The Learning Zone

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere." - Chinese Proverb

Semester 2 Assessments

As outlined in the Week 4 newsletter, all students in Years 1-6 recently completed the online Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Reading and Maths.  The assessment results give teachers objective information about each students’ knowledge across key learning areas, which in turn informs individual learning goals and guides next steps in teaching.  Of course, the PAT Assessments provide teachers with a snapshot of learning at a particular point in time and are just one of many tools used by teachers to assess and monitor student growth throughout the year.

Our assessment results highlight the outstanding growth in student achievement over the past twelve months, and show that all classes have performed above the Australian norm (50th percentile) in both Reading and Maths. 

Stage 2 Information Reports

Take a look at Graison's information report about South Korea.  He learnt all about the purpose and structure of an information report and he thoroughly enjoyed learning many interesting facts about the country. He can't wait to write another information report about another county!

Armidale Diocesan Mathematics Initiative (MaST)

What is happening in the world of mathematics at St Joseph's? Let's take a look! 

Please see the information below to assist your child at home or to see what they have been doing so far this term.

Maths At Home:

Kindergarten - Mass

Kindergarten have been working with Mass. There has been a lot of interesting activities taking place to help their understanding of this measurement concept. 

Stage 1 - Number Facts 

In Stage 1, the students are consolidating their number facts.

Stage 2 - Area

Stage 2 are working on the concept of area.  They are learning to measure, record, compare and estimate areas using square centimetres and square metres. 

Stage 3 - 3D Space

Stage 3 are beginning a unit of work on 3D Space. 

• In our world we are surrounded by 3 Dimensional objects. At school your child has been learning about prisms and pyramids. Ask them to explain what the difference is between these two categories of 3D objects. They should also be able to explain the different types of prisms and pyramids and how they are named.
• Students have been gaining an understanding of nets, ie. what a 3D object would look like if some of its sides were unattached and layed flat. Encourage your child to pull apart any containers that may be in your recycling to help them understand the net of that object. 
• Create fun and relatively easy origami by using websites like  Easy Origami Instructions and Diagrams to transform 2D shape into a 3D object.

"Coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress,

and working together is success." - Henry Ford

Have a great week of learning and fun!

Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole