School News 

Prep 

Our Prep students have had a wonderful two weeks of learning, growth, and fun in the classroom!

In Writing, we have been learning all about adjectives and how they help us describe people, places, and things. We linked this learning to Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey, using adjectives to describe the characters and their personalities. The students enjoyed discussing the different traits of Pig and Trevor and finding interesting words to describe them. 

During Reading, students have been revising our Level 2 letters and sounds: m, d, g, o, c, k, ck, e, u, and r, while also learning some new sight words. This growing knowledge is helping students become more confident and successful when reading decodable readers in the classroom. As part of weekly homework, please continue to select books from the online library for your child to enjoy reading at home.

In Maths, we have moved on to an exciting new topic: Time! Students have been learning the days of the week, focusing on ordering them correctly and identifying activities that happen on different days. For example, students know that we visit the library on a Monday and spend time with our buddies on a Friday. It has been wonderful to see them making connections between their learning and their daily routines.

In Wellbeing, we have continued our Friendology program. Students have been learning about navigating 'friendship fires' and exploring strategies to make friendship fires smaller rather than bigger. We have also been discussing how to manage tricky situations and the importance of using our voices to confidently say "no" when needed. These valuable skills are helping students build positive and respectful relationships with their peers.

We cannot believe it is almost the end of Term 2! Time flies when you're having a blast. We are incredibly proud of all the learning, growth, and achievements our Prep Students have made throughout the semester.

Important Reminders

• Please remember to return your child's portfolio before the end of term. 

Kind regards,

The Prep Team

Laina Brebner, Kayla Hartrick and Emma Wright

Grade 1 

Over the past two weeks, our Grade 1 students have continued to build confidence and independence across all areas of their learning.

In Writing, students have been immersed in the wonderful world of poetry. They have explored different types of poems, including cinquain and colour poems, and have enjoyed experimenting with descriptive and creative language. Students have been learning how to carefully select adjectives, verbs, and synonyms to make their writing more interesting and expressive. When writing colour poems, students used their senses to describe what they could see, hear, feel, smell, and taste, helping them create vivid images for the reader. It has been fantastic to see students proudly sharing their work and developing confidence as creative writers. 

In Inquiry, students have been exploring the concept of sound and how it can be created and used creatively. They investigated different ways to make sound, including tapping, shaking, blowing, and twanging, and explored how instruments work to produce these sounds. Students planned and designed their own sound stories, selecting moments from familiar texts and deciding how to represent them through sound. As the unit progressed, students designed and began building their own musical instruments using a range of materials. They were very proud of their interesting and imaginative creations!

In Reading, our focus has been on developing phonics knowledge, decoding skills, and reading fluency. Students have been learning about the different sounds that –ed can make, silent e patterns, and how to blend sounds together to read unfamiliar words. They have been working hard during Fluency Friends, practising reading with a partner to build accuracy, expression, and confidence. Engaging word games and activities have supported students in recognising spelling patterns and strengthening their ability to read independently.

During Mathematics lessons, students have been exploring subtraction, with a focus on counting back to solve problems. They have been using a range of strategies, including number lines and hands-on materials, to model and solve subtraction questions. Students have also been developing their understanding of key vocabulary such as take away, subtract, and fewer, and are learning how to record their thinking using number sentences. It has been wonderful to see students becoming more confident and flexible in their mathematical thinking. 

Our classroom learning has been supported through collaborative activities, partner work, and opportunities for students to share their thinking. It has been fantastic to see students becoming more confident learners who are willing to take risks and persist with challenges.

In Wellbeing, students have been developing their ability to build positive relationships and manage everyday challenges. Through class discussions and activities, they have explored strategies for working cooperatively, expressing their feelings, and making thoughtful choices.

These important skills are helping students feel safe, supported, and connected in the classroom.

Thank you for your continued support at home. We are very proud of the growth and enthusiasm our Grade 1 students are showing each day.

Kind regards,

The Grade 1 Team

Mel Layton, Sally Newton, Tim Huntington and Rowena Blake

Grade 2

In Writing over the past two weeks, students have been immersed in the wonderful world of poetry. We have explored a range of poetry styles, including acrostic, shape, rhyming, and free verse poems. Students have enjoyed experimenting with descriptive language, rhythm, and creative word choices to express their ideas and feelings. We have also begun creating our very own Grade 2 Poetry Book, where each student will contribute some of their favourite pieces. We are excited to celebrate their creativity and showcase their growing confidence as writers.

In Reading, our focus has been on building fluency and accuracy through regular practice with Decodable Readers Australia texts. Students have been developing their ability to decode unfamiliar words, recognise common spelling patterns, and read with greater confidence and expression. As fluency improves, students are able to focus more on understanding and enjoying what they read. We encourage students to continue reading regularly at home to reinforce these important skills.

