Prep News

The Preps are well and truly back into the swing of things in Term 2! There are a few changes this term, with Library day now on a Monday and Art being swapped to Design & Technology with Mr Paul Taylor.

Investigations is a key part of learning in prep at RHPS, providing opportunities to develop a wide range of skills such as initiative, resilience, problem solving and cooperation. Students are loving the dramatic area which currently features a travel agent! It is great to see the links to what they are learning in Global Studies – students are able to locate countries on a map, and are very knowledgeable about places to visit in France as well as closer to home, they love using the phone to answer questions and make bookings!

Students continue to learn letter sounds and we will complete the alphabet next week. This gives them the knowledge to blend the sounds and solve simple three letter words when reading. They are gaining confidence with their reading and we urge you to support this progress by encouraging them to read their take home books over 4 out of 7 nights each week.

We value additional help in the classroom, so if you are keen to help out in any way keep an eye out for the expression of interest form being sent home this week. Please note you will need to lodge a current Working with Children Check at the office.

We are looking forward to inviting Prep and Grade 1 families to the school for an informal get together giving you a chance to catch up and meet other families. This will be on Wednesday 9th June in the last hour of the day. More info will come home soon!

Level 1/2 News

The Level 1/2 students have had a very busy couple of weeks and it's great to see them so engaged in their learning.

In Literacy we have been focussing on reading with fluency and expression. It has been lovely to watch the students enjoying reading with their partners and relishing a variety of new texts. Please continue to encourage your child to read regularly at home and complete the May Reading Calendar.

The students have been learning more about poetry and different types of poems. They have been investigating a range of rhyming words and have produced some imaginative cinquains, haikus and diamante poems.

In Maths, we are improving our number knowledge and skills and learning different strategies to help us to subtract. The students have enjoyed playing a variety of games with cards, dice and online media.

As part of our inquiry unit 'Stimulating Science' the Level 1/2 students are undertaking a range of experiments to help them to understand physical and chemical changes. They are learning to form a hypothesis, record their results and think about why things happened.

It has been great to see the students enjoying Design and Technology with Mr. Taylor. This term. They are creating some wonderful designs and seeing them come to life with the help of 'The Nibbler!'

Our highlight this week was watching the excitement on the students' faces, as they were buying beautiful gifts for Mums and Grandmas at the Mother's Day Stall. It was wonderful to see them handling money and making independent choices. We would like to thank the P&F team for organising this fabulous event again this year.

We have included a few photos for you to enjoy. We hope everyone has a great weekend and all Mums and Grandmas enjoy some special pampering time!

The Level 1/2 Team

Ben, Daena, Kayla, Llinos, Tim and Reuben

Level 3/4 News

The grade three and four students have had some very busy weeks at school.

Students learned about the importance of ANZAC Day and the different ways we commemorate all the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who served and died in war for our country.

A highlight in maths this week was creating monsters using symmetry. Students created some great looking monsters using their maths knowledge. Students continued to write interesting narratives in writing and focused on building their comprehension skills in reading.

It was fantastic to see all students doing their personal best in school cross country last week. Congratulations to all the level 3 and 4 students who finished the course as well as the students who are participating in District Cross Country next week.

NAPLAN is next week for the grade three students. It is important for all students to arrive at school on time to ensure that testing goes as smoothly as possible as most of the sessions are held in the morning.

The Level 3/4 Team

Level 5/6 News

Wow! What a busy few weeks we have had. In 5/6 we have participated in the school cross country event at school. Well done to the top 10 place getters in each age group who proceed to the next level. Selected girls also competed at the AFL Girls Gala Day. Well done to all who participated.

A huge thank you to the P and F who once again stocked, supplied and ran a fantastic Mother Day stall...HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all the mums and significant Carers. In Mathematics we have been revising 2 and 3 D shapes. Students were able to use this knowledge to create an African inspired mask. During our reading session, we have studied reading for meaning, finding the key ideas and honing our comprehension skills. Writing has seen further development in our narrative writing, especially focusing on sizzling starts, character development and interesting ways to finish our stories.

Next week we have Naplan for the grade 5's. The Naplan testing goes from Monday (10th of May) till Thursday (13th of May). Each day there is a different test, the tests are run in the morning sessions (except for Language conventions). Students must arrive at school on time to ensure the smooth running of the testing. This is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their skills and is a snapshot of their learning.

Finally some housekeeping. As the cold weather approaches the need for jackets becomes even more important. We have a few missing jackets at the moment (some with names on them). If all families could check their school jackets at home and return any that may have accidentally made their way home with your child that doesn't belong to you. (we are even missing a named grade 6 Jacket) Thanks for your support on this.

Have a wonderful fortnight. Don't forget to spoil mum, granny, nana and other significant carers on Sunday...

The 5/6 Team

LITERACY

On Wednesday 19th May, RHPS will participate in National Simultaneous Storytime. The book this year is 'Give Me Some Space' by Philip Bunting.

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 21st successful year, it is a fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

By facilitating NSS we aim to:

promote the value of reading and literacy,
promote the value and fun of books,
promote an Australian writer and publisher.

Claire Cripps

Literacy Leader