Level 3 & 4
Term 2, Week 3
We are looking forward to a wonderful week three!
A heartfelt thank you to all the family members and supporters who came along to cheer on our students at the Cross Country last Friday. We are also excited to welcome a special person to our classrooms this coming Friday, as we celebrate just how amazing you are and the important role you play in our students’ lives.
CURRICULUM
Spelling
In our new PhOrMeS lesson, SFE Job 2, students are continuing to build their understanding of how sounds and letters work together when reading and spelling. This job focuses on helping students recognise and apply common spelling patterns, strengthening their ability to decode unfamiliar words and spell more accurately. Through a range of engaging and structured activities, students are developing confidence in breaking words into parts and using strategies to support both reading and writing.
Reading
In Reading this week, our mentor text is 'Our Dreaming' by Kirli Saunders and Dub Leffler. Students will explore story structure and language features while noticing the diversity of Dreaming stories across different Aboriginal groups. This text connects strongly to our Big Idea of ‘Country,’ particularly the shared responsibility of caring for the environment and understanding our connection to the land.
Writing
In Writing, we will be inspired by our mentor text as we focus on storytelling. Students will create their own stories to share their love of the Australian environment and highlight the importance of caring for it. They will develop their use of descriptive language to vividly describe settings, characters and events, helping readers to deeply connect with the beauty of Australia and the need to protect it.
To support your child's literacy at home, you might read stories together that celebrate Australia’s natural environment and discuss the messages they share about caring for the land. Encourage your child to notice descriptive language in books and use it in their own storytelling. You could also spend time outdoors exploring local natural spaces and talking about ways we can care for and protect our environment.
Maths
In Mathematics, Grade 3 students will continue developing their understanding of time by consolidating their ability to read analogue and digital clocks, including o’clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to times. They will also build their skills in sequencing daily events and estimating time durations to support planning and organisation in real-life contexts.
To support your child at home you might involve them in planning weekend daily schedules, estimating how long activities will take, or discussing what time events begin and end to build confidence with sequencing and time management. We would also encourage your child to access the time tasks allocated in Mathletics.
Students in grade 4 will continue working on fractions. They are learning how to convert mixed numerals into improper fractions, helping them build a deeper understanding of how fractions are structured. Students are also practising ordering fractions on a number line to develop their sense of size and equivalence. Through problem-solving activities, they are applying their knowledge of fractions to real-world contexts, strengthening both their reasoning and confidence.
To support your child at home, you can involve your child in cooking or baking, asking them to measure ingredients like ½, ¾ or 1¼ cups and talk about how these amounts relate to whole numbers. Encourage them to explain their thinking when comparing or converting fractions, as talking through their reasoning builds deeper understanding and confidence.
CBL (Challenge Based Learning)
This week in our Challenge Based Learning lesson, students will explore the question: What does Country mean to Aboriginal people? We will begin by discussing what “country” means to us, before learning that for Aboriginal peoples, Country is much more than just land—it includes water, sky, animals, people, culture, and deep spiritual connections. Through videos and class discussions, students will discover that Country holds stories, ancestors, and a strong sense of belonging, and that it is something to be respected and cared for. To deepen their understanding, students will create a “Country” mind map, using words and drawings to represent these important ideas.
At home, you can support your child’s understanding by having conversations about what “place” or “home” means to your family and how people can feel connected to where they live. You might go for a walk together and notice the land, plants, animals, and waterways in your local area, discussing why it’s important to care for them. Encouraging your child to share what they learned about Aboriginal perspectives of Country, and even adding to their mind map with new ideas or drawings, can help deepen their understanding and respect for this important concept.
Wellbeing
SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support)
We are encouraging students to “Be a Learner” outside by accepting and following the rules of games. This helps students play fairly, stay safe, and include others during break times. By understanding and respecting game rules, students are developing important skills such as cooperation, problem-solving, and resilience, supporting positive and enjoyable experiences for everyone.
Respectful Relationships
Students will participate in a second Positive Coping lesson, where they will explore helpful ways to manage strong emotions and everyday challenges. Students will discuss different coping strategies, such as taking deep breaths, talking to a trusted person, or taking a short break, and when to use them. Through class activities and discussions, they will learn that everyone experiences big feelings at times, and that using positive coping strategies can help them stay calm, make good choices, and build resilience.
Kitchen Garden
We rely on the support of our wonderful parent helpers to ensure this program is safe and successful. We also warmly welcome help from extended family such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles. If you or a family member are able to spare some time to support the program, the sign up link is:
We post our recipes on Showbie for students who would like to recreate the amazing dishes they make in our cooking classes.
Please use the Showbie code below if your child would like to access these recipes:
9JYVE
INFORMATION & REMINDERS
Term Two Dates
May
8th – Mother’s Day Morning
19th – District Cross Country (Grade 4 selected students)
26th – National Sorry Day
27th – National Reconciliation Week
June
1st – Curriculum Day
2nd – Division Cross Country
3rd – Mabo Day
10th - Melbourne Museum Excursion (notice will be sent this week)