Year 3-4

 

Wawa, Wumindjika

Welcome to Week 6

Lent Check In

As we embrace the season of Lent, a time of reflection, sacrifice and giving, we invite you to join us in this special initiative that aligns with the spirit of the season. This year, we are reaching out to you, our St John’s families, to get actively involved with Project Compassion!  Your children will be actively participating in Project Compassion at school to make a significant impact on the lives of those less fortunate, and this year, we would like to invite parents to jump on board too! We believe that together, as students, teachers and parents, we can help to encourage our kids and amplify their efforts.  As Easter approaches, we encourage you to get involved by taking part in Give it up for Lent – whether you forgo your daily coffee, or indulge in a little less screen time, or give up your car during Lent and in doing so raise money for Caritas Australia. 

The Good Samaritan 

Luke 10:29-37

The Resilience Project

We have been talking about GRATITUDE and sharing what we are grateful for. You may want to discuss with your children what they are grateful for.  You might like to use the G.E.M( Gratitude, Empathy  and Mindfulness) chat above. Over the next few weeks we will be learning about EMPATHY and how we can show empathy for others

Swimming 

Congratulations to Matilda, Ella, Paige and Lily who went to division swimming in Wangaratta on Friday. We are all so proud of you! 

Uniform Reminders

It is hat wearing season, so please ensure your child has their hat every day.

Our sports days are on Wednesday and Friday. Students need to be in sports uniform with white socks and runners. All other days, students need to be in the full school uniform with green socks and black polished shoes. A reminder that hair below the collar needs to be tied back with a neutral hair colour tie or yellow and green in the school colours.

Curriculum

Here is a copy of the daily timetable for each classroom.

Literacy

Reading

Week 6  Focus : Summarising

Summarising requires readers to sequence a text, retell a text using the vocabulary used in the text, put it into their own words (paraphrase) and, finally, select the most important ideas to sum up what the author has told them. This will enable them to have a more concise understanding of a text.

Learning intention:  

I am learning to summarise

Success criteria:

I can retell what has happened so far in the text

Week 7 Focus : Making connections

Learning intention: 

I am learning to make connections

Success criteria: I am able to relate what I am reading to prior learning, knowledge or experience

Making Connections

Some language prompts teachers can use to make connections include:

• This reminds me of a time when…
• I know about this topic because…
• The setting of this text is just like…

Another prompt might be: What’s happening in this book is just like what happened in…

Writing

Report from 3/4J 

The student's are continuing to develop their understanding of a persuasive text and have been working on a set topic titled SHOULD WE HAVE A THREE DAY WEEKEND? They have used a template to develop their writing and will publish their final piece digitally. Maybe we can send them into parliament and see if we can make a change. It would fit in perfectly with our Inquiry topic. Read on to find out more.

3/4T Have published their chosen argument and been reffering to the bump it up wall to see if we are including all parts of a strong persuasive text

Spelling

The  y as in pony and tt as in letter are our sound spelling focus for week 6 and 7. The English language is such a difficult language to learn and we are always amazed at how students learn these combinations. If you are ever confused( and trust us ...we are at times) you might want to follow the link below just to check. Thank you for supporting your children with the learning of these sounds at home.

Home Reading Program

It is great to see so many children reading every night and getting their diary signed. We have decided to acknowledge the consistency in reading and will be sending home certificates with those children who make a regular commitment to developing a love of reading . Keep up the GREAT work everyone.

Numeracy

As we continue on our Launch, explore and summarise journey in mathematics we will start looking at number patterns. Patterning supports the foundations for recall of the counting sequence and understanding number operations. Learning about patterns and connections will help children to make their own predictions and form logical connections. It's an important foundation for later mathematical thinking and reasoning.

A note from Mrs Buhler

Numeracy Support 

This year I am implementing the Extending Mathematical Understanding (EMU) program.

The EMU program was developed by Ann Gervasoni Of Monash University to assist students who have gaps in their mathematical learning or lack confidence within the classroom setting.

The program is based on the philosophy that children can learn successfully given time and opportunities to engage in high quality lessons designed to meet their particular learning needs. Students are given a ‘boost’ so that they can participate more fully in the regular classroom setting.

This term there are 16 students in years 5/6, and 16 students in years 3/4  participating in the program. Parents received a letter with more detailed information.

Numeracy Extension

I am currently planning to develop  a Mathemagicians group. To be held on Tuesday March 12th between 11.40am and 3.15pm. 

This group will comprise students in years 1 to 6 who are showing mathematics abilities higher than their year level of schooling. 

They will come together for sessions of challenges and multi level problem solving tasks.

Students will be invited according to their recent PATM results. 

Parents have received a letter informing them of their child’s invitation to participate.

Christine Buhler

Numeracy Teacher

Inquiry

We have started an inquiry into democratic decision making. We are learning about how rules are made democratically. Why rules are important . Why we need rules and how we can participate in our local community. 

Did you know that African wild dogs vote by sneezing. If the majority in the pack sneeze they all go hunting and if they don't they stay back and rest (must be terrible during hay-fever season ...haha).

Family Fun Night

Jimmy from My Future Academy will be running a family fun night this Thursday. All families are invited to attend. We hope you will be there with your running shoes on!

Additionally, secondhand uniforms will be available to purchase on the night.

Thanks ...a message from Ms Ally

I would like to say THANK YOU for your kind messages in regards to the passing of my Father and Father-in -Law , both sadly passing within days of each other. The students were beautiful in their understanding that I needed some time away to celebrate the incredible life that they both lived. Life is such an amazing journey of ups and downs. Having recently celebrated the birth of my second grandchild it was a time to reflect on the cycle of life. I feel so blessed to be working in such a supportive and caring school community.

Ally 

Until Next fortnight, 

Ally, Rachel, Lisa, Keira and Nic