Foundation Term 1, Week 3

Term 1, Week 3

    

The Foundation students are settling into the routines of school life...and loving it. It is such a pleasure to see their eager little faces, and to be greeted by some wonderful smiles at the door every morning. No doubt there have been some rather tired children over the past 2 weeks, as the children adjust to the routines, demands and fun and games that is school!!

Please ensure you have downloaded the FlexiBuzz app and selected our grade as soon as possible. This will be the only hard copy of our newsletter and from now on all class and school newsletters and communications will be sent via this app. We don't want you to miss out on important information. If you would like some help doing this, we are more than happy to help you! 

Routines of School— The doors are opened at 8.50 am. This allows time for the students to unpack their school bags, placing their water bottle and fruit breaks, packed separately to their snack and lunch, in the tubs next to their bags. They are also learning to place their take-home book bags into tubs located on the trolley between the 2 learning areas.

     As we establish the classroom routines and the children are more settled, we envisage that parents who arrive at 8.50 am may like to assist with book introductions and book changing. To assist in the classroom you must have a WWCC (Working with Children Check), please follow the link:

Working with Children Check

    The Prep children have been discussing school expectations and behaviours. This helped the children develop a set of expectations for the grade which is presented below.

We will never leave the school ground on our own.

We will always try to do our best.

We will use our manners.

We will be kind to each other.

We will listen to the teachers and to each other.

We will show respect to all.

     These past weeks the children have begun reading, writing and numeracy activities. In writing workshops, the children have been learning about sentence structure - capitals, full stops and spaces and that a sentence is a ‘group of words that makes sense’. They have begun ‘writing’ in their Writing Books, listening and responding to stories and been involved in lots of counting activities. Each week we will use literature and activities to focus on several letters to develop their understanding of the associated sounds and also learn the correct formation of the letters.  So far the children have been focusing on 'c', 'a' and  't', and next week they will learn more about 'p', 'i' and 'n'.

     It would be very beneficial for the children to play some games such as 'I Spy', with the focus on the sound a letter makes, as well as practising to correctly write the letter (always starting from the top). This could be done on paper with crayons, pencils or textas, written on paving with chalk or even 'painted' outdoors with a paint brush tipped in water. 

     The children have been involved in our Welfare Program where they are learning about each other, the teachers and the school environment. They are also learning and sharing information about themselves. We are working together to build a 'family' unit where everyone feels they belong.
   

     TAKE HOME BOOKS

    Could you please ensure your child is reading their Take Home Book every night and that you sign their Reading Journal. We also encourage you to continue to read picture/chapter books to your child on a daily basis to really instill a love of reading. Daily reading is essential to help your child improve their reading ability and oral language! Thank you for your support!

    CURRENT SPECIALIST TIMES

Tuesday: Performing Arts and Art - please ensure your child has a named Art Smock at school as soon as possible

    Thursday: Physical Education - children are encouraged to wear runners on this day and bike shorts under school dresses, or wear skorts, shorts or long pants

We are looking forward to speaking with parents at the Meet the Teacher evening on February 27 or March 6, which will be a great chance for you to share important information about your child's needs, interests and skills to assist us in getting to know your child.  Use this link to book your time - visit www.schoolinterviews.com.au and use the code ppywv.

Monday February 18: Yoga (Session 2) 


Monday February 25: Yoga (Session 3)


Wednesday February 27: Meet the Teachers (Session 1)


Wednesday March 6: Meet the Teachers (Session 2)


Monday March 4: Yoga (Session 4)


Monday March 11: LABOUR DAY


Tuesday March 12: Children begin school full time


Monday March 18: Yoga (Session 5) 

 

• Can we please ask that students only drink water at school and bring two fruit (fresh/raw) breaks each day

• We have a 'no nuts' rule for our classroom including peanut butter

• Students are to remain outside until the 8:50am bell rings and the doors are opened. Could parents please remain outside until the 3:30pm bell rings and the teacher opens the doors

• If your child is having a birthday and you would like to bring something in for the class to help us celebrate the very special occasion, could you please just bring one item per child and remember our 'no nuts' rule

• Please return the 2019 Payment Summary Sheets to the office or the classroom as soon as possible.

• We always welcome parent/family helpers in the classroom. If you are interested, please ensure you provide a copy of your Working With Children Check to the office. More information can be found at: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/  

• Term 1 is a SunSmart term - please ensure your child has a MPPS wide brim hat for recess and lunchtimes. Students without hats will be asked to play in the shaded areas.