YEAR SIX
Grade Bulletin - Term One, 2023
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School provides a range of holistic learning experiences to enable students to:
- Participate in the life and mission of the school.
- Deepen their knowledge and engagement with the Catholic faith and tradition.
- Build capacity to continuously reason, reflectively, logically and critically.
- Embrace interdependence of human existence as global citizens, who are responsible to and for themselves and others.
- Engage in learning in a multitude of ways, through personalised and self-paced learning.
Religious Education
Students will explore a unit, ”The Reign of God”. Concepts covered will include personal and social sin, and how our behaviour and relationships can advance or hinder the reign of God. Students will develop a deeper understanding of issues of prejudice, discrimination, rejection and acceptance, exclusion and inclusion. In the latter part of the term, students will prepare for the season of Lent, a time when we renew our commitment to the mission of Jesus.
English
Students will study a range of texts that relate to the concept of freedom. Students will engage in modelled, shared and independent tasks relating to reading, writing and representing, responding and composing and speaking and listening. Students will also be taught explicit skills in relation to grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. Students will follow the ‘Soundwaves’ spelling program and will have the opportunity to revise their spelling skills using the online component of the program.
Mathematics
This term we are focusing on Chance, Addition and subtraction, Patterns and Algebra, Multiplication and Division, Fractions and Decimals and Mass. Students will be selecting and applying appropriate problem-solving strategies when undertaking investigations. We encourage you to discuss with your child what they have been learning in Mathematics and help them apply these skills to real world situations.
Science and Technology
This unit focuses on Earth’s place in the solar system, changes on its surface caused by natural disasters and the exploration of how these may be mitigated. It will further develop students' understanding of the Earth, its position in the solar system and as an adynamic part of a complex, interrelated system.
Mandarin
This term Year 6 students will continue the Chinese language program called the Meg Language Program. The Meg Curriculum is written by the co-author of the Australian Curriculum. All students and teachers will participate in the digital learning platform via Zoom weekly sessions.
Geography
Students will explore countries of the Asia region and the connections Australia has with other countries across the world. Students learn about the diversity of the world’s people, including the indigenous peoples of other countries.
Amadeus Music Program
This year students from all grades will be involved in the Amadeus Music Education program, introduced by Sydney Catholic Schools providing students with a high-quality music education program. The program offers students expert classroom music lessons, ensemble lessons, and for primary students, group tuition.
Students will participate in activities in listening, performing and organising sound (Kindergarten to Year 6), within their regular Classroom Music lessons. Within these lessons, students will:
- Sing in unison and in parts
- Play tuned and untuned percussion instruments
- Play available instruments such as Ukulele, Guitar and Keyboard (Grade appropriate)
For students in Years 3- 6 the program has three essential elements:
- Classroom Music: Whole-class music lessons taught by specialist Music tutors for up to 1 hour per week.
- Small Group Tuition: Students in groups of five to seven, will spend 30 minutes per week learning to play on a string, woodwind or brass instrument.
- Ensemble Rehearsal: Students will play their instrument in a string ensemble, orchestra or concert band (whole of class) for up to 1 hour per week.
Small Group Tuition (Grades 3-6)
Students from Year 3 - Year 6 are required to attend weekly small group tuition lessons with their Instrumental Tutor.
- Small group tuition lessons are 30 minutes in length and occur during the school day.
- Students are required to attend all scheduled lessons.
- Students will be given a music timetable at the start of each term and are responsible for being on-time and prepared.
- Students are responsible for catching up on any work missed in class. They must speak to their teacher to ensure they understand any missed content.
- It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they:
- Arrive on time for each lesson
- Bring their instrument and required accessories to every lesson
- Bring their Essential Elements* music book
- Bring a lead pencil and eraser
*Each student will be issued an Essential Elements Music Book with their instrument. This contains all of the repertoire and material they need for their ensemble and tutorial lessons.
Creative Arts
Visual Arts lessons will be with our English and Religion Units. Students will sketch and paint artwork around the themes being covered this term.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
A new program titled Open Parachute will be implemented from K-6. Open Parachute aims to provide practical support on mental health to students. The program aims to reduce stigma and generate authentic dialogue in classrooms about the real issues students face. The psychological skills-building exercises aim to increase empathy, self-compassion, self-awareness, mental health literacy, and self-efficacy in students.
Homework
This year your child will have a homework grid, providing them with a range of curriculum activities and inquiry learning tasks. This will include students completing a mentals workbook, spelling and reading/comprehension activities, religious education tasks and opportunities for inquiry learning throughout the term.
All students will be issued with a Homework Book and a Maths Plus Mentals Textbook.
MATHS PLUS TEXTBOOK: A weekly task will be set and we ask that this be returned each week. Maths Plus follows a graded and spiralling approach, allowing for revision of concepts throughout the year. It will provide students with opportunities to sequentially develop, practise and master their skills and knowledge.
Parents please be reminded that family time and extracurricular activities are a very important part of your child’s development. Take note that reading is the most important aspect of learning at home with your child. Children in Year 6 are recommended to be spending 40 minutes per day completing their homework tasks. Please communicate with your child's classroom teacher via their diary if for any reason they are unable to complete their weekly tasks.
We look forward to working with you and your child this year. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher via a note or by appointment via the office.
Mrs Amanda Stewart and Mrs Erin Wing (6 Blue)
Miss Tayla Ingram (6 Gold)
Mrs Cheryl Ross and Mrs Drazena Prsa (6 White)
Important Dates for Year 6
SPORT DAYS
Please wear your sports uniform on these days.
6B - Monday & Friday
6G - Monday & Friday
6W - Monday & Friday
School Term - Friday 27th January - Thursday, 6th April 2023