Dear Prep Families,

What a great fortnight we have had in Prep!

In Literacy, we have continued our learning about the features of Fiction and Non Fiction texts. The Prep’s have been using labels in their writing to provide the reader with important information. We have had a big focus on handwriting as the Prep’s have been practising writing facts using their new writing books (with the dotted thirds). We have enjoyed reading and doing activities on the texts Florette by Anna Walker and Isabella’s Garden by Glenda Millard.

In Maths, we are continuing our learning about ‘sharing’ and making equal groups. This week the Preps have been working on their oral language skills by explaining why groups are equal and not equal. The Preps have also enjoyed collecting data and coming up with their own questions to ask their classmates, for example ‘do you like ice-cream?’ or ‘what flavour ice-cream is your favourite?’.

In Religion, the Preps have enjoyed learning about the creation story. The Preps compared the Catholic Creation Story to other creation stories, like ‘The Rainbow Serpent’ and identified the differences and similarities. We have had some great discussions about why God created the world and how we can help to care for our earth.

In Inquiry, we are focusing on living and non-living things. The Preps are looking forward to their excursion to the Melbourne Zoo next Friday the 16th of August. Once again the Prep team would like to thank all the parents who have offered to come along, we are so lucky to have such supportive parents and families.

Have a lovely weekend,

Hayley, Amanda and Jane

Juniors

Hello families,

What a wonderful day we had at the Zoo! We were very lucky to have ‘just right weather’ to wander (and race) around Melbourne Zoo. Some highlights were: our lesson where we learned about being Wildlife Warriors (ask your child what that means) and holding a beautiful shingleback lizard called Pyrenees, Patch the Kenyan Sand Boa, or a Corn Snake. Students observed the orangutans, pygmy hippopotamus, elephants, lions, tigers, seals and penguins - just to name a few! Thank you to our parents who accompanied us and kept our groups moving along. We value your assistance. Thank you also to the parents who offered to assist. We look forward to your assistance at another time.

Inquiry

This week we begin workshopping different habitats beginning in our own homerooms. We will be transforming our classrooms over the next few weeks into 1/2NT Dry land, 1/2 TL Ocean, 1/2B Arctic/Antarctic and 1/2C Rainforest. Please note:1/2NT is being painted next Monday and Tuesday so our transformation will be somewhat delayed!! If families have items at home that could contribute to our homeroom displays, please send them along e.g. inflatable trees and plants, plants, toy animals, snow cone machine, decorations etc relating to each area.

NEEDED: Please can you save and send along boxes suitable for dioramas, e.g. empty shoe boxes and cereal boxes over the next 2 weeks.

English

Our focus in Reading over the next few weeks is an author study of Giles Andreae and his fabulous Picture Fiction texts.We will be looking closely at such areas as his writing style, vocabulary, rhyming, information and messages within the stories. Families may recognise some of his books: Commotion in the Ocean, The Lion who wanted Love, Giraffes Can’t Dance, Be Brave Little Penguin, Mad About Dinosaurs and Rumble in the Jungle.

Religion

We are studying the story of Creation and as part of this we are compiling our own Creation Booklet. We would like students to bring along a photograph of their own families to include in Day 6 (When God created land animals and people). We are celebrating the Feast of the Assumption on Thursday 15th August at 11:45am, all families are welcome to join us at the Church for Mass.

Maths

We are continuing to run our workshops on Multiplication and learning about Chance and beginning our work on Data.

Reminders- dates for diaries for families:

1. To work on costumes for BookWeek - Reading is my Secret Power - Book Week Parade is on Wednesday 21st August 9:00am.

2. 1/2NT & 1/2B are presenting Assembly on Friday 23rd August.

Naomi, Tracey, Jason, Bethany, Renee, Tania, Michelle and Poppy.

Middles - Week 4

Hi families,

The Term is flying (as usual) and we have been working hard in 3/ 4!

A big thank you to all parents who attended our poetry book launch, the 3/4TM and 3/4C ‘Pray for me Masses’ and our Inquiry Expo. Your support is greatly appreciated and it’s amazing to see so many families rearranging plans to attend our events (again a big thank you).

In Literacy, we have concluded our poetry unit (for now) and are beginning a new unit about procedural texts. This will fit in with out next Inquiry Unit which is science based and will involve looking at and participating in some experiments as well as how to correctly write a procedure. We have been enjoying participating in reciprocal reading groups and having a go at each of the roles involved with this (predictor, summariser, questioner and clarifier). This approach to reading allows students to look deeper into the texts they are reading.

In Maths, we are continuing to focus on Multiplication and Division in the area of Number and Algebra and we have also been exploring Chance and Probability. In the area of Probability we loved using Smarties as a tool for discussing the probability of choosing a certain colour Smartie and converting this into fraction form. We have focussed heavily on the relationship between multiplication and division including facts families and using this knowledge to assist us in solving worded problems. We have used arrays to show what multiplication facts (3 X 4) actually looks like.

In Religion, we have reflected upon the Old Testament stories about Moses and are looking forward to exploring the story of Daniel and the Lion next. Our Life and Faith- Eucharist Information Night has kick started our preparation for the Grade 4’s Sacrament of Eucharist and we are excited to begin this journey together. Again, thank you to the parents who were able to attend this night meeting.

We have commenced our new Inquiry Unit about ecosystems. We were lucky enough to have had an incursion as part of our immersion phase into this unit and enjoyed making our very own ecosystems in the form of a terrarium. Thank you to everyone who sent in plastic bottles!

Lastly, the 3/4s will be hosting assembly this week! It would be great to see you all there.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jarrod, Tania, Carla, Vicki and Sophia

Senior

Thanks to everyone who came to the Senior's Living Wax Museum on Monday afternoon. The students worked very hard to embrace the learning and present their information .

The Sacramental season has well and truly begun in the senior space with a focus on the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit and how these link in with our own Faith. Year 6 students have developed a shield with research about their chosen saint for Confirmation and why they are significant to them. Year 5 students also completed a project, where they interviewed a Spirit filled person in their lives, and developed a presentation about them.

Mary MacKillop Heritage Center excursion

Last week Year 6 students went on an excursion to the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre to learn about our only Australian Saint, Mary MacKillop. The students engaged in a range of activities and walked around the city to identify significant landmarks such as the birthplace of Mary MacKillop.

In Maths the students are moving into the unit of fractions and decimals. They have begun to develop learning goals for this topic to focus on for the duration of the unit. Students will be looking at learning and developing a range of strategies to help them better identify and sort fractions and decimals.

Have a lovely week,

The Senior Team,

Anne-Marie, Louise, Stephen and Sally

St Mary's School

Issue 12 · 08 Aug 2019

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