Dear Foundation Families,

We had a great time on Monday at our Teddy Bear’s picnic and we have included some photos at the end of the newsletter. We can now make the 't' sound in the word 'teddy'!

Our Pyjama Day, to celebrate the ‘p’ sound, was today and we had fun wearing our pyjamas to school instead of our school uniform.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY

Week 4

Tuesday 20th Feb - Bring library books in library bags to school (Library is on every Tuesday for all Foundation classes).

Parents and Literacy Night - 6.30 - 8.00pm (last day to register is Friday 16th February)

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=N7Ns2Ycaz0S2mzzsM0pMH6LALu7qwDtOoIth3C4RCERUNE5TQktHRlBMRjkyVE5PUEZFWlg4VFBOMS4u

Wednesday 21st Feb – No school for Foundation students (only booked Numeracy Appointments)

Friday 23rd Feb - Foundation Family Picnic 5pm - 7pm (in the Foundation - Grade 2 playground)

Week 5

Monday 26th Feb – Curriculum Day

Tuesday 27th February – Bring library books and bags to school

Parents and Literacy Night 2 6.30pm - 8.00pm

Wednesday 28th Feb – No school for Foundation students (only booked Numeracy Appointments)

Friday 1st March - Official School Photo Day

Week 6

Tuesday 5th March - Bring Library Books and bags to school.

Wednesday 6th March - Students are to attend school on Wednesdays from this week onwards.

Week 7

Monday 11th March – Labour Day Public Holiday.

No students at school (No Out of School Hours Program is available).

Tuesday 12th March - Bring Library Books and bags to school.

Week 8

Tuesday 19th March - Bring Library Books and bags to school.

Week 9

Friday 22nd March - VPS Colour Run

COMPASS NOTICES TO ACTION

2024 Internet Agreement F-2

Internet Site Agreement Form

Medical Notification Forms (if applicable to your child)

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

The students have done a wonderful job starting school and adapting to school routines. They are increasing their independence each time they are able put on their own bags and walk inside by themselves. Once your child is lined up after the bell, please step to the side to encourage your child’s independence.

If you find that your child is unsettled in the morning, we have found that arriving earlier can be effective as it gives them a chance to say goodbye to you and understand that they will be at school until you see them at 3.30pm. Please talk to your child’s teacher either via email or after school if you need.

BLUE FOLDERS AND READER COVERS

Thank you to the parents who have already covered their child’s reader with contact. If you are unsure of how to cover the folder, please contact your child’s teacher.

The book inside the reader cover is changed every Monday and Thursday in Term 1. When you have finished reading the book, please put it back inside the reader cover. This will protect the book from accidental damage and ensure it is brought back to school to be changed.

Please put the reader cover and book in the blue folder and bring it to school each day.

TRANSITION SURVEY

We would love to hear your feedback about our Transition program. The program consisted of six sessions for your child and two options for a parents information session. We will use your responses to help improve our Transition program for 2024/25. This form (pink paper) was sent home in your child's blue folder on the first day.

PARENTS AND LITERACY NIGHTS

Each year at Vermont Primary School we run a program called Parents and Literacy (PAL). This is offered to parents who would like to learn how we teach Reading and Writing, and how you can help support your child’s learning at home and help in the classroom. The sessions are offered to parents of Foundation to Grade Six children. We also would like to invite the parents of our 4 Year old Kindergarten children. Once again our Parents and Literacy Sessions (PAL) will be conducted over two nights. The sessions will be held on the following dates and times:

Tuesday 20th February 2024 6:30pm – 8:00pm (Reading + Assisting Children)

Tuesday 27th February 2024 6:30pm – 8:00pm (Writing + Assisting Children)

Please click on the link below to register your interest for these presentations. The last day to register will be Friday 16th February 2024.

