development provided through the Sporting Schools Tennis program. Achievements in PE were celebrated through the Summersalt excursion, where skills developed throughout the semester were demonstrated.

Visual Arts

FOUNDATION- During Semester Two, the students continued to explore ways to express their ideas visually. They experimented with a range of mediums such as textiles, paper, clay, and papier mâché. The children learnt about weaving, basic clay hand building techniques such as coils, slabs and pinch pots as well as papier mâché construction. As a class, they looked at the period in art called Fauvism where they created a pastel landscape.

JUNIORS- During Semester Two, the students continued to explore diverse ways to create their artworks. They continued to experiment with varied materials such as textiles and clay. The students learnt basic clay hand building skills such as coils, slabs, and pinch pots as well as clay joining techniques. The class looked at different periods in art such as Fauvism where they applied techniques from that period to create artworks. The students also made a small pillow where they learnt to make a pattern and use a running stitch to join it together.

Science

FOUNDATION- During Science this semester the students have explored the Chemical Sciences and Physical Sciences, Science inquiry skills and Science as a human endeavour. Chemical Sciences focused on the properties of materials including natural and synthetic, waterproof and sun-smart, and grouped the materials according to their properties. Physical Science investigations incorporated discovering how we move and how objects of different shapes, sizes and weights move. The students planted snapdragon seedlings in their fairy tale garden and enjoyed learning about National Science Week and National Water Week.

JUNIOR- In Science this semester the students have focused on the Chemical Sciences and Physical Sciences, Science inquiry skills and Science as a human endeavour. The students examined ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ and the effect of heat on food such as pasta, chocolate and icy poles. The students also explored reversible and irreversible change through foods including popcorn and toast. The Physical Sciences focused on light and sound, recognising that light and sound are produced by a range of sources and can be sensed. The students planted pumpkins, corn, sunflowers and carrots in their vegetable patch and enjoyed learning about National Science Week and National Water Week.

Performing Arts

FOUNDATION- This Semester in Performing Arts the Preps on dance and drumming. The students rehearsed a routine as a class and the OLSS dance presentation provided an opportunity for students to perform. They also explored the significance of dance in Aboriginal Culture. In Music, students explored rhythms and fundamental drumming techniques on the djembe (African drum). In Drama we identified the features of mime and practised these techniques in small groups.

JUNIORS- This Semester in Performing Arts the Juniors focused on dance and drumming. The students rehearsed a routine as a class and the OLSS dance presentation provided an opportunity for students to perform. They also explored the significance of dance in Aboriginal Culture. In Music, students explored rhythms and fundamental drumming techniques on the djembe (African drum). In Drama we identified the features of mime and practised these techniques in small groups.

Digital Technology

FOUNDATION- This Semester in Digital Technology the students created movies using stop motion animation. This involved making movies comprising of multiple images using either clay or lego. They also defined ‘data’, collecting and representing information as symbols. 

JUNIORS-  This Semester in Digital Technology the Juniors practised logging into the Chromebooks using their Google accounts and passwords. They used typing programs to familiarise themselves with the keyboard layout and functions. They also began to use a search engine to find a website. The students created digital animations using the Stop Motion app with lego or clay.