Level 5 & 6
Reflecting on a Wonderful Learning Experience
Last week, students enjoyed a fantastic day at Clifford Park, where they participated in a range of engaging rotations focused on learning about Country. Throughout the day, students explored Aboriginal perspectives and cultural knowledge through hands-on experiences, including weaving, songlines, navigation and learning about the uses of plants and fire.
It was wonderful to see students so actively involved in their learning, showing curiosity, respect and thoughtful engagement throughout the excursion. The day provided meaningful opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of culture, community and connection to Country.
We are already looking forward to our next visit to Clifford Park on Friday 29th May, where students will continue building on these valuable learning experiences.
Literacy
In Literacy, students will continue exploring the conventions of language, with a focus on identifying and using appositives to add extra detail and information to their writing. Students will learn how appositives can make writing more precise and engaging by providing additional information about a noun within a sentence.
Students will continue reading our class novel, Who Am I? by Anita Heiss. Through this text, students will continue building vocabulary, strengthening comprehension skills and responding thoughtfully to what they read through discussions and written responses.
Students will also continue exploring texts that examine Australia’s history and perspectives. Using note-taking skills, they will build on the timeline of Australian history they have been creating in Keynote, adding new learning and making connections between historical events and the texts they are studying.
In spelling, students will continue investigating the Greek etymology of “bio” (meaning life) through the PhOrMes program. This supports students in understanding how words are constructed and how meanings can be connected across different vocabulary.
What you can do at home:
- Encourage your child to add more detail to their sentences by describing or renaming nouns.
- Explore words related to “bio” together (e.g. biology, biography, biodegradable).
- Ask your child to explain what they are reading and discuss important events or ideas from the texts.
- Continue encouraging regular reading at home.
Numeracy
In Numeracy, students will continue their study of decimals, developing confidence in understanding, comparing and calculating with decimal numbers.
Grade 5 students will continue working on writing thousandths in decimal format, renaming numbers up to three decimal places, and comparing and ordering decimals on a number line. Students will strengthen their understanding of place value and the size of decimal numbers through a range of practical and problem-solving activities.
Grade 6 students will continue exploring decimals and percentages, focusing on adding and subtracting decimals using place value and partitioning strategies. They will also apply inverse operations, select efficient calculation methods and solve worded problems involving decimal operations.
Throughout these lessons, students will be encouraged to explain their mathematical thinking and apply their understanding in meaningful contexts.
What you can do at home:
- Look for decimals in everyday life, such as prices, measurements or sports statistics.
- Practise ordering decimal numbers from smallest to largest.
- Encourage your child to explain how they solved a decimal problem and why they chose a particular strategy.
CBL (Challenge Based Learning)
In CBL, students will continue exploring Australia’s history through a focus on the Stolen Generations and National Sorry Day. Students will engage in respectful and age-appropriate discussions to build their understanding of the experiences and lasting impacts of these historical events on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
This learning will support students in developing empathy, understanding and awareness as they continue to explore the importance of truth-telling, respect and reconciliation.
What you can do at home:
- Have conversations with your child about the importance of kindness, empathy and respect for others.
- Encourage your child to share what they are learning and ask thoughtful questions to deepen understanding.
- Explore trusted resources together to support discussions about Australia’s history.
Wellbeing
SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support)
In focusing on our SWPBS priority of being kind, students will practise respectful behaviours, including respecting others’ privacy and using shared spaces responsibly. These expectations will be explicitly taught through our Tell, Show, Practise approach.
Bullying Prevention
As part of our Bullying Prevention focus, students will explore safe responses, including ways to respond safely and seek support if they witness or experience unkind behaviour. Students will continue building strategies to support positive and respectful relationships.
Term Two Important Dates
May
- 19th – District Cross Country
- 21st - Education Week Open Afternoon from 2:45pm
- 25th - Assembly
- 26th – National Sorry Day
- 27th – National Reconciliation Week
- 29th – Clifford Park Excursion (more details to come)
June
- 1st – Curriculum Day
- 2nd – Division Cross Country
- 3rd – Mabo Day
- 4th – Gala Sports Day 1
- 9th–17th – Somers Camp (selected students)
- 19th – Gala Sports Day 2