Xenica Community Report

Term 4 2021

Our Learning

We are XENICA!

Reading

In Term 4 Reading, students have continued to be exposed to a variety of reading strategies. Xenica students have continued to work on their fluency skills by focusing on the four different components of fluency. These include: Reading at the right pace, reading the words accurately, reading the punctuation, and reading with expression. 

We have also worked on developing our comprehension skills to demonstrate our understanding of the texts we have been reading. We have answered the questions, using the clues from the text to support our answers and thinking. 

Furthermore, we have continued to work on identifying grammar within texts, and also retelling the stories by identifying the main parts of the story. Focusing on these wide range of skills has heavily supported our students to develop positive reading skills and strategies.  

Writing

In Term 4 Writing, students have explored writing Autobiographies. We have followed the writing process to plan, draft and edit our writing pieces. We have enjoyed thinking about our own lives and compiling a range of important facts about ourselves.

In Xenica, we have also reviewed our learning while back onsite and showed our understanding of different text types. We have written recounts, letters and information reports, using our knowledge from throughout the year.

Maths

In Maths Term 4, Xenica has been focusing on learning about fractions including halves and quarters with extension to thirds. The students were having lots of hands-on activities using paper, playdough drawing shapes and paper plates. They created pizza fractions, fraction walls, and played games that required them to match the fractions with the shape representing this fraction. 

The students also learned about money with more specific focus on colour, shape, size and value of the coins. They played with money coins, identifying the value of various coins, making a caterpillar that we called “coin-pillar” by sorting the coins from the lowest to the highest value. They learned about adding coin values up to $1 and $2. 

In the second half of Term 4, we learned about shapes and location and transformation of shapes. They learned the features of 2 dimensional shapes and 3 dimensional objects, identifying the differences between 2D and 3D shapes and objects, drawing them, creating 3D objects with toothpicks and playdough and investigating positional language. They played games that helped them practice positional language of objects being in, out, over, under, to the side, next to, by an object, etc.. . 

SEL

In Social and Emotional learning this term, students have focussed on settling back onsite and their wellbeing. We have participated in class games and activities. Some games we have participated in are line tag, octopus and what's the time Mr Wolf. 

We have also revised on what is a growth mindset and what we can train our brain to say. An example of this is “I can keep learning this” “Learning is fun”. We also focused on our listening skills, this was done by drawing a snowman by just listening to instructions. 

Inquiry 

In Inquiry this term, students have been exploring the topic of  Civics and Citizenship. We have been inquiring into our local Aitken Hill community and about the different cultures that coexist in our local community and in Australia. Students explored the ways in which people from these cultures express their beliefs and values through art, music, dance, drama, and especially story. Students compared the similarities and differences between a variety of cultures that are significant in the school and local community including Indigenous Australian culture. Students are working towards developing an understanding that the Australian nation is enriched by the diversity of cultures that contribute to it.

Important Notes to Remember

• Please label ALL belongings
• Bring hats and water bottles to school clearly labelled
• Please ensure your students are attending school ‘It’s not ok to be away’.