Week 4, Term 4

Hello from the Prep Rooms!

This week in Literacy, we have been reading words with our new sounds ‘ee’ and ‘ea’ and ‘--y’. On Wednesday we were brave and wrote our own story for our Big Write narrative ‘found’. It was amazing to see everyone have a go at using spaces between words, capital letters and full stops in our sentences.

For Maths, we have been revising concepts we have learned so far through different rotation activities with all the Preps, including ‘Numbots‘ on the iPads, race to 100 and making 2-digit numbers with MAB and paddle pop sticks.

In Respectful Relationships, we read the book ‘Pink is for Boys’ and discussed scenarios, helping us talk about what to do and say if someone tells us we can’t do something because of our gender.

For our STEAM Friday Challenge, we continued to use our Coding Mice, giving instructions for the mouse to get the cheese.

Next week is a short week with only two days at school. On Thursday, we will learn one new code ‘igh’, write our second Big Write and continue revising topics in Maths. Then, on Friday, we will go to the Prep/1/2 Kickball. We are excited to play and possibly see other students we know from other schools.

We hope everyone enjoys their five-day weekend!

Miss Else and Nicole.

Hello from the Golden Wattle building!

This week, we enjoyed reading the story, ‘Queen Victoria’s Underpants’ by Jackie French. Our focus in Literacy has been on identifying and using adjectives. We described the different underpants in the story, including balloon underpants and bagpipe underpants and thought about the pros and cons of each pair! We worked on using adjectives to write a detailed description and this was also a focus in our Big Write where we wrote a description of our favourite piece of clothing.

The different materials of clothing led in well to our Big Question, "What is it made of and why?" This week, we read ‘The Three Little Pigs’ and unpacked the properties of the materials the pigs made their houses out of. Our STEAM Challenge involved working with a partner to design a house that could withstand wind and rain. We thought about which materials would be best and then tested them out to see if they stood up to the weather!

In Maths, we finished up our unit on fractions this week. We enjoyed using the pan scales to see if we could halve and quarter masses equally, and used our knowledge of fractions to solve problems.

Next week is a short week for students with our Report Writing day on Monday, Melbourne Cup public holiday on Tuesday and a Curriculum Day on Wednesday. On Thursday, students will be back at school but, on Friday, we have our District Kickball event. Thank you to those parents who have offered to help on the day, it is greatly appreciated.

We hope you have a wonderful (extra long!) weekend,

Wendy, Laura, Claire, Sarah and Andrew

Hello from the Ironbark building!

This week in Maths, we’ve reviewed some concepts we looked at earlier in the year: fractions and decimals. Our students have been exploring improper fractions and learning how to convert between mixed numerals and improper fractions. We’ve also looked deeper into equivalent fractions using Fraction Walls. A popular game we've been playing frequently is Colour-in Fractions. In this activity, students roll dice to determine a fraction, then colour in that fraction—or an equivalent fraction—on a game sheet. This game helps reinforce their understanding of equivalent fractions in a hands-on way.

In Literacy, we have been revising how to use apostrophes correctly in our writing and have been reading and spelling ‘spire’ Latin base words such as inspire, expire and perspire. Students let their creativity shine as they completed a narrative Cold Write based on our Viking unit. There were stories of Vikings finding new land, troubles at sea, shipwrecks and brutal battles!

As part of our Big Question "What can we learn from those who have come before us?", students learned about Odin, Thor, Loki, Idunn, Freya and other Gods and Goddesses that lived in the Kingdom of Asgard through our paired reading activities. From our readings, students were able to describe how Gods, Goddesses and myths helped the Vikings make sense of their world. Using their knowledge and samples of their work throughout our Viking unit, students wrote a summary paragraph explaining who the Vikings were and their way of life.

We continued Topic 8, Positive Gender Relations, from the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships program in our Wellbeing lessons this week. Through class discussion, students built a definition of gender-based violence and gave examples of different types of gender-based violence.

After discussing several scenarios, students used an X-Chart to describe how gender-based violence may affect those who experience the violence, as well as those who have chosen to use violence.

Students described acts of friendship and kindness and help seeking behaviour that can be used to help those affected by gender-based violence.

Just a reminder that next week students are only required at school on Thursday and Friday due to curriculum days and the public holiday.

Enjoy your weekend

Sally, Pete, Louise, Hannah and Carly

Greetings from the Silver Banksia,

This week in 5/6 land began with some tired-looking grade 6 students, even after a weekend of rest and recovery from camp. After an entertaining recap of camp from the school captains at assembly, we were straight back to our classes to begin the week.

In Maths, students were multiplying decimals by powers of 10. This led to an exploration of index notation and how to show gigantic numbers this way. Students then chose a country, found its capital city’s distance and direction from Melbourne, then placed a marker with this information up in the classroom. They used research skills, maps and globes to develop mathematical and geographical skills. Such fun! Did you know that Ulanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, is approximately 1 x 104km from Melbourne?! This has connected with our BQT inquiry, where students have returned to their countries from earlier in the year. This week, they have learned about climate zones and chosen one for their country, drawn a map of the country, and given it a capital city.

Also this week, students began to plan their own fable. They identified the purpose, features and structure of some well-known fables and began to plan their own story with a moral. There has been great interest in these stories, which students will eventually share with other students in the school.

