Level Newsletters

Senior School News

Important Information

  • Camp Coonawarra: Monday 21st  - Friday 25th August
  • Summer Round Robin Day 1: Friday the 1st of September
  • Summer Round Robin Day 2: Friday the 8th of September

Camp Information 

Coonawarra Camp is just around the corner! Final preparations are well underway and we can’t wait to experience 5 days of fun, adventure, learning and growth.

 

Here are just a few small reminders of items that we ask families to remember prior to our departure:

  • All medical and dietary forms should have already been handed in. Medications can be handed in (with attached medication authority form) at a time that suits you, but the sooner the better!
  • Along with all other forms, the clothing and resource list can be found on the Compass event under the RESOURCES tab (no school uniform required)
  • On the morning of the departure, students will come inside with their bags. We ask that families seeing the students off please wait outside so we can speak to the students and get them adequately prepared. They will come outside to say a final goodbye as we walk to the bus.
  • Students will need to take a snack and lunch for the first day. They will receive afternoon tea and dinner on the first day only. Please limit the amount of additional snacks/treats that are sent along (definitely no gum).
  • No fishing rods (yes, multiple students have asked!)
  • Please make sure no digital devices are taken to camp.

Learning in Action

 

Literacy: 

Our senior school students have continued their focus on Persuasive writing and Poetry. In poetry, the Grade 5’s have had a focus on narrative and shape poetry, and the Grade 6’s have looked at narrative and free verse poetry. 

In the next couple of weeks both levels will have a focus on black out poetry. 

 

Below are some examples of narrative and free verse poetry written by a few of our Grade 6 students:

  

As I catch the wave on my board, 

 

The waves hug me and bring me to shore.

The thrill enters my body when I catch my first wave,

Excitement, eager and enthused. 

 

Boogie Boarding is best in the summer,

With the hot sun beaming down on you. 

While you're in the cold water waiting for the perfect wave to arrive. 

Then the wave arrives from far out 

You turn around and get ready for the wave and then BANG!

You have caught the wave.

Maddie, 6E  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archie 6E

 

The blue waves crashed against the wet rocks

The sky murky sad , solemn

Wind blows creating a cold atmosphere 

The black rocks glistened covered in water

 

The tide was up

Seagulls squawking

Plastic bags and litter blowing

A girl sat there

 

Hair blowing

The delicate touch picking up the rubbish

It was silent enough

Your could hear the waves

Veronica, 6E

 

Maths: 

Grade 5

The Grade 5 students have been continuing their work with division. We have been investigating the skills below:

  • I can apply my understanding of the connection between multiplication and division
  • I can divide by multiples and powers of 10
  • I can use a variety of written strategies to solve division problems
  • I can solve division problems that include remainders
  • I can solve division problems with a 2 digit divisor
  • I can solve division problems with decimal quotients
  • I can divide integers

 

Students have been exposed to some of these skills during whole class lessons, and they are going further in depth with goals that meet their individual needs during independent goal practice time.

 

Additionally, Grade 5 students have been investigating mapping. They have been learning to use grid coordinates and scales by drawing their own island.

 

Grade 6 

The Grade 6 students have been continuing their work with fractions. We have been investigating the skills below:

  • I can identify and represent fractions of a shape, set and number line
  • I can compare and order fractions with the same and different denominators
  • I can add and subtract fractions with the same and like denominators
  • I can add and subtract fractions with unrelated denominators
  • I can find a fraction of a quantity
  • I can multiply and divide fractions

 

Students have been exposed to these skills during whole class lessons, and they are going further in depth with goals that meet their individual needs during independent goal practice time.

 

Additionally, Grade 6 students have been investigating angles. We have been measuring and constructing angles, finding the size of missing angles and learning about supplementary and complementary angles.

 

 

Inquiry: 

This term we have been learning about Australian History. We have been involved in activities that have taught us about the Federation, the Constitution, Referendum, and the First Nations People. We have also been learning about World War I, World War II, The Gold Rush, Eureka Stockade, The  Great Depression and the effects it had on the Australian economy. 

 

Grade 5 In inquiry we have been learning about the Gold Rush. Miners needed a licence to mine and we have learnt about the Eureka Stockade and how there was a fight to end the miners licences. - Tyler and Kristian

 

We have already learnt about how life was as a convict and the conditions they lived in. We have learnt about when the First Fleet took place. We didn't touch much on the 1700s. We have talked about the colonisation, penal colonies and process of Australia and Federation. - Bella

 

Grade 6

In Inquiry, we are learning about Australian history. We are learning about things that happened more than 100 years ago. We just learnt about World War I and we are about to learn about World War II. - Caleb

 

We have been learning about sufferarages and how women didn't get to vote. Also the Aboriginal men and women only got to vote in 1962. It wasn't right and very unfair. - Aravind 

 

Wellbeing: 

 

MAT Program

15 students in Grade 5 are continuing their work in the MAT program. Please read below about their progress and what they have been up to: So far we have played games and done activities which are helping us to learn to be calm and to control our breathing and also to time it so that we are not going too fast or too slow.  There is a game called The Rock which teaches us to have self control over ourselves by trying to stay focussed (and not laugh!) while Darek (the instructor) does and says funny things like squeaking a rubber chicken! This game is also teaching us to not be distracted by other things going on around us like, for example, if we were in the classroom and there's a kid who's making all these distracting noises this strategy helps us to ignore those irritating distractions. 

 

We play a game which helps us to learn to duck and jump when an object is coming towards you. This game helps to teach us listening skills and how to focus so that you can make good choices. We talk a lot about making good choices in the MAT program.

We also learn strategies to work together. We do push ups and sit ups and other activities to strengthen not only our bodies but our friends too by working in pairs.

 

The MAT program code is BE STRONG, BE CALM, BE KIND and TRY HARD. Everyone is excited for week 8 because we are learning to break boards.

-Ava.T and Indi 5T

 

Young Leaders Program

Another 5 students in Grade 5 have also participated in another program called “The Young Leaders Program for Equality and Respect”. Please read below from our students about their experiences:

 

This year we were chosen to participate in the Young Leaders Program. This involved going to Belgrave South Primary School along with students from 10 other schools, for 3 different workshops. These workshops were called: Let's Learn, Let's take action and let's celebrate.This program was based on our 4Rs program and helped us understand the importance of equality and equity.

Over the three sessions we learnt: 

- more about gender stereotypes and what they are, for example: when girls are seen to have to wear pink and boys should wear blue

- We also learnt about how to stand up to gender stereotypes and how these develop at a young age.

- girls and boys can also be good at anything no matter their gender

In our final session last week we shared our presentation in front of 10 other schools. Our presentation went for 5 minutes and it was about gender inequality. This means genders are seen differently both in and outside of schools. We decided to come up with two mascots called Ella the Equity Elephant and Eddie the Equality Eagle. We would love to create a mural around the school of our mascots to stop gender inequality. We hope to also use some posters around the school that link to the friendship ninjas based on Ella the Eand Eddie the Eagle. 

By Tyler, Ava. C, Charlie, Ash and Nathan

 

 

 

Sport: 

 

In the Senior School, students have been busy during our Senior School Sport sessions getting a taste of different sports in preparation for our Summer Round Robin. Students have placed their preferences in for the following sports- cricket, handball/spikeball, tennis, volleyball and softball. Over the coming weeks students will be told which teams they are placed into and begin practising their sport ready for day one of summer round robin, which will be held on Friday the 1st of September. 

 

We look forward to giving you an update next newsletter on the outcomes of the District Athletics Carnival which will take place on Friday the 10th of August!