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Page 1: Term 1 Newsletter - hfmw.catholic.edu.au Newsletter... · compliment our Inquiry Unit. For example ‘The Day the ... Toys: We ask that families ... My favourite thing to do

Junior LEVEL –

Term 1

Newsletter

NEWSLETTER

Dear Parents, We are very enthusiastic about the year ahead. A new school year is always an exciting time, filled with new experiences, learning and growth. We welcome back our familiar faces and extend a warm welcome to our new students and their families. We have spent these past two weeks getting to know the children in our class, setting up our class expectations and building our classroom culture. Within our classrooms, we have spent time setting up our prayer space, revisiting the School Vision and our Holy Family School Expectations. At the beginning of the term a Student Personal Information Exchange Proforma was sent home with all students. We ask if you could please take the time to fill in this sheet and send it back to your child’s class teacher. We will use this information to help your child on their learning journey and it gives us further insight into the little personalities of your children. A strong partnership between home and school is essential and consistent communication is necessary. We encourage all families to become involved in the Junior Level. Throughout the year there will be many opportunities for families to participate such as parent helpers, liturgical celebrations, school assemblies, excursions and learning celebrations. Parent Helpers have started this week and we thank all parents who have been able to assist in the classroom. If you are still interested in joining your child’s class for the two hour Literacy Block, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher. Each term you will receive a Junior Level newsletter that contains information about the curriculum undertaken during the term. Remember we are always available to discuss any concerns that you may have about your child. The key to a successful partnership is good communication. Sometimes we are hard to catch, especially in the morning when it is hectic. It is often best to send a note so we can ring you during the day for a chat or make any appointment time. Alternatively you can make contact via email. We are going to have fun in Year 1/2 while encouraging

resilience and independence. Every time we do something for

a child that they can do for themselves we rob them of an

opportunity to grow and learn (a hard one to remember when

they are running late for school in the morning etc….)

However we will work together and keep the lines of

communication open to ensure a happy and successful year

for all.

Many Thanks,

Alison Dickson, Laura Adcock, Sharyn Govic & Kirsty Hawkins

Our learning this term

In Religion, we will be investigating ‘How can I live like

Jesus during Lent’? Students will be reflecting on what our

School Prayer, School Vision, the Catholic Social Teaching

Principles and the Bible says about how we should treat

others. They will understand that Lent is a time we try our best

to be the best person we can be, by praying and focusing on

those in need.

In Inquiry, we will be looking into the question ‘How do I

learn best?’ Students will be investigating how people learn

and the things that good learners do. They will understand

that learning is ongoing and a growth mindset helps to be a

good learner. Teaching students about ‘Growth Mindset’ can

help them become better learners, become more persistent

and resilient.

In Reading and Viewing, students will engage with a variety

of texts for enjoyment and will be participating in various

strategies to improve their ability to decode and comprehend

the texts that they read. We will be using mentor texts that

compliment our Inquiry Unit. For example ‘The Day the

Crayons Quit’, ‘The Girl who never made mistakes’, ‘What to

do with an idea’ and ‘What do you do with a Problem’.

Students will be investigating some of the strategies that

Good Readers do, for example: predicting what the story will

be about, retelling the story in their own words and making

connections with the text – how is this text similar to my life,

another text and the world?

In Writing, students will be involved in writing recounts and

descriptions. A recount is a framework which retells events

as they happened in time order. A recount may be written in

the form of a newspaper report, diary, letter, journal, or

eyewitness account. The purpose of a description is to

describe features of a particular person, place or thing in

such a way that a picture is formed in the reader’s mind.

Students will be setting up their Writer’s Notebook which is a

place where they gather the seeds (ideas) for their writing.

