What's Happening In Prep?
Foundation News – A Fantastic Start to the School Year!
Our Foundation students have had a wonderful and exciting start to their school journey! It’s been a joy to see how quickly they’ve settled into classroom routines, built new friendships, and embraced their learning with enthusiasm. Each day, their confidence continues to grow as they become more familiar with school life.
English
In English, students have been using our phonics program Sounds Write each day to begin their learning of letters and their corresponding sound and to support their early reading and writing skills. Alongside this, they’ve been enjoying the text Milo’s Birthday Surprise to further support that learning.
Students love using their whiteboards to practise writing the sounds and words they can hear and read. In writing lessons, they have been focusing on developing correct pencil grip to support letter formation. They are beginning to write their names and attempt familiar words, while also completing tracing activities to strengthen their fine motor skills.
We have also been exploring texts such as The Start of School and Our School is a Family. These stories have supported students in making predictions, sharing ideas, and making connections to their own experiences. Students have enjoyed creating big books about our school, our classroom, and their learning, which they proudly share with their peers.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, students have been practising counting from 1 to 10 through a range of engaging, hands-on activities. They have been using resources such as numeral cards, dice, tens frames, and counters to help them recognise, represent, and model numbers.
Each morning, we use a tens frame to count how many days we have been at school, and we are all very excited to celebrate when we reach 100 days!
Students have also been learning about the days of the week and using their daily schedules to connect learning to familiar routines. Each morning, we identify the day, discuss what day it was yesterday, and what day it will be tomorrow. We have also explored the difference between weekdays and weekends, as well as different times of the day such as morning, afternoon, and night.
School Wide Positive Behaviours
Students have been learning about Mackellar’s School Wide Positive Behaviours, focusing on our four key values: Learning, Respect, Resilience, and Teamwork. Through discussions, activities, and games, students are developing a strong understanding of what these values look like both in and outside the classroom.
Teachers have been recognising these positive behaviours through Buzz Awards, and many students have already enjoyed the opportunity to spin the Buzz Award wheel and celebrate their achievements.
Health and Harmony Day
In Health, students have been learning about their bodies and exploring how we are similar in many ways, while also celebrating what makes each of us unique. Through this learning, they have been developing an understanding of their feelings and emotions, as well as beginning to recognise how others may feel. This has supported the growth of empathy, kindness, and positive relationships within our classroom.
This learning was beautifully reflected in our celebration of Harmony Day. We enjoyed a wonderful day recognising and celebrating the many cultures within our school community. Many students and families dressed in traditional cultural clothing, proudly sharing their heritage through singing and dancing.
We were also fortunate to enjoy a variety of delicious foods, generously shared by families. This special event provided a meaningful opportunity for students to connect their learning, recognising that while we may have differences, we are all part of one inclusive and supportive community.
Ms Kourkoulis Prep A
Shannon Stone Prep B