Prep

What a wonderful way to finish the term! It has been another busy and exciting couple of weeks in Prep, filled with lots of learning, laughter and special moments. We are so proud of everything our students have achieved and the growth they have shown throughout the term.

Reading

Preps have continued to develop their reading skills and become more confident readers. We have been learning about suffixes and exploring how adding letters to the end of a word can change its meaning. We have also practised using a Five Finger Retell to help us remember and discuss important parts of a story, including the characters, setting, beginning, middle and end.

We have continued to strengthen our knowledge of digraphs, with a particular focus on the ‘ck’ digraph. Understanding that two letters can work together to represent one sound is helping students become more confident when decoding unfamiliar words. When reading, students are learning to recognise digraphs as one sound rather than sounding out each letter separately, allowing them to blend sounds together more accurately and efficiently. It has been wonderful to see our Preps applying these strategies and becoming increasingly independent readers.

Holiday Reading 

As we head into the two-week school holiday break, we highly encourage all of our families to keep up the wonderful routine of reading together every day. Reading daily not only preserves your child's literacy stamina but also offers a fantastic opportunity to strengthen their deep comprehension skills. After finishing a book together, please ask your child to retell the story in their own words. You can use our familiar Five Finger Retell strategy to prompt them to identify the characters, setting, problem, important events, and the ending of the story in the correct order. Keeping these reading conversations active over the holidays ensures our young learners return for Term 4 feeling confident.

Writing

In Writing, our Preps have been busy developing their confidence as young authors. We have focused on the writing process, beginning with how writers think of ideas and share these ideas with others before putting them onto paper. Students have explored drafting, learning that our first attempt does not need to be perfect and that writers can reread; add to; and improve their work.

We have also enjoyed creating greeting cards, where students considered the purpose of their writing and who they were writing for. Our Preps have continued developing their recountwriting, learning to retell events in the order they happened and include important details about their experiences. It has been fantastic to see their independence, creativity and willingness to have a go at expressing their ideas through writing.

Maths

In Maths, our Preps have been busy exploring data and 2D shapes. Students have learnt how to collect data by asking questions and recording responses, before collating their findings into graphs. They have been developing their skills in reading and interpreting graphs by discussing what the data tells us, including identifying the most and least popular responses.

We have also been exploring 2D shapes, learning to recognise and name familiar shapes such as circles, triangles, squares and rectangles. Students have been looking closely at the features of each shape, including the number of sides and corners, and using this mathematical language to describe and compare shapes. It has been wonderful to see our Preps confidently applying their mathematical thinking during our hands-on learning activities.

Inquiry

Throughout our Unit of Inquiry, we have continued to explore our Central Idea: “We communicate our ideas, imagination and experiences through story.” Our Preps have been discovering what it means to be an author by taking their own stories through the different stages of the writing process.

Students began by creating a story map to plan their characters, setting and key events. They then used their story maps to guide their writing and bring their ideas to life. After completing their drafts, students learnt how authors reread and edit their work to make their stories even better. To finish our unit, we proudly shared and celebrated our stories, giving students the opportunity to see themselves as authors and appreciate the wonderful ideas and creativity of their classmates.

Wellbeing

In Wellbeing, our Preps have been developing important skills to help them feel safe, supported and connected at school. We have been learning how to identify trusted adults and how to confidently ask for help when we are feeling worried, unsure or need support.

We have also been exploring what it means to be a good teammate. Students have discussed and practised ways to work positively with others, including taking turns, listening, encouraging one another, sharing ideas and working together towards a common goal. These experiences are helping our Preps build positive relationships and develop confidence when working and playing with others.

Reminders

Please ensure your child has a spare change of clothes in their bag in case of accidents, mud or spills.

All students must wear a school bucket hat in Term 4.

Our Prep Swimming Program will be taking place in Term 4.

• Group 1: Monday 19th October – Friday 23rd October 2026

  Group 2: Monday 26th October – Friday 30th October 2026

  Each swimming lesson will run for 45 minutes. To help prepare your child for the program, we encourage families to begin practising independence at home. Please support your child to dry themselves and get dressed independently after showering or swimming. Developing these skills now will help students feel more confident and ensure they are ready to return to learning promptly after each swimming session.

   

  Thank you, 

  The prep Teaching Team