School of Foundations

What’s Happening in the School of Foundations

During the last six weeks there has been lots of learning for our students in K-4. Next Wednesday we will provide the students the opportunity to explore different learning spaces as part of their transition into their 2023 classes. Year Four will have the opportunity to visit Stage 3. Our Kindergarten students will go upstairs into the Stage 1 classes and our Year 2 students will move up into the Stage 2 learning spaces.

Throughout this term, Stage 1 has been learning about Aboriginal perspectives in various ways. They have explored influences on the Aboriginal People's health in PDH as well as Dreamtime Stories in Shared Reading and Writing while looking at narratives. On Tuesday and Thursday next week our Stage 1 students will watch a performance of the Dreamtime story Tiddalik The Frog. Glinda's and Lion's will have theirs on Tuesday either from 9:30am-12:00pm or 12:00pm-2:30pm and Tinmen's and Wizards will have theirs on Thursday in either one of those session times as well. Recess and Lunch will be as normal for the students on these days.

Thank you to our Year 2 parents who attended our BYOD information session today. This was a great opportunity for parents to meet with myself and Mrs Burns, Immersive Technologies Leader.

Miss Pecnik

Head of School of Foundations: K-4

ES1

Investigations and inquiry through play

Kindergarten students have been participating in investigations and inquiry through play. The investigations are connected to key learning areas, the children's interests, and developmental abilities. Students work collaboratively or individually and experience the St Luke's Pillars of Learning through their investigations. Here is a small sample of some of the children engaging in their investigations.

Mathematics

Students have been learning about Mass this week in Mathematics. They participated in a range of rich tasks including learning about hefting and understanding that the heavier item should be lower and the lighter item should be higher. Here are some examples of students hefting.

Students also used arm balance scales to weigh different items around the room. They were encouraged to use vocabulary such as heavier, lighter and the same.

Physical Education

This week in Early Stage 1 PE, students were given a Hula Hoop, a soft ball and three cones to create their own game with two of their peers. In groups, they were required to sit and plan together, before compromising and designing a game of their choice. These were some of the games they came up with.

Writing

Over the past few weeks, students have been applying their writing skills to persuade an audience. To reflect on their success as a writer, students have been using a success criteria. They have been learning to:

Give my opinion on the topic;
Give reasons for my opinion;
Use high modality words to persuade.

In response to the topic, What playground equipment would you like and why, students wrote extended pieces of writing to read to our college principal, Mrs Bauer. Here is Mrs Bauer visiting Kangas and a sample of the writing from Roos.

Stage 1

English

In Writing this term, students have been learning all about Narratives. They have now finished their planning phase and have begun turning their plan into sentences. Students have been using the Bump It Up Wall to help them improve their writing skills.

Maths

In Maths this term, students have been exploring Volume and Capacity. Students have completed a number of hands-on activities involving them estimating, measuring, recording and ordering the volume and capacity of a range of containers and 3D objects.

Religion

In Religion this term, students have been learning all about what prayer is. Last week, they were joined by Deacon Tony to learn more about the importance of prayer and the different ways we can pray to God.

Science

In Science this term,

students have been learning

about forces, motion and how these can be used for specific purposes. They have been able to apply what they have learnt by designing a toy car that can exhibit various forces using recycled materials.

PDH

As part of our Health unit this term, students were given the opportunity to make Wattle Seed Damper. This allowed them to develop an understanding of ways the Indigenous Community are influenced to be healthy. Students surprisingly loved the taste!

Stage 2

Religion

This term in religion we have been learning how students actions can make an intentional faith community. Students have explored different ways in which we can create a community. In this particular activity students had to work in teams to navigate “the minefield” (an obstacle course). Students used their communication skills to help a student that was blindfolded navigate the course. After completing the activity, students had to think about what they had to do to be successful and how they were a community?

Maths

This term students have been exploring different ways to measure . They explored with concrete materials different ways that they can measure the length, mass and volume and capacity using formal and informal units of measure. They estimated, measured, recorded and compared these measurements.

English

In cooperative groups students worked on a design that would make their plane or helicopter go the furthest. Students first planned, tested and then re-evaluated what worked and what needed to change for their planes/helicopters to fly the furthest

Music

This week in Music Year 3 have been working on rhythms, collaboration and creating a composition. In groups they have created their own performances on a variety of percussion. Working on musicality, collaboration skills and rhythmic variety.

This week in Stage 2 PE, we have been completing some Hockey Skills which requires students to focus on their hand-eye coordination, timing and safety. During the lesson, students worked on their dribbling, passing and shooting skills individually and in groups.

Specialist Intervention Programs

Both Reading Recovery and EMU programs are being finalised and students have worked hard and made great progress. Please continue to encourage your child to spend some time each day revising skills taught in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. If you are looking for ways to entertain your children through the holidays here are some great ideas

Visiting your local library or museum
keeping a journal to record their holiday adventures
Continue to build up the Maths treasure chest
Build oral language by engaging in purposeful conversations
Playing literacy and maths games while driving.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our parents who have worked in partnership with us to support your children's growth.