Year 5 Update

Welcome to Year 5!

We are so excited to begin a new school year with our wonderful students and families. The first week has been all about reconnecting after the holidays, getting to know our teachers and classmates, and building positive relationships that will help set us up for a successful year of learning.

Throughout this week, students have been settling into new routines with a strong focus on structure, expectations and learning behaviours. Across both the whole school and year level, we have introduced consistent routines to support readiness for learning, organisation and independence. We are incredibly proud of how quickly students are adjusting and the positive mindset they are bringing to each day.

Hats – Term 1 Requirement

A friendly reminder that Term 1 is a compulsory hat term. Students must wear a Hillsmeade school hat when outdoors. Hats can be purchased at the office. Please ensure your child’s hat is clearly named so it can be easily returned if misplaced.

Homework Expectations – Year 5

Homework has now begun, and students are expected to bring their diary to school every day.

Diaries

• Students record their completed homework each night.
• Diaries must besigned by an adult.
• Students can earn house tokens for consistent completion and signatures.

Reading

Students are expected to read every night. They should record in their diary:

• the title of their book
• the pages read

Times Tables

Students should regularly practise their multiplication facts at home. They may record entries such as: “Practised 4 times tables.”

Spelling

• Each Friday students will receive their weekly spelling words.
• Words are selected from topics and vocabulary currently being taught.
• Students will complete a spelling test on Thursday before new words are sent home.

If you have any questions about homework, routines or learning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to support every student to feel confident and successful.

What We’re Learning in Year 5

English

This term, our English unit focuses onNarratives, with students exploring how authors use imagery, structure and vocabulary to help readers connect with characters and themes. We have begun reading Blueback by Tim Winton as our shared text.

Students are developing skills in:

• visualising and building background knowledge
• understanding setting and theme
• using expanded noun groups
• writing descriptive language
• identifying and creating similes and metaphors

Mathematics

In Mathematics this week, Year 5 students have been exploring how numbers can be renamed and represented in different ways using place value. We have been working with 3‑ and 4‑digit numbers to show all the possible ways they can be made, and students are learning that while numbers can be represented differently, their value always stays the same. We are also applying this understanding to larger numbers by using money to model amounts and record them in place value form. This learning helps students build strong number sense, confidence when working with large numbers, and flexibility in how they think about and solve mathematical problems.

Inquiry – Healthy & Active Living

In Inquiry, we are learning about the importance of staying healthy and active so that we can be ready to learn and make positive choices throughout the day. Students are exploring the habits that help their bodies and minds feel their best—such as getting enough sleep, eating well, staying hydrated, moving regularly and practising mindfulness. They are discussing why these habits matter and how they affect learning, emotions and overall wellbeing. Students are also beginning to create their own personal action plans to help them practise healthy routines every day, building confidence and responsibility for their own wellbeing.

Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

In Social and Emotional Learning, students are developing their understanding of emotions and how they relate to different situations. We are learning to identify and name a range of positive (comfortable) and negative (uncomfortable) emotions, as well as recognise that sometimes we can feel mixed emotions at the same time. Students are practising linking emotions to real‑life experiences and using a wider vocabulary to describe how someone might feel in different situations. This learning supports students to better understand themselves, communicate their feelings and respond to others with empathy.

Looking Ahead

The Year 5 team is truly excited for a fun, engaging and rewarding year ahead—socially, academically and personally. We are already seeing students demonstrate responsibility, kindness and enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to see them continue to grow.

Please reach out at any time. We look forward to partnering with you throughout 2026 to make this a fantastic year of learning.