Curriculum Update

Wellbeing

Wellbeing Focus for this week – having discussions/chats with your children when they feel worried and coming up with some strategies to help them redirect the worry. 

Here is a great poster you can fill in with your child/ren to support them, if when he/she is worried. 

Year One and Two

What’s Happening in One/Two 

This term, the Year One and Two students have been showcasing some magnificent learning, consistently working hard to produce work that they are proud of. We have had a jam-packed term filled with Incursions, poetry, parades and even a couple of disco parties! Please read below to find out more about the amazing work all of our students have been completing, and celebrate with us how hard each student has worked!

In Literacy, students began the term immersed in our poetry unit, where they were exposed to a variety of different poetry styles and tools that poets used to write their own poems. They explored poetic devices such as similes, personification, onomatopoeia and alliteration to communicate their feelings and experiences, as well as to make their poems more interesting and entertaining. Students got a chance to publish their poetry into a book and celebrate it with a real audience during Reading and Writing Together is Magic. 

Next, students moved on to a new Literacy unit called ‘Timeless Tales’ with a focus on Narratives.  Students were very excited to be introduced to the beloved British author Beatrix Potter and the delightful story of Peter Rabbit, learning new and interesting vocabulary as well as the history of what life was like back then. Students have been introduced to ‘story grammar’ which are icons that help students to correctly structure their narratives and will extend their ability to write narratives with more complex storylines. In class, they have been working towards writing quality sentences with rich vocabulary, similes and subordinating conjunctions. Without question, students have caught the writing bug and are using their imagination to plan and draft their own fabulous narratives.

In Numeracy, we have had phenomenal learning about multiplication, division, data collection, graphing, and conducting surveys! In Grade Two, there has been a focus on solving division problems using repeated subtraction, partitioning and think boards. Students have also had the opportunity to extend their ability to solve multiplication problems by using the strategy of CUBES - Circle the key numbers, Underline the question, Box math ‘action’ words, Evaluate the steps needed to solve, and Solve your work and double check your answer. Students have been able to apply the CUBES strategy to solve both multiplication and division worded problems, and have found great success in doing so. 

Year Ones have also been busy working away in Maths, focusing on revision of both addition and subtraction. The year Ones have also been building on their understanding of place value and addition and subtraction skills. They have been learning different strategies they could apply to help them solve equations such as counting on, counting back, near doubles and bridging to ten. Students have enjoyed using manipulatives and visual tools such as counters, unifix cubes, ten frames and number lines to enhance their understanding of these concepts. In Place Value, they partition numbers according to their place value, make numbers with materials, and compare and order numbers from the smallest to largest. 

Next week we will begin learning about telling the time. This can be a very complex idea and skill for students to get their heads around. We would love it if families could encourage their child to estimate and measure time durations, such as, ‘How many minutes will it take to brush your teeth?’ Also, have an analogue clock on display at home and refer to it to discuss time such as ‘Where will the hands of the clock be at dinner time?’ ‘Bedtime is at 7:30. Watch the clock and tell me when it’s 7:30’. 

Wellbeing: This term in Wellbeing, the Year One & Two cohort has been investigating what it means to be resilient. Students have learnt that being resilient can look like many different things, including being flexible when things change, being a problem solver, checking in with their emotions & using coping strategies, giving things a go even if they seem hard, and learning from mistakes & moving forward.

In the last few weeks, students have explored the idea that they can be resilient by ‘being the boss of their feelings’. Together with their classroom teachers, each grade has discussed how mindfulness can assist us in this and has brainstormed calm-down strategies that can be used. Strategies discussed include five-finger breathing, taking a nature walk, drawing a picture and counting down from 100.

Inquiry: In our Shared Inquiry unit on history, we're focusing on changes over time. As this year we are celebrating WNPS's 150th year, our focus is on the history of Williamstown as well as how schools have changed. To help us explore this, the 1/2 team has organised an interactive incursion of ‘Toys through Time’ where students will have the opportunity to get a hand on the history of toys. 

Additionally, next week students will be heading out on their second excursion of the year. Ripponlea is a fun excursion where students will be immersed in what life was like for people living in the past. They will learn about the lives of the people who lived in the old homestead as well as those who helped keep the household running. Students will enjoy learning about and playing old-fashioned games in the beautiful gardens. Fingers crossed we get some beautiful weather for the day. 

For the teachers in the One/Two team, we are in full flight for the preparation for the highly anticipated Big Night In. You will have received both a compass notification and a hard copy of the information needed for the night. Please return the medical form to your child’s classroom teacher ASAP. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

Thank you, 

The Year One and Two Team. 

Bronwyn, Kaitlyn, Crissy, Ben, Tammy, Georgie, Irini, Rachel and Lucy. 

Physical Education

Spotlight on Physical Education: Term 3 Highlights

This term, our students have been diving headfirst into an exciting array of physical activities, mastering skills that boost not only their fitness, but also their coordination and teamwork abilities.

Young Achievers in Motion

In Prep through Grade 2, our young athletes have been perfecting their throwing and catching techniques. They've tackled both underarm and overarm throws, and are now adept at catching objects of various sizes, using their hands and even their chests for support. The challenge increased as they moved on to intercept moving objects and engaged in dynamic games that tested their dodging and tagging skills. It's been a joy to watch their progress and enthusiasm!

Strategic Play in Upper Grades

Our Grades 3 to 6 students have ramped up their game with strategic invasion games, including basketball and soccer. They've honed their attacking and defending tactics, learning to think quickly and work as cohesive units on the field. Alongside team sports, they've also been exploring gymnastics, mastering everything from forward rolls and cartwheels to scorpion kicks and handstands. The focus on safe landing positions and maintaining balance has been impressive.

Gymnastics Showcase Coming Up!

As a special treat, all students in Grades 3-6 are preparing to design and perform their own gymnastics routines. These performances are set to dazzle us during the last week of term in class showcases. We encourage students to rehearse their routines at home—safely, of course!

Stay tuned for more updates and make sure to cheer on our students as they leap, dodge, and roll their way through these engaging physical challenges!

Regards, Matt Feeley - PE Teacher

Jump Rope for Heart

On Thursday the 12th of September, all year levels will take part in our official launch for ‘Jump Rope for Heart’. The Junior school council members have been working really hard organising posters and speaking to their buddy classes, to inform them about what is happening on our launch day. 

Throughout the day, each class will spend some time doing a variety of skipping activities that our Sports Captains and JSC members will assist with in the Gym.

Once they have had their skipping session, they will then participate in the Walk-A-Thon, where they will follow the track within the school grounds that has been marked out and setup for that day! Within the designated time they have been allocated, they will see how many laps they can walk.

Jump Rope for Heart gets kids excited about exercise and eating well, teaching them to form heart-healthy habits that can last a lifetime. What’s more, by seeking donations for their skipping achievements, our Heart Heroes raise funds for lifesaving research, and see firsthand how their actions can make a difference to the lives — and hearts — of others.

Regards, Jamie Peters - Junior School Council Leader