Term 1
What a brilliant start to school our 2023 Foundies have had! We have loved getting to know all the enthusiastic students and we have enjoyed setting up our classroom routines and expectations, ready for a magnificent year of learning ahead!
Reading
The reading program uses Jolly Phonics alongside cued articulation to learn the letter name, formation and sound.
We will start with the letter ‘S’ and move through ‘A’ ‘T’ ‘I’ ‘P’ and ‘N’, and then the rest of the alphabet. Once students have learnt these six letter sounds we will move to sounding two and three letter words. We will focus on using the ‘Lefty Larry’ reading strategy which encourages them to start on the left of the word and look at the first sound, and ‘Grapheme Grasshopper’ which helps students to jump to each letter or group of letters and say their sound.
Students are encouraged to share their reader every night and write the title in their learning journal to communicate with their teacher.
Writing
In writing, students will use different mediums such as chalk, glitter and shaving cream to form letters. We will encourage correct pencil grip, seating position, staying focused and doing our personal best.
Students are encouraged to sound out words and have a go at writing the sounds they hear. Remember practise makes progress and mistakes help us learn!
We will begin with learning to write names, beginning with a capital letter and then lowercase letters, before moving on to letter formation, recording the sounds in words and simple sentence construction.
Speaking and Listening
Learning how to show appropriate listening skills, using the 5 Ls of Listening. These are:
Lips - My lips are closed unless it's my turn.
Legs - My legs are crossed or comfortable.
Laps - I am keeping my hands to myself.
Look - I am looking at the person who is speaking.
Listen - I am listening to the person who is speaking.
Foundation students will learn to speak at an appropriate volume when answering questions and joining in with class discussions and listening when others are speaking.
There is a focus in Term 1 on making friends and how to speak and listen to each other to build positive friendships.
Numeracy
The term’s focus will be on number, learning how to orally count to and from 20, recognise and write numerals with correct formation and place numbers in order. We will use objects in the classroom classify and sort, recognise shapes and begin to use informal units to measure.
Students will use lots of hands-on resources and many lessons will be outside and related to real-life experiences.
Inquiry
Our inquiry unit this term is, ‘Shaping Identity’ which will have students consider their identity, healthy foods, their changing bodies, safety at school and at home, and how to ask for help.
They will learn all about starting school procedures and there will be much discussion about classroom expectations and routines.
Each grade will take a tour of the school to familiarise themselves with the different areas, especially the F-2 playground!
At the end of this term all Foundation students will have a walking excursion to Bayswater Train Park to share lunch together and play on the playground before walking back to HEPS. We will need some parent helpers for this activity!
Specialist Classes
FSB Monday - Music and PETuesday - LibraryThursday - Art and STEAMSustainability is on Monday for the first 4 weeks, then will be on Wednesdays.
FKB Monday - PE and ArtTuesday - LibraryThursday - Music and STEAMSustainability is on Monday for the first 4 weeks, then will be on Wednesdays.
FBB Monday - MusicTuesday - Sustainability and STEAMWednesday - LibraryThursday - Art and P.E.
FTD Monday - ArtTuesday - Sustainability and STEAMWednesday- LibraryThursday- P.E and Music.
Please wear comfortable running shoes on PE days. Please make sure that library bags are packed for library day, returning the book from the previous week.
Specialist Teachers
Music and Performing Arts - Ms Austin
Japanese - Miss Pond
Visual Arts - Mrs Mountford and Mrs Hayes
Health and Physical Education -Mr Hodgson
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) – Mrs Dennis
Sustainability - Mrs Whitfield
Library - classroom teachers take this class
Special Events
February
On the following Wednesdays there will be no Foundation classes for students. Please only attend at your child’s scheduled interview time:
Wednesday 1st, Wednesday 8th and Wednesday 15th, Wednesday 22nd
Labour Day Monday 13th March (No students at school)
Harmony Day Monday 20th of March
Bayswater Train Park Excursion Friday 24th March
3 Way Learning Conferences Monday 27th of March, Thursday 30th of March
Term 1 Last Day Friday 6th of April 2:30pm Dismissal
Parent/Teacher Communication
Please use the @heathmonteastps.vic.edu.au email address to communicate with your child’s teacher.
brogan.badrock@heathmonteastps.vic.edu.au
kristen.bulfin@heathmonteastps.vic.edu.au
sally.blain@heathmonteastps.vic.edu.au
tasnim.dalal@heathmonteastps.vic.edu.au
rebecca.hayes@heathmonteastps.vic.edu.au
If you need to speak with your child’s teacher please call the school and teachers will return your call when they are not teaching students.
Please note - Anyone holding a current concession or health care card are entitled to CSEF (Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund). Application forms are on Compass or in the iNewsletter. The forms can be printed in several different languages if required.
Foundation students are settling in beautifully. We look forward to a fantastic term together!
Brogan, Sally, Kristen, Becky and Tasnim