From the Assistant Principal's Desk (Springvale Campus)
Snapshots from Springvale
Term 3 has been a busy and rewarding term across our school, filled with wonderful opportunities for learning, connection and celebration. It has been fantastic to see our students embracing the many experiences offered to them and demonstrating enthusiasm and engagement in their learning.
Over the past weeks, students have enthusiastically participated in our whole-school swimming program, developing their skills, confidence and water safety knowledge. We have also enjoyed a range of special events, including our Book Week celebrations and Father’s Day Morning, as well as a number of valuable incursions and excursions that have enriched classroom learning and provided students with opportunities to connect their learning to the wider world.
A Focus on Learning – Junior Learning Centre
It has been wonderful to see the continued progress and engagement of our Junior Learning Centre students throughout Term 3.
In Reading, students have been developing their ability to answer questions about non-fiction texts. They have been learning to reread sections of a text, scan for key words and locate important information. Students are also developing the skills to check that their answers make sense and are supported by evidence from the text.
In Writing, students have been learning to construct well-organised paragraphs by grouping sentences around a central idea. They have been practising writing introductory sentences, adding relevant details and using conjunctions to connect their ideas. Developing strong editing habits has also been a focus, with students rereading their work to ensure their sentences make sense and remain focused on the topic.
In Mathematics, students have been developing their subtraction skills and exploring a range of strategies to solve problems. They have been applying known addition facts, including facts that make 10, as well as other known number facts to support their mathematical thinking. Students are also learning to select efficient strategies and explain how they arrived at their answers.
Our Projects learning has provided students with opportunities to develop their understanding of how places have meaning and the important connections Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to Country and Place. Students have been exploring the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags, including their colours, symbols and meanings, while also developing their understanding of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands through mapping activities.
A particular highlight was the recent Dion Drummond incursion, where students had the opportunity to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, traditions and connections to Country through music, storytelling and cultural artefacts. Students participated enthusiastically and were able to make meaningful connections between the experience and their classroom learning.
As we approach the end of Term 3, I would like to acknowledge the wonderful learning taking place across our school. I am incredibly proud of the way our students continue to engage, learn and grow, and I thank our staff and families for their ongoing support in making these learning experiences so meaningful.
Mrs Mary Sampieri
Acting Assistant Principal
(Springvale Campus)