Year 5/6

Welcome

We’re diving into a short but action-packed 9-week term! With swimming now ticked off, students have already made a strong start and are settling quickly back into routines. There’s still plenty to look forward to, with exciting learning experiences, hands-on projects, and great opportunities for students to grow in independence and teamwork. Let’s make every week count!

5/6AP

Natalie Arthontis (Monday- Wednesday) /Daniella Polites (Thursday-Friday)

5/6DW

Sarah De Guzman-Wettenhall 

5/6M

Joachim Min Fa

5/6V

Martin Darcy

Literacy

This term, Year 5 and Year 6 students will explore two engaging texts: Dirrarn and Waves. With the structured support of the Ochre Resources, they will expand their vocabulary, develop sentence expansion skills, explore the use of appositives, and further their understanding of punctuation in writing. These learning experiences are designed to help students build on their comprehension and ability to communicate their thoughts on the texts clearly. 

In Writing lessons, students will look at the features of factual reports. They will learn to structure information, use appropriate sentence structure, and incorporate topic-specific vocabulary to inform and engage the reader. Students will also practise researching and organising information logically, focusing on paragraphing, subheadings, and the effective use of visuals such as diagrams or tables where appropriate.

Mathematics

Students will complete a one-hour daily mathematics lesson. There will be a focus this term on:

Weeks 1 & 3:  Fractions and Decimals 

Weeks 4 & 5: Angles

Weeks 6 - 8: Measurement 

Week 9: Time

To help reinforce key mathematical concepts and strengthen students' long-term memory, we will continue to incorporate daily 10-minute reviews at the start of each Maths lesson. Each student will have their whiteboard and marker, allowing them to participate and share their answers quickly and actively. Teachers will also use high-participation strategies to make these reviews and lessons effective and engaging, such as Think, Pair, Share, Choral Response and Reversal, Non-Volunteers and Gestures.

Practising number facts regularly at home will benefit the students greatly.

SPECIALIST SUBJECTS

Students will have Performing Arts, Italian, Physical Education and Art every Monday. Please ensure that the correct Sports Uniform is worn. Please note that these days may change depending on the Prep-2 swimming schedule in Weeks 6-7.

LIBRARY BORROWING TIMES

All classes will borrow books on Tuesdays each fortnight. Students must ensure that all books they borrow from the library are returned during their non-library week. They must also have an appropriate Library Bag (not plastic) to protect their books. Students have been encouraged during their non-library week to come into the Library on a Tuesday and Wednesday, 8.30-8.45 am, if they wish to return and borrow more books.

Religious Education 

This term, in Religious Education, we will focus on the Sacrament of Confirmation, as some of our Year 6 students prepare to receive this important sacrament. Students will begin by exploring each of the seven sacraments in detail, learning about the unique symbols, rituals, and significance of each within the Catholic tradition. Following this, the focus will shift to the lives of the Saints, as students research and select a Saint to guide and inspire them on their faith journey. As part of this process, each student will complete a project on their chosen Saint, deepening their understanding of the qualities and virtues that make Saints role models in our faith.

Wellbeing

Congratulations to our new Semester Two PBL Captains!! They will continue to attend weekly meetings with Mrs Lloyd. They are responsible for reporting back their student voice to their class on issues within the school, offering suggestions on how they can be resolved respectfully. In addition, they have been asking their peers for feedback on possible solutions or issues affecting them.  Mrs Lloyd and the Student Voice Team have created a child-friendly version of the Child Safety Policy, which each class has discussed and will refer to throughout the year.  Our students engage in short, targeted lessons designed to build strong learning behaviours each week. These lessons focus on key skills such as respect, resilience, collaboration, and responsibility, helping students academically and socially grow. By reinforcing these positive behaviours, we aim to create a supportive, focused, and inclusive learning environment for all. Each class will continue to use the Class Dojo Reward System to acknowledge those students who display these values in all areas of their school life.

Inquiry

This term, students in Years 5 and 6 are exploring important topics about government, laws, citizenship and Australian history. 

