Junior School Newsletter, Term 2 Week 5 and 6

Junior School Newsletter: Term 2, Weeks 5 and 6

CONNECT WITH THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Learning and Teaching

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

What a wonderful way to celebrate all things Italian! A huge thank you to all the students and parents for embracing the day and organising such exciting and colourful costumes. There were children dressed up as pizzas, Marios, Pinocchios, chefs, gondoliers and even Italian opera singers, to name but a few.

Thank you also to the fabulous parents who helped organise the pizza and gelato. The children must have really worked up an appetite considering just how fast the food disappeared...there were a few 'brain freezes' as the gelato was consumed. Yum!

Preps again enjoyed an in-visit from the wonderful and caring firemen from Mentone Fire Station. This time they brought the fire truck - and what great fun the children had climbing through the cabin and looking at all the different equipment. Of course the highlight was squirting the hose!

IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL WE ARE LEARNING TO: (WALT)...

Writing:  

Week 5 & 6:

Foundation:

The foundation students continue to consolidate their knowledge of:

• all upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents
• punctuation including appropriate use of capital letters for names and the start of a sentence and full stops
• writing and having a go at recording their experiences and the imaginative stories they have in their heads

The children have continued to be exposed to rhythms and sound patterns in stories, rhymes, songs and poems.

Grade 1 and Grade 2:

• Understand the structure of a limerick
• Create limericks in response to text characters such as the Gruffalo and the Tickle Monster
• Create poems to describe colours and the senses
• Consolidate our knowledge of the VCOP characters

Spelling: 

Week 5: 

Foundation: 'e' as in egg, 'er' as in teacher

Grade 1: 'ng' as in king, 

Grade 2: 'er' as in teacher

Week 6: 

Foundation: 'n' as in nest / 'sh' as in shark

Grade 1: 'sh' as in shark
Grade 2: 'oi' as in coin

Reading: 

Week 5 & 6:

Foundation:

The foundation students continue to consolidate their knowledge of:

• Using comprehension strategies to decode, understand and discuss books 
• All upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents
• Blending sounds associated with letters when reading consonant-vowel-consonant words and recognising digraphs and trigraphs

Grade 1:

• Read texts with familiar features and structures using strategies such as prediction, monitoring meaning and rereading
• Use comprehension strategies to build literal and inferred meaning

Grade 2: 

• Read increasingly complex texts with familiar features and structures using strategies such as prediction, monitoring meaning and rereading
• Use more complex comprehension strategies to build literal and inferred meaning

Maths: 

Week 5 & 6:

Foundation:
Whilst the foundation students continue to practise doubles and 'Friends of 10' and develop their subitising skills, they are also consolidating their knowledge of:

Week 5:

• Subtraction to enable us to solve simple subtraction problems using hands on materials

Week 6:

• Using a range of efficient strategies to solve simple subtraction problems such as concrete materials, counting back and drawing the problem

Grade 1: 

 Week 5:

• Represent and solve simple subtraction problems using a range of strategies

Week 6:

• Solve simple subtraction problems using a range of efficient mental and written strategies.

Grade 2: 

Week 5:

• Solve subtraction problems using a range of efficient mental and written strategies.

Week 6:

• Consolidate the use of a range of efficient mental and written strategies.
• Recognise and explain the connection between addition and subtraction. Recall subtraction facts for single-digit numbers to develop increasingly efficient mental strategies.

INQUIRY - CHEMICAL SCIENCE:
Further consolidate our understanding of the role of a scientist in our world.
Summarising what has been learn about mixtures.

UNIT OF STUDY - WELLBEING:

Have reasons for the things you say and do.

ICT: 
Prep: start and log onto iPads with increasing independence 
Grade 1: use the browser to access Mathletics and Reading Eggs
Grade 2: experiment with font, size and colour and further develop skills required to publish work

GOLDEN RULE:
The students have been learning about the 'Golden Rule'. This is 'Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated'.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Working With Children Check

All parents/guardians, visitors & volunteers to the school MUST sign in & out of the school and display their WWCC in a lanyard, which is available at the school office. The Department of Education requires any person involved in an activity where children may be present to have a current WWCC or have supplied proof that they have applied for a WWCC with the Department of Justice. All schools are required to comply with the Working with Children Act 2005. Volunteers are expected to carry the WWCC card with them at all times when working or volunteering at the school or during school related activities. There is no fee for this check. Apply now by visiting:  www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au 

The Junior School encourage and appreciate parent helpers. Please see your child's teacher if you are able to assist.

Lost Property:

We are collecting a lot of lunch and snack boxes which have been left outside and in the corridors. If you are looking for any lost items we are housing them for collection in the labelled pigeon hole near Miss Arentz's room.

Art Smocks

Mrs Unwin has requested that all students please have an art smock at school. There is no need to purchase one if you don't already have one as an old shirt or thick t-shirt will do the job. We would rather not send students home wearing their artistic pursuits!

