From the Year Prep Classroom
And just like that, we’re already in Week 6 and starting our first full week of school!
The children have been amazing, especially with all the wet weather we’ve had. They continue to show resilience and enthusiasm each day.
Morning drop‑offs are going really well.
It’s wonderful to see so many children unpacking their bags on their own and completing their morning jobs before heading outside to play. Their growing independence is fantastic to watch.
If your child is still having a few tears at drop‑off, please don’t worry—this is completely normal. We’re focused on building strong, trusting relationships and making sure every child feels safe, settled, and happy in our classroom.
A big thank you to everyone who came to our Handy Hints Night.
In the busyness of the evening, we forgot to hand out the printed information. You should find the handout in your child’s bag. If it’s missing, just let us know and we’ll give you another copy.
Birthdays
We love celebrating birthdays in Prep!
If your child would like to bring something to share with the class, you’re very welcome to send in things like cupcakes, chocolate frogs, Zooper Doopers (we have space to keep them frozen until recess/lunch) and we can help to hand out birthday cards/invitations. Please just be aware that we cannot share items that contain nuts.
Our Learning
Literacy: We’ve started learning the alphabet and are focusing on the letter m. Children are beginning to recognise the letter and its sound in words they hear and speak.
We are also exploring onset and rime—breaking words into beginning and ending sounds (e.g., “s” + “at” = “sat”).
We continue practising correct pencil grip and letter formation—your child might even be singing the Pevan and Sarah pencil grip song at home! We have started writing in our sky-grass-dirt writing book. The children are tracing ‘I am’ then having a go at writing a sentence. You may like to ask your child what their ‘I am’ sentence was.
Our new shared reading book is Grandpa and Thomas. We talk about the story together and highlight our “WOW Words”—new vocabulary that helps grow language skills. See if your child remembers any WOW Words this week!
Take‑Home Reading: We are so proud of how excited the children are about their reading bags.
Please return the blue satchels every Friday so we can update their books. Happy reading!
Maths:
We’ve been exploring patterns—identifying, naming and creating 2‑part and 3‑part repeating patterns using buttons, shapes, blocks, colours and more.
This week we’re moving on to Time, focusing on days of the week, months of the year, and parts of the day.
Religion:
We have started learning about Lent and Easter. Some children may have told you about giving up something for Lent. At this age, they might choose something small for one day, or once a week.
Inquiry:
We’re learning about families and the important role they play in our lives. We would love each child to bring in a family photo to share and display.
Student of the Week
Each week, we celebrate two students who show our Mercy values: compassion, respect, courage, hospitality, and service.
If your child is chosen, we will email or call you beforehand so you don’t miss the special moment at assembly.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We are so proud of how the children are settling in and embracing each day.
Upcoming Events & Reminders
- Assembly: This Friday, 2:45pm in the Mercy Centre – we’d love to see you there!
- Hats & drink bottles: Please make sure your child has a hat every day and a clearly labelled drink bottle.
- Family Photo for our Portrait Wall and Inquiry Lessons.
Important dates:
- 5 March – School Photo Day
- 9 March – Labor Day Public Holiday
The Prep Team