Year 5/6 Term 1 Overview
Welcome to the 2025 school year! It has been an exciting start to the year with new teachers joining our 5/6 team, along with our amazing Learning Support Officers.
Our classes are as follows:
5/6A - Tracey Farrar, Elina Li (Tuesday) and Kim Wilson
5/6B - Marisa Box, (Tues-Fri) Amanda Hill, (Monday), Julie Carroll (Mon-Wed) and Louise Farrell (Tues-Fri)
5/6C - Allison Bayliss, Elina Li (Thursday) and Keyla Gleciano
Religious Education
In Religious Education this term, we will begin with using scripture to help us unpack the meaning of HOPE from our Catholic faith. Together we will be looking at relevant parables and Bible stories from the New and Old Testament, where the teachings of courage can be explored more deeply. Lent will commence our journey into Easter, where the focus will be on The Stations of the Cross, leading to Jesus’ crucifixion.
Inquiry
Our first term unit of learning will be closely linked to our theme of hope. We will be seeking to answer our ‘Big Question’
How can the choices I make help me to build a healthy, balanced and connected life while contributing positively to my community?
This question will provide the opportunity to investigate the role of preventing and maintaining health, safety and wellbeing for individuals and their communities.
English
This term, the senior students will develop their reading comprehension, speaking, listening and writing skills based on the assessments carried out at the beginning of the year. During our reading time students will be exposed to a variety of text types, to develop their comprehension skills. They will have opportunities to discuss ideas and share their opinions about the text. The students will do this in teacher focus groups and through taking an in-depth look at our class novel, ‘Wonder’ by RJ Palacio. Students will also have access to Reading Eggs and other online activities, to practise and develop their new learning.
This term in Writing, the senior students will be focusing on creating narrative texts. During this time they will focus on developing the text structure of their writing and adding language features for emphasis. Students will write for a range of purposes and audiences. They will also work on spelling, vocabulary and punctuation.
Mathematics
In Mathematics this term students will consolidate their understanding of data representation, place value, Perimeter and area and solving problems using the four operations.
In this they will-
- Create and interpret various graphs and tables to represent data.
- Practise recall of known number facts and build mental calculation strategies.
- Recognise, represent and order numbers to at least, and beyond, hundreds of thousands and recognise numbers also extend beyond hundredths
- Solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division including decimals and fractions.
- Calculate the area and perimeter of regular and irregular objects using appropriate metric units
Social Emotional Learning
This term in SEL our whole school focus is on Positive behaviour for learning (PBL) and what our modified matrix now looks like. For Year 5/6 students, this will include setting shared expectations to address safety in our learning and shared spaces, as well as building respectful relationships with our peers and teachers, and showing responsibility in our learning. Student leaders from all leadership areas will also have opportunities to engage in activities to develop their leadership skills over the year. We will also be beginning our work with The Resilience Project (TRP) and each 5/6 classroom will be participating in weekly TRP lessons and journaling to support in the development of their gratitude, empathy, mindfulness and emotional literacy. We are very excited to be starting this journey.
Home Learning
Home learning will once again be given to students in the 5/6 area on a fortnightly basis beginning in week 4 of this term. They will receive a matrix of curriculum based activities, with occasional supplementary activities such as maths practise or spelling. Students are also encouraged to read on a daily basis, aiming for approximately 15-20 minutes per day. We see home learning as a terrific opportunity for students to develop and improve in their organisational skills as well as time management in preparation for high school, and greatly appreciate family support with this.
Weekly Specialist Timetable
5/6 A
Wednesday - Chinese
Thursday - Visual Arts
Friday - P.E. and Performing Arts
5/6 B
Wednesday -Chinese
Thursday - P.E.
Friday-Performing Arts and Visual Arts
5/6 C
Wednesday- Chinese
Thursday - Performing Arts
Friday - Visual Arts and P.E.
Please note in your calendars:
Opening school Mass- Friday Feb 14 @10am
Excursion to Healesville Sanctuary- Monday Feb 17
Parent Curriculum Information Evening- Tuesday Feb 18 @7pm
Founders Day Mass -Sunday Feb 23 @10.45
District Swimming- Wednesday Feb 26
Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences- Thursday Feb 27
Twilight Sports- Monday March 3
Labour Day (No school) - Monday March 10
School Photos - Thursday March 13
NAPLAN - March 12-24 TBC
Last day of term - Friday April 4 @1pm
All other school dates will be on the school online calendar
Communication
Effective communication between family and school is an important factor in a student’s learning. Please make contact with us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
We will endeavour to respond to emails within 24 hours, during weekdays.
tfarrar@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
abayliss@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
mbox@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
