Year 1/2 Term 1 Overview

𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝟣/𝟤  𝒯𝑒𝓇𝓂 𝟣 𝒪𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌                           

Welcome to 2025!  We are looking forward to a productive and enjoyable year together. This year our 1/2 teaching team consists of Clorinda Maio, Naomi Ryan and Ange Crowe. Our wonderful LSOs are Sarah Gole, Prue Forer (1/2A) and Amina Zaheer (1/2B). 

Important notes:

• Please remember that hats and sunscreen are to be worn in Term 1 and there is a strict ‘No Hat No Play’ policy for all students in the school. 
• Year 1 students have a set of named headphones at school that were used in Prep. Could all Year 2 students (and any new students) please bring a set of named over-ear headphones to school. These will be kept for exclusive use by your child only.
• Reading Records will be used this year to track individual reading at home with an adult. In addition to focus groups and one on one activities, students will read an easy, independent text each day with a teacher or LSO and then bring this same book home to read aloud to a Parent or Guardian. 
• Please sign/initial beside the name of the book when your child reads at home.

Inquiry/Religious Education

Our Inquiry unit this term invites students to wonder  about ‘How can my strengths bring hope to others and the world?’ We will examine scripture through shared readings and Godly play. This year we also celebrate the Jubilee year of HOPE. It is a special year where people focus on being kind, hopeful and forgiving. It is an international celebration where everyone tries to be their best selves and help others too. In preparation for the beginning of Lent, the students will learn about the meaning of Ash Wednesday and towards the end of the term, the students will delve deeper into the special events surrounding Holy Week in the lead up to Easter. 

Mathematics

To begin the school year, we have been individually testing the children on their mathematical skills in order to guide our teaching and monitor their progress throughout the year. Our specific areas of focus this term will include data, place value, addition and subtraction. We will continue to focus on developing fluency, problem solving skills, reasoning and problem solving. We ask that you continue to support your child at home by utilising the Mathletics program a few times per week. 

Literacy 

Students will read, explore, write and analyse a range of text types with the overarching purpose of entertaining the reader. Through explicit modelling and instruction, students will learn the features of various text types and plan, draft and write their own texts. Students will continue to develop spelling strategies, decoding skills and literal and inferential comprehension skills by reading and viewing a variety of stories and texts in whole class reading lessons and small focus groups. Spelling activities will be sent home to practise each week and students are expected to read every day at home with an adult to support their reading and comprehension. Please initial/sign their Reading Record each day when you hear your child read aloud. 

Social & Emotional Learning

Students will begin the term learning about our School Wide Positive Behaviour Matrix. As a whole school, we will begin learning about The Resilience Project. Each student receives their own journal/workbook to develop their emotional literacy and personal and social wellbeing strategies. 

Specialists

Please see the timetable below for specialist lessons. 

IMPORTANT DATES: 

• Friday, 14 February - Opening School Mass 10am
• Tuesday, 18 February - 1/2A Class Mass 10am
• Tuesday, 18 February - Parent Information Evening 
• Sunday, 23 February - Founders Day Mass 9.45am
• Tuesday, 25 February - 1/2B Class Mass at 10am
• Thursday, 27 February - Parent Teacher Student Conferences
• Monday, 3 March - Twilight Sports 4.30 - 7.30pm
• Wednesday, 5 March - Ash Wednesday Mass
• Thursday, 6 March - Prep and New Families Welcome Dinner with Year 1 families 6pm
• Thursday, 13 March - School Photo Day 
• Monday, 17 March - Harmony Day
• Friday, 21 March - St Patrick’s Day Mass
• Monday, 31 March - Stations of the Cross 
• Friday, 4 April - Last day of Term 1

We can be reached via email, or leave a message at the office, and we will endeavour to respond within two working days between 8am and 5pm. 

Kind regards,

1/2A - Clorinda Maio cmaio@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au (Mon-Fri)

1/2B - Naomi Ryan nryan@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Friday)

1/2B - Ange Crowe acrowe@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au (Wed)