Year 5/6
Term 1
Welcome back to the 2020 school year! It has been an exciting start so far to the year. The students have shown that they are ready and excited for the year ahead and are settling into our classrooms, new routines and our new furniture.
Andrew Brown, Kristina Reid and Marisa Box are our 5/6 classroom teachers this year. Our senior teaching team is supported by Melinda Kerwin and Julie Carroll this year as the Learning Support Officers for our learning area.
Religious Education/Inquiry Learning
Our first term unit of learning will have a Civics and Citizenship focus. Students will be exploring the levels of government in Australia and the systems of voting that lead to elected members of parliament being chosen. We are exploring the ways people contribute to their local and global communities.
This will include exploring how we belong to different groups and faith communities. We will examine the Catholic Church’s teachings on Human Dignity as we all strive to build a more just world, both globally and locally.
Please note in your calendars:
Meet and Greet Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 February
Twilight Sports Monday 2 March
School closure Day Friday 6 March
Year Six Camp Tuesday 10 - Friday 13 March
Student Led Conferences Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 March
English
This term, the senior students will develop their reading comprehension, speaking and listening and writing skills through our weekly literacy rotations, goal setting and various other activities.
Our literacy rotations will be guided by our recent comprehension assessment and students will be exposed to a variety of texts types, word study activities (vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar), and online activities (Behind the news and Reading Eggs) as part of this learning. In teacher focus groups, students will discuss ideas and share their opinions relating to various topics and texts, as we address specific comprehension needs for each student's learning.
This term in writing we will be focusing on creating persuasive and narrative texts. We will utilise 6+1 Traits writing program, to help students to develop their own voices as writers, incorporating effective vocabulary choices and interesting ideas.
Mathematics
The following curriculum will be taught this term:
Whole numbers: Place Value
Students will identify and describe factors and multiples of whole numbers to solve problems. They will use estimation and other efficient strategies, including the use of digital technologies, to solve problems.
Addition and Subtraction:
Students will use efficient mental and written strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems involving four and five digit numbers.
Students will use estimation to check the reasonableness of their answers.
Statistics and Probability: Data
Students will pose questions and collect categorical or numerical data by observation or survey. They will construct displays with and without the use of digital technologies and describe and interpret different data sets in context.
Social Emotional Learning
This term in SEL our 5/6 students will be exploring the links between their emotions and behaviour. Students will learn to recognise and name different emotions in themselves and others, identifying the body language and facial expressions often displayed when you are feeling a certain way. They will name positive and negative emotions and discuss how these can have different effects on us.
Home Learning
Home learning will once again be given to students in the 5/6 area on a fortnightly basis beginning in week 3 of this term. Students will be required to complete all compulsory activities and 3 of the free choice activities, continuing the same structure they are familiar with. We see home learning as a terrific opportunity for students to develop and improve in their organisation and time management skills and greatly appreciate parents and family support with this.
Timetable
Specialist classes of Performing Arts and Visual Arts will be on Friday mornings in 2020. Could all students please bring a named art smock to school for Visual Arts. Students will participate in Chinese language studies on a Wednesday. Students will need to wear sports uniform on Wednesdays and Thursdays for PE and Sport lessons.
Communication
Effective communication between family and school is an important factor in a student’s learning. Please make contact with us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
We will endeavour to respond to emails within 24 hours, during weekdays.
Each student has received a diary for this year. These will be used for the following purposes:
To develop organisational and time management skills
As a communication tool.
Record and communicate nightly reading
Please view your child’s diary weekly as they are recording their nightly reading and sign it please before it will be checked on a Friday at school.
Contact Details
Download the 'Skoolbag App' to your phone from the App Store to receive communication updates.
Kristina Reid kreid@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
Marisa Box mbox@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au
Andy Brown abrown@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au