Dear Parents,
Welcome back to Term 2 and we hope you enjoyed the Easter break and had a chance to either get away or spend quality time at home with your families. The children have all made a positive start to the term. We are sure that children are enjoying the intensive swimming program in Week 2 and 3. Class Assemblies for 3EL and 3F will be this term.
ASSEMBLIES
3F Week 6
3EL Week 9
Religion/ Inquiry:
Our Inquiry unit this term is about ‘Change’. It will be integrated with Religion and will focus on the big question, ‘What are the physical and spiritual changes that happen in our lives?’ Students will be working in small groups to record their observations of the changing states of objects, predictions and the reasons for their predictions. Students will participate in whole class investigations about changing states of matter e.g. water and ice. Students will examine Pentecost and the types of changes that can occur when the Holy Spirit acts within their lives in line with the Year 6’s who will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation this term.
Literacy:
In Literacy we will continue to focus on further developing your child’s comprehension skills and strategies in Reading. We will continue to model CAFÉ Reading strategies and pay particular attention to comprehension skills such as comparing, contrasting and exploring the difference between fact and opinion. In Writing, our focus will be on extending student’s vocabulary used to enhance their writing. We are exploring how to use language effectively to write within a range of genres.
Maths:
Students will continue to consolidate their knowledge of the four operations. We will be exploring multiplication and division using a variety of materials and applying these through problem solving. The students will investigate measuring perimeter, area with informal and formal units, we will also identify and explore properties of 2D shapes and 3D objects.
Homework:
Please continue to read through your child’s homework with them after completion. Check and sign your child’s homework each week and encourage your child to take pride in their work. The children need to continually practise what they learn and it is good for them to get into the habit of regularly reviewing their learning. Remember that your child should be reading every night. Please spend time with them asking questions about what they have just read and discussing issues or themes in the storyline. This makes a significant difference to your child’s ability to understand what they have read at a deeper level. Ensure your child’s diary is in their school bag every day.
Library: Helena Graham
Library Classes are now on a Monday once every 2 weeks.
Year Three students this term will continue to focus on how fiction and picture fiction books are organized on the shelves alphabetically using the call number on the spine label. The importance of knowing the author’s last name will be emphasised and students will be exposed to how nonfiction books are organised. Students will be encouraged to vary their choice of reading material and be encouraged to identify and choose “Good Fit” books. When sharing a range of picture books related to their Inquiry topic and ANZAC Day, students will be encouraged to make connections between the information in print and images. They will have the opportunity to share ideas, ask questions and extend their vocabulary. Year Three students will also participate in a presentation from Patrick Guest, author of “That’s What Wings Are For” and “The Ricker Racker Club.”
Physical Education: Beck Young
In Physical Education this term, students will develop a clearer awareness of the link between health and physical activity, as well as the use of fundamental movement skills to develop sport specific skills. They will begin to understand the importance of game and rule knowledge, fair play and co-operative learning. The focus will be on Teaching Games for Understanding through small team games and working towards our propulsion and invasion sports.
Performing Arts: Stefanie Daniel
This term, Level Three students will be working through various mime and role-play activities in small team settings. They will begin to explore ideas through structured scenarios. The students will explore empathy, as well as body movements to identify relationships and dramatic action.
Art: Lisa O’Sullivan
During Term 2, students will design and construct their own felt monster inspired by the text ‘Where The Wild Things Are”. Students will understand that textiles have played an important part in the life of man and the usefulness and beauty of textiles are a common link to different cultures. Students will be aware that colour, pattern, texture and thread of textiles can have a strong appeal to the senses. Students will be skilled at threading a needle, using a simple pattern to cut felt shapes and use simple stiches such as running stitch/backstitch, knotting and gluing. Essential question for the term- Why fit in when you can stand out? (Dr. Seuss)
JAPANESE: Yumiko Aikia
In Term 2, Year 3 students will revise and expand their previous understanding of Hiragana (the Japanese phonetic script writing system based on Chinese ideographs), as well as broadening their learning of cultural aspects of Japan. The students will be introduced to the topic of “time” in their Japanese class. Students will explore time in the context of their daily routine using Japanese kanji characters (symbols used in Japanese to represent spoken syllables).
Students will be assessed on their Japanese skills over the course of the term, particularly their reading and writing skills in the wider range of Hiragana.
During the term, Year 3 students will participate in a live Skype exchange with students at Tsutsujigaoka Primary School, Stella Maris’s sister school in Japan. In this event, students from the two schools will practise introducing themselves, and otherwise interact with their international counterparts, both in English and Japanese. These sessions are eagerly anticipated by students in both countries. They benefit our children enormously in terms of experiencing authenticJapanese language first hand, and creating empathy and cultural connections.
Each year a Japanese celebration day is recognised to give children opportunities to experience the Japanese language andculture through a variety of activities. In Term 2 students will learn about, and be age appropriately involved in, Children’s Day (“Kodomo no hi”). Children’s Day is celebrated every year in Japan on May 5, when children are especially respected and honoured for their individual personalities.
A Children’s Day traditionis the flying of streamers (Koinobori) on poles outside houses and other buildings. to bring luck andgood fortune to the children inside. The steamers are in the shape of Koifish, or Carp,which are seen to be strong and spirited in their determination to swim upstream in the rivers. The Koinoborisymbolize the desire for children to become brave and strong individuals in our community.
NAPLAN Dates – WEEK 4 - 9th, 10th and 11th May.
SWIMMING CARNIVAL – Friday 12th May
Warm Regards,
Amanda Evans, Robyn Lockwood and Ann Ferrigno