What's happening in our learning spaces? 

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

YEAR F -2

This week was another busy one for us in Foundation to Year Two! We have enjoyed engaging in some of our learning outside in the beautiful sunshine and have been busy practising our songs for Christmas carols and finding out about Remembrance Day.

As part of our Discovery Time workshops, we were scientists, builders, authors and screenwriters! As scientists, we explored the different parts of the human body by looking closely at 3D models. As researchers, we read information texts and used pictures, facts and diagrams to find out about the brain, heart and other organs. We even used our light box to look at x-rays! As authors and illustrators, we continued to create all different types of books at the book-making station! We drew and wrote about cats, pokemon, and animals and even wrote procedures and persuasive texts. Some of us have even had time and opportunity during Discovery Time to learn how to knit over the last few weeks. We discovered that we had to be very patient and very persistent.  As builders, we used blocks to construct obstacle courses and build ramps for our cars and trucks. As collaborators, we worked together to come up with a plan and test out our creations, and at the lego table, we worked together to build a basketball court. We can’t wait for our next Discovery session! Here are some of our reflections and discoveries…

• You can use Google Maps to look at places like your home and school- Petra
• We learnt that you have to be really patient when knitting and it is really, really hard!- Harrison, Ella and Elizabeth 
• As a researcher, I discovered that there are three layers in the eye by looking at the model of the eye- Carlo
• I discovered what St Fidelis looked like when it was older using Google Earth - Sebastian A 
• We learnt your main organs are the brain, kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, stomach and skin. We went through a book and looked at the diagrams- Milana and Vivienne
• I discovered that lots of animals have eyes on the side of their head - Leon 

As mathematicians, those of us in Foundation have tuned into the concept of sharing (Division). Together we have used materials to work out an equal share. An equal share means that each person gets the same amount. We viewed the picture story “The Doorbell Rang” and then reenacted what happened in the story using cookies and people. Did you know that if there are 12 cookies shared between 2 people, they will each get 6 cookies each If there are 12 cookies shared between 6 people, they will get 2 cookies each.

Those of us in 1/2 tuned in to the concept of Chance and Probability. We unpacked the different language we could use to describe the chance or likelihood of something occurring, such as ‘possible’, ‘impossible’, ‘will happen’, ‘might happen’, ‘won’t happen, ‘likely’ and ‘unlikely’. As thinkers, we came up with different scenarios and events for each outcome and even identified the likelihood of events in nursery rhymes and fairytales. We made sure to justify our thinking! As mathematicians, we looked at different outcomes involving chance, including what the different outcomes are when playing rock, paper, scissors, and the colour combinations in a bag of skittles. We then described the likelihood of each outcome. 

As readers and writers, those of us in Foundation have continued to explore a variety of texts linked to our Inquiry question  ‘What’s Good for Me?’  We have explored texts about emotions and feelings and also how to be safe. As writers, we have looked at simple procedural texts and co-constructed “How to make Fairy Bread” after making our very own fairy bread in the learning space during the week.

As readers, those of us in 1/2 continued to explore different persuasive texts with a focus on identifying the main character's opinion and the reasons used to support this. We also looked for the persuasive language used in the story, such as emotive language, strong statements of opinion and rhetorical questions. We then used this as writers to help us create our own persuasive texts and opinion pieces. 

Take a look at some of our writing…

We hope everyone enjoys the week ahead and look forward to more wonderful learning opportunities! 

Foundation to Year Two Team, 

Leanne Wenckowski, Alex Phillips, Alycia Marsico and Stefanie Carriera. 

YEAR 3/4

We’ve had a very busy week of learning in Year 3/4!

As inquirers, we are learning to investigate the different types of Health in our community. We looked at various videos that showed us how to promote each type of health (Physical, Mental, Social). We created health triangles to show the connection between each type of health. Take a look!

As mathematicians, we are learning to make and describe 3D objects. Using playdoh and matchsticks, students created 3D objects and described their features by identifying how many faces, vertices and edges. We showcased our objects in a Shape Museum. Take a look!

On Friday 11 November, we celebrated Remembrance Day. We gathered as a school community to share a minute’s silence to remember the soldiers who fought for us. We made poppies to wear as a sign of respect and remembrance. 

Have a wonderful week!

Year 3/4 Teachers

Belinda Panzarino, Katarina Davidson and Graham Troy

YEAR 5/6

There was excitement all around as both the Year 5 and Year 6 students had the opportunity to spend time with their respective buddies. The Year 5 students had the opportunity to meet their Foundation buddies for 2023 for the first time. Everyone had great fun getting to know each other, as well as playing games outside in Benny Court. A favourite game was when the Year 5s worked together to lift the giant parachute so their young buddies could run under it. There were certainly many happy and excited faces, and the Year 5s are looking forward to supporting and getting to know their Foundation buddies next year. 

Whilst this was happening, the Year 6 students also had the opportunity to spend time with their Foundation buddies (2022). The Year 6 students and the Foundation students gathered in the Senior Learning Area to work together, and to listen to stories about Remembrance Day. They had great fun working collaboratively to draw pictures of bright red poppies. Such talented artists! These posters of bright red poppies were then displayed around the school and at the assembly which was in honour of Remembrance Day on November 11th. The buddy activities were a great start to the week, and we congratulate the Year 5/6 students on being such caring and kind buddies.

As a school community, we celebrated Remembrance Day last Friday. Miss Sargent’s class led us in School Prayer and helped us to remember the significance of this special day. During the day, the Year 5/6 students were very reverent and listened attentively to videos about Remembrance Day and chose to reflect on the special day by making word crosses, word finds, quizzes and memorable poems. There was a one-minute silence at 11 am outside the flagpole.

As part of the Resilience Project, the students had the opportunity to work outside and experience what they are grateful for in the ‘moment’.  They wrote about being grateful for their friends, the sunshine, the fresh air, the shade on a hot day and so on. They drew their images and spent time outside with their friends appreciating the wonder and awe of God’s creation.

In Mathematics, the students are learning about chance and probability. They are learning to list outcomes of chance experiments representing likely possibilities using fractions. They are describing probabilities using fractions, decimals and percentages. The students are learning to solve division problems with single and double-digit divisors. They are learning how to represent remainders as decimals, fractions and whole numbers. The students are preparing for the yearly Christmas carols concert. They have been learning Christmas songs and dance moves.  Stay tuned for some great fun to come.

Have a wonderful week,

Viviana Clarke, Michelle Casamento, Olivia Sargent and Annette Gasbarro

Poems

In remembrance of

Brave hearts that gave us so much for

Our precious freedom

Eve Vertsonis 5/6VC

A Disaster 

By Daniel Gaffney

Deceased bodies litter the sandy shores

The sand soaked with bloody gore

Trenches filled with the wounded or dead

New soldiers look on and succumb to dread

For they had no idea what was in store

Poppies spouted up

Soldiers different and alike

Brave lives have been lost

Olivia Fontana 5/6 VC