Photo Gallery & Classroom Learning

K - Yr 6

How parents can help at home

You can support your child by:

reading together at home
discussing chapters and characters
encouraging your child to explain their thinking
talking about family stories or Australian history
helping your child learn unfamiliar vocabulary

Helpful questions to ask include:

What happened in the story today?
How do you think the character felt?
What message is the author trying to share?
What surprised you about the book?

Kindergarten

English

We are learning to say the sounds /n/, /g/ and /l/.

We are learning the tricky words down, for, said, he, she, we, and be

We are learning to stretch words to hear each sound.

We are learning to write capital letters.

We are learning to read words using the sounds we know. /o/ /c/ /d/ /h/ /e/ /n/ /g/ /l/

E.g did, hit, cot, rid, lip, lot, lap, hat, got, leg

Mathematics

We are learning to identify numbers before and after numbers 1-20.

We are learning to count backwards from a given number.

We are learning to measure the area of objects.

Religion

We are learning to listen and respond to the story of Jesus’ appearance to his disciples.

We are learning to use ‘Alleluia’ in prayers.

We are practicing our Liturgy for our buddies on Friday.

Geography

We are learning to identify places on a map.

We are learning to create a map of familiar places.

Science

We are learning to identify daily and seasonal changes that occur in our environment.

Gymnastics

Musica Viva

Town Library Visit

Year 1

It has been a very busy two weeks in Year 1.

Last week, the children completed their Term 2 Cold Write, focusing on a persuasive text titled "The Ultimate Way to Get to School." The teachers were impressed by the imaginative ideas and the noticeable growth in the children's independent writing skills.

In addition to their writing, the students completed their PAT Reading and Maths digital assessments. They enjoyed these iPad-based tasks, which provide teachers with valuable data to help guide and tailor future classroom learning.

Our Science unit on Living Things has been a major highlight. Working in pairs, the children researched, planned, and constructed their own miniature habitats using a variety of recycled and craft materials. Through this project, they practiced several key developmental skills:

Collaboration: Learning to share ideas and work toward a common goal.
Problem-Solving: Figuring out how to structurally bring their designs to life.
Creative Production: Utilizing different textures and materials effectively.

A Lesson in Kindness: Because these were joint projects, the children had to discuss a "fair" way to decide who would take the physical model home. They agreed on a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The teachers were incredibly proud of the children’s resilience, kindness, and maturity during this process—one partner proudly took home the habitat, while the other took home their detailed planning blueprint.

Thank you to all our Year 1 parents who visited our classroom to enjoy the children’s efforts.

Year 2

Year 4

What are we learning about...

Year 4 English – Novel Study

My Gallipoli by Ruth Starke

About the Book

Over the last three weeks, Year 4 students have been studying My Gallipoli by Ruth Starke. The novel tells the story of a young boy named Frank, who experiences the impact of World War I and the Gallipoli campaign through letters, diary entries and personal reflections.

The book helps students explore Australian history through the eyes of a child and encourages empathy, critical thinking and thoughtful discussion.

What students have been learning

Through studying this novel, students have been developing skills in:

reading comprehension
vocabulary development
speaking and listening
writing
critical and creative thinking

Students have been learning how authors use language and text structures to engage readers and communicate ideas.

How parents can help at home

You can support your child by:

reading together at home
discussing chapters and characters
encouraging your child to explain their thinking
talking about family stories or Australian history
helping your child learn unfamiliar vocabulary

Helpful questions to ask include:

What happened in the story today?
How do you think the character felt?
What message is the author trying to share?
What surprised you about the book?

Year 4 Mathematics – Patterns and Algebra

What is this unit about?

In this unit, students learn how mathematics helps us recognise patterns, solve problems, and make predictions. Children explore number patterns, relationships between numbers, and simple algebraic thinking in fun and practical ways.

Patterns and algebra are important because they help students:

think logically
solve problems step-by-step
explain their mathematical thinking
prepare for more advanced maths in later years

What students will learn

Number Patterns

Students will:

identify and continue number patterns
describe the rule of a pattern
create their own patterns
use addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to explain patterns

Helpful Questions to Ask Your Child

How did you work that out?
What is the rule for the pattern?
Is there another way to solve it?
What would the 10th number be?
Can you create your own pattern?

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Times tables are a brilliant brain-training exercise for students. Good times-tables knowledge is vital for quick mental maths calculations and problem solving, e.g. if a child knows that 6 x 3 = 18 they will be able to work out that 6 x 30 = 180 or 60 x 3 = 180 almost instantly.

