Classroom News
PREP GRADE
This week in prep we have been exploring the season of Lent and celebrating it's beginning. On Tuesday we made pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. This is a tradition that dates back thousands of years when people would use up the ingredients in their pantries in preparation for fasting. The preps participated in making a pancake batter and then cooking the batter in the fry pan. They loved the experience of cooking them but we think eating the pancakes was the best part.
We are continuing to learn about patterns in Maths and have spent time making our own patterns this week. Our very clever preps can make one, one patterns, two, two patterns and one, one, one patterns. They are enjoying the unit and showing lots of great learning.
This week we have also begun to take home our reader bags to support our literacy learning. The preps were very excited to take their learning home with them. These are due back each Monday.
Gemma Blake gblake@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Dani Conheady dconheady@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
GRADE 1/2
Shrove Tuesday/Ash Wednesday
As we celebrate the beginning of Lent, students read a book about why we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Students then participated in making pancakes and then sharing them with each other in a beautiful, prayerful space. On Wednesday, students participated in an Ash Wednesday Liturgy where they reflected on what they may wish to sacrifice in the season of Lent.
Homework/Readers/Library
A gentle reminder for students to please bring back the following on Friday’s:
-homework
-readers
-library books
Numeracy
In numeracy this week, students have been busy analyzing graphs and collecting data. We have been learning how to bundle tally marks while we collect data from questions we have created.
Weather
With the hot weather around this time of year it is important that students come to school with a drink bottle so they can stay hydrated and be ready for learning without the added stress of headaches that can be prevented from drinking water throughout the day.
Kascha Popping kpopping@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Leah Martin lmartin@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Miriam Collins mcollins@smolac.catholic.edu.au
Matt Absalom mabsalom@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Emma Roberts eroberts@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Kerryn Williams kwilliams@smcolac.cathlolic.edu.au
GRADE 3/4
This week we enjoyed the second presentation of Backflips Against Bullying. The main ideas discussed were how to stay strong when confronted by a bully, how rumours can be hurtful to others and how cyberbullying can affect us. The children had fun learning about these serious issues in a fun and engaging way!
This term in Inquiry our topic is Civics and Citizenship. We have been planning and mapping our own fictional town of Learnington. On Monday, Kate Hanson will be visiting us to discuss the role of a Council in a town. As citizens of Learnington, we voted for our Student Representative Council members using Ballot Papers. Congratulations to all of our SRC nominees, we were so impressed with all of your effort, and your bravery.
We are excited to be opening our classrooms to our families next Friday, 3rd March. Please come along between 2:15-3:15, visit our learning spaces and check out where all the fun and learning is happening in 2023.
NAPLAN for Year 3 begins on Wednesday 15th March. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact your classroom teacher.
Year 3 students would have received a note regarding the Athletics Trials scheduled for Friday 17th March. Could parents please contact their teacher if their child wishes to participate.
Elissa Rodger erodger@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Deb Holland dholland@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Lauren Ryan lryan@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Meg Knight mknight@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Judy Carr jcarr@smcolac.catholic.edu
Jodie Hassett jhassett@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
GRADE 5/6
As we get back into the swing of things, we have begun to establish our classroom and school routines. Our students have settled in well and are ready to kick off with our regular curriculum next week.
For term 1, we will begin our Numeracy program with Place Value, Religion will be based around Hope and Inquiry is Needs/Wants/Choices.
VCOP is an exciting new writing program that staff attended a Professional Development day for last Monday. More information will be sent home in regards to this over the term, but ask your children what they know so far. Kung Fu Punctuation has been a highlight across all the classes this week.
Rachel Downard rdownard@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Paula Parish pparish@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Jade LoRicco jloricco@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Dan Cannon dcannon@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Susie Scott sscott@smcolac.catholic.edu.au
Maegen Potter mpotter@smcolac.catholic.edu.au.