Primary News
Crunch and Sip (not "Fruit Break"!)
Crunch&Sip® is a set time in primary schools for students to ‘refuel’ on vegetables, salad and fruit and ‘rehydrate’ with water. Students who are not hungry and are well hydrated perform better in the classroom, show increased concentration, and are less likely to be irritable and disruptive.
At St Philomena's, each learning space now chooses a time that allows for the learning to continue whilst students Crunch&Sip® their healthy snack that has been packed for them. Learning spaces will no longer stop the learning to take a break and eat their fruit and vegetables, but students will eat in the classrooms while continuing the learning. This may happen at any time during the uninterrupted literacy block between 9:00-11:00am. Individual teachers will decide when it best suits their class schedule.
In order to minimise the disruption to the learning, we ask that parents pack appropriate foods to be consumed in the classroom.
These may include foods that create little to no mess ("crunch" foods):
* apple
* banana
* carrot sticks etc.
Foods that are not suitable for Crunch&Sip® (as they are messy and disrupt the learning, often requiring students to leave the learning space to wash hands etc) are:
* fruits that take a long time to peel
* fruits/vegetables that are juicy and messy (e.g. orange, mango, large pieces of watermelon etc)
We thank you for your cooperation in supporting our school as a place where learning is sustained through healthy minds and bodies, in addition to quality, uninterrupted blocks of learning.
Mathematics Overview of Learning Week 7/8 Term 2
Please find attached further activities to support the learning that is occurring in the Mathematics learning spaces for Week 7 and 8 of Term 2.
Grade Expectations in Numeracy Key Skills 9 and 10
Gymnastics Performance by OUR K-6 Students
The gymnastics program run by Dance Fever Australia has been a wonderful opportunity. All the students have been engaged and are enjoying the variety of experiences on the different apparatuses.
We would like to invite parents/carers to come and watch the skills learnt throughout the term. Each class will perform routines and skills during their normal timetabled lesson on Tuesday 3rd July in the school hall as follows:
9:00 - 9:40 YEAR 3
9:40 - 10:20 YEAR 4
10:20 - 11am YEAR 5
12pm - 12:30 KINDER
12:30 - 1pm YEAR 2
1:35 - 2:05 YEAR 1
2:05 -2:40 YEAR 6
Primary Science and Engineering Challenge
The Science and Engineering Challenge in Narrabri on Wednesday 6th June proved to be a rewarding day for the Stage 3 (Year 5 & 6) participants of St Philomena’s School. The University of Newcastle ran the day, and many schools from around the district competed. Some of the tasks included building bridges, moon buggies, catapults and earthquake proof constructions.
The students worked in teams of four throughout the day. The tasks were challenging requiring the teams to think, collaborate and search for solutions. All students showcased their ability to work as productive team members. They showed persistence and the ability to work through problems together, to achieve success. Unanimously agreed by the participants, working as a team was just as important as expanding on their science knowledge.
St Philomena’s School was the triumphant winner on the day. Perseverance, collaboration and teamwork were their key strategies for success.
