Classroom News

Foundation: Miss Hart

Wow! How are we already halfway through Term 2. This term is flying by... I think that might be to do with ALL the fabulous learning we have been doing over the past six weeks. 

Literacy 

In Foundation Literacy this week, we have been focusing on learning new sounds and building our reading and writing skills. We introduced the sounds /g/ and /l/, linking them to the letters 'g' and 'l', and practised forming these letters through handwriting tasks. During small-group sessions, we worked on word building using decodable words like "get," "gap," "lip," and "log," helping us blend and read with confidence. Independent tasks supported this learning with worksheets and writing practice. We also enjoyed reading The Potato People as a shared storybook and began exploring rhymes and writing activities through The Nursery Rhyme Unit by Jocelyn Seamer. It’s been a busy and exciting week of literacy learning! 

Maths 

In Foundation, we have been learning all about four different shapes: rectangle, square, circle, and triangle. We explored their features, such as the number of sides and corners, and talked about where we can find these shapes in our environment, like signs, windows, and wheels. We also learned how shapes can be used to fill spaces and create patterns. One of our favourite activities was making shape monsters using these shapes—it was so much fun and helped us recognise and use shapes in creative ways! 

Inquiry Experiment 

In our Foundation Inquiry lesson, we explored how technologies like refrigerators have changed the way we eat. We started with a class discussion about how people used to keep food fresh before fridges were invented, learning about methods like salting, pickling, and drying. We were fascinated to learn how refrigerators help keep food fresh, reduce waste, and give us more food choices all year round. Then we did a fun experiment with zooper doopers—some were kept in an esky with ice and some left on the bench. After watching a video about how fridges changed society, we drew or wrote about the benefits of refrigeration in our Inquiry books. At the end, we compared the zooper doopers and talked about what might happen to food like meat or milk if it wasn’t kept cold. It was a great way to see how important refrigerators are in our daily lives! 

Liturgy 

This week in Foundation, we rehearsed and performed a special class liturgy to celebrate being part of God’s family—the Church. Each student had an important role, from welcoming everyone and setting up the sacred space, to reading prayers and sharing reflections about how we can be the Church in our everyday lives. We introduced Pope Leo the Fourteenth and prayed for him as our new Church leader. Together, we listened to a reading from the Acts of the Apostles, shared prayers of the faithful, and ended with joyful singing. I am so proud! It was so evident that all students spent lots of time practising—their confidence, teamwork, and reverence truly shone through. 

Foundation: Grade 1 Miss Emmett

It has been another exciting and productive couple of weeks in the Foundation/Grade 1 classroom, with students engaging in hands-on learning experiences across all areas of the curriculum. 

In Literacy, students took part in a fast-paced and fun challenge game using all the letters we have learnt so far. Working independently, they had three minutes to create as many real words as possible. There was lots of laughter, excitement and concentration as students used their phonics knowledge to stretch their thinking and apply what they’ve been learning in a new and creative way. 

In Mathematics, we have been exploring the concepts of capacity and mass. Using hands-on materials, students have compared the capacity of different containers using water and explored mass using balance scales to determine which items were heavier or lighter. These activities encouraged students to make indirect comparisons and describe what they noticed using the appropriate vocabulary. It has been wonderful to see them collaborating, problem-solving and explaining their thinking. 

The class also participated in the Term 2 Inform and Empower session, which focused on active vs. passive screen time. Students learnt about the difference between creating (like drawing, designing, or storytelling on a device) and consuming (like watching videos or playing games). The session helped them reflect on how they use technology and encouraged them to make clever and balanced screen time choices—both at school and at home. 

Grade 2: Miss Wooden

We are thrilled to share some excellent news about the fantastic work happening in our classrooms. Our Grade 2 and Grade 3 students have been collaborating on projects, and we couldn't be prouder of their efforts and enthusiasm.

The teamwork between the two grades has been impressive, with students sharing ideas, learning from one another, and forming friendships across grade levels. It's heartwarming to see their creativity and collaboration in action!

We are also excited to announce that we have started the design process. Solution design presents a valuable opportunity for students to engage in hands-on learning while developing their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. We encourage you to ask your child about what they are working on and how they are contributing to this exciting project.

Grade 3: Mrs Stock

It’s been a fun and action-packed couple of weeks in Grade 3! Between special visitors, excursions, and time spent out in the community, there’s been plenty to keep us busy and smiling. We also had another two students receive their pen licence- Congratulations to Oonagh and George. 

Special Visitors

We were lucky to welcome Dani and her beautiful children into our class this week. Ollie and Charlie brought in their adorable guinea pigs, which were a huge hit! Zarielle also brought in her cute little hermit crab to share with the class. It was so special to see the students light up during all these visits. 

