Learning and Teaching

Green Team News 

Last Friday was a beautiful day to be in Brendan’s Garden and the Green Team were very fortunate to have an experienced gardener volunteer to assist us complete our tasks. Maureen, Max’s (Foundation C) nanna, asked if she could be of assistance during Green Team time and I was thrilled to have her help.

The team worked in two groups; one group planting seedlings in the garden beds with Mrs Coggin and the other group planting seeds in biodegradable pots with Maureen.

In the garden beds the students worked independently, planting radish, beetroot, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage. I was very impressed to watch the students use the planting skills I had taught them two weeks ago to carefully plant the seedlings and water them in. Hopefully with plenty of sunshine, water and fertiliser we will have some fresh produce to harvest in late autumn- early summer. 

Maureen was kept busy teaching the students how to plant seeds in individual biodegradable pots. Firstly, the students had to fill their pot ¾ full with seed raising mix. Next they watered their pot and following this put some seeds onto the soil and then covered the seeds with some more soil. Lastly, the students gave their pot a little more water. The seeds planted were radish, broccoli and brussel sprouts. If we keep the seeds watered and warm they should germinate in two weeks.

This weekend is the Red Hill Annual Show. There are many exhibits available to enter, so I thought it would be fun to enter some of Brendan's Garden vegetables. If you attend the show, make sure you visit the shed near the playground to see the vegetable exhibits and perhaps our produce will win a prize. I’ll inform our community of any success in the next newsletter.

isea icare News

Each year, the Year 6 students are given the opportunity to apply to become an isea icare Marine Ambassador. The role of an i sea i care ambassador includes participating in workshops to learn about the wonderful marine environment that we live so close to, as well as developing leadership and teaching skills so they can share their learning with the St Brendan’s community

To apply for the position the students are asked to write a letter explaining why they would like to be an isea icare Marine Ambassador. Mrs Carr and Mrs Coggin read each letter and then have the difficult task of selecting the best suited students for the role. 

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as the 2024 isea icare Marine Ambassadors:

Milla Mc                Claire S

Indi D                      Amelia DB

Annabelle C          Eirene vD

Mia C                      Hope G

Jobe B                      Evie J

3/4 Planning and designing our GAGA its with Mr Barry

Grade1/2G Putting in the hard work.

3/4V Enjoying morning prayer in our prayer garden, and looking at Persuasive Sentence Starters.

3/4MK shring their individual super powers.

Home Reading

There are many wonderful benefits to reading at home. Children who read often and widely get better at it. After all, practice makes perfect in almost everything humans do, and reading is no different. Nightly reading strengthens decoding skills, improves vocabulary, increases an understanding of syntax and grammar, exposes students to new knowledge, ideas or opinions, and helps spark to the imagination!

• In the Junior Years (Prep – Year 2), reading (to parent, with parent or parent modelling reading) should not exceed 10 - 15 minutes each evening. Please see attached the Junior home reading letter which was sent out last week.
• In the Middle Years (Years 3 – 4), reading of a ‘Good Fit’ book should be for a minimum of 15 minutes each evening.
• In the Senior Years (Years 5 – 6), reading of a ‘Good Fit’ book should be for a minimum of 20 minutes each evening.

If you need any support regarding literacy or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out and I will do my best to guide you in the right direction. 

I look forward to chatting with you soon!

Erica Hudson

Literacy Leader

Speech

St Brendan’s Primary School has engaged with Speech Pathology for Schools (SPS) to provide holistic school-based speech pathology support. Amy is an engaging and dynamic speech pathologist who enjoys working alongside school-aged students to find their learning potential in the areas of language and literacy. She works collaboratively with students and staff to assess and target individual needs in the areas of Oral Language and Phonological Awareness. Amy’s sessions run on Thursdays and Fridays and consist of either whole-class or small-group learning.  An LSO may be present during the session to further support students with follow-up activities during class time. Amy will begin by predominantly supporting our Year 3-6 students and will move across the school as necessary.

Please visit www.speech.edu.au/brand   Use code:  SPS185  for more information.