Junior School News

WELCOME to Junior School

For all our Grade 1 parents.....WELCOME to Junior School.

For all our Grade 2 parents.....WELCOME Back! 

It has been a great start to 2020 and Karen Black and myself (Lisa Hubbard) have had a great time getting to know so many new faces. We know that it can be a big change to go from Foundation to Junior school and whilst we have seen some nerves and anxiety, overall all the students are super excited! There has been plenty of laughter, chatter and fun had by all students. Some old friendships renewed but also new friendships starting to form. This is a very exciting time! 

Sun Smart School:

Don't forget that we are a sun smart school and that students are required to wear our KPS red wide brimmed hat for both recesses breaks during the day. There is a number of students who have lost or left their hats at home. Please check if your child requires a new hat and if so, Janine in the office can help you to purchase one. 

Excursion to the State Library.

Time is ticking closer to our excursion to the State Library for the launch of their new program - 'Create you own Book' workshop. We have been very lucky to be offered this excursion by the State Library and we are excited to learn more about books, how they are made and even get the chance to make one of our own. Please make sure you have your permission granted via Sentral and also return the media release form. Excursion Information:

     - Thursday 13th February

     - Students need full school uniform (inc hat)

     - Normal packed lunch, snack and drink bottle. 

Magic Words

The Junior school program continues the Magic words program that all students start in Foundation. However, we do things a little differently to the Foundation program. Students are required to learn to read the first 100 Magic Words - Gold, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Indigo and Violet. Once they can read these words, we go back to the start and learn to spell these 100 words. This first 100 words are the most commonly used words, such as said, this, these, their, where, which. 

After learning to read and spell the first 100 words, we move to the second 100 words - Pink, Purple, Aqua, Lime and Lemon. Students are required to read and spell the second 100 before they move to the third 100. 

Each term, there will be a spelling test (up to the level your child last completed) to highlight any words that students have forgotten or get tricked by. A catch up list will be sent home to practise and when these words are passed, students go back to the level they were working on. This will make the spelling of high frequency words more efficient which allows students to concentrate more on their story writing and ideas development, than the mechanics of spelling. 

If you have any questions about our spelling program, please do not hesitate to chat with your teacher. 

Homework

All Students:

- nightly reading (take home books) and please write and sign their reading in their diaries. 

- practise magic spelling words

- LLI homework if you are in the Levelled Literacy Intervention program

- Grade 2's will have weekly homework. This consists of a sheet of phonics based work and also a sheet of quick maths problems. Please encourage your child to do their homework. Homework goes home on a Wednesday afternoon and is due back the following Monday morning. This homework is not very difficult and should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete. 

- Grade 1's will begin homework (like the Grade 2's) in term 3. 

Body Safety Education

In Junior school we are beginning a program that looks at body safety education with ourselves and other students, children and adults. We have started off the program looking at feelings and emotions and how we can recognise these in others. We have been learning to recognise more than just happy and sad, for example, confused, worried, scared, nervous etc. We have also discussed situations that may make us feel more one way than the other. Acting out exaggerated facial expressions was so much fun!

In the coming weeks we will also be looking at issues such as:

-  our personal bubbles (space),

-  asking permission before hugging people,

-  recognising feelings in others and expressing empathy,

-  who is in our 'safe network' (people we can go and talk to when we are upset, hurt or scared),

-  recognising that we are all different but we often like to do the same things,

-  gender equality

If you have any questions at all about the program, please do not hesitate to speak to Ms Hubbard or Mrs Black. 

Important Dates:

Thursday 13th Feb - Excursion to the State Library.

Friday 6th March - Curriculum Day

Monday 9th March - Labor Day

Friday 27th March - End of Term 1