From the 1/2 Classrooms

Welcome to Term 4

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 4! We hope you've had a relaxing holiday break and were able to spend time with your loved ones. We are looking forward to the term ahead with many exciting learning activities planned in reading, writing, spelling and maths. We also have a whole week of swimming lessons next week, at Nunawading Aquatic Centre, which is always a fabulous way to build connections with each other, and to improve our children's water safety skills.

Additionally we are really looking forward these 2 special events -

The Grade 1/2 Disco and Movie Night on Friday 10th November
An excursion to Legoland on Monday 20th November

Please put these dates in your diary. More details will be sent out nearer the time.

Our Integrated Unit for this term is Celebrating Differences and your child will be exploring social justice through the lens of celebrating multiculturalism.

In this unit, students will be investigating -

• Origins and cultures of students in the class

• The differences of perspectives of daily life between cultures and generations

• The values and stories of the first Australian culture

• The food, games, music and traditions of different cultures.

Our Learning Asset for this term is Communication. Students will be continually reflecting on their own and others' use of expressive and receptive language, alongside non-verbal communication and facial gestures, to interact sensitively and respectfully within society. This is always important, but even more so as we investigate the essential questions of social justice:-

What are some similarities and differences between different cultures?

What are some similarities and differences between different generations?

Why is it important to celebrate our differences?

How can we treat all people fairly and with respect?

As an immersion activity, our students have been exploring countries of the world and identifying landmarks, famous buildings, flags and wildlife.

This week you will have received a cultural temple to assist students to build their knowledge about their own cultural background. The template is split into 4 areas: Food, Games, Traditions and Music. We would love you to help your child complete this so that they can present their cultural background information to the class. If you also have an object or item that is representative of part of your family's cultural traditions, and you are happy to send it to school, we'd love to display it in our rooms. Your child could also use is as part of their presentation.

This home learning task needs to be completed and returned to school by Monday 23rd October.

In addition to completing the home learning task, please assist your child to choose a favourite recipe from your cultural background and bring a copy of it to school. This can come to school as a photocopy or can be photographed and sent via email to your classroom teacher. We will be creating a Celebrating Differences Recipe Wall and it would be great to see many recipes on the wall.

Each week our Wellbeing program supports our students to think about their social and emotional capabilities, identifying what they do well and what they could improve on. This term we are focusing on Social Awareness and Management, in particular, Relationships and Diversity. What this looks like in Grades 1 and 2 is reflection on the skills that are required to include others and make friends with peers, teachers and other adults. We will be reflecting upon ways of making and keeping friends, including how actions and words can help or hurt others, and the effects of modifying our own behaviour. Here are some examples of students thoughts and opinions gathered this week.