During Mathematics lessons, students have been strengthening their understanding of addition through a variety of efficient mental strategies. We have focused on recalling and applying 10's facts, using doubles facts, and extending this knowledge to solve near-doubles problems. Through hands-on activities, games, and problem-solving tasks, students are learning to select strategies that help them solve addition questions quickly and accurately. It has been wonderful to see students becoming more flexible and confident mathematicians.

Our Inquiry unit has focused on understanding the journey food takes from Farm to Table. Students have been investigating how food is grown, harvested, transported, and eventually reaches consumers. They have explored the important roles farmers, producers, and retailers play in the food supply chain. A highlight of the unit was Thursday's excursion to Rayner's Orchard, where students experienced firsthand how fruit is grown and harvested. Students loved picking and tasting fruit straight from the trees and then chopping and bottling their own pears. We also loved our tractor ride around the whole orchard. The visit provided valuable real-world connections to our learning and we hope you enjoy some photos from our day below.

In Wellbeing, students have been learning about self-regulation and how to manage their emotions using the Catastrophe Scale. This tool helps children identify the size of a problem and match their reaction to the situation. Through discussions, role-plays, and reflective activities, students have practised recognising the difference between small, medium, and large problems and explored strategies for responding calmly and appropriately. These skills support students in developing resilience, emotional awareness, and positive problem-solving habits both at school and at home.

The Grade 2 Team

Allie Harrison, Sarah Margetts and Brendan Van Haaster

Grade 3 & 4

We are coming to the conclusion of our ‘Strangers on Country’ unit, where we are planning a text response about the book. We have looked at the themes of ‘Belonging’, ‘Survival’ and ‘Cultural Practices’ from the perspectives of various characters in the text. The students have shown tremendous growth and resilience when working with a new unit and we can’t wait to see their published text responses in the coming weeks!

In Maths, we have continued our subtraction unit, with a focus on identifying the ‘difference between’ two numbers. We have been using various ‘hands-on’ materials to support our learning, including number charts and measuring tapes. We conclude our unit on Friday with a post-test, to show how much the students have learnt. 

Our Inquiry brochures are coming together nicely, with the finishing touches to be added. We will be presenting our creations to the level over the next couple of weeks. It has been a pleasure to see the students’ curiosity and creativity on display!

In Week 8, the students went on a trip to Quantum. We learnt so much about Minibeasts and even had a go at creating some of our own! The day was packed full of fun activities and questioning, some of which, scientists are still debating to this day!

As we enter cooler weather, we have been reminding students of our school uniform expectations. Please ensure students are wearing a school jumper or jacket and take responsibility for looking after these items. Extra layers like waterproof jackets, scarves, etc should also be clearly named so that they can be easily returned to you. More information about our Student Dress Code can be found in the policy section of the school’s website: https://rollinghillsps.vic.edu.au/policies/

Kind regards,

The 3/4 Team

Damien Smith, Daena Hailey, Brent Smith, Claire Cripps and Nick Pagliaro

Grades 5 & 6

In Literacy, students have continued to read and evaluate the book Blueback by Tim Winton. They explored how authors use words and phrases to indicate the passing of time, investigated figurative language and its impact on readers, analysed character development throughout a text, and examined how foreshadowing is used to build suspense and hint at future events. Students demonstrated their understanding through discussions, written responses and collaborative learning activities. They are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to watch the film version of Blueback for a film and novel compare and contrast activity.

In Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, students focused on applying spelling strategies to unfamiliar words and strengthening their understanding of grammar conventions within their writing. They investigated the prefixes mono- and mon-, exploring how these word parts contribute to meaning, and examined the suffix -ent to understand how it changes and extends vocabulary. They also practised editing and revising their writing to improve clarity, accuracy and effectiveness for their intended audience.

In Mathematics, the children developed their understanding of subtraction by exploring a range of strategies to solve problems. They practised subtracting whole numbers and decimals, selecting appropriate methods to calculate differences accurately. Students compared different strategies and applied their subtraction skills to real-world problem-solving situations. 

During Wellbeing lessons, students explored concepts from Friendology and Respectful Relationships, focusing on the skills needed to build and maintain healthy friendships. Through discussions, role-plays and reflective activities, students examined the qualities of positive friendships, strategies for resolving conflict respectfully and ways to communicate effectively with others. 

In Inquiry, our students began investigating a destination of their choice as part of their 'Travel Expo' project. They researched the geographical, cultural and historical features of their chosen location, gathering information from a range of reliable sources. Through research, discussion and collaborative learning experiences, they deepened their understanding of different places and cultures around the world while preparing engaging presentations for the 'Travel Expo.'

The students are looking forward to the District Winter Sports Day next Tuesday. Weather reports suggest that there may be some rain on the day, so please ensure your child has a waterproof coat, warm clothes, plenty of snacks and a drink bottle. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

The 5/6 Team

Llinos Poole, Erin Rennick, Hayley Peirce, Mykaela Oakley & Kylie Morrissey