Prep Term 4 Overview

Prep 2026 Term 4 Overview

Psalm 100:4-5 “Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever.”  

Welcome to Term 4!

Welcome back to all of our school families! We truly appreciate your ongoing partnership and support in your child's education throughout the year. It has been fantastic seeing the children come back energised, eager and well-prepared for all the wonderful learning experiences lined up for Term 4, which is always a dynamic and rewarding period as we consolidate the year's learning and prepare our students for their upcoming journey into Year 1. We are already seeing a noticeable boost in confidence and self-reliance, with students taking greater ownership of their learning and school day routines.

Throughout the term, teaching will remain tailored to each child's specific stage of development. We will continue stretching students ready for deeper challenges while providing extra guidance to help others solidify essential skills. Our primary objective is for every child to feel appropriately challenged, encouraged and capable.

A central emphasis this term will be fostering independence to ensure our Prep students enjoy a seamless, confident move into Year 1. We are anticipating a great Term 4 ahead, rich with discovery, personal growth and engaging activities!

Important Events

• 20th October - Prep Tuesday Mass 10am
• 26th October - Prep Assembly - 2.50pm
• 2nd November - School Closure Day
• 3rd November - Cup Day
• 4th November to 11th November - P-2 Swimming Program
• 20th November - School Closure Day
• 21st November - St John's Community Fete 10am-4pm
• 27th November - School Disco
• 1st December - Buddy Mass
• 3rd December - Christmas Carols
• 14th December - Picnic at Halliday Park
• 15th December - Students Last Day

Religious Education

In Religious Education this term, our Prep students will explore how people participate in the Mass while learning about the season of Advent and the birth of Jesus. Throughout these units, students will discover that the Church is a community united by belief in God, recall the story of the Last Supper, and describe why we gather for Mass. They will also be invited to reflect on Mass as a sacred time to deepen their love for God and Jesus, discover the different ways people actively join in the liturgy, and experience sharing the sign of peace with one another.

Design & Technology

This term, our unit focus is Design & Technology, guided by the big question: “How can we care for people and our world by using sustainable materials?”

We will begin this unit by exploring the difference between wants and needs, helping students understand the things that are essential for us to live and the things that we would simply like to have. Students will also develop an awareness that people’s circumstances and access to resources can be different, and that having our basic needs met can contribute to our happiness and wellbeing.

We will also explore the importance of gratitude, with students encouraged to recognise and appreciate the people, experiences and things that contribute positively to their lives.

As part of this unit, students will also develop a range of skills to support them in designing and creating an item to sell at our school’s Mini Missions Market. This will provide an exciting opportunity for students to apply their learning in a practical and meaningful way while developing creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills. 

Literacy

In Literacy this term, our Prep students will continue to develop their independence and confidence as readers and writers through our daily PHORMES Phonics Instruction. Students will learn the sound codes ai, ay, ee, ea and igh, while continuing to consolidate the sound codes introduced throughout the year. Developing this phonics knowledge will support students to confidently decode increasingly challenging and unfamiliar words when reading.

In Reading, we will continue to place a strong focus on reading comprehension through engaging mentor texts. Students will be explicitly taught new vocabulary to support their understanding of texts and develop their ability to discuss characters, events and ideas. Students will also continue to read and write sentences containing irregular words independently, applying their growing phonics knowledge with increasing confidence.

In Writing, students will continue to use Colourful Semantics to support the development of sentence structure and strengthen their ability to write independently. They will explore a range of simple text types, including narratives, recounts and information texts, while developing their ability to communicate ideas clearly.

Handwriting will also remain an important focus, with students continuing to practise correct letter formation, consistent letter sizing and confidently writing on dotted thirds. We look forward to seeing our students continue to grow in confidence and independence as readers and writers throughout Term 4.

Mathematics

This Term we continue to cover the last few topics in Mathematics and then spend time

reviewing topics that have been covered throughout the year. 

The Victorian Curriculum encourages Prep students to confidently say, create and represent numbers to 20. Throughout Term 4, we will continue developing these foundational number skills while also exploring:

• Data
• Counting & Place Value continued
• Measurement (mass, length and capacity)
• Time 
• Revision

You can support your child's learning at home by incorporating simple number and measurement activities into your daily routines. Some great ways to practise include:

• Counting a collection of 20 objects with one-to-one correspondence.
• Partitioning numbers to 20 (for example, understanding that 10 and 4 make 14).
• Practising writing and correctly forming numerals to 20.
• Sharing collections of objects up to 20 into equal groups.
• Cooking at home

If your child is already confident working with numbers to 20, they are encouraged to extend their learning by exploring numbers beyond 20 - adding, subtracting, multipying and dividing.

A fun way to practise Mathematical skills at home is by using Uno or playing cards. Simply flip over an Uno card and use icy pole sticks to represent that amount. 

For more engaging maths ideas using Uno cards, you may also like to explore:https://rainbowskycreations.com/awesome-ways-you-can-use-uno-cards-in-maths/

Social & Emotional Learning

This term, our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program focuses on fostering empathy, caring for others and active cooperation. As our Preps continue to mature and build strong connections with one another, we are placing a strong emphasis on positive social interactions, respectful relationships and meaningful friendships. Our goal is to ensure every child feels valued and seen, while building the confidence to form new friendships as they prepare to transition into the next year level. As part of our ongoing SEL routine, students will also continue engaging in weekly mood check-ins and thoughtful Moments of GEM reflection questions, to support their self-awareness and emotional well-being.

STEM & Digital Technologies 

In STEM, students are focusing on Chemical Science where they will recognise that objects can be made of different materials and describe the observable properties of those materials.

In Digital Technologies this term, students will begin learning basic typing skills using Chromebooks in preparation for Year 1. Alongside typing skills, lessons will also introduce fundamental hardware concepts, the importance of keeping passwords private and how to independently log into their accounts.

Through our Inform & Empower framework, our digital citizenship focus will centre on screen time agency, recognising comfortable versus uncomfortable feelings online and learning strategies to manage online challenges. To reinforce these safe digital habits, we encourage families to continue monitoring screen time and maintaining active supervision of app usage at home.

Specialist Timetable

We are looking forward to another fun and engaging term of learning!

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your child’s teacher if there is anything we can do to support you in helping your child with their learning at home.

You can contact us via email or by leaving a message with the school office. We aim to respond within two working days, between 8:00am and 5:00pm.

We also encourage you to stay up to date by reading our school newsletter, which is emailed every second Monday, and by checking the Prep News Board located at the bottom of the stairs. For a glimpse into what’s happening at St John’s, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

With faith and love,

Cara Woolley & Rebecca Stuart

Prep Team

cwoolley@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

rstuart@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au