In Mathematics, we will explore the following concepts:

skip counting by 2’s, 3’s, 5’s and 10’s using number

lines, 100 grid and songs

describe, continue and create number patterns

reading, writing and modelling numbers (Year 1

students working with numbers to 100 and Year 2

students working with numbers to 999)

ordering numbers from smallest to highest

identifying odd and even numbers

days of the week, months of the year and seasons

reading calendars and timetables

TERM 1 Issue 1 Date: February 2018

Page 2: Term 1 Newsletter - hfmw.catholic.edu.au Newsletter... · compliment our Inquiry Unit. For example ‘The Day the ... Toys: We ask that families ... My favourite thing to do

Brain Food (Crunch and Munch):

At Holy Family we encourage healthy

eating habits for the students. Each class

in Level Three will have a Brain Food

daily. The time of the Brain Food will be at

the discretion of the classroom teacher.

Students are allowed to bring any fresh

fruit or vegetables, as well as cheese.

No Muesli bars or nuts allowed.

Please note that the fruit and vegetables

must not be processed as the emphasis

is on fresh, healthy produce. It is

beneficial to your child to have the fruit or

vegetables prepared (cut up) to enable

them to finish eating in the short time

available for Brain Food. Please ensure

brain food is in a small container or snap

lock bag as it makes it easier to manage

on their tables while they are working.

Drink Bottles:

We encourage students to have a water

bottle in class so they can maintain

hydration (important for optimum brain

function). Bottles may only contain water

– no cordial or juices.

Toys:

We ask that families talk to their

child/children about the importance of not

bringing in toys to play with during play

and lunch time. Unfortunately items can

be lost or damaged and is best left at

home.

Library Bags:

Please ensure your child brings their

library bag and library book to school on

their designated day.

Hi, my name is Miss Adcock and I

teach 1/2A. This will be my fourth year

teaching in 1/2 and it is always so

much fun! My favourite thing to do is

go to the beach and I'm always trying

to travel to as many places as

possible! My favourite subject is

Literacy because I love to transport

myself to other places through reading

and create those places myself

through writing. I'm looking forward to

learning lots of new and fun things

together this year in 1/2!

Email: [email protected]

l Hi, my name is Miss Dickson. I teach

1/2D and I am also the Junior Level

Leader. I am excited about joining the

1/2 team after spending the last 6

years in the Middle Level. My favourite

subject is Mathematics and I endeavor

to pass my love of Mathematics to all

children and have them see

themselves as successful

mathematicians. I love catching up

with family and friends and spending

time with my two Labradors Riley and

Bailey. I am looking forward to all the

adventures we will have together this

year in 1/2. Email:

[email protected]

Hi my name is Miss Hawkins, and I

teach 1/2H. This is my second year in

the 1/2 level. I have previously taught

Prep and grade 5/6 at Holy Family. I

enjoy teaching all areas of the

curriculum, however my passion is

Literacy! I absolutely love to read

anything and everything, and I hope to

pass this on to my students. Other

than reading I also enjoy travelling,

being with friends and family, fitness

and spending time with my beautiful

dog, Hudson. I am looking forward to a

great year together and getting to

know you all! Email:

[email protected]

Hi I am a new teacher to Holy Family

School, but actually was a student here

when I was in grade five and six! (Quite a

while ago now!) ‘Teaching’ is a privilege

and it is what I love to do. My recent

teaching has been at Holy Saviour

Vermont South, where I have been

teaching composite grade 3/4. I have also

taught in various capacities at all grade

levels, including specialist areas like

digital technologies, physical education

and performing arts. I have three children

(all teenagers) and a menagerie of

animals at home. My favourite thing to do

is travel and spend time with family and

friends. I enjoy caravanning and

scrapbooking. I am looking forward to a

positive year filled with learning for both

myself and the students. Email:

[email protected]

Miss Laura Adcock

Miss Alison Dickson

Miss Kirsty Hawkins

Mrs Sharyn Govic

Page 3: Term 1 Newsletter - hfmw.catholic.edu.au Newsletter... · compliment our Inquiry Unit. For example ‘The Day the ... Toys: We ask that families ... My favourite thing to do

Important Dates

February:

13th – Shrove Tuesday Pancakes

14th – Ash Wednesday

16th - Year 1/2G Class Mass 9.15am

16th – Twilight School Sports

23rd – Year 1/2A Class Mass 9.15am

March:

