Welcome again to Room One. After our exciting topic last term, exploring the job of Marine Conservationists, endangered marine species and how we can help preserve the marine environment, we held a fundraiser Mufti day to benefit Project Jonah. Your generous donations meant that we raised just over $900.00 school-wide for this great cause. We very much appreciate your support.
Room one is currently starting a new enquiry process, exploring communication: what it is, how it works, the different types of communication, and what we can do to make sure we communicate effectively. This will include examining verbal, non-verbal and written communication, and exploring different communication technology in the past, present and future. We will also look at the ways animals send messages to one another, how to use and create maps, and design our own future forms of communication.
In Art, students will carry on the communication theme, exploring the way Australian aboriginal culture uses symbols in their art to pass messages to each other, as well as techniques used to create it. On the 25th of July Room 1 will be taking part in the school-wide Spellathon. Each student has been given a list with 10 highlighted words to learn, as well as a sponsor list. If, for some reason, they have not received or have lost their list, please let me know. In the meantime, please help your child learn to write the words.
During writing time, students are using different strategies to help them build independence and confidence when writing stories. These include: saying their story out loud so they know what they are going to write; using their sound card to help write the sounds and words they need; seeing the words inside their brains; and using other sources such as dictionary cards or words around the room to create and edit their stories. If you child is keen to practice their writing at home, these are some strategies that you can discuss and use with them to reinforce the process we follow.
In Maths, we continue to work on our next steps in groups, focussing on strategies in the areas of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division and proportions and ratios, as well as exploring Geometry and Measurement.The students in Room 1 will again enjoy a new term of PMP, and the parent support the programme receives is much appreciated. There may occasionally be some disruptions to our sessions due to the hall being used for other events at short notice, but we will try to let you know in advance if your help is not required on your scheduled day.
Daily Notes: The current daily programme continues to consolidate the children’s school routines. Children are grouped to best support their Reading, Writing and Mathematics learning and given opportunities to develop skills and knowledge in other areas with weekly sessions of PE, ICT, ART, Dance and Drama and Oral Language.
Useful Info: These are for Room 1’s programme and may differ in other classes:
Library Day: Thursday.
News Days: Monday – More of a talking time, sharing what we did in the weekend.
Friday – Show and tell. Students may bring an item to talk about and share with classmates.
Hats: Are currently not required when outside.
Mornings: When children arrive in the morning, encourage them to unpack their bags themselves and put their drink bottles in the box and their book-bag or poetry folder into their chair-bags. This means they are organised for reading time and can quickly access their waters during drink breaks.
Drink Bottles: Please could children bring their bottle of water to school each day, so that we can keep a drink handy in the classroom to keep them hydrated and alert. Please do not send juice in bottles, as this can be sticky if spilled.
Lunches: At morning tea children are encouraged to eat snack items, while at lunch they are supervised while seated, from 12.30 – 12.40. Students eat their sandwiches (or equivalent main meal item), and then are let go by the teacher if they are not still hungry. Most days I will stay with the children to ensure that this main item is eaten, but if I have meetings or duty this may not always happen.
If you have anything else you would like to discuss, please let me know, I would be happy to hear from you. Parent Help Days: Please let me know if you are no longer available, or are able to help out.
Monday: Gael, Angelita, Pele, Sophie
Tuesday: Angelita
Wednesday: Sarah
Thursday: Eszter, Elaine
As required: Carissa, Hayleigh
Thank you for your support, if anyone would like to pop in to help, you are always welcome.Regards
Belinda Hirzel