IMPORTANT DATES

25th May - Curiosity and Powerful Learning Open Night to celebrate Education                      Week
12th June - Queen's Birthday Holiday
23rd  June - Excursion to Science Works
30th June - Last Day of Term

PHOTOGRAPHS

 

Junior School Newsletter, Term Week 3 & 4

Junior School Newsletter: Term 2, Weeks 3 and 4

CONNECT WITH THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Learning and Teaching

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

There was great excitement in the building this week as the children were looking forward to their Mothers’ day shopping. It was delightful to watch the happy little shoppers selecting their gifts from a wonderful selection.

The students are enjoying being ‘Little Scientists’ with the introduction of our Inquiry Unit on Chemical Science. They are predicting, mixing, observing and recording chemical reactions and recording their findings in their Science Journals. We are looking forward to our upcoming excursion to Scienceworks at the end of term. Please keep your eye out for the note that will be coming home soon outlining this exciting event.

Preps enjoyed an invisit from George, Rick and Robert from the Mentone Fire Brigade this week. They learnt many important tips to keep them safe in the event of a fire such as organising a family meeting place and practised their 'drop down low and go, go, go'.

IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL WE ARE LEARNING TO: (WALT)...

Writing:  

Week 3 & 4:

Foundation:

• Further consolidate the student's knowledge of all upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents

• Further develop the student's understanding of punctuation including appropriate use of capital letters for names and the start of a sentence and full stops

• Further consolidate the student's understanding of writing and having a go at recording the imaginative stories they have in their heads

Grade 1:

• Create a short narrative with a beginning, middle and end
• Revisit Penny Punctuation with a focus on exclamation marks
• Reread, edit and publish a chosen narrative

Grade 2:

• Create a short narrative with a beginning, middle and end
• Revisit Penny Punctuation with a focus on exclamation marks, paragraphs and introduce talking marks
• Reread, edit and publish a chosen narrative

Spelling: 

Week 3: 

Foundation: 'i' as in igloo, 'th' as in thing

Grade 1: oo' as in book, extending with 'ing'

Grade 2: 'ey' as in book, extending with 'ing'

Week 4: 

Foundation: 'k' as in kitten / 'ch' as in chip 

Grade 1: 'u' as in bus
Grade 2: 'ea' as in beach

Reading: 

Week 3 & 4:
Foundation:

• Use comprehension strategies to understand and discuss books
• Further develop our understanding that texts are made up of words and groups of words that make meaning  
• Further consolidate our knowledge of all upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents
• Further develop our understanding of blending sounds associated with letters when reading consonant-vowel-consonant words 

Grade 1:

• Read and discuss the structure and characters in narrative texts

Grade 2: 

• Read and discuss the characters in narrative texts to create character profiles

Maths: 

Week 3 & 4:

Foundation:
Week 3:

•  connect number names, numerals and quantities, including zero, up to 20 and then beyond

Week 4:

• understand the language and process of subtraction to enable us to solve simple subtraction problems using hands on materials

Grade 1: 

 Week 3:

• create number lines to 100, to count by 2s, 5s and 10s from different starting point

Week 4:

• Using materials with a 6 or 12 sided dice to solve and record subtraction problems

Grade 2: 
Week 3:

• Create number lines to 1000, to count by 2s, 4s,3s, 5s and 10s from different starting point. Extending number lines beyond 1000

Week 4:

• Using a 20 sided dice to solve and record subtraction problems

INQUIRY - CHEMICAL SCIENCE:
Understand the role of a scientist in our world. Work in teams to explore what happens when you mix water into cornflour.

UNIT OF STUDY - WELLBEING:

Being brave to participate. Work in small teams to create role plays.

ICT: 
Prep: start and log onto ipads and netbooks with increasing independence 
Grade 1: use the browser to access Mathletics and Reading Eggs
Grade 2: experiment with font, size and colour and further develop skills required to publish work

GOLDEN RULE:
The students have been learning about the 'Golden Rule'. This is 'Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated'.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Working With Children Check

All parents/guardians, visitors & volunteers to the school MUST sign in & out of the school and display their WWCC in a lanyard, which is available at the school office. The Department of Education requires any person involved in an activity where children may be present to have a current WWCC or have supplied proof that they have applied for a WWCC with the Department of Justice. All schools are required to comply with the Working with Children Act 2005. Volunteers are expected to carry the WWCC card on their person at all times when working or volunteering at the school or during school related activities. There is no fee for this check. Apply now by visiting:  www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au 

The Junior School encourage and appreciate Parent helpers. Please see your child's teacher if you are able to assist.

Lost Property:

We are collecting a lot of lunch and snack boxes which have been left outside and in the corridors. If you are looking for any lost items we are housing them for collection in the labelled pigeon hole near Miss Arentz's room.

Art Smocks

Mrs Unwin has requested that all students please have an art smock at school. There is no need to purchase one if you don't already have one as an old shirt or thick t-shirt will do the job. We would rather not send students home wearing their artistic pursuits!

