From the classroom

Prep 100 Days

100 Days was awesome when we had a party, we celebrated our 100 days of school.

 ~ Macey

VSSEC visit

Rochester Primary School recently welcomed the Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) for two exciting days of hands-on STEM learning, followed by a community Astronomy Night.

Our Grade 5/6 students took part in an engaging Water Rockets program, where they explored the science of forces, pressure and flight. Students worked collaboratively to design, build and launch their own water rockets, testing how different design features affected performance. The activity encouraged problem-solving, teamwork and scientific thinking, while creating plenty of excitement as rockets soared into the sky. One rocket even flew over the secondary college roof!

Our Grade 3/4 students participated in the “Size of Your Solar System” program. Students investigated the incredible scale of our Solar System by creating a large indoor model, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the vast distances between the planets. It was a fantastic way to bring abstract scientific concepts to life through active, hands-on learning.

To conclude our first day, we hosted an Astronomy Night, which attracted more than 100 students and families. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the night sky, observe celestial objects through telescopes and hear from VSSEC educators about our fascinating universe. It was wonderful to see so many families sharing in the excitement of science together.

A huge thank you to Emma and Alan from the Victorian Space Science Education Centre for delivering such engaging and memorable experiences for our students and community. We also thank our staff and families for supporting the event and helping make it such a success. Opportunities like these inspire curiosity, creativity and a lifelong interest in science and space exploration.

Term 3 Mathematics 

Rochester Primary School 

This term, students across Rochester Primary School will continue to develop their mathematical understanding through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Our Maths program focuses on helping every child build confidence, think critically and apply their learning to everyday situations. Lessons are designed to encourage students to explain their thinking, solve problems collaboratively and develop a growth mindset when tackling new challenges. 

What will students be learning? 

• Financial Mathematics: Students will explore money, budgeting, discounts, profit and loss, and learn how mathematics helps us make informed financial decisions in everyday life. 
• Length, Perimeter and Area: Students will measure, compare and calculate lengths and areas while applying these skills to practical design and real-world investigations. 
• Four Operations: Students will continue building confidence with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using whole numbers, decimals and fractions, selecting efficient strategies and explaining their mathematical reasoning. 
• Location and Transformation: Students will investigate maps, coordinates, translations, reflections and rotations, developing spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. 
• Data and Statistics: Students will collect, represent and interpret data using a variety of graphs and displays, learning how data helps us understand and explain the world around us. 

⭐ Building Mathematical Fluency 

Automatic recall of key number facts is an important part of becoming a successful mathematician. This term, all students will participate in regular fluency sessions using classroom activities, Number Talks and online programs to strengthen mental maths skills. 

🧩 Foundation – Year 2 

• Develop confidence with counting, number recognition and place value. 
• Build automatic recall of addition and subtraction facts. 
• Use NumBots regularly to strengthen early number sense and mental calculation skills. 

🚀 Years 3–4 

• Consolidate place value and efficient mental computation strategies. 
• Use Times Tables Rock Stars to develop quick recall of multiplication and division facts. 
• Apply these facts to solve increasingly complex mathematical problems. 

🎯 Years 5–6 

• Maintain rapid recall of multiplication and division facts through Times Tables Rock Stars. 
• Apply fluency when working with fractions, decimals, percentages and multi-step investigations. 
• Develop confidence selecting efficient strategies and explaining mathematical reasoning. 

We encourage families to support their child's learning by celebrating effort, talking about maths in everyday life and encouraging regular practice on NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars at home.