2nd – Year 1/2D Class Mass 9.15am

4th – Family Mass 10.30am

9th – School Closure Day

12th – Labour Day Public Holiday

13th – 21st School Book Fair

14th – School Photos

16th – Year 1/2H Class Mass 9.15am

27th – Parent / Teacher / Student

Interviews

28th - Parent / Teacher / Student

Interviews

29th – Term 1 Concludes at 1.30pm

April:

16th – Term 2 Begins

24th – School Closure Day

25th – ANZAC Day

Home Reading: As reading is an essential lifelong skill, particular attention is given to reading as a major component of the homework. We also aim to encourage a love of books and reading. The habit of reading every night is vital to support students in developing their reading skills. Therefore, we expect all students to set aside the specified time of 10 – 15 minutes each night for their reading. To help with this, Reading Log Books will be used to monitor the frequency of reading, the types of books read to communicate with parents issues regarding the take home reader. It is an expectation that both the title of the book and pages read will be recorded in their Reading Log Book. When parents read with their children, they open the door to a big,

exciting world and help develop a love of stories, poems etc. When

children become readers, their world is forever wider and richer.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of parents reading

to their children as well as having your children read to you.

Here are some Home Reading Tips:

• Read aloud to your child: books, newspaper and magazine

articles, the back of the cereal box, labels on cans, or directions. •

Discuss the different purposes for reading e.g. for pleasure, to find

information

• Read poems aloud together to explore rhythm and repeated

sounds in language.

• Point to the words on the page when you read. Move your finger

from left to right.

• Listen to your child read favourite stories to you every day.

• Go to the library together and explore books.

• Have books, magazines, and papers around the house, and let

your child see that you like to read, too.

• Encourage older children to read to younger children.

• Talk about and discuss what they read. Ask questions like ‘Who

were the characters in the text? What happened? Why do you

think..? What do you think will happen next? What makes you think

that? Did you like this text? Why/Why not? It is great when parents

share their own thoughts about the book and it becomes a

discussion that students gain a deeper understanding as there is a

sharing of thought, perspectives and ideas.

Students in grades 1/2 will have started to bring home a nightly take

home book. Students are expected to change their own reader and

will be guided by the teacher. This helps to develop independence

and responsibility for their own reading. It is an expectation that

students read each week night with a member of their family. The

take home books should be at an easy level for your child as the

emphasis is on developing a love of reading, fluency and phrasing

and the meaning of the text. The texts read in class will be at an

instructional level to continue to develop your child’s skills. Reading can be a combination of students reading aloud to their parents, reading independently, listening to reading by parents or audio books, reading to younger siblings and reading together as a family.

Take Home Bags: The Junior Level will also have Take Home Bags which will

provide students with experiences in Religious Education,

Numeracy and Literacy. They are intended to provide students an

opportunity to interact with their family in solving problems,

developing strategies, playing games and communicating their

numeracy and literacy skills, thinking and understanding.

Page 4: Term 1 Newsletter - hfmw.catholic.edu.au Newsletter... · compliment our Inquiry Unit. For example ‘The Day the ... Toys: We ask that families ... My favourite thing to do

SPECIALIST TIMETABLE

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Art

1/2H: 9 – 10am

1/2A: 10 – 11am 1/2G: 11.30 – 12.30 1/2D: 12.30 – 1.30

Italian

1/2H: 11.30 – 12.10 1/2D: 12.10 – 12.50 1/2G: 12.50 – 1.30

1/2A: 2.20 – 3pm

P.E

1/2G: 11.30 – 12.10 1/2H: 12.10 – 12.50 1/2A: 12.50 -1.30

1/2D: 2.20 – 3pm All Year 1/2 Classes have Sport: 2.30 – 3.10pm

Library

1/2A: 11.30 – 12.10 1/2G: 12.10 – 12.50 1/2D: 12.50 – 1.30

1/2H: 12.10 – 12.50

Music

1/2G: 12.10 – 12.50 1/2D: 11.30 – 12.10 1/2A: 12.10 – 12.50 1/2H: 12.50 – 1.30