Learning and Teaching News

As we move towards the end of the first term, the routines, high expectations and procedures that teachers have implemented across all classes are well and truly embedded.

 

Wandering down the learning street, Prep classes are already independently sharing their learning with parents or carers on Seesaw.

 

Year Ones are practising for their prayer liturgy about Palm Sunday which they will video and share with all other classes next week. 

 

Across from the Year Ones, Year Two students are investigating 3 dimensional shapes and using nets to construct cuboids and square and rectangular pyramids.

 

Out on the multi purpose courts, the Year Three and Four students are already preparing for their retirement by learning how to play lawn bowls in their Physical Education lessons.

 

The Year Five/Six students are investigating the symbols and their meaning associated with Holy week, the holiest week in our Church year.

 

Learning is happening inside and out, morning and afternoon despite what is happening in our country and our world with COVID-19.

 

School remains predictable and purposeful. 

 

We are currently planning engaging and interesting Inquiry Units of learning for Term 2. They are as follows:

 

Year LevelTitleDescription
Prep

When in doubt, help your neighbour out. 

                  

 

Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.

An Inquiry into 

people who help us in the community and how they provide help.

 

An Inquiry into all kinds of change; those that occur naturally or are created.

Year OneHow do living things grow and change?An inquiry into plants and animals and their features, lifecycles and environments.
Year Two

Food for thought

 

 

Fizz, Whizz, Bang, Pop

 

An inquiry into making decisions about being healthy and active.

 

An Inquiry into chemical science and the process and procedures for  experimenting with different materials to investigate and answer questions.

Year Three/Four

How do we use Science to 

understand and take action to preserve waterways in our local communities?

An Inquiry into local waterways and the cause and  effect of human actions on these waterways.

 

Year Five/SixHow can we use science to understand and take action in our world?An inquiry into local, regional and global waterways and the impact that our lives have on these resources. 

Learning Power Award Recipients

Congratulations to students who have been recognised by staff for their demonstration of one or many of the 6 Learning Powers celebrated at SMDP.

Collaboration

Curiosity

Creativity

Reflection

Motivation

Resilience

In front of the whole school at Monday assembly,  students are acknowledged and their learning described so we know why they are worthy recipients of our awards and applause.

Well done, and keep up the great learning!

 

Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday.

 

Denise Kelly

Deputy Principal / Learning & Teacher Leader

Story Box Library

SMDP are very excited to announce that due to the closure of local libraries we can access storybox library from home using our school subscription. This website is created for children to view and listen to stories by local authors and illustrators. These stories are read aloud by well known actors, authors, and artists from New Zealand and Australia. 

 

The Year ones love storybox online because……..

 

Ashton: I like story box because I like stories that have been read to me. 

Aarav: I like listening to stories on story box because I learn new stuff

Alicia: I like story box because they have lots and lots of stories

Sophia: I like story box because it has lots of fun and interesting stories. 

 

Below is the website. The username and password will be sent home with your child via Seesaw by the end of term so you can access these wonderful books from home. 

 

Website: https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/

 

How lucky we are to have such a fabulous website available to us.  Be sure to login and Happy Reading!!! 

 

Elise Coghlan

Literacy & Numeracy Leader