What's happening in our learning spaces? 

Students of the Week

Foundation

Learning in Foundation this week continued with lots of excitement and curiosity. However once again, it was shortened by yet another lockdown and another round of remote learning. The students have continued to show their skills as responsible, resilient self-managers through every lockdown, and we are confident that they will do it again! Hopefully it is a short one and we are all back together again soon, but in the meantime we will continue to collaborate as learners through Google Meets. 

This week, as part of our Discovery Time workshops, we continued to explore the Aboriginal culture. As collaborators, we engaged in a game played by Aboriginal children, called ‘Bones’. Traditionally, they carved buffalo rib bones to help them learn to add and count. We made our own using large icy pole sticks and drew different patterns and numbers onto them before flipping them over and adding the numbers together by counting on. As researchers, we found out about Damper, a traditional bread made with crushed native seeds, nuts and roots and water, and cooked over a campfire. As self-managers, we listened carefully and followed directions as we collaborated to make our own damper with flour and water.  As thinkers, we activated our prior knowledge as we designed our own boomerangs using Aboriginal colours and symbols. We then used our skills as communicators to share the story on our boomerangs with a buddy. We can’t wait to display these in our new learning spaces next term! 

As curious learners, we found out about the Olympics. As communicators, we activated our prior knowledge and shared what we already knew with each other. As researchers, we looked at pictures and diagrams and listened carefully as we gathered new information about the Olympics. We discovered that the Olympic Games occur every four years in a different country, that they began in Greece thousands of years ago and that there are 52 different sporting events in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. We also learnt about the different colours of the Olympic Rings and what they represent. 

As mathematicians, we continued to learn about Addition. As researchers, we used 10 double-sided counters to find all of the numbers that add together to make 10 and recorded these using tens frames. These are called friends of ten! As thinkers, we tuned in to Subtraction with Mrs Monaghan. We listened to a story about Pete the Cat who had groovy buttons that kept popping off. We used take-away to find out how many buttons he had left. We will continue to explore subtraction and practise our friends of ten during our Google Meets. 

As writers, we tuned in to Information Texts by reading different examples. As researchers, we discovered that Information Texts give us true information about a person, animal, place or thing and only include facts. We learnt about the difference between facts and opinions, before brainstorming different facts about school and our teachers. As collaborators, we wrote an information text as a class about School, before engaging in small groups to write our own. We made sure to include at least three true facts about what it is, what people do there and some of the things schools have. We will continue to read and write lots of information texts during remote learning. 

We look forward to engaging with each other on Google Meets and can’t wait to see everyone’s smiling faces. Please remember to check emails regularly for updates regarding learning and online sessions, and just do what you and your family can manage during this challenging time. Stay safe, and reach out if you require any support. We thank you for continuing to support us and your children with their learning whilst at home, and hopefully we will see everyone back at school on Friday! 

Foundation Team, Leanne Wekckowski and Alycia Marsico.

Year 1/2

Although our week ended with an unexpected outcome, we had some fantastic learning experiences.  We feel blessed to have students who demonstrate resilience and positivity especially during these challenging times. Again, thank you to our parents for your enduring support.  We are doing our utmost to support our students with their learning and are working hard to provide as close to a regular learning routine as possible. 

Our reading, writing and shared inquiry continues to focus on Cultural Diversity.  As communicators, collaborators and thinkers, we are exploring and unpacking indigenous stories and their underlying themes, the settings, the characters and plots.  

As Mathematicians, we have been using different strategies to add numbers. 

In Religious Education we compared different versions of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.  Students shared their thinking and observations. 

Our students continue to demonstrate engagement during Discovery and are continuing to develop their abilities to be confident, courageous, curious, persistent and respectful learners, communicators, collaborators, researchers, thinkers and self managers. Here are some of our learning reflections from 1/2MD:

I made a frog in origami.  It was fun! Olivia

I made a frog in origami. It didn’t have good stamina so I need to improve on its design.  I will improve it and keep on having a go.  Louis

I was at the nature station and I decided to draw the steps on how seeds grow. Caleb and I went to Godly play and he read the scripture about the events of Holy Week.  I performed the actions using the puppets and figurines.  Zac

I made lemonade using sugar and water.  It tasted very sour!  Harrison

Phelix and I made a car which can move up and down with the technic lego.  Sam

I wrote some wonderings about worms and I drew a poster.  Gus

Have an amazing week with your beautiful families!

Belinda Filippone, Stefanie Carriera and Maria Delaney

Year 3/4

Our week was again cut short due to Covid-19, however while at school the students continued to work well on a variety of learning tasks.

In Literacy, we focused on bibliographies. We looked at the structure of a bibliography, the type of language used and how they can be used to inspire others. The students began to research a person of interest and list facts about them. This reading and writing task will continue during Remote Learning.

In Maths, we continued to look at the concept of multiplication. We worked on using the splitting and vertical algorithms as efficient ways of solving multiplication equations. We discussed when multiplying by 10 and 100 how you use the zeroes in your final answer.

In Inquiry, we read the story titled: I am Australian too. We have discussed the concept of being Australian and how Australia is made up of many different nations from around the world. Each grade completed a survey to determine how many nations we have cultural links with. These countries' flags were made and will be used as a display in the classroom.

In STEM, the children continued to work on their design of creating a prosthetic hand. Their work has been creative and enabled them to think, problem solve and work collaboratively.

In RE, we spoke about the work of Saint Mary MacKillop and the amazing work she did for Catholioc education here in Australia.

The week brings many challenges for each of us, however as Mrs Watson said at the assembly on Friday, try and remain positive, talk with one another and please reach out if you need assistance. We really do need to support each other.

Year 3/4 teachers,

Mark MacGregor, Katarina Davidson and Graham Troy.

Year 5/6

What a great week of learning this week!  

In STEM, our 5/6 students have had the challenge of creating a prosthetic arm for disadvantaged people.  They have been introduced to Mr MacGregor’s nephew who faces challenges with a prosthetic hand.  The students have spent many weeks brainstorming, developing, testing and improving their design.  They have now begun their pitch of explaining the advantages of their model.  

This week, many of our students have attended an excursion to ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) where they learnt how to create and use animation to make figures appear as moving images.  The students enjoyed an afternoon collaborating and sharing each other's animations.  Congratulations on creating some very interesting and creative animations!  

In Religion, the students are learning about the Catholic Social Teaching of Solidarity through Caritas.  They have watched videos and defined their understanding of solidarity. The students will focus on the values of good leaders and find out about some just and influential leaders in the world.

As we begin another week of remote learning, we will continue classes online through whole Google Meets each morning and afternoon.  We will schedule times for individual and small group meets throughout the day.  We continue to encourage full attendance for learning and for connecting with each other while at home.  There are also many opportunities for some fun activities like showcasing our pets, dressing up and playing different games.  We ask all our students to stay connected.

Stay safe and well.

Olivia Sargent, Michelle Casamento, Viviana Clarke, Cherrie Arnold.