F-4 Community News
Wow! What a jam-packed term we have had. It has been wonderful to see all of the F-4 students engaged in quality learning throughout the term. Staff have been working really hard to further implement the Science of Reading approaches in the classroom through daily review, interleaved practice, knowledge-based text units and explicit sentence writing instruction in line with the writing revolution. Although this may look different to what we have done in the past or how you as parents were taught at school, these methods of literacy instruction are evidence-based best practice and it is certainly showing in the students learning. The transition in F-2 from traditional worksheets to explicit direct instruction and repetitive practise of segmenting and blending on whiteboards as a part of the structured literacy routine, has shown great gains in students decoding and spelling skills. The novels studied in Years 3/4, ‘Nim’s Island’ and ‘Mr Stink’ have shown students actively engaged in the discussion of complex text raising the high expectations of students as learners.
It was great to see so many families and friends share in the wonderful learning that has taken place this term at the F-4 Assembly yesterday. Our students love the opportunity to build their confidence and perform or speak in front of a crowd, so thank you for providing them with the opportunity to do so. I’m sure you would agree that our students did a fantastic job and should be commended for their enthusiasm and smiles when performing or sharing.
We would like to thank all parents and caregivers for their support in their child’s learning this term. We hope you have a wonderful Easter break and look forward to seeing you in Term 2.
Erin Emmett and Penny Jenner
F-4 Community Leaders
Years 1 and 2
What a wonderful first Term for 2023 we have had!
The highlights would definitely be the staybacks and our retelling of some fairy tales. It was lovely to share these with the Foundation - Year4 students this week at our end of Term Assembly.
Last week we had fun working with some Year 8 students as they came to teach us about the platypus. We made a platypus out of a paper bag and also cut up and rearranged pieces to make a platypus puzzle! A big thank you to the Year 8s, it was a fabulous activity!
Students are doing a fabulous job of their 60 second reads during TA each morning and it is pleasing to see students completing these as part of their homework routine as well.
Homework will be sent home for the holidays too, so keep an eye out for the white homework folder and continue reviewing our learnings from school at home over the break.
In Literacy, students have enjoyed writing their own fairy tales making sure they include the characters, setting, problem, resolution and ending.
Below are some of the fairy tales created by Year 1 students:
Once upon a time there was a little boy who lived in a magic forest. He had a problem: he had no food. Then something magical happened: he met a kind bunny. His problem was solved when the bunny gave him chocolate Easter eggs. The chocolate eggs never ran out and then he lived happily ever after in a nice little house.
By Korbin
Once upon a time there was a Queen and a King who lived in a castle filled with gold. They had a problem: the gold ran out! Then something magical happened: a nice fairy gave the King and Queen heaps of gold. Their problem was solved when the fairy went away and also the gold never ran out. They lived happily ever after with all of the gold.
By Nate C
Once upon a time there was a sweet little boy who lived in an old house. He had a problem: he had no money to buy the house. Then something magical happened: he met a kind bunny. His problem was solved when the bunny gave him money. He could pay for the house so he lived happily ever after in the house.
By Damon
Once upon a time there was a wonderful little girl who lived in an old house. She had a problem: she had no parents. Then something magical happened: a fairy came and said "What is the matter?" "I have no parents". Her problem was solved when a fairy came and gave her parents and then she and her parents lived happily ever after.
By Maggie
One upon a time there was a mysterious girl who lived in an enchanted forest. She had a problem: it was Easter day and she got no Easter eggs. Then something magical happened: she met an Easter bunny who was magical. Her problem was solved when the bunny gave her Easter eggs and they were eating the eggs together. They lived happily ever after.
By Macey