In Respectful Relationships, we have completed Topic 7 on gender and identity with an exploration of how society uses ‘gender policing’ to force individuals to conform to the stereotypes or norms that we expect of them, and how we can push back against these forces.

Next up, we'll be continuing to develop and write fables, starting to read a new novel, extending fraction understanding; converting between fractions, decimals and percentages, making sustainable choices for our countries and communities, and launching into positive gender relationships in Respectful Relationships.

Have a great long weekend!

State Athletics 

Chet C, Eli H, Elijah A, George C and Darcy B have been put through their final paces at lunchtime practices this week in preparation for the State Track and Field Championship in the 4 x 100m relay at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park on Thursday 6th November. Thank you to the families for supporting and transporting these students to this prestigious event next week. CNPS wish you all the best! 

Region Cricket 

Our cricket team, led by Charlie, won all their Division matches! They are now headed to Swan Hill on Friday 14th November for the Region Cricket Final. Keep up the lunchtime training team! We require parents/carers to transport and supervise their child at this event. Car pooling is possible. Please return permission notes.

Bike Education Grade 3-6 

Our Grade 3/4 and 5/6 classes will participate in the Bike Education program during their PE lessons. We start in Week 6 (beginning 10 November*), which is the week following Melbourne Cup Day week. The program will run for four weeks. Students will need to bring a roadworthy bike and a helmet to school on their scheduled PE day. 

*3/4HC will begin on Friday 7th November (and skip 14th November due to the unanticipated clash with Region Cricket). 

We require the assistance or parent/carers to assist with minor tune ups during our first session and safety checkpoint marshalls on our last week when we venture outside the school on to the footpath or road. Specific dates and further information will be emailed and sent home with students. 

District Kickball Grade P-2 

We have been practising ‘Kickball Rounders’ in PE lessons in preparation for a successful outing to District Kickball. We are honing our skills of stopping a rolling / bouncing ball, throwing, catching and kicking, along with learning the rules of the game and thinking about team fielding strategies or individual kick placement tactics. 

All students in Grades Prep, One and Two participate in District Kickball on the morning of Friday 7th November. Students travel by bus to Harcourt Recreation Reserve. Our students are placed into multi-age teams to play casual games of ‘Kickball Rounders’ against student teams from other schools. The emphasis is on participation, fun, personal growth and development. 

The kicking team step up individually  to take a kick and then run as many bases as they can before the fielding team returns the ball to the designated bowler (who is usually a Grade 5/6 student leader). Innings are timed at approximately 10 minutes each with continual rotation through the kicking team until the allocated time is finished. 

We require support from parents/carers to help supervise our teams. Permission forms were due back this week.

Swimming: Grade Prep-2

We are extremely proud of our swimming and water safety program across all grade levels at our school. We have traditionally held swimming lessons for our Grade Prep/1/2 classes during Term 4 at the Castlemaine Indoor Pool. This venue is currently closed, which is both a disappointment and challenge for our school and our community. We are currently exploring our options, but may not have access to swimming lessons this term. We will update and inform you of any developments.

Next year, swimming for Grades 3-6 will proceed as usual at the Castlemaine Outdoor Pool during Term 1.

Note: As next Monday is a pupil-free day, these awards will be handed out at assembly on the following Monday.

Prep E

Gene L - for including spaces between your words independently in your Big Write.
Max R - for the resilience you have shown each day, participating in classroom activities with your broken collarbone.

Prep N

Quinn K - for the focus and effort you show to keep trying your best in everything you do.
Vallie C - for being a kind, caring and thoughtful class member who always makes strong choices.

1/2 CS

Ella M - for the impressive way you have been focusing during whole class instructions.
Oona D - for having the courage to be an upstander in a tricky situation.

1/2 L

Ollie A - for the thoughtful way you checked in with your R.R.R.R. acting partner.
Torben E - for the wonder you displayed when exploring fractions with playdough and balance scales.

1/2 WA

Dot M - for your wonderfully creative use of adjectives when describing the Queen's underpants.
Dallas E - for working on your spelling codes with fantastic success.

3/4 H

Piper T - for your determination in understanding equivalent fractions.
Caitlyn Y - for your focus and persistence when solving fraction problems.

3/4 L

Eli H - for being an active participant in class discussions.
Frances W - for always asking questions and seeking support when needed.

3/4 S

Aidan S - for your fantastic effort and results in our maths fluency activities.
Elijah G - for the thoughtful and confident way you share your knowledge of Viking Gods with your peers.
Arlo T - for your impressive efforts when writing your Cold Write about Erik the Red.

5/6 BH

Archer M - for your enthusiastic work during gardening.
Tom D - for your determined efforts during spelling lessons.

5/6 BN

Dougie W - for always ensuring your work has your own individual, high quality stamp on it.
Johnny H - for your thoughtful and entertaining Grade 6 camp writing.

5/6 H

Otto C - for moving through and getting it done.
Luke C - for the confident way you spoke in front of an audience.

5/6 J

Luella N - for believing in your creative process and taking the time to plan your table with care.
Sophia M - for taking the lead in your group discussion about gender policing and sharing your thoughtful ideas.
Lachlan H - for showing increasing thoughtfulness by recognising how your behaviour affects others and making positive choices to be more considerate.

Indonesian

Eli H - for your excellent recollection of new words, your sharp responses and your positive attitude to your learning.

Performing Arts

Chet C - for trying your best and showing great skill on the ukulele.

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