Visit to Tongala Aged Care

Our Grade 3 students had their first visit to Tongala Aged Care for the term. It was a heartwarming experience where students connected with residents and shared thoughtful conversations. We also worked on creating ‘Sorry Day’ bookmarks together. 

 Carlton AFLW Excursion

On Monday, the Grade 3–6 students had the exciting opportunity to visit Tongala Primary School for a special event with the Carlton AFLW players. The students absolutely loved meeting the players, asking thoughtful questions, and getting autographs. It was such a positive and inspiring experience!

Religion – Family & Belonging

This week in Religion, we joined the Grade 2s for a special shared activity exploring the themes of family and belonging, linking beautifully to our learning about Baptism. It was lovely to come together with another class and share ideas.

Grade 4: Miss Dove & Mrs McKiernan

It’s week 6 already, the term is flying by! What a fantastic and jam-packed couple of weeks it has been!  

Reconciliation Week Last week, our students participated in Reconciliation Week with thoughtfulness and respect. Through learning about National Sorry Day and the effects of invasion on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, students engaged in meaningful conversations and reflected on the importance of truth-telling, acknowledgment, and moving forward together. These lessons are helping build a deeper appreciation for the rich cultures and histories of Australia’s First Nations peoples. 

Mathematics In Maths, we've been diving into the world of Length, Area, and 2D Shapes. Students have loved getting hands-on, using rulers and tape measures to explore measurement around the classroom. They’ve sorted lengths in both ascending and descending order and have shown great teamwork and precision in their work. 

Literacy We have begun our new novel Uncle Xbox, and students are already setting high expectations after enjoying our last two class novels. As part of their factual recount on British colonisation of Australia and the effects on First Nations Australians, students have completed their general, specific and thesis statements, laying a strong foundation for their introductions. It’s been wonderful to see their writing skills continue to grow. 

Inquiry In Inquiry, we’ve been investigating the history of inventions like the telephone and refrigerator. Students have been fascinated to compare life in the past to now, recognising how everyday items have changed over time and the needs that inspired their creation.  

Excursion to Tongala Primary School We were lucky enough to be invited to visit Tongala Primary School, where students had the exciting opportunity to meet some inspiring AFLW players. It was an exciting event and was great to see students participate in a range of activities and an interesting Q&A session. Many students were especially excited to collect autographs and ask thoughtful questions about the players’ journeys and experiences. 

What was your favourite part of the AFLW visit at Tongala Primary School? 

Maddie: The Q&A and getting the autographs 

Daphne: When we were lined up at the goal posts and had to see how far we could kick the footy and Zara’s first kick ended up behind the goal posts, it should have gone the other way! 

Lani – Sophie McKay signing her sisters face on the football card! 

Charli – Seeing Ava and getting the autographs. 

Ben – Winning a t-shirt for the biggest kick. 

Grade 5-6: Miss Rasmussen

It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks in the Grade 5/6 classroom!

In English, we’ve begun reading Dirrarn, the powerful sequel to Black Cockatoo, which we read earlier in the term. We’ve been following the journey of Mia, the main character, as she spreads her wings—just like her totem has called her to do—and starts at a boarding school. While she’s trying to find her place in this new environment, she’s also missing her home and country deeply. The story has sparked some great discussions and reflections in class.

Alongside this, we’ve been learning about an Aboriginal hero and warrior, Jandamarra. His incredible story of living between the colonised and Aboriginal worlds during early settlement has captivated us all. We’re using what we’ve learned to write factual recounts about his life, and we’ve been inspired by his courage and resilience.

In Maths, we’ve wrapped up our unit on 3D shapes. We had lots of fun building shapes out of playdough to explore their properties, including cross sections and planes. We’re now diving into decimals and working on reading and understanding numbers to the thousandths.

The past fortnight has also included some special highlights beyond the classroom. We had a great time at the Campaspe Netball Tournament, showing teamwork and persistence throughout the day. We also enjoyed spending time with our buddies during a Reconciliation Week activity. The AFLW clinic was another standout moment, where we were lucky enough to be joined by Carlton footballers for some fun and footy skills. And finally, our FIRE Carriers proudly participated in the Reconciliation March in Echuca—an experience that connected beautifully with the work we’ve been doing in class. And to top it off, our football team had their first training session with coaches Troy, Leigh, and Kizza in preparation for the upcoming Campaspe tournament—it was great to see the team getting stuck in and learning some new skills.

It’s been a rich and rewarding time of learning, connection, and growth in 5/6!