In Civics and Citizenship, we’re learning about the three levels of government in Australia—Local, State and Federal—and the roles and responsibilities each level has in our society. Students are also discovering how laws are made and enforced, and learning about key institutions like the police and courts, as well as the legal rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens.

We’re also exploring different types of citizenship, including what it means to be a responsible citizen in our local community, state, country, and even as a global or digital citizen.

In History, we’re looking back at the migration stories of people who came to Australia between the 1800s and 1900s, including why they came, what their lives were like, and how they contributed to the colonies. We’re also studying how Australian democracy and citizenship have changed since Federation, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, women, migrants, and children. Students will explore the reasons people migrated to Australia in the 20th century and how those migrations helped shape modern Australian society.

It’s an exciting unit that helps students understand the past and their place in the world today!

Homework

In line with our St Andrew’s Homework Policy, it is an expectation that Year Five and Year Six students complete the following as homework tasks:

• 20 minutes of reading per night to be recorded in their diary ( Title, pages/chapters read)
• 10-15 minutes of other tasks per night as set by the 5/6 teaching team. This will generally be 1-2 weekly Literacy/R.E./Maths/Inquiry task(s) linked to our current classroom learning.

Our Homework program aims to strengthen home-school partnerships and reaffirm the role of parents and guardians as partners in education. It is an opportunity for students to reinforce and share their classroom learning and develop productive routines and time management skills.

Classroom Organisation

• Any student needing to bring a mobile to school must hand it in to the classroom teacher in the morning. All phones will be returned before the end of the school day. 
• Sports shoes are only worn on Mondays  (Specialists). Children are expected to bring their Library Bags to school on designated Library days. 
• Students are expected to use their Chromebooks responsibly at school and home. When carrying their Chromebooks to and from school, they are expected to use the Chromebook case supplied by the school. Please note that parents and guardians are responsible for monitoring their children while using their Chromebooks at home. Students are encouraged to use their Chromebooks in a shared space. It is expected that Chromebooks will be charged in readiness for the school day.

Key Dates 2025

Term Three 

August

Friday 15th August - School Closure Day

Wednesday 20th August - Book Week Dress Up - PJs

28th August - BDS District Athletics - Duncan McKinnon 

29th August- Neds Resilience Ride Performance - whole school in Hall

September

2nd September - 5/6 History Incursion Drama toolbox

4th September - Father’s Day Stall

5th September - School Closure Day

15th September - Parent Teacher Interviews

18th September - Sacrament of Confirmation 5pm Mass (Reflection Day at School)

 Learning Celebrations

19th September - End of Term Three 

As dates can be subject to change, please check the school newsletter weekly.

How to Contact Us:

We would like to see ourselves as the first point of contact regarding your child’s learning. Please feel free to contact us by the following: We politely request that there is an understanding that emails will be responded to within 48 hours and within 8.00 am-4.45 pm.                              

Natalie Arthontis   narhontis@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Martin Darcy     mdarcy@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Sarah De Guzman-Wettenhall:    sdeguzman@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Joachim Min Fa: jminfa@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Daniella Polites:   dpolites@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

SPECIALIST PROGRAMS

L.O.T.E. Italian

Dear parents, welcome to Term 3.

Ciao a tutti,

This term, the students in Years Five and Six will continue to extend their vocabulary knowledge and deepen their understanding of grammar through the topic of La sfilata di moda. The focus in this unit of work is for the students to learn and understand cultural differences between Italy and Australia, concerning fashion. The students will begin the term by revising the names of items of clothing and the vocabulary for adjectives. They will be introduced to the many Italian fashion designers, thus gaining an insight into the popular cultural aspects of Italian fashion and fashion parades.

They will learn about the Italians' cultural emphasis on looking good and being stylish, as well as their tradition of dressing well, whether they are going for a walk, shopping, or going to the theatre. The students will make comparisons with Australia, highlighting the similarities and the differences in the way people dress and will present their findings in a Venn diagram.

