Classroom News
Foundation News
🌏Literacy
This week in Literacy, students have been decoding texts with the /igh/ sound, exploring words such as might, sight, bright, and fright. They have been practising using these new words in their writing as they continue learning about the five senses. Last week, students focused on the sense of hearing, incorporating vocabulary such as sound waves, invisible, vibrations, and echo to develop detailed statements and questions.
🗺️Numeracy
In Numeracy, students have been exploring Location, Position and Duration. They have used specific vocabulary to describe the position of objects, identify the days of the week, and sequence events within those days. Through hands-on activities, students have also investigated the duration of different events, developing their understanding of time in fun and practical ways.
Performing Arts (Dance)
During Performing Arts, students have been expressing stories, feelings, and ideas through movement. They explored the concept of body bubbles to help them stay safe and aware while dancing and worked together to create actions for the song “In the Jungle,” performing in unison. A highlight of the week was the exciting “Moment of Fame!” game, where each student had the chance to show off their favourite dance moves in the circle. They had so much fun and cheered each other on for their moment in the spotlight.
Junior School News
🌏 Literacy
Junior school students have continued learning about early American Civilisations. Students learnt about the Mayan, Aztec and Inca civilisations and highlighted important information about each group to use in their Text Construction tasks. Students drafted, edited, and published a paragraph on each group and turned them into a completed information report!
Our current focus in phonics is the r-controlled vowel sounds. R-controlled vowels are vowel-r combinations where the 'r' changes the vowel's sound, so it is neither a long or a short vowel sound. So far, students have explored /ar/ as in car, /a/ as in father, /al/ as in palm, /are/ as in are, /ear/ as in heart and /au/ as in aunt. See which r-controlled vowel sounds can be found in texts when reading with your child at home.
🗺️ Numeracy
In Maths, students have begun investigating fractions. They have practiced cutting various shapes into halves and quarters. Students showed a deep understanding of fractions being equal parts. When cutting shapes into quarters, many Junior students made the connection that we can cut pentagons and triangles into halves, but not quarters. Students will look at eighths this week and learn about how we use fractions in relation to lengths.
Middle School News
🌏Literacy
Content Knowledge
Students have continued exploring Earth’s processes, focusing on erosion and landslides. Through reading and note-taking, we discussed how weathering and movement of rocks shape the Earth’s surface and how communities protect themselves from natural hazards. Students also expanded their vocabulary with words like sediment, gravity, landslide, and tectonic plates.
Text Construction
In writing, students have been learning how to craft strong topic sentences using appositives and subordinating conjunctions. They planned and wrote informative paragraphs about erosion and landslides, drawing on what they learned in Content Knowledge. We also focused on revising and editing writing for clarity, spelling, and structure.
🗺️ Numeracy
In Maths, we’ve been learning about maps and location. Students identified different perspectives, created and interpreted map symbols and legends, and practised using grid references to locate features. We even had a look at the Lady Northcote Camp map to begin to familiarise ourselves with the features for a few weeks time!
Important Reminders:
- Middle School Camp to Lady Northcote - Digital notes have now been sent out via Sentral. To provide consent for your child to attend the camp, please login to the Sentral App and grant electronic permission. This is in lieu of signed paper permission. BPay invoices have also been emailed directly to you. All consent, payment and updated medical information (if required) is due by Wednesday 12th November.
Senior School News
🌏Literacy
Once written by Morris Glietzman
Senior School students have been delving into the novel Once by Morris Gleitzman, which tells the story of a young Jewish boy navigating the hardships of World War II. Throughout their study, students have explored historical contexts of the era and examined informational texts about Poland. After each reading, they have used their growing understanding to craft detailed chapter summaries. In Text Construction lessons, students have been developing their writing skills by focusing on conjunctions, note-taking symbols, relative clauses, and nominalisation. Additionally, they have applied their research on Poland to create and publish their own informative text pieces.
🗺️ Numeracy
Statistical Data and Probability
In Mathematics, students have been investigating statistical data and probability. As part of their study of statistics, they explored information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Census. Students learned about different types of data collection, including nominal, categorical, and ordinal data, and examined how to represent this data using bar, column, and line graphs, identifying the key features of each. In their exploration of probability, students examined the difference between theoretical and experimental probability by predicting outcomes and then testing these through practical trials. They are now beginning to use digital tools to represent both statistical and probability data in meaningful ways.
Incursions:
During Week 2, students participated in two valuable incursion experiences. The first was Level Up!, a program delivered by the Golden Plains Shire Youth Development team. This session aimed to equip students with practical tools to support their transition to secondary school. Year 6 students explored topics such as understanding timetables, building new friendships, and developing strategies to manage change with confidence.
The second incursion, facilitated by FireFly Wellbeing, focused on Safe Spaces. As part of our Personal Learning program, this engaging, hands-on session encouraged students to explore real-life strategies for wellbeing, safety, and personal growth. Through collaborative discussions and creative activities, students examined bullying behaviours and learned effective ways to respond and support themselves and others.