Click on this link to complete the details: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=N7Ns2Ycaz0S2mzzsM0pMH6LALu7qwDtOoIth3C4RCERUNE5TQktHRlBMRjkyVE5PUEZFWlg4VFBOMS4u

If you have any queries, please contact John Hoskin at Vermont Primary School John.Hoskin@education.vic.gov.au

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Hats should be the proper school hats (with the logo) that cover the children’s faces and ears. School hats are mandatory for all outside activities in Term 1 and 4 as a part of our SunSmart Policy. Please ensure that your child’s hat is clearly named and in their school bag every day.

From Tuesday 27th February onwards, children without hats will need to stay in the shade and will be unable to play on the equipment without a hat. Involve your child in packing their school bag each day so they know where to find their hat in their bag.

CLASSROOM ASSISTANCE

In Foundation, we have many events which require parental support at school and on excursions. If you are considering helping at any stage during the year (eg. Digitech, excursions or classroom reading), please apply for a Working With Children Card this term so we are able to include you on our lists for these events from Term 2 onwards. The forms are available online.

ABSENCE NOTES

If your child is away for any reason, please update this in Compass. We require this notification for legal purposes.

FIRST ASSEMBLY

Our first Assembly will be on Monday 4th March at 9.10am in the Stadium. Students who have been nominated for any awards or student roles will be receiving their awards/badges at this Assembly. Classroom Teachers will notify you if your child is receiving any of these awards.

ENGLISH

Continue to read the storybook with your child every night and sign their reading log. Talk about the story, interesting words or ideas that come from the text. These books are designed to encourage a love of reading and understanding of what happens in the story.

Over the next two weeks we introduce the lower case sounds ‘g, o, c, k, u, b and f’. We have covered the sounds for m, a, s, d, t, i, n and p’. It is very important that children attend school every day as we introduce new sounds daily to help them begin to read independently.

MATHS

Counting rhymes.
Written formation of numerals.
Introduction to numbers.

Your child’s log-in and password for Mathletics are also stuck in their reader folder ready for use. These tasks are optional and are best completed with your child as many of the questions require reading and interpretation.

We understand that the children are at different levels of understanding with all aspects of Mathematics. We encourage children to work through all of the activities, even if they are easy. In this way, they are consolidating their learning and ensuring they are accurate with their answers.

Your child is also practising using the mouse in Digitech and is encouraged to use it at home to answer the questions. Talk to them about being eSmart with log-ins and keeping passwords safe (by only sharing with your parents and teachers).

NAMED BELONGINGS

Please ensure that all clothing, lunch boxes and drink bottles are clearly named. This will ensure that if they are misplaced, they will be returned to their owner as soon as possible. Please understand that it may take a few days for your child’s lost item to be returned to their classroom. If you buy a new item of clothing (eg hat, jacket or jumper), please write your child’s name on it before they wear it to school.

If you have them, stickers are best used for drink bottles and iron on labels for hats and jackets. Unfortunately stickers fall off hat labels or the insides of hats and jackets, so even writing their name on the label is better.

SHOW AND TELL TIMETABLE

Each week there will be different letters to base our Show and Tell on. These letters will have been taught in the previous week and will provide further opportunities for revision.

Although it is not mandatory to complete Show and Tell every week we highly encourage children to bring it as regularly as possible as it is a vital component in the Speaking and Listening strand of the curriculum. Show and Tell is a great way for students to gain confidence speaking in front of their peers, as well as a chance for them to practise listening respectfully to others.

Please feel free to be creative with the letter themes each week. As a guide, each child should bring in one item and aim to speak for 1-2 minutes (depending on how confident they are in front of an audience). For example in Week 4, after we have learned the letters m, a, s, d, students could bring in a photo or their favourite toy!

Show and Tell

Week 4

Week beginning 14th February

m, a, s, d

Week 5

Week beginning 21st February

t, i, n, p

Week 6

Week beginning 28th February

g, o, c, k

Week 7

Week beginning 7th March

u, b, f, e

Week 8

Week beginning 14th March

l, h, sh, r

Week 9

Week beginning 21st March

j, b, y, w

Week 10

Week beginning 28th March

th, z, ch, qu

Week 11

Week beginning 4th April

Free choice

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