School of Foundations
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
This week, we hold in our hearts all the students who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We pray that this special step in their faith journey brings them peace, understanding, and a deep sense of God's love and forgiveness. It was lovely to see many of the children engaging in conversation with Fr Gayan at this weekend’s Masses—such a meaningful way to connect with their parish community as they prepare for this important sacrament. This coming weekend, another group of Reconciliation candidates will gather at the weekend Masses, in preparation for their Sacrament of Reconciliation on the evening of August 20th.
Exciting Experiences for Our Students!
Over the past fortnight, our students have enjoyed some exciting learning experiences beyond the classroom.
Stage 2 were thrilled to welcome author Cameron Stelzer on Tuesday, who inspired our budding writers with insights into his writing process, character creation, and the joys of storytelling. Students were captivated by his imaginative world and left feeling motivated to dive into their own creative writing.
Meanwhile, Kindergarten enjoyed a magical incursion with Fairytale Fiasco on Thursday. The engaging experience brought stories to life through drama, providing a rich immersion into reading and writing. Students explored characters and narratives in creative and interactive ways, sparking their imagination and inspiring their own storytelling, vocabulary development, and creative writing.
We love seeing our students engaging so enthusiastically with these opportunities to learn, explore, and grow.
MTSS Focus: Respect for ourselves and our environment
Each fortnight, we shine a spotlight on a specific social skill that helps us demonstrate Respect at school.
This fortnight, our focus has been on showing respect for the environment and others by sharing equipment, learning spaces, and furniture, as well as helping others feel safe, included and welcome.
These are important life skills that we intentionally develop with our students to help them grow into kind, respectful and responsible members of the community—both now and in the future.
We encourage families to continue these conversations at home and look for ways to reinforce respectful behaviours in daily life.
Our Mascot Monkey is a friendly reminder to all SOF students that we work together to show Respect for self, others, and the environment.
We look forward to sharing more of our learning with you throughout the term. There is much planned! Enjoy the week ahead!
Nicole EmertonSOF Head of School (Acting)
Kindergarten
English
Throughout this term, Kindergarten students have been engaging in an exploration of narrative texts during reading sessions. They have been learning about key elements of narratives, including the orientation, the problem, and the solution. Students have been exposed to a wide range of narrative stories and have begun applying their understanding of these elements in their own writing.
Mathematics
Over the last few weeks of term, Kindergarten have been investigating numbers to 20. They have been exploring ways to represent and order numbers 0-20, as well as identifying numbers one more and one less than a number. Kindergarten would love their mums and dads to quiz them on sequencing numbers to 20, as well as call out a number and ask them what is the number before and after.
Religion
For religion this term, the Kindergarten students will be exploring the question, ‘What is Church?’. As a part of their exploration of this question, the students attended Quakers Hill, Mary Immaculate Church. The students enjoyed exploring the Church, and looking for items that we have been learning about in class. Some of these items are stained glass windows, the cross, pews, the lectern, candles, the altar, the Priest's chair, the tabernacle and many more.
Science - Living things
As part of their Science unit this term, Kindergarten students have been learning about living things. They have had the exciting opportunity to observe the life cycle of a chicken firsthand. After patiently waiting for the eggs to hatch, students have been closely observing the chicks and learning about how they move, eat, and grow. And boy, are they growing!
Stage 1
English
Over the past few weeks, Year 2 students have been diving into the art of persuasive writing – and they’re off to an impressive start! Using the fun and memorable OREO structure (Opinion, Reason, Example, Opinion restated), students have been learning how to clearly express their ideas and support them with strong, convincing arguments.
To spark their thinking, the class tackled big questions like, Which animal makes the best pet? Which season is best; Winter or summer? Students also took part in a lively "Agree or Disagree" activity, where they moved around the room to show their opinions and explain their reasoning out loud. These activities helped students build confidence in their persuasive voice.
Fair warning: you might notice their arguments at home are suddenly a bit more structured—and harder to disagree with!