IMPORTANT DATES

17th May - Prep Fire Education
23rd May - Italian Day
25th May - Curiosity and Powerful Learning Open Night to celebrate Education                      Week
12th June - Queen's Birthday Holiday
23rd  June - Excursion to Science Works
30th June - Last Day of Term

Junior School Newsletter Term 2 Weeks 1 and 2

Junior School Newsletter: Term 2, Weeks 1 and 2

CONNECT WITH THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Learning and Teaching

Welcome to Term 2! It was wonderful to see the smiling faces of enthusiastic children enter the classrooms ready to greet their friends (and teachers) and share their holiday adventures whether that was chilling out at home, going to the movies to see Boss Baby or camping!

It has been so satisfying to see the children settle back into the school routines we established last term.

To assist your child's academic progress, please continue to listen to them read every night and  practise their sound/spelling words. Playing games such as Fish, I Spy, Bingo, Pairs, Memory, using the relevant Magic 100 Words, sounds or spelling blend/digraphs will help your child consolidate their understanding. Discussing everyday maths' problems is also vital to their mathematical understanding and development e.g. cooking, estimating how many pieces of cutlery are required for setting the table, speed signs, house numbers etc.

IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL WE ARE LEARNING TO: (WALT)...

Writing:  

Week 1 and 2:

Foundation:

• Further consolidate the student's knowledge of all upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents

• Further develop the student's understanding of punctuation including appropriate use of capital letters for names and the start of a sentence and full stops

• Further consolidate the student's understanding of writing and their knowledge of sounds and high frequency words to have a go at constructing a simple sentence

Grade 1:

• Further consolidate creating short imaginative and informative recounts that show emerging use of appropriate text structure, grammar, word choice, spelling and punctuation

Grade 2:

• Further create short imaginative, informative recounts using growing knowledge of text structures and language features for audiences

Spelling: 

Week 1: 

Foundation: revision

Grade 1: revision

Grade 2: revision

Week 2: 

Foundation: 't' as in tiger

Grade 1: 'k' as in kitten
Grade 2: 'ea' as in bread

Reading: 

Week 1 and 2:
Foundation:

• Further consolidate our understanding that sentences are key units for expressing ideas 
• Further develop our understanding that texts are made up of words and groups of words that make meaning  
• Further consolidate our knowledge of all upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents
• Further develop our understanding of blending sounds associated with letters when reading consonant-vowel-consonant words 

Grade 1:

• Understand how to decode one and two syllable words with common letter patterns

Grade 2: 

• Understand how and why suffixes are added to words

Maths: 

Week 1 and 2:

Foundation:
Week 1:

•  Answer yes, no questions to collect information to create a simple pictograph and interpret the information

Week 2:

• Counting to and from 20 from any starting point. Connect number names, numerals and quantities.

Grade 1: 

 Week 1:

• Identify, record and analyse data based on familiar events

Week 2:

• Counting to and from 100 by 1s from any starting point and skip count by 2s, 5s and 10s

Grade 2: 
Week 1:

• Identify, record and analyse data based on familiar events.

Week 2:

• Investigate number sequences increasing and decreasing by 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s from any starting point.

INQUIRY - ANZAC DAY:
Understand the significance of Anzac Day and how we commemorate it as a community.

UNIT OF STUDY - WELLBEING:

Pursue Your Personal Best No Matter Who You Work With  

ICT: 

Identify and explore digital systems (hardware and software components) for a purpose.

GOLDEN RULE:
The students have been learning about the 'Golden Rule'. This is 'Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated'.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Working With Children Check

All parents/guardians, visitors & volunteers to the school MUST sign in & out of the school and display their WWCC in a lanyard, which is available at the school office. The Department of Education requires any person involved in an activity where children may be present to have a current WWCC or have supplied proof that they have applied for a WWCC with the Department of Justice. All schools are required to comply with the Working with Children Act 2005. Volunteers are expected to carry the WWCC card on their person at all times when working or volunteering at the school or during school related activities. There is no fee for this check. Apply now by visiting:  www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au 

The Junior School encourage and appreciate Parent helpers. Please see your child's teacher if you are able to assist.

Lost Property:

We are collecting a lot of lunch and snack boxes which have been left outside and in the corridors. If you are looking for any lost items we are housing them for collection in the labelled pigeon hole near Miss Arentz's room.

Art Smocks

Mrs Unwin has requested that all students please have an art smock at school. There is no need to purchase one if you don't already have one as an old shirt or thick t-shirt will do the job. We would rather not send students home wearing their artistic pursuits!

IMPORTANT DATES

8th & 17th May - Prep Fire Education
9th May - Mother's Day Stall
12th June - Queen's Birthday Holiday
23rd May - Italian Day
23rd  June - Excursion to Science Works
30th June - Last Day of Term

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

The Junior School students developed an understanding of Anzac Day through participation in a number of different activities. These activities included reflecting on the story of Simpson and Duffy through discussion and drawings, making poppies, viewing the stories of 'Anzac Teddy' and 'The Anzac Puppy' and making wreaths. We were also fortunate to have Mrs Unwin's daughter, Krystal, who is in the Australian Army, come and talk to the children. She wore her Ceremonial Uniform but brought her other camouflage gear which the children looked at and some even tried on. Krystal also showed the children how to stand to attention and salute.

The students were also very respectful during the Anzac Day service which was conducted by the student leaders. Representatives from each grade laid a class- made wreath or posy under the flagpole.