Premiers Reading Challenge 2018

Premiers Reading Challenge 2018

There is still plenty of time to join in the challenge of reading different quality literature as recommended by the NSW Premier! 

Your children are only required to read 20 books to obtain a certificate for effort and an enjoyable reading journey along the way.

There is helpful section to search for book choices on the Premiers Reading Challenge web site. 
Log onto Premiers Reading Challenge search and then explore the available categories.

OR .... take a chance on a PRC 'Random Book' suggestion at:
Premiers Reading Challenge Random book suggestions

Please contact the Learning Hub if you have any questions or log in issues.

Home Learning Term 2 Week 5

Open Day, NAPLAN and Collaborative Learning

Wow, it's hard to believe that we've already been back at school for 3 weeks this term. There has been an infectious buzz and positive energy around the school and in the classroom. Students have thoroughly enjoyed Open Day and the opportunity to share their learning with parents and visitors. I'm very impressed with their enthusiasm for learning and enjoyment to learn with and from each other.

In Science, students worked well together to build their toy vehicle from recycled materials, engaged in collaborative problem solving, and needed to capitilise on their knowledge of contact and non contact forces to ensure their vehicle could move freely, had sufficient grip on the ground and describe the different forces acting on their vehicle and how this affected its movement. During Maths, we focused on fractions and 3D shapes. Students were absorbed making 3D shapes from different materials and practised describing their properties. One of our English activities was a grammar treasure hunt during which students were asked to use their noticing muscle to find and list as many nouns, verbs and adjectives in their 'read-to-self' novel.

I'm also very proud of all the boys and girls on how they approached this week's NAPLAN papers. They demonstrated tremendous resilience, absorbing themselves in both the preparation and actual tasks, and persevering with challenging questions. They showed kindness and empathy, demonstrating genuine care and support for each other during the process.

On Friday this week, the Year 3 and Year 4 students combined to learn about game design in STEM. They collaborated to create ideas for an action, adventure, challenge or simulation game. It involved critical thinking about an end goal of their game, rules, characters and what it could look like. Students made links by using their prior knowledge and experience of gaming to create interesting game designs.

We have also started our Friendology 101 program as part of our PDH unit of 'Belonging' (Personal Development and Health). This week we focused on what it means to be REAL. Whilst perfection is often modelled and promoted in the media, it is far more important for us to discover our real selves, to learn to be comfortable with who we really are and be true to ourselves. Students discussed their 'True Colours' and identified positive traits in themselves and each other.

I hope you enjoy the selection of photos from the past two weeks of learning.

Wendy Lucas

Year 6 Fundraiser Event

Assessment

I have spent the last two weeks assessing all the Kinders and most of the Years 1 and 2.  

This is what we will do with the information:

Analyse individual strengths and needs

Strategically plan for each learner to improve and excel

Set new objectives

Explore abilities

Supply assistance and appropriate materials

Stress growth

Monitor for intervention

Empower with self-directed assessment strategies

Nurture and support efforts

Translate needs and strengths into active learning

JS Lion King Musical Week 5

Spinning into Term 2

A warm welcome to Term 2! I trust that the holidays provided rewarding family time and enabled you to engage in playful and relaxing activities with your children.

This term will be filled with many active learning activities. Preparations continue for NAPLAN (Week 3). Students are becoming familiar and more confident with NAPLAN style questioning. In English, our text study focus will be information report writing and we will commence a novel study. Our Stage 2 Maths groups will continue every Monday.

We will also continue our History Unit: Communities and Celebrations which includes a variety of activities to develop students' historical knowledge and inquiry skills including a research project.

In our Science Unit: Spinning in Space, students will explore the cause of night and day by investigating the features and effects of the Sun, Moon and Earth. Mrs Browne, our fantastic Art teacher, has a number of wonderful art activities planned that link to this unit. An excursion to the Sydney Observatory is also planned for Week 6.

On Friday this week, Year 3 and Year 4 joined together for a PDH lesson. Students particularly enjoyed the drama related activities. They did a fantastic job acting out (without words or sounds) an emotion for the other students to guess. Students then worked together in pairs to reflect on four specific Learning @ St Luke's dispositions including Absorption (Resilience), Questioning (Resourcefulness), Planning (Reflectiveness) and Collaboration (Reciprocity). They rated themselves, noted how they can improve in Term 2 and shared their ideas with the group. This reflection was recorded in their diaries. The PDH program this term will focus on developing positive friendships and relationships with others.

Wendy Lucas

Photos of drama activity in Friday's PDH lesson.



Below are some photos from the end of Term 1's Cross Country Carnival.