Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

BRAIDWOOD CENTRAL SCHOOL

PRIMARY NEWSLETTER

3 May 2019

Welcome back to an exciting new term for K-6 students!

Crunch & Sip

This program will continue in 2019, each morning for primary students. Students need to bring a small piece of fruit or vegetable and a drink of water that can be consumed in approximately 5 minutes.

Braidwood Central School Uniform Shop School Uniforms are now available from the school office Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 3:00pm.

Payments can now be accepted via EFT, cash or you are also able to use the parent porthole to pay for your uniforms and they will be delivered to you child’s class. Please make sure that you include your child’s name and class when making the online payment.

Uniform Sale Monday 6 May from 8.30 – 9am grab a bargain.

Upcoming Events

Term 2

Week 2

7 May Environmental workshop

8 May School Athletics Carnival

9 May K-8 Parent Teacher Meeting

10 May Primary District Cross Country

Week 3

14 May NAPLAN Year 3 & 5

15 May NAPLAN Year 3 & 5

P&C Meeting 4pm Library

16 May NAPLAN Year 3 & 5

Week 4

21 May Recognition Assembly

22 May National Simultaneous Story time

Week 5

27-31 May Reconciliation Week

28 May Reconciliation Walk

Week 6

3 June MABO Day

4 June Year 7 2020 Taster Day

6 June K-6 Open Class room

3:30pm-4:30pm

Week 7

10 June Queens Birthday

Week 8

19 June P&C Meeting 4pm Library

Week 10

4 July MAD Night

5 July Last Day of Term

Please note that dates and events may be subject to change.

Please see our website braidwood-c.schools.nsw.gov.au or

the calendar on our SkoolBag App for more details and the most up-to-date

information.

Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

Page 1

In the Classroom KN with Mrs Norris

Kindergarten have been busy bees in the classroom, working hard in the engine room on our reading and writing. It is pleasing to see so many students completing home reading and sight words on a daily basis. Please remember KN is working towards the goal

of being able to read and write their sight words. When your child is ready to be tested, please let Mrs Norris know.

In Literacy, we are continuing our guided writing and focusing on correct letter formation. Students are working hard on the 42 letter sounds and are using the knowledge to attempt to spell and write simple words. In reading, we are developing different strategies to help us to become successful readers. Students over the course of this term will be looking at characters and the author’s purpose for writing during modelled reading.

This term we will be starting maths groups during our maths sessions. We are continuing to work on whole number, looking at comparing length and data. Students love to play the dice game ‘Hold the number and count on’. Students are learning to hold the bigger number in their head and count on the other number.

We are finishing off our unit of Living things in Science. The students have enjoyed learning about living and non-livings things, the needs of humans and animals and our senses. The students have had the opportunity to look after the class pets, 3 goldfish. We will be moving on to the topic of ‘Weather in our World’ shortly.

KN will be exploring music during this term. Students will have the opportunity to sing, play and move to a range of music. Students will listen and respond to a variety of music.

During history lessons this semester students will be working with Ms Langdon on 'This is Me', a unit about personal and family histories.

This term during Literacy and Maths rotations students will participate in Reading Eggs and Maths Seeds. Maths Seeds is a fun motivational program that students engage with to consolidate knowledge and skills taught in class.

I am very proud of all the students with how well they have started their schooling life. I look forward to see your children continue to grow and be successful this term.

Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

Page 2

1/2M with Miss Mutch

Welcome back! We begin term 2 in 1/2M welcoming our new class members Lawson and Ricky! It has been fantastic to see so many students engaging in home reading and sight word practice even during the holidays! Remember to read at home as regularly as

possible to help support and reinforce skills that are being taught at school.

Literacy

Our English unit this term is focused around ‘fractured fairy tales’. Students will be exploring texts that have connotations or links to traditional fairy tales, whilst exploring the narrative structure and experimenting with this structure during independent writing.

