In the classroom

Teaching and Learning 

Rosina Gemmill, Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning

Buongiorno a tutti!

2026 has started well. Classes have hit the ground running with their programs across InitiaLit, Ochre and SpellEx. It is great to walk around the classrooms and see the students actively involved in their learning. Our teachers have put a power of work into getting their classrooms established and the programs ready. Students have settled in well, and we are looking forward to a positive year of learning and growth. This week was our first cooking week in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG) and the students produced some wonderful food! The Opening School Mass, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday Liturgy and our second assembly for the year made for a busy week at St Francis. It was great to see so many families involved in our celebrations. 

Ciao for now!

Foundation

This fortnight in the Foundation room we have continued to work on routines and setting goals for our learning this term. We have become professionals at naming and creating patterns using colours, shapes and items in the classroom. This fortnight we have also started to understand the importance of letters and words when reading and writing stories. The class have enjoyed jumping in hula-hoops to count the words in a sentence and playing a game of memory with rhyming words. With some nicer weather to finish the week off we had an inquiry session collecting data about ourselves outside building social skills and sharing of equipment and space.

Year 1/2

1/2 had a fantastic experience at our Opening Mass, they were so respectful and reverent during the Mass. We then came back to school to discuss how we can share the message of peace and be people of peace in the World. Students then coloured in a picture of St Francis to celebrate the message of peace in the World.

We finished off with some delicious pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. 

Year 3/4

In the 3/4 classroom, the students have been given the opportunity to reflect on Jesus and his call to love others in words and action. 

Students read, responded and recalled the main events and people in the story of Bartimaeus. 

Year 5/6

In Numeracy, students are wrapping up their first unit on Data Representation and are getting ready to start our next unit on Factors and Multiples. They’ve been working really hard to create accurate and detailed dot plots, line graphs, and side-by-side column graphs. It’s been great to see their confidence grow as they learn how to present and interpret data clearly.

In Literacy, students have been really enjoying our class novel A Ghost in My Suitcase. We’ve started writing persuasive texts connected to the novel, and students are focusing on making their arguments strong and convincing for their audience.

Here is the opening paragraph from Aimee Rankin on the topic, “Understanding your family history is important!”

Aimee Rankin:

Have you ever thought about your family's amazing journey that has gone on for generations? Understanding your family history is important because it can provide information about where you came from, knowledge of cultures, and can also provide you with a bigger support system. Knowing your family's past can help with lots of things, but three important things that will be discussed in this text are being able to help with wellbeing, strengthen family connections, and also preserve cultural traditions that your family may have used in the past.

Thanks!

Chanice.