Achilles 

Dear Year 2 Families,

As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding term, we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and to celebrate all that your children have achieved.

It’s been a fantastic term filled with curiosity, creativity, and growth. There has been a lot of exciting learning in literacy and maths to hands-on learning, class projects, and special events. Year 2 has been buzzing with energy and enthusiasm. We’ve been especially proud of the way the children have shown increased independence, resilience, and kindness towards one another.

Reading

In September, students had the opportunity to explore some environmental topics through reading fantastic model books such as Clean Up!, Saving Seal, Where the Forest Meets the Sea, and Rosy Dock. These readings not only helped them engage in discussions about what and how to protect our environment and animals, but they also got to compare a variety of natural settings, such as a green rainforest and a dry desert. Students explored how these different settings create different images and feelings in our minds.

Teachers also introduced children to literacy concepts and skills, including identifying and describing characters and settings, developing comprehension skills to find the main idea, interpreting the meaning of images in the books, and grammar concepts such as identifying nouns and verbs.

Writing

Year 2 has been writing information reports. We enjoyed researching topics and exploring the vocabulary around these topics, we have been learning how to write compound sentences and the importance of separating our ideas into paragraphs. We wrote an informat

Maths

In Maths this month, students explored a variety of concepts. They learned to use bar models to understand multiplication, and practised sorting, making, and naming 3D shapes. They collected data using tallies, then transferred this information into bar graphs and pictographs, and asked and answered meaningful questions using the graphs. Students also compared the mass of different objects by estimating, using balance scales, and measuring with informal units.

Inquiry

Year 2 has been learning about living and non-living things and their life cycles. We have also been learning about animals and how their bodies adapt in different environments to survive and how they are affected by environmental factors such as climate change, We had an amazing visit to the Nangak Wildlife Sanctuary where we were able to make connections to our in class learning and have some amazing hands on experiences. We went on a nature walk, found living insects in water, did some planting and constructed bird boxes.

SEL

In SEL Year 2 has been practicing different ways we can be mindful and doing strategies such as yoga, guided drawing and dance. We have also been reflecting and learning about how to have gratitude. We enjoyed 'checking in' with our feelings and seeing how we felt before and after doing calm activities.

As we head into the break, we encourage your child to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with family. A little bit of reading each day, some fun writing or drawing, and plenty of play will help keep their minds active and ready for the new term ahead.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the school year.

Regards,

Britt, Kartia, Natalia, Shaveta, Belinda, Anne and Tamanna