They will also learn the present tense of the verb ‘to wear’ through scaffolded activities. By recycling familiar sentence structures and new language, the students will complete varied structured tasks, such as descriptions, posters, quizzes, translations, and cloze activities. During the lessons, the students will participate in games and quizzes to reinforce their knowledge and understanding of the new vocabulary and grammar.

Cordiali saluti,                                                                                                                                                Signora White 

Physical Education

Welcome to term three!

The 5/6 students have already had a busy start to the term by completing their swimming program. Well done to all for their efforts and the growth they have shown throughout the program!

On 28th August, some students will be attending District Athletics at Duncan Mackinnon. If your child has been selected to be on the Athletics team to represent St Andrews, please complete the permission form on Operoo, which has further information.

The sports we will focus on this term will be badminton, sof crosse, and basketball. A significant emphasis will be on working well with others, showing good sportsmanship throughout group activities, and communicating effectively during games. We are excited for another fun term ahead! 

We look forward to a fun term of learning!

Miss Puetz 

Art

Welcome to the Art Room – Term 3

Dear Families,

Welcome back to the art room for Term 3! Although it’s a shorter term, it’s shaping up to be a creative and exciting one, jam-packed with wonderful projects and activities.

We’ve already hit the ground running, preparing thoughtful and meaningful artwork to support the upcoming Confirmation celebrations. Students are putting great care into their creations, and we’re proud of their efforts so far.

Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to be contributing to the end-of-term school music production with some fun and vibrant décor – a great opportunity for students to see their art come to life in a whole new way!

With Father's Day just around the corner and Book Week approaching quickly, students will be busy designing and creating with purpose and imagination. We’ll also be exploring alternative art tools and experimenting with different watercolour techniques to build skills and spark creativity.

It’s going to be a wonderful term of making, learning, and expressing ourselves through art. Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

 Mrs. Milena Santoro 🎨

Performing Arts

Hi 5/6 Students and Families,

Welcome to another term of performing arts to our 5/6 students and families!  We will be continuing the focus of this term on practising and perfecting material for Mary Poppins Jr.  Students will be using the Mary Poppins songs and script to practice a more specific set of performance skills, including:

• Pitching their voice through singing, going from chest to head voice using their diaphragm and vocal strength.
• Ensuring that they can sing their part, which may be different to others without backup.
• Emoting through singing to convey a message or feeling.
• Perfecting movement skills including timing, use of space, individual body movement, energy levels and actions to planned choreography.
• Conveying a message or feeling through dance whilst maintaining accuracy in choreography.
• Combining acting, choreography and lyrics to give an overall performance.
• Memorising the script and applying their interpretation of a scene to convey the idea, theme or message using body language, voice and facial expressions.

I’d encourage all students participating to learn their lines and songs as soon as possible! Performances will be on the 10th and 11th of September, and more specific information will come out via Audiri very soon.  Students involved in the production will be required to attend both nights, if possible.

Once the production is finished, we’ll enjoy some more music training, learning a few more complex ukulele chords before the end of term.  Once we can transition between the four primary chords, we’ll start exploring more difficult play-along songs to standard pop songs.  Any (appropriate) suggestions for songs are welcome; please feel free to encourage students to explore songs they like and let me know.

Lastly, we hope you will come and see Mary Poppins Jr on either the 10th or 11th of September, we’d love to see you and your families and friends there!

Here’s to a great term!

Mrs Emma Cooper

Library News

In the lead-up to Book Week 2025 (August 16th - 23rd), our 5/6 students have been diving into the imaginative worlds of some of Australia’s most inspiring storytellers. Each student has chosen an author from this year’s CBCA shortlisted books whose stories captured their interest, and they’ve begun exploring what makes these authors so engaging, from their writing style and recurring themes to what inspires them to write for young readers.

As part of their research, students are creating informative and eye-catching posters to showcase what they’ve learned. Using images, subheadings, and creative layouts, these posters will highlight key facts about their chosen author and celebrate the stories that spark curiosity, build empathy, and help young readers explore new worlds.

We can’t wait to share their work as we Book an Adventure together and celebrate the power of storytelling during Book Week 2025!

Best wishes - Mrs Daniella Polites