Foundation

We are now mostly through Term 1, and we am so proud of how much growth we have already seen in our classrooms. Students are becoming more confident, independent and settled in their routines. It has been wonderful to watch friendships strengthen and learning stamina increase each week.

What We Have Been Doing

Phonics 🔤

Students are continuing daily Heggerty phonemic awareness sessions and explicit phonics lessons to strengthen their early reading skills.

We have now introduced the following letter sounds:

m, s, f, a, p, t, c, i, b, h, n, o

As you may have seen in your child’s homework book, students are practising:

• Recognising and saying letter sounds
• Correct letter formation
• Heart words: I, My, my, the, The, a, is
• Blending sounds together to read simple CV and CVC words (e.g. sat, it, as, tap, sit)

• Segmenting words into individual sounds

   

It has been wonderful to see students beginning to confidently blend sounds when reading.

We are hoping to begin sending home decodable readers soon, which will align with the letter sounds students have been explicitly taught in class. These books will allow students to practise applying their phonics knowledge independently and build confidence as emerging readers.

Reading 📖

In Reading, students are learning how to think more deeply about the texts we read together.

We are practising how to:

• Make predictions about what might happen next
• Make text-to-self connections (how the story relates to their own lives)
• Make text-to-text connections (how one story is similar to another)
• Retell stories by explaining the beginning, middle and end

Students are growing in confidence when sharing their ideas during class discussions and partner conversations.

Writing ✏️

In Writing, we have continued building our understanding of nouns (naming words) and have now introduced verbs (action words).

Students are learning to:

• Identify nouns and verbs in simple sentences
• Understand that sentences tell a complete thought
• Begin creating their own simple sentences
• Use a capital letter at the beginning and a full stop at the end

We are starting to explore basic sentence structure, helping students understand that a sentence needs a naming word (noun) and an action word (verb) to tell a complete thought.

Maths 🔢

In Maths, we continue to review our 2D shapes during daily practice and warm-ups.

We are also strengthening our counting skills from 1–20, focusing on accurate counting and subitising.

Our new learning focus has been on patterns. Students are learning to identify, copy and create repeating patterns. We have explored different pattern types including:

• AB
• ABC
• ABB
• AABB

Students are enjoying creating their own patterns using colours, shapes and classroom materials, and are becoming more confident explaining the rule of their pattern.

Inquiry 🌏

In Inquiry, students continue to discover more about themselves and their identity.

We have been exploring:

• Our likes and dislikes
• What makes us special and unique
• How we are similar and different from others

Students have created beautiful self-portraits and shared special qualities about themselves. This learning is helping us build confidence, belonging and a strong classroom community.

There will be an Inquiry focus showcase happening on Wednesday, the 31st of March at 2pm. It will great to see families come in to see what the students have been learning this term. 

Social & Emotional Learning(SEL)💛 

In SEL, we have continued learning about the Zones of Regulation, helping students recognise their feelings and understand that all emotions are okay. We are practising strategies to help us self-regulate, such as deep breathing, taking a break and asking for help.

We read The Colour Monster and I Am a Super Friend to explore emotions and positive ways to engage with others. Through these discussions, students are learning how to use kind words, include others, solve small problems safely and make positive choices in the classroom.

We have also begun our Buddy Program with the Grade 5/6 students. It has been wonderful to see our juniors and seniors working together, building connections and learning from one another. The students have thoroughly enjoyed this special time each week.

Brain Food Reminder (10:00am)🍎 

Please pack a separate piece of brain food (fruit or veggie snack) that students can easily access during our 10:00am learning block. This helps students refuel and stay focused.

Great options: apple slices, berries, banana, cucumber, carrots, grapes.

Hats & Belongings🧢 

• Students must wear a blue school hat during Term 1 for outdoor play.
• Please ensure all hats, jumpers, drink bottles and lunch boxes are clearly labelled.

School Times⏰ 

• School begins at 8:35am
• School finishes at 3:00pm
• Pick up is from the Prep area at the front of the school or the back opposite side
• If your child has an older sibling in Grade 3+, please inform me if they will be collecting your child.

How Families Can Help at Home💬 

• Practise packing and unpacking school bags independently
• Encourage your child to talk about their day
• Read together each night
• Practise counting objects at home (toys, fruit, steps)

Reminders 💭

• Homework will be sent home each Monday and is to be returned by Friday, weekly.
• Prep 1B- Library books to be returned each Thursday to be able to borrow a new book.

Classroom Awards & Celebrations🏆

We celebrate students who are demonstrating our school values and showing positive learning habits at assembly on Friday afternoons at 2:30pm.