Welcome To Term 1

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We would like to introduce you to the Level 2 Team consisting of 5 teachers, Ben Stirling (Teaching and Learning Leader/Classroom teacher 2A), Dilan Ratnayake (Assistant Teaching and Learning Leader/Classroom teacher 2B), Kristy Smith (Classroom teacher 2C), Alicia Bird (Classroom teacher 2D) and Kimielle D'Mello (Classroom teacher 2E).

Together we have planned explicit learning experiences filled with a range of learning opportunities for the students to participate in and engage in the Victorian Curriculum. 

These learning experiences have been tailored to the learning needs of the students to create a meaningful learning journey to challenge and extend the students in all areas across the Curriculum. We are excited to be part of the academic, social and emotional learning growth and development of each student throughout the year. 

Please take a few moments to read what we have planned for this exciting term as we look forward to a rigorous term of learning.

Ben, Dilan, Kristy, Alicia and Kimielle. 

Term 1 Key Dates 

February 15th – Getting to Know You Interviews 

February 21st – Swimming Program 

February 22nd – Getting to Know You Interviews 

February 23rd – Swimming Program 

March 7th – Swimming Program 

March 8th – Swimming Program 

March 9th – Swimming Program 

March 14th – Labour Day 

March 15th – Curriculum Day (Student Free Day) 

March 23rd – School Photo Day 

March 24th – Harmony Day 

April 6th – Twilight Sports   

April 8th – Last Day of Term 1 

Inquiry

This term, Level Two is inquiring into the question ‘How can our strengths have a positive impact in our community?’ Students will begin the unit by identifying and describing their many strengths such as their personal, academic, social and physical strengths and then analyse the connection between their strengths and wellbeing. Students will then define what a community is and identify the various communities they belong to. After deepening their understanding of the communities they belong to, students will explore how they contribute to those communities and the impact their actions have on them. 

Additionally, a key element of our Inquiry unit will involve transferring our understanding and making connections to Global Goal 3 ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’.  

To support your child’s learning at home, you could:   

• Ask your child to describe their strengths. 
• Discuss with them the strengths and characteristics you value in them.  
• Discuss the different communities your family belongs to. 

Discuss how your child impacts the different communities they belong to.

YCDI

The Level Two team integrates the You Can Do It Program into our weekly teaching and learning. YCDI focuses on the development of five key areas; Organisation, Confidence, Persistence, Resilience and Getting Along. These key target areas support the development of social, emotional and self-regulation skills of our young learners. YCDI is a comprehensive framework that incorporates the latest research into developing the social and emotional characteristics of students and explores how social skills can influence outcomes. In addition to this we will we draw connections to our Whole School Values of Global Empathy, Integrity, Respect and Initiative and allow students to reflect on how their actions affect the wellbeing of self and others.

Reading and Viewing

In Term One, Level Two learners will deepen their understanding of the whole school approach, CAFÉ, by learning strategies from the areas of Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency and Expand Vocabulary. The students will be explicitly taught how to apply strategies through reading workshops and sustained reading. To align with our Writing units, the learners will focus on building their knowledge of Recount and Narrative text structure by analysing texts. Furthermore, a focus on expanding vocabulary through mentor texts will enable learners to identify and transfer new and interesting vocabulary. Mentor texts will also be selected in relation to our Inquiry topic, making links to community, identity and personal health. Teachers will conference with students regularly to establish, assess and practise personalised learning goals to deepen reading skills. 

Writing

In Writing, students are investigating different writing genres and their supporting their development as an author thought connections to the whole school approach, VOICES. Learning experiences through Voice, Organisation, Ideas, Conventions, Excellent Word Choice and Sentence Fluency will support students in their writing journey.  Students will also be immersed in a world of writing exploration through both ‘Sustained Writing’ to increase writing stamina and ‘Seed Creation’ to develop their ideas and create depth in their writing. Students will have regular writing conferences with their teacher to set personalised writing goals that are tailored to their need and to ensure they are supported throughout their journey as authors.

Mathematics

Mathematics is a key component of the Year 2 curriculum, with students exploring concepts through the application of the mathematical proficiencies of Problem Solving, Understanding, Reasoning and Fluency (SURF). Core topics in Term One include investigations into calendars, place value, addition and subtraction. Students will engage in ‘Maths Talks’ to develop their reasoning and communication skills, as well as be supported to generate and progress towards personalised SURF goals. 

To support your child’s learning at home, you could: 

• Ask your child what their current SURF goal is. What have been their successes and challenges? What is their ‘next step’? 
• Ensure your child completes their Maths Home Learning weekly.