The Learning Page

ICAS English

ICAS English will be happening this Wednesday. Due to larger-than-expected numbers of students participating, we have needed to adjust the times to allow for two sittings. These will be run at the following times:

• 11:45am - Year 2
• 12:45pm - Years 3-6

Families who signed up are reminded to send their child with a fully charged device on the day. No other actions are required. 

Families will be notified directly from ICAS when results are released. This is usually a few weeks after the competition.

New Look Humanities, Science and Ready for Life

This semester, students have begun a refreshed Humanities, Science and Ready for Life curriculum. Humanities and Science have long been an important part of learning at our school, while Ready for Life is an exciting new subject for students in Prep to Year 2. 

Ready for Life provides students with opportunities to develop practical life skills through hands-on experiences. The focus varies across year levels and terms, with students exploring areas such as movement, food preparation, fine motor skills, sewing, knot tying, caring for materials, problem-solving and other everyday life skills. 

Over the past year, our curriculum team has worked hard to create a more consistent, engaging and carefully sequenced Humanities and Science program from Prep to Year 6. Every lesson has been designed using Explicit Direct Instruction, ensuring students receive clear teaching of new knowledge and skills before applying their learning through meaningful activities.

A key feature of the new look version of these subjects is the emphasis on hands-on learning. Students investigate, build, design, experiment, create, cook, observe and solve problems as they deepen their understanding of the world around them. Lessons are screen-free wherever possible, with technology used only when it is the best way to introduce a concept that cannot be experienced firsthand or when students are learning digital technologies. 

Across the school, units have been carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills build from one year level to the next, helping students develop a deeper understanding over time rather than learning topics in isolation.

Students will notice that many of their learning experiences are connected to our own community. Throughout the year, they will meet recurring story characters who introduce new concepts and guide investigations, while exploring familiar local environments and real-world issues that make learning meaningful and relevant. Whether students are designing solutions to problems, exploring scientific concepts, investigating the history and geography of their community or developing practical life skills, they will be encouraged to think critically, ask questions and apply their learning in authentic ways.

Families might like to get involved with this learning by talking with their child after Humanities, Science or Ready for Life lessons. Questions like those below encourage students to reflect on and consolidate their learning.

• What was the most interesting thing you learnt today?
• What did you make, investigate or discover?
• Can you show me how that worked?

In several year levels, students will also work towards an end-of-term event where families will be invited into the learning space to explore projects, investigations and displays that showcase what students have been learning. We look forward to welcoming you to these small celebrations of learning throughout the year.

Book Week (24th – 28th August)

The exciting time of Book Week is coming up in Week 7! This is an opportunity for students to be immersed in books and celebrate their favourite titles by dressing up. 

The theme of Book Week for this year is: Symphony of Stories!

Parade:

The Book Week Parade will be held on Thursday 27th August between 9:30am-11:00am. Students are encouraged to create a costume that highlights the theme for Book Week or their favourite book. We would love to have our SMPS community attend the parade to be part of the fun that will ensue. Please come to the school gym at 9:30am. The SMPS staff are looking forward to seeing creative costumes and to show off their own! Here are some ideas:

Lamont Book Fair is coming to SMPS!

During Book Week, 24th – 28th August (Week 7), SMPS will be holding a book fair in the school library. Students will get a chance to view books and create wish lists during school time. Parents/guardians may either place orders online or attend the book fair to purchase books directly. The book fair will be open after school Tues 25th – Thurs 27th and before school Wed 26th – Fri 28th. Come along to find the best new books and help to earn free books for our library!

Our book fair wouldn’t be as successful without wonderful volunteers. Each year we rely on roughly ten parents/guardians to assist during the book fair. If you would like to help out, please email Ms Zoe zoe.danaher@smps.vic.edu.au

More details regarding opening hours and online ordering will be in the next iNewsletter.