Wonga Weeklies
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Level 5 & 6 

Welcome

Last week provided some wonderful opportunities for our school community to come together. Our ANZAC Day Assembly was a respectful and meaningful occasion, with students showing thoughtful reflection.

 

We also enjoyed a fantastic whole-school Cross Country, where students demonstrated determination, resilience and great sportsmanship. It was wonderful to see so many students supporting one another.

 

We look forward to building on this positive start as we continue through the term.

Curriculum

Literacy

In Literacy, students will continue reading our class novel, Who Am I? by Anita Heiss. Through this text, students will focus on developing vocabulary, strengthening comprehension skills and responding thoughtfully to what they read.

 

Students will also be building their understanding of sentence structure by exploring phrases and clauses, and how these can be combined to create more detailed and engaging sentences. This will support students in expanding their writing and improving the clarity and flow of their ideas.

 

Students will also begin making connections between a range of texts, including The Rabbits by Shaun Tan and Where History Happened. They will explore how different authors present ideas about Australia’s history and use these insights to begin constructing a timeline of Australian history using Keynote. This timeline will continue to be added to throughout the term as students build their knowledge and understanding.

 

In spelling, students will continue with the PhOrMes program, focusing on Greek word origins, particularly the root “bio” (meaning life). This program supports students in recognising patterns in words and developing a deeper understanding of vocabulary.

 

What you can do at home:

  • Encourage your child to discuss what they are reading and explain key events or ideas.
  • Explore new vocabulary together, particularly words related to “bio” (e.g. biology, biography).
  • Talk about connections between texts, films or historical events to build deeper understanding.

 

Numeracy

In Numeracy, students will be exploring three-dimensional shapes and objects.

Grade 5 students will focus on identifying and creating nets of 3D objects, including prisms and pyramids. They will apply their understanding through a rich task, Package Creator, where they will design and construct their own 3D packaging.

Grade 6 students will investigate 3D objects and their cross-sections, learning how to identify and describe shapes formed when objects are sliced in different ways. They will also identify and describe right prisms and apply their understanding through a rich task, Cross-Section Engineers.

 

What you can do at home:

  • Look for 3D objects around the home and discuss their shapes and features.
  • Encourage your child to draw or build nets using paper or cardboard.
  • Discuss how objects might look if sliced in different ways (e.g. cutting fruit or food items).

 

CBL (Challenge Based Learning)

This week, students will begin exploring our second guiding question: How did colonisation impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cultures?

Students will investigate key events in Australia’s history, taking notes and adding their learning to the timeline they are creating in Literacy lessons. This will support them in developing a deeper understanding of historical perspectives and the lasting impacts of colonisation.

 

What you can do at home:

  • Have age-appropriate conversations about Australia’s history and its impact on different groups.
  • Encourage your child to share what they are learning and ask questions to deepen understanding.
  • Explore books, documentaries or trusted websites together to support learning.

 

Wellbeing

Respectful Relationships

Students will begin Topic 3: Positive Coping, with a focus on understanding self-talk. They will explore how their inner voice can influence thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and begin developing strategies to support positive thinking.

SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support)

Our SWPBS focus is Be Safe in Learning Spaces. Students will practise expectations such as keeping their workspace tidy and pushing in their chairs. These behaviours will be explicitly taught through our Tell, Show, Practise approach to support consistency across the school.

Term Two Important Dates

May

  • 8th – Mother’s Day Morning
  • 15th – Clifford Park Excursion (more details to come)
  • 19th – District Cross Country
  • 26th – National Sorry Day
  • 27th – National Reconciliation Week
  • 29th – Clifford Park Excursion (more details to come)

June

  • 1st – Curriculum Day
  • 2nd – Division Cross Country
  • 3rd – Mabo Day
  • 4th – Gala Sports Day 1
  • 9th–17th – Somers Camp (selected students)
  • 19th – Gala Sports Day 2