Foundation in Focus

WOW! What a fabulous start to Foundation in 2022! We have loved getting to know all the enthusiastic students and we have enjoyed setting up our classroom routines and expectations, ready for a brilliant year of learning ahead!
Reading
The reading program uses Jolly Phonics alongside cued articulation to learn the letter name, formation and sound.
We will start with the letter ‘S’ and move through ‘A’ ‘T’ ‘I’ ‘P’ and ‘N’, and then the rest of the alphabet. Once students have learnt these six letter sounds we will move to sounding two and three letter words. We will focus on using the ‘Lips the Fish’ reading strategy which encourages them to look at the first letter of a word before looking at the rest of the word and ‘Stretchy Snake’ which helps students to stretch and blend the sounds in the word.
Students are encouraged to share their reader every night and write the title in their yellow book to communicate with their teacher.
Writing
The Writing program will use different mediums such as chalk, glitter and shaving cream to form letters. We will encourage correct pencil grip, seating position, staying focused and doing our personal best.
Students are encouraged to sound out words and have a go at writing the sounds they hear. Remember practise makes progress and mistakes help us learn!
We will begin with learning to write names, beginning with a capital letter and then lowercase letters, before moving on to letter formation, recording the sounds in words and simple sentence construction.
Speaking and Listening
Learning how to show appropriate listening skills, using the 5 Ls of Listening. These are:
Lips - My lips are closed
Legs - My legs are crossed and still
Laps - My hands are still and in my lap
Look - I am looking at the person who is speaking
Listen - I am listening to the person who is speaking.
Foundation students will learn to speak at an appropriate volume when answering questions and joining in with class discussions and listening when others are speaking.
There is a focus in Term 1 on making friends and how to speak and listen to each other to build positive friendships.
Numeracy
The term’s focus will be on number, learning how to orally count to and from 20, recognise and write numerals with correct formation and place numbers in order.
Students will use lots of hands-on resources and many lessons will be outside and related to real-life experiences.
Inquiry
The Inquiry focus is ‘In Our Community’ which will have students consider their place in the community and that they need to be able to show respect, listen to and care for each other.
They will learn all about starting school procedures and there will be much discussion about classroom expectations and routines.
Each grade will take a tour of the school to familiarise themselves with the different areas, especially the F-2 playground!
At the end of this term all Foundation students will have a walking excursion to Bayswater Train Park to share lunch together and play on the playground before walking back to HEPS. We will need some parent helpers for this activity.
Specialist Classes
FA Tuesday Art and Japanese, Thursday PE and Music
FB Tuesday PE and Music, Wednesday STEAM, Thursday Art
FC Tuesday Music and STEAM, Thursday PE and Art
FD Tuesday STEAM and PE, Thursday Music, Friday Art
FE Tuesday Japanese and Art, Thursday Music and PE
Please wear comfortable running shoes on PE days.
Specialist Teachers
Music and Performing Arts - Ms Austin
Japanese - Miss Pond
Visual Arts - Mrs Mountford and Mrs Hayes
Health and Physical Education -Mr Hodgson
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) – Mrs Dennis
Library - classroom teachers take this class
Special Events
February
On the following Wednesdays there will be no Foundation classes for students. Please only attend at your child’s scheduled interview time:
Wednesday 2nd, Wednesday 9th and Wednesday 16th, Wednesday 23rd
Foundation hearing tests - Tuesday the 26th and Wednesday the 27th of April in 2022
Parent information session – Monday 7th February at 5:30pm (WebEx)
Labour Day Monday 14th March (No students at school)
Curriculum Day Tuesday 15th of March (No students at school)
Harmony Day Monday 21st of March
3 Way Learning Conferences Monday 28th of March, Thursday 31st of March
Term 1 Last Day Friday 8th of April 2:30pm Dismissal
Parent/Teacher Communication
Please use the @heathmonteastps.vic.edu.au email address to communicate with your child’s teacher.
If you need to speak with your child’s teacher please call the school and teachers will return your call when they are not teaching students.
If you would prefer a Webex meeting or face to face meeting (restrictions dependant) rather than a phone call this can also be arranged at a mutually agreed time.
Please note - Anyone holding a current concession or health care card are entitled to CSEF (Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund). Application forms are on Compass or in the iNewsletter.
The forms can be printed in several different languages if required.
Foundation students are settling in beautifully. We look forward to a fantastic Term together.
Brogan, Sally, Emily, Kristen, Becky and Kate