Achilles Community Report

Reading

In Reading, our students have been diving into the world of fiction in their learning journey. They've been focusing on understanding the important elements that make up a fiction story. One of the exciting things they've been doing is exploring the characters in these stories. They've learned to spot and describe the traits of characters, both their personalities on the inside and how they look on the outside.

In their exploration of fiction texts, students have been identifying key parts of a story, like the setting, beginning, middle, and end. They've been learning how each of these parts contributes to the overall flow of the story. They've also been discovering the build-up, which is where the excitement and tension grow, leading to the main problem that the characters need to solve.

To further enhance their reading skills, students have been practising buddy reading. This means they've been teaming up with students from grades 3 and 4 to read together. This not only helps them improve their reading, but also fosters a sense of teamwork.

Writing

In Writing,, our students have been busy honing their storytelling skills by writing narratives. They've been focusing on two important aspects: developing characters and understanding the key elements of a narrative. In terms of characters, they've learned how to create characters with both inner qualities and outer appearances, making them feel real and relatable.

In their narratives, they've explored various story elements like setting, beginning, middle, end, build-up, problem, and solution. The setting helps set the stage for their stories, making the reader feel like they're right there in the scene. With sizzling starts, they've learned to grab the reader's attention from the very first sentence.

As the story unfolds, students have been working on creating a build-up, leading to the main problem that the characters need to solve. This is where the excitement and tension in the story build up. Through thoughtful writing, they've crafted solutions that resolve the problems their characters face, providing a satisfying ending to their narratives.

Overall, our students have been on an exciting journey of creativity, where they've not only enhanced their writing skills but also developed a deeper understanding of how stories work.

Maths

In Maths, our students have been exploring a fun and practical aspect of location. They've been focusing on understanding the concepts of left and right, which are important skills for everyday life. They're learning how to tell the difference between the two directions and why it matters.

In addition to this, the students have been practising giving directions. They've been working on explaining how to go from one place to another, which is a valuable skill that can come in handy when they're navigating around town. Students have enjoyed directing their friends across the classroom. Students get to put their direction-giving skills into practice. This not only reinforces their understanding of directions but also encourages cooperation and communication among their peers.

Overall, our students are discovering the world of location in a hands-on and engaging way. They're gaining skills that will be useful in their daily lives while having a lot of fun in the process!

Inquiry

In our recent inquiry lessons, our students have been delving into a very important topic: the impact we, as humans, have on the environment. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to understand how our actions can affect the world around us.

To make this learning more visual and hands-on, the students have been creating dioramas. These are like miniature 3D scenes that they've made to show the effects of actions like littering and pollution. Through these dioramas, they're able to see firsthand how these actions can harm our surroundings and the creatures that live in them.

By working on these projects, our students are not only learning about the environment but also developing their creativity and critical thinking. They're thinking about the consequences of our actions and how we can make better choices to protect our planet.

SEL

During our social and emotional learning sessions, our students have been focusing on the wonderful value of caring for others. They've been practising acts of kindness that come straight from the heart. Through these activities, they are learning the beauty of making someone's day a little brighter with simple gestures. Whether it's a friendly smile, a helping hand, or a thoughtful note, our students are discovering the joy that comes from spreading positivity and compassion.

Victorian Curriculum

Here is the link to the Victorian Curriculum if you would like to take a look at what we cover throughout the year.

https://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/level1

https://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/level2

Reminders

Doors open at 8:40am
Dismissal at 3:10pm
Ensure your child’s belongings are clearly labelled. This includes clothing, drink bottles, hats and lunchboxes (lids too)
Students are to come to school with a full water bottle each day (labelled)

What you can do with your child at home

Continue to read to and with your child each night.
Encourage your child to develop more independence. (Help pack/unpack their school bag/lunch, or get their uniform ready)
Encourage your child to take increased responsibility for their own belongings.
Establishing a regular routine helps students to develop a positive approach to learning and will benefit them as they progress through their schooling.
Encourage your child to practise tying their own shoelaces.
If you need to speak to your child’s mentor teacher, please contact the office to pass on the message or organise this before or after school.

Kind Regards,

1/2 Achilles

Holly, Scott, Britt, and Amanjot