Damascus Community

Dear Families,

We hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend and had some time to relax with family and friends. 

Although it has been a shorter school week, our Year 2 students have been busy learning and commencing their end-of-year assessments. It has been pleasing to see students working hard, staying focused and giving their best effort

We are super excited about our Year 2 excursion to Werribee Zoo next week Tuesday, 10 November! It will be  wonderful opportunity for students to explore, discover and make connections with their classroom learning. We are looking forward to a fun and memorable day together!

Please take some time to look at the Werribee Zoo social story (link below).  There is necessary information about the excursion

Religious Education:

What does it mean to truly help someone? Students will revisit stories from the Bible to explore how Jesus teaches us about compassion, generosity and respect. They will learn that helping others means listening, understanding their needs and respecting their dignity. Students will also reflect on how these teachings encourage us to make thoughtful choices, care for others and build a welcoming community.

English:

How can adding letters to a word change its meaning? Students will explore the word endings -able and -ible, which mean can be, such as enjoyable (something that can be enjoyed). They will practise breaking words into smaller parts to help them read, understand and spell new words. Students also completed their Reading Adaptive Test and Vocabulary Skills Test to show what they have learnt.

 How can we protect the things we care about? Students will compare The Boy and the Elephant and The Lorax, exploring how people's choices can affect the natural environment. They will identify similarities and differences between the stories and discuss how characters show care and responsibility through their actions. Students will use evidence from both texts to explain causes and consequences and explore the importance of caring for our natural world. This learning connects closely with our Werribee Zoo excursion, where students will have the opportunity to see animals and their habitats firsthand and develop a greater understanding of why protecting our environment matters.  

 Mathematics:

How can bar models help us solve maths problems? Students will learn to use bar models to solve addition and subtraction word problems. They will practise identifying the parts and the whole and deciding which information they need to find the answer. This visual strategy will help students build their problem-solving skills and explain their mathematical thinking.

Integrated Curriculum:

How do places change over time? Students will explore the difference between natural changes, such as flowers growing and opening, and human-made changes, such as building playgrounds. They will learn to identify what causes these changes and explain whether they happen through nature or because of people's actions.

Auslan:

Can you describe an animal using only your hands and movements? Students will learn Auslan signs for giraffe, tiger, lion, monkey, elephant and deer, exploring how movements help represent different animals. They will practise remembering signs and build their confidence communicating in Auslan.

Social & Emotional Learning:

What can we do when we feel unsafe or uncomfortable? Students will revise the NO, GO, TELL safety strategy. They will practise saying no, moving to a safe place and telling a trusted adult when something does not feel right. We will also reinforce the importance of continuing to tell a trusted adult until someone listens and helps.

• Reading: Look for words ending in -able and -ible, such as enjoyable and possible. Talk about what these words mean.
• Mathematics: Make up simple addition and subtraction stories using everyday objects. Encourage your child to identify the parts and the whole.

• Caring for Nature: Take a walk around your local streets and notice the trees, plants and animals. Talk about how people change these places and what your family can do to care for the environment.

   

Important Classroom Reminders:

• Hats and Water Bottles: Bring a named school hat and a drink bottle containing water only each day.
• Belongings: Clearly label hats, jumpers and jackets.
• Reading Books: Change reading books regularly.
• Spare Clothes: Keep spare clothes, including socks and underwear, in your child's school bag.
• Toys and Fidgets: Please leave these at home unless they are part of an approved school adjustment.

Important Dates to Remember:

• Tues 10th November- Werribee Zoo Excursion. Be at school by 7:30am. Leaving at 7:45am
• Wed 11th November- Remembrance Day
• Mon 30th November- P-2 Athletics Day @ Casey Fields
• Tues 1st December- School Christmas Carols
• Wed 2nd December- Year 1hosting Mass- Year 2 attending
• Friday 11th December- Last day of formal classes

Keep yourself happy and enjoy your weekend.

The Damascus Team

Contact us @Damascus

damascus@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au  (all teachers) or