BOROONDARA PARK PRESS

From the Foundation, Year 1 & 2 Classrooms

Welcome back to Term 2, we hope everyone had a restful and relaxing break! It was lovely to see the students back at school for our shortened first week back and hear what everyone got up to on the school holidays!

 

During Week 1 the Foundation, Year 1 and 2 students completed our Start Up Program, a series of lessons focusing on revisiting our school values, Zones of Regulation, what makes a good friend and what makes an effective learner.

 

School values:

 

Our school values of Respect, Care, Responsibility and Inclusion were revisited, looking at what students can do to show respect and inclusion in the classroom, playground, assembly and on excursions. Students then explored ways they show care and responsibility. It was great to see students coming up with so many examples of how they embody our school values and examples of them.

 

What makes an effective learner?

Students looked at what an effective learner does, says, is and is not. Students identified an effective learner

 

Does...

  • share ideas 
  • not give up 
  • pick up rubbish 
  • teamwork 
  • ask questions 

Says...

  • I can do it 
  • I believe in myself 
  • I can be a good learner
  • I can help you 

Is...

  • kind to others
  • caring
  • supportive 
  • confident 
  • brave 
  • helpful 

Is not...

  • mean
  • silly 
  • annoys others 
  • lazy

What makes me a good friend?

We asked students to think about their friendships and why they believe they are a good friend and what qualities they like about their own friends. Students then chose 8 words to describe what makes them a good friend. Some qualities were

  • kind 
  • funny 
  • respectful 
  • shares
  • joyful
  • listens
  • smiles 
  • positivity

 

 

Zones of Regulation:

We revisited our Zones of Regulation, looking at what each of the zones means and some emotions we might feel in each zone. We discussed times we might feel in each zone and strategies for managing ourselves. Students worked through a booklet where they had to draw a picture of themselves in each zone feeling a certain emotion, 3 face/body clues and identify a time they might feel in that zone. In each of the classrooms there are posters up of the four zones and emotions associated with each zone. Last term we discussed how we can help each other when we are not in the green zone. 

 

We had a great week completing our Start Up program and are excited for the upcoming busy Term 2!

 

Foundation Echi Echidna Adventures

At the beginning of Week 1 Term 2,  Maisie was the next FKJ student to share her exciting adventures with Echi Echidna. Echi was such a lucky fellow as he stayed the whole holidays with Maisie and her family! Echi's first adventure with Maisie was spending a lovely, sunny day at Sorrento back beach. Echi and Maisie dug in the sand, paddled in the water and looked for shells on the beach. His next adventure with Maisie was to go to Maisie's mum's work. Echi learnt so much at this work place! Next Echi and Maisie visited the local playground that has an exciting rocket ship that you can climb to the top. How far did you climb Echi? The last adventure was so exciting! At the end of the holidays Maisie and her family celebrated Easter and Echi and Maisie had fun collecting Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. What fun! I wonder how many eggs were found and how many were eaten?

 

  Thank you so much Maisie for sharing your fantastic adventures with our grade. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to the fun times you had with Echi!

 

In Week 2 Carter happily shared his exciting Echi adventures with the class. Carter had more fun adventures with this cuddly fellow! First Carter took Echi to the Melbourne Museum and they saw enormous, huge dinosaur bones! Echi was so amazed at how much taller these bone were to him! Echi met Carter's friend Jude which was lovely! Next Echi went to Carter's Nan and Pa's house and ate some delicious scones with jam, cream and raspberries. Yummy! The following day Carter took Echi to his swimming lesson. Echi showed Carter how well he could swim. Carter was very impressed! Some other activities that Carter showed Echi were his tennis lesson as well as a bike ride to Possum Hollow. Echi was trying to see if there were any of his possum friends hiding in trees at this park! The last fun activity that Carter did with Echi was to  take him to the local recycling collection centre. Echi helped Carter to count the bottles and cans that went into the recycling machine. Wow Carter! You took Echi on so many fun adventures! Thank you for sharing this week with your grade - we thoroughly enjoyed listening to your fun tales!

 

 

 

We look forward to seeing and hearing more Echi adventures this term!

 

Kind regards, 

The Foundation, Year 1 and 2 Teachers