Newsletter

Year 3/4 - Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

What a great two weeks we have had to start off 2025. The students have been full of anticipation and excitement at being in the classroom and playground with their friends. It has been wonderful to have such a positive start to our school year. We welcome any new families to the school and hope your children have enjoyed their first week at ENPS.

 

Thank you to those parents who attended our Year 3/4 Information evening on Wednesday. If you have any further follow up questions, please feel free to email us via COMPASS. 

 

What's happened in Year 3/4 this week?

These past weeks have been about setting up our classroom as a safe, challenging and positive learning community. We have spent our time getting to know each other, establishing classroom norms and rules and introducing the way we do things in Year 3/4 that may be similar or different to what your child has experienced before. We revisited and explored our Behaviour Curriculum and CARE values and discussed the values that we want to exhibit in our own classrooms.

 

Students have been designing our, ‘Student Recognition Award,’ certificates which they have very much enjoyed. This award is voted for by the students each week and they come up with the class goal that students work towards to receive this award. 

 

English – This week we’ve begun our Structured Literacy unit based around the novel, Matilda, by Roald Dahl. Structured Literacy is a highly explicit and systematic teaching approach based on the Science of Reading and all five pillars of literacy - Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary and Comprehension. Through our novel study of Matilda, we’re helping students develop their vocabulary, language skills, verbal reasoning, and literacy understanding. We’re also strengthening their ability to use language effectively in different situations and building the background knowledge they need for reading and writing success.

 

Maths – This week in Maths students have been investigating Place Value and enjoying a range of digital and physical games. We’ve reintroduced our Launch, Explore & Summarise model, giving the students the opportunity to explore their own learning whilst being explicitly taught strategies and skills. We’ve also completed an Essential Assessment pre-test on Whole Number, utilising the data to guide us in targeting our teaching to each child. 

 

Wellbeing - This week we introduced our Friendology unit. We discussed how to Make Friends and our 4 Friendship Facts.

 

Inquiry - Our Inquiry unit this term is, ‘I Belong and I Can Make a Difference’. We would love to invite parents and/or friends from within our local community who have contributed to and volunteered their time within the community to talk to all Year 3/4 students. Volunteering examples include: local community volunteers, community leaders and community elders with volunteering experience. Students will be learning about how people participate in their community as active citizens and thus, we would love to hear things such as:

  • Why were you interested in this volunteering role?
  • What is the ‘mission’ of the group, organisation or club?
  • What is your role? What do you do?
  • How does your organisation help others? How does your organisation create a sense of belonging? 
  • What tasks do you enjoy most?
  • What would be your suggestions for anyone who would like to volunteer?
  • What have you done that has made you proud?

Please contact your child's teacher if you would be happy to share your experience with all year 3/4’s.

 

Homework:

Reading homework won’t begin until week 4. Although it is not compulsory, we will set Mathletics tasks and students are strongly encouraged to use Mathletics each week, it is a great tool to practise their numeracy skills.

 

Things to Remember

  • If your child is still missing one, please provide your child with a day-to-day diary and pencil case.
  • Term One is a no hat no play term - please ensure your child has a wide-brimmed school hat.
  • We are aware that some school supplies have still not arrived, please just send in when available.
  • If you haven’t done so already, please make sure your child has an art smock at school and library bag. 
  • Absences: If your child is going to be absent for three or more days, for legal reasons, it is very important you let the school know. Please use the notes section on compass, email us via compass or contact the office.

 

What’s Coming Up!

  • Parent Teacher Conferences, Thursday 13th February - keep your eyes on COMPASS for details.
  • School Swimming Carnival, Friday 14th February - Please ensure your child has returned the notice sent home regarding entry into varied events AND you have completed COMPASS permission.

 

Student of the Week

Look out for your class’ individual email Friday afternoon for the SoTW shoutout.

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and look forward to touching base at our upcoming PST conferences.

 

The Level Three/Four Team