Sustainability- local to global!

This term our inquiry units are based around the theme of sustainability. The grade 4's have been looking at life cycles, carbon foots prints and endangered species while the grade 5's have been recording the weather and investigating weather events. Our class has been reading the local newspapers and explored articles about the local endangered species like the Lead Beaters Possum, The Helmeted Honey Eater and Stonefly. We have been learning how to underline keywords and rewrite the information in our own words. Within reading groups and in writing sessions the students have been investigating the importance of National Parks and what local group groups like the Friends of The Helmeted Honey Eater and Government bodies like Parks Victoria are doing to help protect critically endangered species in our local area. The Grade 5's have also been recording the local weather and using weather forecast reports to answer comprehension questions.

Over the next few weeks, all of the grades 3, 4 and 5's will be looking at explanation texts. While the grade 4's will be investigating the life cycles of plants and animals, the grade 5's will be choosing an extreme weather event and drawing diagrams and a matching explanation of this event.

Here are some samples of the children's information they collected about the Helmeted Honey Eater, and Leadbeaters Possum and some on why we need National Parks.

Mathematics

Over the last few weeks, the class has been practicing their skip counting, times tables and division facts. They have also been looking at formal subtraction, problem-solving and fractions. These are number-heavy topics and some of the children have found these topics challenging. If you think your child would benefit from practicing these skills at home, there are many timetable games online you can access. If you or your child wants extra timetable practice please let myself or Deb Fahey know and we can provide you with booklets or let you know of the computer programs we are using at school.

Reading and Reading logs!

As you all know we have sent reading logs home for your children to fill in each night and we ask that these are also signed by an adult each week. We would love for the children to read each night for at least 15-20 minutes. This is meant to be for pleasure! I know many of you have sporting and after-school commitments and as such we have asked that they record at least a minimum of 4 nights of reading for the week.

Homework club will be running on a Friday for half of one lunchtime each week for those students who do not meet this minimum requirement. (This is to encourage students to get into good habits). If your child has lost their reading log please let myself or Deb Fahey know and we can provide a new one.

Note: We will not make your child stay in at lunchtime if they have lost their log if you just let us know before Friday, please. I have included some information about the benefits of reading and how this can have a positive influence on your child for the future. Please support the school and your child in reaching their highest potential.

If you have any other concerns in regards to your child no matter how big or small, we are only too happy to discuss things via phone, or in person. We can be contacted via email at (pdurrant@sjyarrajunction.catholic.edu.au, dfahey@sjyarrajunction.catholic.edu.au). Or on the school's number 03 5967 1183.

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