Grade 3/4 News

WELCOME TO GRADE 3/4B

We’ve had a fabulous first week of school, and what a whirlwind of fun, learning, and laughter it has been! Everyone has settled into the routine of being at school and have been buzzing with energy, curiosity, and smiles brighter than ever.

Our Quality Beginnings Program is in full swing, allowing the students to get to know me and vice versa, as well as building connections with their peers. We’ve been focusing on how to be good listeners, because listening isn’t just waiting for your turn to talk. We have been learning how to be respectful and kind when talking to others and of course, how to be an all-around great friend.

A lot of our learning these past couple of weeks ties into our school values: Respect, Integrity, Kindness, Excellence, and Resilience. The beginning of the year is our chance to set the tone for the months ahead. It’s my chance to outline the routines and procedures that help our class run smoother than a freshly sharpened pencil. Plus, setting expectations for behaviour means we all know the game plan, and there are no surprise plot twists.

The students have been loving their time with our specialist teachers in The Arts, STEM, PE, Auslan, and Wellbeing (SEL). They've been busy making new friends, practicing social and language skills, and tackling activities that sometimes make them go, ‘Whoa, this is tricky!’ But guess what? That’s where the magic happens. The development of these skills allows the students to build confidence, discover new talents, and maybe even surprise themselves with what they can achieve.

In Grade 3/4B, I believe teamwork makes the dream work! The students have participated in a bunch of small group activities with different classmates so we could become a ‘close-knit team’.

Some of the fun activities included:

Maths games that made numbers feel more like puzzles than problems.
Learning to log onto computers safely (yes, we are tech-savvy now!).
Creating folders to keep their masterpieces organised.
Austin’s Butterfly activity, which showed the power of specific, kind, and constructive feedback.

In the activity, Austin’s Butterfly, students drew a butterfly based on a reference photo. The first attempt? Pretty good, but missing some fancy details. Then came the magic, classmates provided thoughtful feedback, focusing on wing shapes, patterns, and symmetry. After a few rounds of feedback and revisions, the final butterflies were so detailed and realistic that I am considering opening an art gallery!

Key takeaways from the Austin's Butterfly activity:

The value of feedback over just general praise (though we still love a good “Wow!” now and then)
Multiple drafts aren’t just for authors. They show how awesome growth looks when you keep trying.
A growth mindset is our superpower. Skills improve with effort, feedback, and a sprinkle of determination, because Picasso did not nail it on the first try!

It’s been absolutely fantastic getting to know all the students this past week. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I can’t wait to help these wonderful students learn, grow, and maybe even teach me a thing or two this year!

A couple friendly reminders…

As you know, a positive home – school partnership is an important factor in your child’s education so if you feel like you need to have a chat to me at anytime, I am always available. You are welcome to see me after school or you can email me directly brenda.wereszczuk@education.vic.gov.au or through the school email address beaufort.ps@education.vic.gov.au or message me directly on Xuno.
Our home readers will begin in week 4. Information about this will be posted on Xuno. It would be wonderful if your child could find some time in their busy after-school schedule to read, as this will help improve their fluency and vocabulary, which in turn will support their understanding and comprehension, making reading a more enjoyable experience.
Our principal, Mrs Rush will be keeping you up to date about our Swimming Sports which have now been cancelled due to repairs to the pool.

It’s been an amazing start to the year, and I can’t wait for more fun, learning, and laughter in Grade 3/4B. Buckle up, parents — it’s going to be a fantastic ride!