Year 3 

Spotlight on Learning

Dear Families, 

Students have completed another amazing week of learning, respect and safety in the Ephesus Community in Week 7.

Friendly Reminders:

• Monday 16th March is 3-6 ATHLETICS DAY

Students will walk to Casey Fields and can be picked up from Casey Fields at 2pm or back at school at Home Time. 

Grade 3's will participate in:  

• Please remember to provide cutlery from home if required for your child's lunch.

                     Week 7's Learning Focuses:

Religions Education: Stations of the Cross

The students learned about the 14 Stations of the Cross, from when Jesus was condemned to death to when he was laid in the tomb. The Grade 3 students learned that although Jesus suffered greatly, he never gave up, even when he fell while carrying the cross. This reminded us of Jesus’ great sacrifice and his love for us.

                                                 The 14 Stations are:

1.  Jesus is condemned to death – Jesus is sentenced to die.
2.  Jesus takes up his cross – Jesus begins carrying the cross.
3.  Jesus falls the first time – He is tired and falls but keeps going.
4.  Jesus meets his mother – Mary sees Jesus and comforts him.
5.  Simon helps Jesus carry the cross – A man helps Jesus because it is heavy.
6.  Veronica wipes Jesus’ face – A kind woman wipes his face.
7.  Jesus falls the second time – Jesus falls again but keeps walking.
8.  Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem – He encourages the women who are sad.
9.  Jesus falls the third time – Jesus falls once more but does not give up.
10.  Jesus is stripped of his clothes – Soldiers take his clothes.
11.  Jesus is nailed to the cross – Jesus is put on the cross.
12.  Jesus dies on the cross – Jesus gives up his life for us.
13.  Jesus is taken down from the cross – His friends take his body down.
14.  Jesus is placed in the tomb – Jesus is laid in a tomb.

English: 

This week, we will finish reading Matilda by Roald Dahl. The students have been enjoying discovering the exciting story of Miss Honey and learning about the challenges she faces. They were especially intrigued to find out about her strict and frightening aunt, Miss Trunchbull, and how her actions affect Miss Honey’s life. The class has loved exploring the characters, their personalities, and the adventures that make the story so memorable! 

We will begin reading:

Yirra and Her Deadly Dog, Demon tells the story of Yirra and her mischievous dog, Demon. He causes all sorts of trouble, and Yirra must learn responsibility as she tries to train him. The story is funny, heartwarming, and full of adventure!

Mathematics: Place Value

We have been focusing on partitioning and bridging to tens or hundreds. 

Partitioning for Grade 3 is a math strategy where a number is broken into smaller parts to make it easier to understand or calculate. 

Bridging to tens or hundreds is a mental maths strategy that helps Grade 3 students add or subtract numbers more easily by first getting to the nearest 10 or 100.

Auslan: 

Students practiced identifying the handshape, location and movement of signs. 

NAPLAN:  

The Grade 3 students have successfully completed the NAPLAN assessments, which included reading, writing, language conventions, and mathematics. They approached the tests with focus and a positive attitude, showing resilience and patience even when technical issues arose. We are proud of the effort they put in and the calm, determined way they handled the challenges throughout the assessment period.

How you can support at home:  Families are key partners in supporting school learning, and there are many easy and practical ways to help at home.

Some suggestions:

• Chat with your child about what they thought of the NAPLAN assessments and how they found the experience.
• Ask your child to share their thoughts and feelings about the 14 Stations of the Cross.
• Find out what their favourite part of Matilda was and why it stood out to them.
• Encourage your child to demonstrate partitioning and bridging to tens or hundreds—it’s a fun way to practise maths!
• Make reading together every night a special time, and ask questions about what they have read to strengthen comprehension skills. This one is especially important wherever possible!

There is no need to complete every suggestion listed — regular, simple conversations are often the most powerful way to build confidence and reinforce learning.

TERM 1 KEY DATES — 2026:

• Monday 16 March - 3-6 Athletics Day at Casey Fields

• Thursday 2 April - Holy Thursday — Last Day of Term 1

   

  TERM 2 START DATE

• Tuesday 21 April — First Day for Students

   

Contact Us 

ephesus@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au OR