Level 5 & 6 

🌱 ASSESSMENT 

It’s that time of year again! Over the next few weeks, students will be completing their end-of-year assessments in preparation for reporting. These assessments provide valuable insights into each student’s growth and progress across the year.

Students will be completing PAT assessments in Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary, and Mathematics, as well as participating in Writing moderation tasks. This information helps teachers celebrate achievements, identify areas for future focus, and ensure a well-rounded understanding of each learner’s development.

🌱 LITERACY - READING & WRITING  

This week, our Grade 5 and 6 students are exploring how advertising techniques have evolved over time. They are examining strategies used to engage audiences through both podcasting and visual advertising, such as music, slogans, emotional appeals, endorsements, colour, imagery, and the use of facts or statistics.

Building on this understanding, students are now recording and producing their very own podcasts. Each group is combining their learning about media and marketing by planning, scripting, and recording engaging episodes that include an original advertisement, background music to suit their tone, and a custom-designed logo to match their concept. Students are also developing key communication and collaboration skills as they experiment with voice, timing, and editing to produce a polished final product.

What you can do at home: 

At home, parents can support their child's learning by listening to podcasts together and discussing what makes them engaging. You can help your child brainstorm possible topics, assist with simple research or share relevant experiences.  

If your child has begun their recording process, you might like to listen to their recording together and discuss what they have done well, can improve on and might like to add or change for their final production.

🌱 NUMERACY

This week in Mathematics, our Grade 5 students are developing their understanding of algebra and algebraic thinking. They are learning to recognise and describe patterns, use symbols to represent unknown values, and solve simple equations through a range of engaging and practical activities.

Meanwhile, our Grade 6 students are completing hands-on revision of key mathematical concepts as they prepare for upcoming assessments. They are consolidating their understanding across a range of topics, applying strategies to problem-solve, and building confidence in demonstrating their learning.

What you can do at home:

Play “Mystery Number” games to build algebraic thinking. For example, one person chooses a secret number and gives clues like “If you double my number and add 5, you get 17 — what’s my number?” or “Three times my number is 24.” You can make it trickier by including multiple steps or fractions. These quick challenges help students think logically, use inverse operations, and explain their reasoning — all key skills in algebra and problem-solving.

🌱 CBL

As part of CBL, students have been challenged to design an app prototype that solves a problem or improves an experience within the Wonga Park Primary School community. Students have now begun developing their app ideas, refining their concepts, and creating detailed blueprints that show how their apps would function in practice. They are considering their target audience, the benefits their app would bring to the WPPS community, and how to best communicate their ideas.

Students are now working on their presentations for our upcoming “Shark Tank for Apps” showcase, where they will pitch their prototypes to a panel, demonstrating innovation, creativity, problem-solving, and persuasive communication skills.

Essential Question: 

How do we use coding to solve problems and create solutions in our world?

Guiding Questions: 

• Where do we see coding in everyday life?
• What is an algorithm and how do coders use them?
• What problems do we face at school or in our community that coding might help with?
• How can we share our coding project with others to make a positive impact?

Challenge:

Design an app prototype that solves a problem or improves an experience in our school community. 

🌱 HOMEWORK

Students are expected to complete homework on a weekly basis. This consists of

- 100 minutes total of reading a novel/factual text of their choice

- 3 (minimum) Mathletics tasks, which the teachers will assign

- 2 Nessy activities

This homework is to be recorded in the Calendar App on student iPads. Your child's teacher will check this homework on Friday.

🌱 BUDDY BAGS - Grade 5 students should now only have one task left to complete for their Buddy Bags, which are gifted to their 2026 Prep Buddies. This is the 'Nameplate' task that will be completed in school, once we know our buddy's name. Please check in with your child to see which tasks they may still need support in completing.

🌱 MEMORY BOOKS - Grade 6 students will continue to work on their Memory Book to reflect on their experiences at Wonga Park Primary School. This information has been communicated to parents via email, and is available for students on Showbie. 

🌿 REMINDERS

🌱 Please assist your child in ensuring that their iPad comes to school every day, fully charged. 

🌱 Next Monday, 17th November, our Grade Five students will be presenting their speech to their peers from Grades Four - Six, should they wish to nominate themselves for a School Captaincy role. Please support your child with this by listening to them presenting their speech to you and offering constructive feedback and advice.