Stage 1

A message from Stage 1

Welcome to Week 6 of Term 3!

It’s been a vibrant and busy few weeks in Stage 1, full of learning, celebration, and exciting opportunities.

In Week 4, we celebrated Education Week with open classrooms and special activities that highlighted the wonderful learning happening every day. Thank you to all the families who visited. The students loved sharing their work and showing off their classrooms.

Week 5 brought the magic of Book Week, where we celebrated a love of reading with engaging activities, storytelling, and our much-anticipated Book Week Dress-Up Parade. The costumes were creative, fun, and a real highlight for both students and staff. Thank you for helping to make it such a memorable event.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome the UNE Voyager Discovery team to Stage 1 this Friday 29 August. They will be running a range of science activities designed to spark curiosity and encourage scientific thinking in fun and interactive ways. If you have not given permission for your child, please give permission and pay the $5 on School Bytes.

It’s been a fantastic term so far, and we’re looking forward to even more great learning as we head into the second half.

English - Stage 1 – Persuasive Writing Fun

Stage 1 students have been diving into the world of persuasive texts over the past fortnight, inspired by the humorous and heartfelt book I Wanna Iguana. They have been learning how to convince others using strong arguments, creative thinking, and a sprinkle of imagination.

Using the 'burger model' for writing — with a strong opening (the top bun), juicy and convincing reasons (the filling), and a satisfying closing statement (the bottom bun) — students crafted their own persuasive texts. Their ideas were not only clever but often downright hilarious.

A standout activity had students persuading their classmates that their class animal would make the best pet. The results were as persuasive as they were entertaining.

The Sugar Gliders made an irresistible case. They argued they would be the ultimate pets because they are cute, little, fluffy, and, best of all, could fit right in your pocket.

The Bin Chickens had some proud supporters who shared that these birds are not only fun to watch but also help reduce landfill by eating rubbish and keeping bins from overflowing. They are eco-friendly and entertaining.

The Bilbies were praised for being small, adorable, and low-maintenance. One student pointed out they are easy to look after because they eat bugs — a natural pest control system.

The Magpies were a little harder to promote. Some students admitted they squawk a bit too much, although their striking appearance might still win a few hearts.

The Frill-necked Lizards (Frillies) brought a surprising argument to the table. Students claimed you would never need fly spray again because they eat flies and can flare their frills to scare away burglars.

The Cockatoos impressed with their charming personalities. Students highlighted that Cockatoos can talk to you, so you would never feel lonely with one around.

It’s been wonderful to see students thinking critically, writing with purpose, and having fun with their learning.

Next, Stage 1 will be tackling a new learning challenge. They will be persuading the class which day of the week is the best. Students will present their arguments to the class, receiving feedback to help develop their persuasive writing as well as their speaking and listening skills. We can’t wait to hear their thoughtful (and likely very passionate!) presentations.