Classroom News

Foundation

Decoding

This week in Decoding, students explored two new focus sounds: /m/ and /d/. They were shown the cued articulation for these sounds and practiced identifying when they heard these sounds in words. We have also introduced short daily fluency drills to build automatic recall of sounds. Developing this quick recall supports smoother, more confident reading.

Content Knowledge and Text Construction

Our Content Knowledge focus continues to explore families — how families can be similar and different, and how each of us is unique. Students have been learning and using new vocabulary including bundle, different, equal, and outgrown. These rich discussions help strengthen comprehension and oral language skills.

In Text Construction, students have been practising correct formation of the letters m and d. They are constructing simple sentences such as “Dan is in the dam” and are learning to identify the who, what and where within a sentence to better understand sentence structure.

Mathematics

In Mathematics, students have been learning about the days of the week and developing their understanding of how time is organised across a week. They have practised sequencing the days in order, identifying what comes before and after a given day, and discussing events that regularly occur on particular days (for example, school activities or family routines).

What can you do to support your child at home? 

• Read with your child each evening and encourage them to identify Heart Words and focus sounds they have learned.
• Talk about your family — how you are similar, how you are different, and what makes each person unique.
• Discuss the days of the week and what happens on each day in your household.

This week, decodable readers will begin coming home, along with additional targeted support to meet individual learning needs. These resources will reinforce classroom learning and provide valuable practice at home.

Junior School

Phonics and Content Knowledge 

In our phonics block, students have been exploring the /wh/ consonant phoneme. We have been identifying words that use the /wh/ spelling choice and practising reading and writing these words. As a challenge at home, see if your child can spot any /wh/ words in their decodable readers during home reading time. Students have been discovering what life was like for families and children during this time, including the challenges of limited access to schooling and the hard labour many children experienced. 

Text Construction 

Students have been exploring the difference between statements and questions. We have been identifying the features of each sentence type and practising writing them correctly. Students have also begun exploring simple narratives, focusing on creating a clear beginning, middle and end.

Mathematics 

In Numeracy, students have been exploring place value, with a focus on understanding the value of tens and ones. We have been using concrete materials such as bundling sticks and MAB blocks to build numbers and physically see the difference between tens and ones. Students have also been learning the difference between numbers that end in “ty” (meaning groups of ten, such as sixty = six tens) and “teen” (meaning ten plus some more, such as sixteen = ten and six more).

Performing Arts

In Performing Arts, we have been working with the story Where the Wild Things Are. Students have been investigating how movement and sound can help bring a story to life. They used their voices and outdoor objects to create forest-inspired soundscapes, which we will use later in the term when students role-play the story.

Reminders

Please ensure you grant permission for Swimming and Sovereign Hill on Sentral and complete payment for the Sovereign Hill excursion.

We also encourage families to continue supporting home reading and signing books in diaries.

Middle School

Literacy

In Content Knowledge, students are continuing our text study of Off We Go Around Australia, building their understanding of Australia’s unique places and features. Alongside this, we are strengthening decoding strategies, with a particular focus on breaking down multisyllabic words, and practising partnered reading to build fluency, expression, and confidence.

In Text Construction, students are continuing their learning about persuasive texts. We have placed a strong emphasis on the importance of planning and how careful planning improves the flow and clarity of ideas. Students have now begun the writing process, independently planning and drafting their own persuasive piece on the topic, You Should Travel to the Top End, with a focus on clear structure, strong arguments, and supporting evidence.

Numeracy

Students have been building number skills and confidence with addition and subtraction.

We have been focusing on number fluency, including doubles, halves and bridging to 10. These strategies help students solve problems more efficiently and strengthen their recall of basic facts. We encourage students to explain the strategies they use, not just find the answer.

Later in the week, students explored part–part–whole thinking to solve number problems. For example, when solving problems such as 54 − 28 or 36 + 27, students used strategies like breaking numbers into tens and ones, using bar models, and applying known facts to work step-by-step. 

We also challenged students with “Grapple Tasks,” where they arranged numbers into different equations. These rich tasks encourage flexible thinking, problem-solving and perseverance.

Discoveries

In Discoveries, students have been actively building skills across a range of learning areas. In House Sports, students are continuing to practise athletics events in preparation for our upcoming athletics carnival, with a focus on long jump over the past week and moving into throwing for distance next. In Performing Arts, students have continued exploring how to express themselves through mime, developing their understanding of context and setting. In Digital Technologies, students are becoming acquainted with iPad use in the Middle School, including logging in to Google Classroom, navigating the platform, accessing student Minecraft, and exploring its features. In Indigenous Studies, students have been learning about the geographical location of the Kulin Nation, exploring Wadawurrung customs, and making meaningful connections to their learning.

Senior School

Content Knowledge

This fortnight, students have been developing a deeper understanding of the texts we read by exploring the author’s message, themes and perspectives, while practising cooperative conversations with their reading partners to share thoughtful ideas and listen respectfully. We have explored significant Australian texts including the story Dirran, the Redfern Speech by Paul Keating and the National Apology delivered by Kevin Rudd, strengthening students’ empathy, critical thinking and understanding of our shared history.

Text Construction

In Text Construction, students have been focusing on improving their sentences by adding more detail to make their writing more engaging and informative. They have been practising using a range of sentence types, including subordinating conjunctions and appositives, to create more interesting and varied writing. We will be learning how to write to inform and share our opinions about texts we have read. Students will apply these skills to create a  book review for Dirran and Black Cockatoo. 

Maths 

In Numeracy, students have been building their understanding of fractions and how they connect to multiplication and division. They have been learning to recognise improper fractions and mixed numerals, understand that they can show the same value, and convert mixed numerals into improper fractions. Students have used visual models and arrays to divide collections into equal parts, identify the whole, and find fractions of a set. They are also practising how to work out the whole when they are given a known fraction.

Visual Arts

We have kicked off the term with a recount of our holidays. Students used watercolour paints to share an experience with the rest of the class. We have had amazing paintings of trips to Adventure Park and the theatre. Students used the watercolour paints to bring fishing trips to life and recreate fun activities they had in their backyards. It was lovely to reflect and share our experiences through watercolour paintings. 

Despite the rainy weather, TPS open night was amazing, with lots of families spending

 time in the art room contributing to our butterfly wings. School students and their siblings added colour and pattern to the sets of wings. In the coming weeks we will display them so keep an eye out for pops of colour around our school. 

Juniors have been learning about maps and looking for gold around TPS, they will make their own map to finish the unit of work. Middle school students are learning about Australian landscape artists and the skill of sketching mountains. The seniors are developing their own art business and creating a prototype art piece to market and sell. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s completed designs in the coming weeks.