Year 5/6 Term 2 Overview
Welcome back to Term 2. We hope all of our families enjoyed a restful and enjoyable Easter break, filled with special moments together. As we begin a new term, we look forward to continuing our learning journey with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Term 2 brings many opportunities for growth, connection and achievement, and we are excited to see our students build on the strong foundations established in Term 1.
5/6A - Allison Bayliss, Tracey Farrar (Thursday) and Kim Wilson
5/6B - Marisa Box, (Tues-Fri) Tracey Farrar (Monday), Melissa Dominguez Gallardo
Religious Education
This term, our senior students will explore the significant events of the liturgical calendar, beginning with the joy of the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus. These stories will guide our understanding of how Jesus’ mission continues through us today. A major focus for the term will be supporting our Year 6 students as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Students will delve into the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and examine the inspiring lives of the Saints. This research is particularly special as students reflect on which qualities they admire most while choosing their own Saint name for Confirmation. We will compare Catholicism to other Christian denominations as well as other world religions. Across both year levels, we continue to embrace our theme of “Shine,” looking for ways to be a light for others in our school and local community.
STEM
This term, our STEM unit explores the celestial mechanics of our solar system, focusing on the relationship between Earth and the Sun. Students will develop a deep understanding of gravity as the attractive force that keeps Earth and other planets in stable orbits. We will investigate the crucial differences between rotation (which creates our daily cycle of day and night) and revolution (the Earth's yearly journey around the Sun). Through our study, students will discover how the Earth’s axial tilt and orbital path work together to create our seasons and changing daylight lengths.
To support this learning, students will utilize digital tools such as PhET simulations and planetarium apps to visualize planetary motion and gravity in real-time. They will also practice gathering, recording, and interpreting data through spreadsheets and graphs to identify patterns in daylight hours. Finally, students will demonstrate their knowledge by constructing physical and digital models and synthesizing their findings into professional-quality infographics and "Explainer Videos."
Geography
Our Geography inquiry this term asks: How do geography and values work together to shape how people live, connect to places and protect the environment? Students will develop their skills as geographers by collecting and recording data from both the field and secondary sources, ensuring they follow ethical protocols throughout their research. They will learn to interpret complex maps and data using digital and spatial technologies to develop clear descriptions and conclusions. A key focus will be representing geographical information through diagrams, field sketches, and professional-standard maps that follow strict cartographic conventions (including scale, legends, and north points).
We will explore the location and characteristics of major countries in Europe and North America in relation to Australia. Students will investigate how people influence the environment in these regions, while also examining the profound influence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the environmental characteristics of Australian places. Finally, we will look at Australia’s global connections and the various factors that shape people’s awareness and opinions of different places around the world.
English
Our English curriculum this term is centered around the class novel, "Paper Planes" by Steve Worland. This text will serve as a springboard for our writing, as students learn to craft Factual Recounts and engage in deep Character Analysis. We will be focusing on "sentence-level" mastery, including the use of expanded noun groups and complex sentences to add detail and precision to our work.
A significant focus this term will be on strengthening our spelling through the study of etymology and morphology. Students will explore Greek and Latin word origins to understand the history of our language. We will also investigate how adding prefixes and suffixes can change the tense and meaning of words, helping students to decode unfamiliar vocabulary and improve their overall writing fluency. Through this literature study, students will explore themes of resilience, passion, and dealing with change, while continuing to develop their vocabulary and comprehension strategies.
Mathematics
In Mathematics, students will be diving into the world of Fractions and Decimals, where they will work on identifying equivalent fractions, using fraction walls, and simplifying numbers. We will also explore the geometry of 3D objects and develop our spatial reasoning through the study of location and transformation. Students will investigate probability to understand the likelihood of events, and we will commence weekly "Friday Focus" sessions. These sessions are a dedicated time for students to review and sharpen their core number skills, as well as their overall understanding of numbers, building the speed and confidence necessary for complex problem-solving.
Students will continue to make use of our new program IXL for both in class activities as well as assigned homework tasks. We encourage students to regularly use IXL both at school and home to work through their recommendations to continually improve their knowledge of maths topics. This will be used in addition to Essential Assessment which provides targeted maths learning opportunities.
Social Emotional Learning
This term, our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) focus through The Resilience Project will support students to build greater self-awareness and emotional regulation. Students will explore key concepts including managing worries and stress, strengthening their “focus muscle,” and practising mindfulness through their senses. They will also identify their top strengths and develop an understanding of both pleasant and unpleasant emotions. These lessons will be delivered in the Wellbeing Hub, providing a dedicated space for reflection and growth. Following a strong start with PBL in Term 1, we will continue to embed our behaviour matrix throughout Term 2, reinforcing consistent expectations and supporting a positive, inclusive learning environment.
Home Learning
This term, the Year 5/6 homework program has been refined to more closely align with our classroom focus on mastery and retrieval. To support this, we are moving from a fortnightly choice-based matrix to a weekly structured routine.
Our primary focus will be on literacy and numeracy:
Numeracy (IXL Maths): Students will engage with the IXL platform to target specific number skills. This move allows for immediate feedback and personalized practice, helping students build the fluency and confidence necessary for more complex problem-solving.
Literacy (Etymology & Morphology): Building on our classroom inquiry into the history and structure of language, students will receive weekly spelling lists. These tasks are designed to reinforce their understanding of word origins, prefixes, and suffixes.
Literacy (Daily Reading): We expect students to engage in independent reading for approximately 15–20 minutes each day to foster a love of literature and improve comprehension.
By transitioning to a weekly frequency, we aim to help students develop consistent study habits and ensure that home learning directly supports the concepts being introduced in the classroom.
Finally, to wrap up the term, we will shift our focus during the final fortnight to a Passion Project (or Inquiry-based project). This will give students the opportunity to dive deep into a topic of interest and apply the research and presentation skills they have developed throughout the term.
Weekly Specialist Timetable
5/6 A
Wednesday - Chinese
Thursday - Visual Arts
Friday - P.E. & Performing Arts
5/6 B
Wednesday -Chinese
Friday - Performing Arts, P.E. & Visual Arts
Please note in your calendars:
First Day of Term 2 - Monday 20 April
Year 5 & Prep Buddies Mass - Tuesday 21 April
Year 6 & Year 1 Buddies Mass - Tuesday 28 April
Grandparents & Special Visitors Day - Wednesday 6 May - 9 - 11:00am
Mother’s Day Breakfast - Friday 8 May - 7:30am
Mother’s Day Gift Stall - Friday 8 May
Museum Excursion - Tuesday 12 May
KidsView Excursion (selected students) - Wednesday 13 May
School Closure Days - Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 May
District Cross Country - Monday 18 May
St John’s Long Walk - Tuesday 26 May
Year 6 Mass - Tuesday 26 May - 10:00am
Public Holiday - Monday 8 June
School Closure Day - Tuesday 9 June
Sports Gala Day - Thursday 11 June
Whole School ‘Shine’ Day with Gen Bryant - Tuesday 16 June
Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass - Tuesday 23 June - 10:00am
Last day of term - Friday 26 June @1pm
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Stall - Saturday 27 June
All other school dates will be on the school online calendar
Communication
Effective communication between family and school is an important factor in a student’s learning. Please make contact with us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
We will endeavour to respond to emails within 24 hours, during weekdays.
abayliss@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
mbox@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
tfarrar@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
https://parents.informandempower.com.au/
