Year 1/2

Year 1/2 Cluster News 

Dear Parents and Caregivers,  

Gifts of Grace 

Families received information about this a few weeks ago. If you would prefer to contribute a small amount, we will be collecting money as a class and those who contribute can decide what to buy to help people in need overseas through Australian Lutheran World Service https://www.alws.org.au/what-you-can-do/gifts-of-grace/  

Christmas Concert Friday 28th November @7pm 

It looked amazing at practise this week! We can’t wait to see you there! 

Reminder: Children are dropped to the classroom at 6:45pm 

Year 1/2 students are dressed in yellow top with yellow skirt/shorts/pants or plain skirt/shorts/pants e.g. plain navy, black. 

Swimming Week Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th December. 

Students wear bathers to school under their uniform.  

They bring wet bag with towel, goggles, underwear, comb/brush.  

They may bring thongs/clogs to change into. 

Year 1/2AK: early lunch at 11.30am no canteen lunch orders. Students change back into uniform at the pool. Pack an extra snack for when they return to school. 

Year 1/2Z: normal lunch time but no canteen lunch orders. Leave school just before the end of lunch. Students will not change back into their uniform as there is no time at the end of the day. We will support students going to GGOSH to change when they return to school. 

Unit of Inquiry Incursion ‘World Games’ 

On Tuesday 2nd December Active Ed will visit 1/2AK with an incursion from 9.15-10.45am. Students will be taught to play games from around the world, including an Indigenous Australian game. 

P&F Science Show 

On Thursday 4th December, the whole school will watch a science show from 9-10.30am. 

End of Year Pack Up 

Students will begin bringing home their books etc. as we finish using them for the year. 

Monday 8th December 

Move up Morning: students spend the morning until recess meeting their new class teachers and peers for 2026.  

Tuesday 9th December 

P&F Fun Day: a sausage sizzle provided at lunch time and a special visitor in the afternoon.  

Christmas Cards: each year some students like to write Christmas cards for their classmates. This is the day to hand them out! Students can bring them in earlier if they prefer, in a labelled bag and we can keep them here ready for the Fun Day. 

Wednesday 10th December 

Last Day for 2025 

Closing Worship @ 9:15am before farewells and goodbyes at the usual time of 3:07pm.   

Home Inquiry 

What is a Christmas tradition your family has? Is there something you could do this year to help someone else e.g. an act of kindness? Perhaps you could write some positive messages on the pavement outside your house with chalk or write encouraging/kind words on cards and put them in your neighbour’s letterboxes. 

Reading 

Book borrowing has finished from school since it will be swimming week and we don’t want books to get wet. Now could be the time to visit a local library if you don’t already do this. 

Weekly Timetable – 1/2 Classes 

Learning for Week 8 

Word Study: Revision 

Writer’s and Reader’s Workshops: Poetry 

Reading poetry and having a go at writing a poem about a celebration. 

Mathematics: Revision 

Unit of Inquiry: Where we are in place and time  

Central idea: Communities and places have changed over time. 

Lines of inquiry: 

• Past and Present 

• How communities/places have changed over time 

• How technology has change over time 

We conclude our inquiry with a reflection on why things have changed or remained the same over time e.g. population has grown and cities have been built but people still communicate because they want to be connected. 

Christian Studies: The Christmas Story and Christmas crafts  

Other Reminders 

Each day students need to bring the following. Please label everything.  

• hats – these remain in the classroom for the term. 

• sunscreen is generally not applied at school during Terms 2 and 3. 

• Take Home Bags, which are also for Library borrowing. 

• a water bottle 

• a fruit snack 

• recess 

• lunch 

Items from home/Canteen money 

Students do not bring items from home unless this has been a discussion between parents and teachers.  

Students may bring one named ball to play with at break times, however, please ensure it is not a special item in case of loss or damage.  

We have also reminded students that the money they have for the canteen is for their own or sibling purchases and not to buy food for their friends. 

Shoelaces 

Please make sure your child can do up laces themselves if they have shoes with laces. Another option is shoes with Velcro until they learn this skill. 

Bag Tags 

It is useful for students to have a bag tag to identify their bag. Please only put one bag tag on and make sure it is not a special one that will be missed if it is lost as we are not able to monitor this. 

Lunch Boxes 

Please pack a substantial lunch rather than lots of recess snacks and put an ice pack in on hot days as the lunches remain in school bags outside. We also ask that you send in ‘nude food’ which does not include wrappers. 

Toddle 

We post important information reminders, student learning, photos/videos and assessments on this platform.  Please contact the office if you are not connected. 

Volunteers 

During the year we have excursions, a Year 1 Sleepover and a Year 2 Camp.  

If you are interested in volunteering, there a few things you must have up to date to be able to come along or to help in the classroom. Please do not volunteer unless you have these already. Contact the office if you have any questions. 

• Working With Children Check (WWCC)  
• Responding to Abuse, Harm and Neglect training (RRHAN-EC)  
• Valuing Safe Communities (VSC) training 

https://www.goldengrove.sa.edu.au/parent-portal/volunteering/  

May God bless your week, 

Melanie Arnold and Ellen Zimmer 

Melanie Arnold: Arnold.melanie@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Tim Kriewaldt kriewaldt.tim@goldengrove.sa.edu.au 

Ellen Zimmer zimmer.ellen@goldengrove.sa.edu.au