Foundation News

Welcome to Foundation

Welcome to Term One of Foundation 2026! We are thrilled to begin this exciting journey with our new Foundation students and their families. The year ahead promises to be full of joy, growth, and memorable moments as we celebrate milestones and create lasting experiences together. Our dedicated Foundation team are committed to ensuring a smooth and positive transition to school for every child. We value open communication and encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns—we're here to support you every step of the way! In this newsletter, you'll find:

• An overview of what your child will be learning
• Information on how to stay connected with your classroom teacher
• Key dates and events to mark on your calendar

We can’t wait to embark on this wonderful adventure in learning anddiscovery with you and your child. Here’s to an incredible start to 2026!

What we are Learning

Religion

This term in Religion, we will focus on understanding our community and celebrating what makes each of us special and unique. Students will explore the significance of our classroom prayer items and symbols while learning how to make the sign of the cross with reverence. We will also discover different ways and places we can talk to God, reflecting on the love we share with others, the love we receive, and the enduring love God has for each of us. Additionally, we will delve into the meaning of Easter and why it is such a special tradition in the Catholic faith, helping students appreciate its significance in our spiritual lives.

English

This term in English, we will focus on building strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and spelling. Students will develop their phonemic awareness by learning the sounds associated with the letters M, S, F, A, P, T,C, and I. These sounds will be introduced through engaging activities and stories, including Milo’s Birthday Surprise, where each week we meet a new character connected to the sound of the week. 

To support this learning, students will engage in: 

• Shared Reading to enhance comprehension and fluency while exploring stories and practicing reading strategies 
• Oral Language Activities to build communication skills and to develop listening and speaking skills 
• Writing Exercises to practice forming letters and expressing ideas and to encourage early writing techniques and confidence

We’re looking forward to guiding students as they take these exciting first steps on their Literacy journey!

Mathematics

This term in Maths, we will focus on foundational number concepts through hands-on, engaging activities. A highlight of the term will be our journey toward 100 Days of School, where students will count each day and explore the"number of the day" using a variety of concrete materials.These activities will help students build skills in reading, writing, saying, and making numbers, fostering a deeper understanding of numerical concepts. 

Key learning objectives this term include: 

• Counting: Counting to and beyond 20 from different starting points to develop fluency.
• Subitising: Recognizing quantities without counting, an essential skill for early number sense.

• Comparing and Ordering Numbers: Understanding quantities by comparing numbers and arranging them in order. 

   

By using visual, tactile, and interactive methods, we aim to create a strong and confident mathematical foundation for every student.

Humanities

This term in Humanities, we will explore our personal histories and what it means to belong to a community. Students will identify their individual likes, strengths, and unique qualities while sharing stories about their families and cultures. We will also focus on building positive relationships by learning how to make friends, include others, and practice important social skills.Through these activities, students will develop a deeper understanding of how to create a safe and welcoming community where everyone feels valued and supported.

Personal and Social Capabilities

This term, students will build important skills that support their personal and social growth through engaging and practical activities. Key focus areas include:

• Developing Independence: Students will learn behaviours that foster independence, such as unpacking their bags, tidying up activities, and working independently to build responsibility and self-reliance.
• Belonging to Groups: We will explore the groups to which students, their families, and their peers belong, helping them understand how connections and shared experiences shape our sense of community.

• Effective Communication: Students will practice recognizing and responding to verbal and non-verbal language during interactions. We will also discuss strategies for navigating personal interactions, including conflict resolution, to develop positive social skills. 

   

Through these activities, we aim to nurture confident, connected, and respectful learners who feel valued in their community.

Reminders for Term One

Uniform and Hats: Students are required to wear their summer uniform this term, including black school shoes. On sports days, students may wear the appropriate sports uniform. A school hat must be worn during playtimes. Students without a hat will need to play under the shade sails in the courtyard as part of our “No Hat, No Play” policy.

Lunchboxes and Fruit Break: Help us reduce waste by packing lunchboxes with minimal packaging and rubbish. Please include fruit or vegetables for your child to enjoy during our fruit break time, as this supports healthy eating habits.

Labeling Belongings: To avoid lost items, ensure all school uniforms, lunchboxes, drink bottles, and personal belongings are clearly labeled with your child’s name. Lost items can be checked in the lost property area at the student office.

Hair and Accessories: Students with hair longer than shoulder length should have it tied back for safety and hygiene reasons. This also helps in minimizing the spread of head lice.

Toys and Personal Items: We strongly recommend that students do not bring toys or other personal items from home to school to prevent loss or distraction during class time.

Arrivals and Departures: Please ensure students arrive on time each day to help them transition smoothly into their morning routine. If you need to collect your child early or if someone else is picking them up, notify the school office in advance.

Communication

We value open and clear communication with families to support your child’s learning journey. To stay connected, we encourage you to: regularly check your emails, the schoolapp, and SeeSaw for important updates, event details, and messages from teachers.

For specific inquiries: To report an absence or for general inquiries, please contact the school office on 03 5996 2724. To reach your child’s teacher directly, you can use the email addresses listed below:

Teacher Contacts:

• Casey Thomson (FT)

  cthomson@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au

   

• Priscilla Maddelena (FM)

  pmaddelena@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au

   

• Keely Deighton (FD)

  kdeighton@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au

   

• Shevaun Lazarus (FL)

  slazarus@stacbourne.catholic.edu.au

Please note: SeeSaw is an informal communication platform intended for sharing learning activities and updates. For all inquiries, please use email to ensure they are received and addressed efficiently. 

We’re here to help—don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Supporting Learning at Home

Families play a vital role in their child’s learning and development. Research shows that children who are read to regularly develop stronger language, vocabulary, and confidence in reading and writing. We encourage families to read to their child every night and practise their reader regularly to build fluency and a love of books. Parents can also support literacy by helping children identify the sound of the week in everyday words and encouraging them to draw and talk about their ideas. In Maths, families can count forwards and backwards during daily routines, identify numbers in the environment, and practise showing numbers using fingers or objects. When families actively engage in learning at home, children are more confident, capable, and successful in the classroom.