1/2M are commencing spelling groups this term using the program ‘Words Their Way’. Students are placed into groups that will focus on words that are relevant to their current learning needs for spelling. Group spelling feature focuses range from focusing on end sounds, a combination of two letters representing one sound, consonant blends and long vowel sounds.

We will continue to learn about reading during our L3 literacy rotations. Students are organised into groups of 3-4, with whom they are all working on a similar reading skill and level. These groups will read levelled texts with Miss Mutch during this time.

In phonics we are wrapping up our revision of single sounds and are moving on to digraphs which are two letters that represent one sound. Our phonemic awareness program ‘Heggerty’ exposes students to the manipulation and breaking down of phonemes in words. Phonemes are the smallest unit of sound in spoken English.

Numeracy

In maths, we begin by revisiting whole number. We are focusing on the concepts of ordering numbers and rounding numbers to the nearest

10 for year one and the nearest 100 for year two. Then we are moving on to using known facts to solve addition and subtraction problems, including bridging to 10 and double facts. This will be followed by exploration of 2D and 3D space. Our investigation this term is ‘Number Facts Blast Off’. This investigation requires students to identify as many facts as they can to get to particular numbers to fuel the ‘rocket’. During maths group time students will have the opportunity to engage with the program Mathseeds on the iPads. This will be on a rotational basis. Mathseeds teaches core math and problem solving skills with fun online math games and activities. Students have sat a placement test which assesses where to start them on the program so that it is a needs based focus.

CAPA

Mrs Arroyo will be coming to our class three times a fortnight to teach music. Mrs Arroyo is a trained music teacher. We are very lucky to have this opportunity!

PDHPE

Students in 1/2M will be participating in ‘Child Protection’ during health this term. We will be focusing on the topics: Comfortable and uncomfortable feelings, safe and unsafe situations, relationships, caring for others, privacy, wanted and unwanted touching – saying no and happy and unhappy secrets. If you have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

The fundamental movement skills 1/2M will be mastering this term are hop, side gallop, overarm throw and skip. Students will be taught these skills during daily fitness.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

We will be finishing our science unit ‘Water Works’ during the first half of this term. Through discussion and experimenting, students will explore water and its essential role for life as a precious resource.

Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

Page 3

2/3B with Ms Breust

Introducing a new member to our class…Blue Bot!

Blue-Bots are the newest addition to the floor robot family. They are a Blue-tooth enabled robots controlled by our iPads.

They are a perfect starting point for young children to learn sequencing, directional language, basic commands and programming. Students in 2/3B will plan their algorithm on the screen of the device via the Blue-Bot application and send it remotely for the Blue-Bot to perform right in front of them.

This term students will read, interpret and discuss a variety of texts that draw on other texts. We will begin by reading “Maudie and Bear” by Jan Ormerod. and Frey Blackwood. Bear's world revolves around Maudie. Maudie's world also revolves around Maudie. This

is a delightful picture book and students will meet Maudie, a plucky young girl, and her friend Bear, a gentle giant with a heart of gold. Whether they are going on a bike ride, fixing an afternoon snack, or dancing together, Bear's love for Maudie is unwavering. While reading this story students will understand that some texts are connected with other texts because one of the chapters in the story has a similar plot to Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

In spelling group’s students may have opportunities to understand how to use digraphs, long vowels, blends and silent letters to spell words, and use morphemes and syllabification to break up simple words and use visual memory to write irregular words. Each spelling group has a different focus based on their developmental stage.

Literacy rotations is a time where students are provided with a variety of activities to consolidate skills that have been explicitly taught. This term students will be focusing on the comprehension strategies of making connections and monitoring. You are able to support your child at home by asking them to follow questions while they are reading at home.

eg. Does this remind you of something? This story reminds me of a holiday to my grandfather’s farm.

• Has something like this ever happened to you?

• Is this story similar to another text you have read?

• Is this making sense? • Do I need to re-read? • Does it now make sense?

Every morning students start their day by develop an understanding that spoken words are made up of different sounds (phonemes). In literacy rotations learn to match these phonemes to letters (graphemes).