Mathematics
In the first two weeks of Term 3, Year 2 students have been busy building strong foundations in mathematics. They have been investigating the base 10 number system, learning to quantify, organise and represent collections in a variety of ways. Students have explored how to order and compare numbers using different representations to deepen their number sense.
Our young mathematicians have also begun collecting and organising categorical data, interpreting the results to ask meaningful questions and make informed decisions. In addition, students have been introduced to basic mapping skills, identifying objects on simple maps and describing their positions in relation to other objects. They have enjoyed creating and following directions along a path, developing their spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills in engaging and practical ways.
History - Excursion
Year One had a fantastic time visiting the Australian Pioneer Village in Wilberforce. The Lions and Wizards enjoyed a variety of hands-on activities, including butter churning, damper tasting, and watching a blacksmith demonstration. They also tried water pumping, went on a tractor ride, and learned all about sheep and wool production. It was a fun and engaging day, and the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
Gen Bryant Visit
St Luke’s was lucky enough to have a visit from Gen Bryant on Wednesday the 23rd of July. Gen Bryant is an independent musician who inspired us with stories of discovering faith and how to use our talents and gifts to shine our light and make the world a better and more joyful place. We did lots of singing and dancing to some of our favourite Gen Bryant songs, like ‘Send Us Out’.
Stage 2
English
Stage 2 students have been diving deeper into persuasive writing this term, learning how to express their opinions clearly and support their arguments with strong reasons and evidence. Through engaging class discussions and writing activities, students are developing confidence in using persuasive language to influence their readers.
We’re also excited to introduce the Literacy Pro reading program! This reading program, used in class, helps students choose books that match their reading level and interests, while also tracking their progress. The Literacy Pro program supports students in fostering a love of reading and building on their comprehension skills.
We look forward to seeing our students grow as confident readers and writers!
MathematicsThis term, students have been exploring time using both analogue and digital clocks. They have been reading and recording times, applying their knowledge to solve simple time-related problems. Their learning has included calculating the duration of events, determining the time between events, and planning activities according to a schedule.
For warm-ups, students continue to work through their Mental Maths books, which help consolidate their mathematical understanding through structured daily practice. These books reinforce learning by encouraging the use of mental strategies across all strands and promoting self-guided revision.
Students have also been exploring mathematics found in patterns and design, enjoying using regular mathematical shapes to create imaginative designs. Viyaan, in Gringotts, created an impressive design using triangles, squares, and trapeziums, showcasing creativity alongside mathematical thinking.
Likewise, Frankie in Diagons, thoughtfully integrated mathematical tessellating patterns into his inquiry project for Creative Arts, where he has been exploring Celtic designs and dance traditions. This is just one example of how our students are challenged to transfer skills and knowledge across learning areas—deepening understanding and building the capacity for lifelong learning.
Geography
This term in Geography, Stage 2 students are exploring the inquiry question: How do climate and culture shape where and how people live, and how can we care for these places? Using interactive tools like Google Earth, students are enhancing their geographical skills by investigating diverse and fascinating locations around the world—from the icy landscapes of Antarctica to the sandy Sahara Desert and the vibrant Amazon Rainforest. They will examine how weather patterns and cultural traditions influence the way people live, including the types of homes they build, the transportation they use, and the clothes they wear. Additionally, students will develop an understanding of how we can care for these environments in sustainable and respectful ways.
Religion
This term in Religion, Stage 2 students are exploring the importance of mercy in our lives. They are developing a deeper understanding of forgiveness through the experiences of others, examining significant stories from around the world where people have demonstrated remarkable acts of forgiveness and mercy. Students are also investigating individuals and organizations motivated by Catholic values to show compassion and love toward others. These inspiring stories encourage students to reflect on and embody mercy in their own lives.
Forces Inquiry Day!
On Thursday 26th June, Stage 2 students participated in a hands-on Forces Inquiry Day, where they explored the question, “How do different forms of energy work together in everyday systems?” Students investigated how forces such as gravity, friction, pushes, and pulls interact to make objects move. They applied this knowledge by planning, designing, and building their own energy-powered creations using classroom materials. Throughout the process, students engaged in problem-solving, tested their ideas, made improvements, and reflected on their learning!
