Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families,

During Week 2, students continued Stage 8 of Little Learners Love Literacy, focusing on the suffixes -ness and -ment. In English, they began reading The Lorax, explored Dr Seuss’s use of rhyme and figurative language, made predictions and revisited narrative writing.

In Mathematics, students explored division by sharing objects equally into groups using hands-on materials, drawings and number sentences. In Religious Education, they learned how Catholics gather as a Church community to pray, listen and celebrate. They also explored Scripture passages about community and caring for others.

During Integrated Studies, students practised keeping a steady beat while changing body percussion movements and discussed why staying together is important when performing as a group. In Auslan, they learned how signs such as open and put on show the action of how something is done and created simple phrases independently or with support. In Social and Emotional Learning, students explored gender norms and stereotypes and discussed the importance of respecting everyone’s interests, choices and self-expression.

Learning for the Week 3/Term 3:

Religious Education:

In Week 3, students will explore the story of the Good Samaritan and learn how Jesus taught people to show love through their actions. They will retell key parts of the story, discuss its message and identify ways they can show care and kindness to others at school and in everyday life.

English:

In Writing, students will explore how the Once-ler changes in The Lorax and identify the author’s message using evidence from the text. They will also practise distinguishing between statements and questions, asking questions about illustrations and using the conjunctions before, after, if and when to join ideas in sentences. In Reading, students will learn how the prefixes mis-, sub- and dis- change the meanings of base words. They will practise reading, building and writing prefixed words, explaining their meanings and applying this knowledge when reading and performing texts.

Mathematics:

In Mathematics, students will further develop their understanding of multiplication and division by using arrays, equal groups and sharing strategies. They will use hands-on materials, drawings and number sentences to solve problems and explain their thinking.

Integrated Curriculum:

In Integrated Studies, students will explore how music and movement can communicate feelings and ideas. They will describe how music makes them feel and use body movements to express different emotions and messages.

Auslan:

Students will learn to place time signs at the beginning of a sentence, even when the time is spoken at the end in English. They will also practise memorising and using a wider range of signs and simple phrases with increasing confidence.

Social & Emotional Learning:

Students will continue exploring gender norms and stereotypes and consider how external factors can influence people’s interests, choices and behaviours. They will discuss why activities, colours, toys, jobs and emotions should not be limited by gender.

What you can do at home

• Read together each night and talk about the message in a story. Ask your child what the author might want the reader to think, feel or learn.

   

• Practise maths in everyday life by noticing patterns at home or outside, such as patterns in tiles, clothes, blocks, counting, or nature. Ask your child to describe what repeats or what changes.

   

• Talk and share signs together by asking your child to teach you an Auslan sign or facial expression they have learned at school. Practising together helps build confidence and communication skills.

Important Reminders:

• Fidget Toys

  We kindly ask that students do not bring fidget toys to school unless their use is a planned adjustment in consultation with Allied Health Professionals. Students who bring fidget toys without an approved adjustment will be asked to place them in their school bag for the remainder of the day to take home. We appreciate your support in encouraging your child to leave fidget toys at home.

• Swimming lessons will begin in Week 4 and continue throughout Weeks 4 and 5. Please begin preparing your child’s swimming gear. Further information will be shared with families in the coming weeks.

• Please ensure that you are labelling your child's belongings.

• Please remind your child to change their reading books when they need to. 

• Wednesday 5th August - Photo Day - please use QR code in the flyer below

The Damascus Team

Contact Us @Damascus

damascus@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au  (all teachers) or