Year Six News

Written by Heidi Spies 

Welcome Back! 

 

The year 6 teachers were excited to welcome back our returning students and give a warm welcome to all of our new students. Our first day of school was buzzing with excitement as students entered the brand-new building and have started making new friends with their classmates. 

Hussain Shah student of 6B said, ‘My first day at Saltwater College was pretty good. It was really fun to get to know new people and learn in a new environment. Overall, it seems like a really good school!’

 

 

Our students have begun the year with the ‘Learning to Learn’ program which takes place over the first few weeks of school. Within this program, students focus on understanding themselves as learners and focus on learning classroom routines and structures. The program consists of lessons within Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and Wellbeing. 

 

Meet the Year 6 Teachers

6A – Ms Sarah Grenfell 

 

            Ms Grenfell is one of our senior teachers on the year 6 team. She has been at Saltwater College from the opening of the school, and this is her second year in year 6. She is eager to step into her new role as the Literacy Learning Specialist for Saltwater College this year.

 

6B – Ms Steph Fatouros 

 

            Ms Fatouros is in her second year at Saltwater College and her second year in year six. She is looking forward to building relationships with her new students and continuing to produce quality writing pieces with members of the Saltwater Fortnight, a student led newspaper. 

 

6C – Ms Taylah Hunter 

            Ms Hunter has been at Saltwater College from the beginning of the school. She has spent the past two years in year 5 and is happy to have moved into year six this year. She is looking forward to building relationships with her former year five students as well as her new students this year. She is excited to be in the new year six building this year. 

 

6D – Ms Georgia Wetherill 

            Ms Wetherill is excited to return to Saltwater College after her university placement in one of our year six classes in 2021. She is looking forward to building relationships with her students and the beach program excursion.

 

6E – Ms Samantha Price 

            Ms Price is thrilled to be starting her first year with Saltwater College. She has just come from Baden Powell teaching year 7 – 9 English. Ms Price is passionate about English, especially the use of Writer’s Notebook and Creative Writing.

 

Ms Heidi Spies 

            Ms Spies is excited to be working with the year six team again this year throughout term one. She will be supporting students with their learning until she leaves for her maternity leave in March.  

 

Year 6 Beach Program 

In February and March, students of year 6 will have the opportunity to participate in the Williamstown Beach Program. This program has been developed to support students learning of the Victorian Health and Physical Education Curriculum and in support of student water safety.

2021 Beach Program
2021 Beach Program

 

At the beach program, students will be participating in activities that develop their understanding of how to be safe when around water. This will include learning CPR/ first aid, about aquatic rescues and how to use water survival equipment. Throughout the day, students will be in the ocean, pool and on the beach while learning new information and playing a variety of games. 

 

Ayaan Ishaque who attended the 2021 beach program stated, ‘I enjoyed learning new information from lifeguards. I think it was really fun to go to the ocean and learn how to save someone.’ 

 

The beach program will take place on February 22, March 1 and March 8. It is essential that all notes and the $50 payment is made to the office on or before Friday the 11th of February to ensure all students are able to participate in this essential Health and PE learning. 

 

Kind regards,

Year 6 Team

 

Important Reminders

  • Students are to be in full academic uniform each day. On PE days and Fridays, students are encouraged to wear their full PE uniform. As it is summer, part of the required uniform is the navy school hat which is to be worn outside during recess and lunch. Students are reminded to label their hats, put on sunscreen before breaks and bring a drink bottle to school.
  • All students are reminded to wear masks where possible while in class and families are encouraged to participate in the RAT testing scheme to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at school. During the day students will be reminded to wash or sanitise hands regularly and to follow covid safe protocols.
  • The canteen cut off for a lunch order is 7am. If you are to order your child’s lunch after this time the system will generate it for the following day and therefore the canteen will not have this on their system for that day.  
  • Year 6 students have received a diary as part of their stationary pack, please watch for communication from your classroom teacher regarding classroom procedures to ensure clear communication between students and teachers.
  • Get to know you interviews will take place on 15th and 16th of February. Please make sure to book in with your child’s homeroom teacher.