In Mathematics students rotate through four activities that develop their understanding of place value and mental computation. The aim is

for all students by the end of Year 2 to use non by one count strategies when calculating.

They are able to do this by using number that add to 10, double facts or near double facts.

In number students are being explicitly taught the jump strategy. This involves students putting the smaller number at the start of a number line and then jumping up to the bigger number. This makes the concept of subtraction about finding the difference between two numbers very clear.

Maths Seeds is a fun motivational program that students engage with to consolidate knowledge and skills taught in class.

Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

Page 4

4/5S with Miss Shepherd

Welcome to Term 2! 4/5 S have lots of exciting things ahead for them this term. Across the next two terms, a program called MathsBURST will be implemented in our classroom once a week to Build Understanding through Reasoning and Spatial Thinking.

A reminder, all students are expected to read 20 minutes every night and record this in their reading log. They have the option to read to a parent, carer or sibling or to read independently.

In Term 2, 4/5 S are undertaking a unit of work on “The Duck and the Darklings”. This book is about Peterboy wanting to find something special for his grandfather, but he finds a fallen duck in need of care and how this brings life into their dull life. This unit will explore character, the different ways a text can be viewed, the way texts provide information and ideas and share our thoughts and ideas about a text.

In our spelling program, Words Their Way, the yellow group are focusing on different vowel sounds (such as oi and oy) and r-influenced vowel sounds. The light green group will be learning about compound words and learning about patterns in two syllable words. Dark green will have a focus on the rules of hard and soft constant sounds in two syllable words (such as c and g). The light blue group will learn about a variety of endings of words and the impact that has on a words meaning.

During writing this term, we will be focusing on learning skills to build a picture in the readers mind. One of these skills, called ‘show, don’t tell’, teaches the students to write with more detail and create a more interesting read for the audience, for example ‘As I waited in the queue, my stomach started to flutter’ demonstrating the character is nervous.

As well as MathsBURST, the students will continue with the Maths Pathways program. Maths Pathways provides students with independent activities that are catered to their learning needs. Some of the focus areas in Maths this term include, 3D shapes, data, working with whole numbers, patterns, multiplication and division.

The students in 4/5 S are extremely lucky to have ‘High School Transition’. During this time

the students rotate in groups through Art, Music and Drama across the year with some of our fantastic high school teachers. We will also be doing History as part of this program.

In health, 4/5 S will be undertaking a Child Protection Unit where the students learn about identifying safe and unsafe situations. During our sport time, we will focus on Athletics Skills and Modified Netball.

In science, the Desert Survivors unit is an ideal way to link science with literacy. It provides an opportunity for students to explore some of the features and adaptations of desert plants and animals, and to compare them with plants and animals that live in other environments.

Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

Page 5

5/6L with Mr Lenon

In 56L we are excited for another fun term of learning. Our spelling program continues to be an important part of our literacy block, with students learning about how words work and spelling strategies. We will be reading “Home to Mother” by Doris Pilkington Garimara,

studying the techniques used in the text and recreating those in our own writing.

In maths we will be having lessons on 3d and 2d shapes at the start of this term. We are also excited to be using a new spatial awareness program, Maths Burst, in the classroom. Our maths rotations happen multiple times each week, and have activities such as maths games, hands on activities and use of technology as part of all lessons.

This term sees a change in subjects for our high school transition program, with students studying History with High School HSIE staff. These sessions also have a focus on utilising technology to demonstrate learning. Students will also be studying Art, Music and Drama with High School Creative arts Staff.

In PDHPE, students will be building skill in athletics during the beginning of the term. Students will also have lessons in child protection, building skills and knowledge in making safe decisions.

A reminder to get notes in for the Stage 3 camp to Narrabeen at the end of Term 3. This camp will focus on teamwork, problem solving and building resilience, and is a fun experience for students.

