Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families,

What a fantastic Term 2 it has been! Our Foundation students have achieved so much and should be incredibly proud of their efforts. They have consistently demonstrated safety, respect, and a love of learning, and we celebrate all the progress they have made this term. We were also delighted to hold our Parent-Teacher Interviews yesterday evening and would like to sincerely thank all families who attended. These conversations provided a valuable opportunity to celebrate student growth and strengthen the partnership between home and school. We appreciate your ongoing support and involvement in your child's learning journey.

As the term comes to a close, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our Foundation families for another wonderful term. Your support, encouragement, and collaboration have contributed greatly to the success of our students. We wish everyone a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday break and look forward to welcoming you back for another exciting term of learning in Term 3.

On Friday 19th June, our Foundation students enjoyed a very special celebration for Milo Monkey's Birthday! This event recognised and celebrated the hard work students have put into learning the sounds of the letters of the alphabet throughout the semester. The excitement was evident as students arrived dressed in their party clothes and enjoyed a special party lunch box. Throughout the day, they had fun creating party hats and sunglasses before finishing with a dance party. It was a wonderful way to celebrate their achievements and the fantastic learning that has taken place so far this year.

Foundation A

Foundation B

Foundation C

Foundation D

Learning for the Term Ahead

Term 3, Week 1

Religious Education:

In Religious Education, students will explore how God is experienced through the gift of creation. We will begin by revisiting our classroom prayer and discuss protocols, helping students participate respectfully and thoughtfully in our faith learning. Students will then reflect on the beauty and wonder of the world around them, considering how creation helps us to know and experience God's love and presence in our lives.

English:

In English, we will be reading 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson. The story follows a clever little mouse who uses his quick thinking and imagination to outsmart the animals he meets in the forest. Students loved joining in with the repetitive phrases, discussing the characters, and exploring the important message that intelligence and confidence can be just as powerful as size and strength.

If you would like to pre-read the book with your child, please follow the link to the book below.

Mathematics:

In Mathematics, students will begin exploring subtraction. Through hands-on activities, games and visual representations, they will learn how subtraction helps us find out how many are left when a quantity is taken away. Students will be encouraged to use materials, drawings and number knowledge to solve simple subtraction problems.

Integrated Curriculum: 

In Integrated, students will continue exploring The Gruffalo through music and movement. In Dance, they will use their bodies to move like different animals from the story, such as the mouse, fox, owl and snake, while exploring movement in different spaces, levels and directions. In Music, students will listen to and compare contrasting sounds, clap along to the beat of the Gruffalo chant, and use instruments to explore concepts such as loud and quiet, and fast and slow. These engaging activities will help students build their creativity, coordination and understanding of how stories can be expressed through the arts.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL):

In SEL, students will revisit the St Thomas Way and our school-wide expectations of Safety, Respect and Learning. Through class discussions, role-plays and everyday examples, students will explore what these expectations look like in different areas of the school. This learning will help students continue to make positive choices, build strong relationships and contribute to a safe, respectful and successful learning environment for all.

What you can do at home

• Read or watch the weekly book with your child at home (there is often a read aloud on youtube. Talk about what the book's most important ideas are. Point to words that begin with our focus sound/s
  • Ask comprehension questions as you read
  • "Point to where it shows...
  • "I wonder why.."
  • "What makes you think of that?"
  • "This reminds me of..."
  • "Show me where it says...”
  • "I didn't understand that part, so I'll reread it."
  • use a mix of Who, What, When, Where, Why and How questions based on the book.
• Ask you child to retell the story using their own words
• Talk about who the characters are and/or where the story is happening
• Practise handwriting using the visuals provided
• Take the idea around Mathematics and incorporate it into your everyday routines. For example, if we are learning about directions, ask your child if they are turning left or right in the car when driving.

Important Reminders:

• Monday 13th July - School Closure
• Tuesday 14th July - First day of Term 3 for all students
• Friday 24th July - 100 days of school celebration - please refer to the flyer below
• Wednesday 5th August - Photo Day - please use QR code in the flyer below

Students are encourages to participate in the Premier's Reading Challenge.

Stickers with usernames and passwords have been placed on the back of the Little Learners Love Literacy tag on your child’s reader pouch. A bookmark containing a QR code linking directly to the challenge website has also been placed inside your child’s reader pouch.

Alternatively, families can access the website using the link below:

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

• Can we please ask for a pair of socks and underwear to be placed in the front zip pocket of your child's school bag in case of a toileting accident.

Enjoy your weekend,

The Galilee Team

Contact Us @ Galilee

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