Learning News

Learning News Weeks 5-6-4, Term 4 2024

Learning News

At St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, it is not only the students achieving, but the staff as well.  During the last week our remaining Early Career Teachers gained their Proficient Level of Teaching Accreditation. NESA describes this as a “process that supports teachers to develop their practice aligned with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Standards). It is a structured school-based process where teachers are supported by their colleagues, schools and the profession.”

There is a lot of time and work involved in gaining this accreditation and it is a major milestone in our young teacher’s careers.  Congratulations to Anna Fraser, Emily Maunder and Isabella Rasche for achieving this goal and thank you to the Catholic Schools Office mentors Phoebe O’Shea and Amanda Scott, as well as mentors on staff, for assisting them in this process.

Of course, the rest of our staff are also constantly learning through professional development opportunities and collaborative teaching to ensure our students are receiving the best education possible.  As Henry Ford once said “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

Yours in learning,

Cathy Shepherd

AP/LoP

Kindergarten

In Mathematics, Kindergarten students have been learning to collect information, interpret and make picture graphs and tables. The Kinder class have enjoyed asking their peers different questions like “Who likes broccoli?” and “Who has a pet dog”. Great Job Mathematicians! 

Miss Fraser

Year 1

This term in Science, Year 1 has been looking at natural resources and finding out where things come from. We started by identifying natural resources around our school and have been using higher-order thinking to say why the sun is important and what would happen if we did not have water. We then looked at the 3 Rs and what we can do to Reuse, Reduce and Recycle materials we use instead of throwing them away. The students have also learned how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People use natural resources for food, medicine and creating objects they need. We have also used different ingredients and materials to make our own ice cream! Outstanding work Year 1!

Miss Myers and Mrs G

Year 2

This week, our pencils quit! They left year 2 a note about how they felt. There was only one thing we could do… write an apology letter! We read the book “The Day the Crayons Quit” to get us to think about how our equipment would be feeling. The students realised they needed to apologise but also tell our equipment how we would be better with them. The students did a fabulous job and our pencils returned to much better conditions. Great job year 2!

Year 3/4

In English, Year 3/4 have been letting their creativity shine through in poetry writing this week. Students have been learning about different types of figurative language including similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration and onomatopoeia and how these features are used in imaginative writing to add detail and engage the reader. Year 3/4 have shown outstanding efforts to incorporate their learning into a variety of poems about the rain and the beach. Even one of Miss Maunder’s cats had a special poem written about them. Outstanding work in writing Year 3/4! 

Miss Maunder 

Year 5

In Geography this term Year 5 have been focusing on the impact that the environment and people have on each other. This week we studied some local urban areas and discussed why certain types of buildings are built in certain  areas. The students were then given the task of mapping an area of their choice, labelling and annotating as to why certain areas of that place are important for the community. What fantastic work by Year 5 this week!

Mr Beaumont

Year 6       

This term in Creative Arts, Year 6 have been focusing on the technique of drawing. Students have followed step by step instructions to draw a variety of pictures, focusing on line placement, size and proportion to create effect. Students use colour to add their own creative flair and create a unique picture. Everyone has been very impressed with their final creations! Amazing work Year 6! 

Miss Summerell