Learning Support and RFF

Mrs Mumberson will be working alongside

2/3B

In geography this term we will be focusing on the unit “Weather and Seasons”. Students will learn about how people describe and report weather and seasons and explore how the activities occurring in places are affected by weather and climate.

This term in Science we will focus on the unit “Water Works” which provides students with opportunities to develop an understanding of, and appreciation for water. Through investigations students explore how water is used, where water comes from and how to use it responsibly.

1/2M

During sport this term students will be involved in a variety of skills and activities around athletics games skills.

3/4C

During sport this term students will be involved in a variety of skills and activities around athletics and games skills.

Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

Page 6

Library with Ms Langdon

Mary Langdon (Teacher Librarian)

This term I will be encouraging students in years 3-6 to take part in the 2019 NSW Premier's Reading Challenge The challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

We will be commencing the challenge by logging books we have already read since September last year. The aim is for years 3-6 students to read 20 books from the PRC list and 5 of their own choosing. Students can log their books online at home and/or at school on the PRC

website. Students will just need to use their normal school username and password in order to access this. I am more than happy to help students find books on the PRC list to borrow from our school library. There are huge range of books, series, authors and genres to choose from!

At the end of the PRC all students who complete the challenge are awarded a special certificate signed by the Premier. I anticipate having a special celebration with the students from years 3-6 who make the effort to complete the challenge. Last year we had a special little morning tea. Let’s hope I’ll have lots of successful students on my guest list in 2019!

2019 Key Dates: March 4: Challenge opens. Students will be able to log books on their Student Reading Record, and coordinators will be able to create accounts for new students.

August 30: Closing date for student entries.

What else is happening?

Library Classes will run weekly for all classes. The library is also open at lunchtimes. This term, with the help of some secondary students, we will be running ‘Makerspace Mondays’ on Mondays of even weeks (B). This will involve different small group activities that are ‘hands on’, and involve making something. Sometimes it may be a craft activity, other times robotics, Lego or science.

Coming up on May 22 K-6 will take part in a

special activity for National Simultaneous Storytime. This year the story is ‘Alpacas with Maracas’ and it promises to be another memorable event …with some surprises!

KN

Our library day is Friday. Remember to bring back your books in your library bag!

1/2M

Our library day is Monday. Remember to bring back your books in your library bag!

This term our focus will be on finding and using library resources and information.

2/3S

Our library day is Wednesday. Remember to bring back your books in your library bag!

This term our focus will be on finding and using library resources and information.

3/4C

Our library day is each Monday.

We will be developing our research and information skills through the study of our History Unit ‘First Contacts’.

Braidwood Central School Primary Newsletter Term 1, 2019

Page 7

4/5S

Our regular library day is Friday of week A.

We will be developing our research and information skills through the study of Geography. Our unit of study is ‘National Parks’.

5/6L

Our regular library day is Thursday of Week A.

We will be developing our research and information skills through the study of Geography. Our unit of study will be ‘Contemporary Land Use Issues’.

Ongoing Communication Our Primary newsletter comes out early each term, informing parents and carers about what students should expect to learn over the coming weeks. Several times a term, a whole-school newsletter is also issued, reporting on recent events and student achievements. These newsletters will be issued electronically. Please ensure that our front office has current email addresses for all parents and family members who wish to receive these newsletters. If you cannot access email, please phone the school on 4842 2249 to request a paper copy.

The SkoolBag App is available for your phone from the App store. Installing this App and adding our school allows you to receive important and targeted communication about upcoming events. It also has a calendar feature, and allows you to quickly and easily return permission slips and to notify us of student absences. When you sign in, please ensure you join the groups that relate to your children, to ensure you don’t miss important messages.

Our Facebook page is updated regularly with short updates about what our students have been up to in class and on excursions. Find it at fb.com/braidwoodcentralschool – and remember to Like, Share and Comment to continue seeing our content.

Our school website has a new home at braidwood-c.schools.nsw.gov.au. It has important information about our school and Department policies, as well as news stories, photo galleries and a calendar of upcoming events.