Useful items to help your help your child with times tables at home include:

A stack of coins – at least a dozen each type of coin, and preferably two dozen $2.00, will let you make up a full set of tables to 12x12 for the occasions when your child might need to go back and check by counting. No cost, beyond the time it takes to collect up the change.
A pack of cards – take out the aces and Kings, count Jack as 11 and Queen as 12, and you can practise the full range of tables by dealing your child two cards and asking them to multiply them.
A pack of blank cards (make them out of cardboard or paper, or buy premade versions) These are infinitely versatile. You can write down whatever items your child has problems with and make Pelmanism sets with questions and answers. (Write the questions and answers on different cards. Shuffle and turn the cards face down. The child has to turn over a card, then turn over the matching card. You can start with a small number of sets and build up.) How many card questions can your child answer correctly against the clock?

Year 4 Science and Technology

Changing Earth

What is this unit about?

In this unit, students will explore how the Earth’s surface changes over time through both natural processes and human activity. Students will investigate rocks, fossils, weathering and erosion while learning how scientists study changes in the environment.

This unit encourages curiosity, investigation and hands-on learning as students discover how landforms are created and changed.

What students will learn

Students will investigate:

how natural events shape the Earth
how human actions can impact the environment
how rocks and fossils provide evidence of change over time
how erosion occurs
how weathering changes rocks and landforms

Students will also learn how scientists ask questions, conduct investigations and communicate their findings.

Year 5

Religion:

Over the past fortnight, our school community has been deeply engaged in exploring what it means to be 'Living God’s Way'. This spiritual journey included students from Years 4, 5, and 6 participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation on May 18th, providing a meaningful opportunity for reflection and growth. A significant highlight was the wonderful visit from Bishop Murphy on Tuesday, May 19th. The Bishop spent time in every classroom, where our students impressed him with their thoughtful, higher-level questions regarding his role, leadership, and faith journey.

This week, we celebrated Catholic Schools Week under the theme "Our Hope Filled Future," a time to recognize the unique gift of Catholic education and our school feast day for Mary Help of Christians. We also marked National Sorry Day on Tuesday, reflecting on our shared journey toward reconciliation as a community. The week’s celebrations culminated on Wednesday with a beautiful whole-school Deanery Mass at the Cathedral, where we gathered in prayer and fellowship with the wider St Mary's family.

Mathematics:

Over the past two weeks, students have been working hard with out Decimals and Percentages unit, where the main focus has been making strong connections between fractions, and decimals. Shortly we will transition into our new unit on "Time".

To consolidate learning at home, parents can help by integrating decimals and percentages into real-life situations to make learning more meaningful. For instance, involve your child in activities such as shopping or cooking where they need to compare prices or measure ingredients using decimal quantities. Discuss the importance of interpreting zero digits at the end of a decimal in contexts like measurements or financial calculations. Show them how decimals are used in everyday situations to approximate values or solve problems.

Sport:

Over the last two weeks, students have focused on developing key skills across various field events in preparation for the upcoming Athletics Carnival. In shot put and discus, the emphasis has been on mastering the correct grip, side-on stance, and follow-through techniques to maximize power and accuracy. For jumping events, students practiced high jump using the scissor technique, focusing on a forceful upward arm swing and controlled landing on the balls of their feet. Long jump practice also centered on vigorous arm swings, body extension, and bending the knees to absorb the impact during landing.

News:

Our Year 5 students love sharing their latest news and personal items with the class. This fortnight, we’ve enjoyed fantastic student-led presentations and show-and-tell sessions. We encourage these moments as they provide a wonderful, supportive platform for students to build their public speaking skills and grow in confidence.

Friendships:

Following the initial survey on April 30th that showed concerns regarding social exclusion and interpersonal communication, we introduced targeted interventions, including explicit kindness lessons on language and inclusive play, as well as structural supports like the "Shout Out Wall" to celebrate positive behaviours. These efforts have led to significant improvements, with the May 18th survey showing 67% of the class reporting things are "Much Better" or "A Little Better", and 85% of students agreeing that the new strategies have made the classroom a more positive place. This growth is evidenced by a 33% increase in students feeling "Happy" or "Very happy", as we continue to build a positive and supportive culture where every child is valued and respected.

Commendations:

This fortnight, we recognise those students who have consistently demonstrated the Living Well, Learning Well framework of St Mary's Primary School. Congratulations to these students for their commitment to being safe, dedicated learners who respect and care for others.

Musica Viva

On Thursday 28th May, our school hosted a special visit from Musica Viva. The students were captivated by the musical performance, which introduced them to a wonderful mix of instruments and sounds. It was a highly engaging and enjoyable experience that fostered a deeper appreciation for music across all grade levels.

Year 6

Rainbow Rave - School Disco

The school disco - the Rainbow Rave, was a huge success! Students had a wonderful time tearing up the dance floor, showcasing their best moves, and spending quality time with their peers in a fun, relaxed, and memorable setting outside of the classroom. A big thank you goes out to the P&F and all the volunteers for their organisation and efforts to create such a fun night.