Beginning the year 2025

Welcome to Grade 1

Grade 1 Team

Desiree Kinnes (Grade 1 Team Leader) - 1D 

Bec Sutton - 1S

Lauren Walshe - 1W

Specialist Programs

Visual Arts:                       Rebecca Hayes

Physical Education:        Fraser Kenny

Performing Arts:             Emily CW & Natalie Arundel

Indonesian:                       Emily Rose

Science: Bronwyn Wickett

Library:                              Your child’s classroom teacher

Ways to help at school:

• Students need a library bag and a hat. (Hats are worn from the beginning of September until the end of April as per the Sun Smart guidelines).

• Please label all items brought to school clearly, any items that are lost can be looked for in the main building in the lost property cupboards just outside the library.

• Lunch Orders need to be placed in the lunch order tub as soon as students arrive at school unless they have been placed online.

• Please ensure that students arrive at school for an 8:55am start. Students should remain outside in the yard until the bell. Students should not arrive at school before 8.45am as there will not be a teacher on duty.

• Please encourage your children to farewell you and line up carrying their own bags. Ensure that your child knows where to meet you and older siblings at home time or when they have to go to aftercare.

• Join the classroom helpers program (training sessions TBC); it’s a great way for you to assist in your child’s room and to meet other parents.

Ways to help at home

• Discuss and display your child’s work at home, giving praise for their efforts.

• Allow your child to be independent, pack own bags, get dressed by themselves etc.

• Invite school friends home to play.

• Provide a variety of experiences for your child and a selection of paper, pencils, paint etc.

• Make a regular time to read together, students should be reading each day for 15 minutes. Read with and to your child for enjoyment.

• Read signs, labels, street names; share recipes and write letters together.

• Play ‘I Spy’ and discuss rhyming words, and initial and last letters in words.

• When shopping, allow your child to help with the weighing and paying of goods.

• Talk about the time, 5 minutes to bedtime, time how long cooking takes etc.

• Play ‘fun games’ with numbers.

Grade 1 Curriculum

All activities are planned by the team to enhance the learning opportunities of each of our Grade 1 students. Our curriculum programs are implemented following the guidelines of the Victorian Curriculum.

In each classroom, the teachers create a safe and happy environment where students are praised for their efforts and encouraged to ‘have a go’. Social skills are developed through cooperative group work and students are given real-life experiences to develop a sense of the world around them.

Our learning program aims to: 

• Extend each student to explore and develop their full potential academically, socially, emotionally and physically.

• Encourage students to take pride in their work, to be proud of their efforts and strive for excellence in all their learning opportunities.

• Raise each student’s awareness of being responsible for their own actions and for their own learning.

• Encourage students to show initiative in many individual, class and whole-school situations.

• Develop in each student attitudes of tolerance and open-mindedness.

• Provide a happy, supportive and safe learning environment in which students can feel confident to achieve their best and take risks in their learning.

• Establish a positive and fundamental educational relationship between student, teacher and home.

 Inquiry Learning

The inquiry learning approach is implemented when learning about our focus units each term. Teachers plan these units together and meet weekly to discuss programs and planning.

Inquiry Units

Each term the Grade One students will explore the following in greater depth:

●       Personal and Social Capabilities

●       Intercultural Capabilities and Community histories.

●       Design and Technologies

●       Biological Science

Literacy

The Literacy program encompasses learning outcomes in the areas of:

Reading and Viewing

Writing

Speaking and Listening

The Whole School Writing Program focuses on the 6+1 writing traits throughout the year. All students work through the process of writing: planning, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. And while doing so focus on the six traits of writing which are: their ideas, sentence fluency, organisation, word choice, voice and conventions. Writing posters are displayed in all rooms to give the students a visual to assist them through the process. Student work is celebrated by displaying it throughout the school for others to read.

Each class in Grade 1 is committed to a two session Literacy block. This is two sessions of uninterrupted literacy time, which is devoted to reading and writing. Parents are encouraged to assist in the classrooms and it is recommended that all helpers complete the Classroom Helpers Program, held each year in Semester 1. The education of your child is a partnership between home and school and your involvement in the school is a positive step in your child’s education.

Digital Technology

All students have access to computers. Students learn to access programs using logins and passwords. Digital Technologies are used across all areas of the curriculum, with students using Google Classroom and completing tasks using Google Docs, Google Slides, etc.  Students are introduced to programing and coding using the Spheros.

Mathematics

A ‘hands on’ approach to learning Mathematics is practised in Grade 1.

We believe that students learn by doing and by beginning with concrete materials, they can develop a better understanding of mathematical concepts. Problem solving and open-ended maths concepts cater for individual differences within each class.

The following areas are covered in Mathematics activities throughout Grade 1:

Number and Algebra

Measurement and Geometry

Statistics and Probability

Restorative Practices and School Values

Our values at Antonio Park are:

                  Empathy

                     Responsibility

                     Resilience

                     Independence

                     Confidence

These values are fostered both in the classroom and at play through a variety of activities and form the basis of our Code of Conduct.  Restorative Practices underpin Wellbeing at Antonio Park Primary School.

Restorative Practices can be seen around the school when students and staff spend time talking in circles to deepen relationships with others and develop their appreciation and understanding of each other.  This is demonstrated through our buddies program, problem solving circles, restorative chats, classroom conferencing and much more.

At Antonio Park we are committed to educating the whole child, academically, physically, socially and emotionally and are dedicated to the partnership we have with parents and the community to help every child achieve their best.

Respectful Relationships

Respectful Relationships is an intervention initiative to reduce family violence. Respectful Relationships promotes respect, positive attitudes and behaviours and gender equality. It helps students learn how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

Included in the program are the following areas:

●   Emotional literacy

●   Personal strengths

●   Positive coping

●   Problem solving

●   Stress management

●   Help seeking

Excursions/Fun for Ones

Excursions and incursions are planned to support our units of work. Fun for Ones  is part of the camping program that operates from Foundation to Grade 6.  Parents will be advised of this special day through Compass as with all  upcoming events.  We will attempt to keep expenses for special events spread out evenly throughout the year. 

Swimming Program

Students attend a fortnight of intensive swimming to develop their swimming technique and teach them vital water survival skills.  This program will take place in Term 2.

Reporting

Getting to Know You Interviews will take place in week 3 Term 1. Formal written reports are completed at the end of Term 2 and interviews will take place in Term 3 but please feel free to make an appointment with your child’s teacher to discuss any concerns or your child’s progress at any time. Another report will be distributed at the end of the school year along with your child’s portfolio as a record of skill growth and a culmination of learning moments.

Absences

If your child is absent from school please ensure you mark this on Compass the day of their absence. If you know of an upcoming absence you can enter this in advance.

Late arrivals/early departures

If your child is late to school or is required to depart early you will need to sign them in or out of the office. It is important that we have this information for our records. Please also alert the class teacher of any early departures.

Parent Helpers

As we like to settle into our classroom routines and organisation, each classroom teacher will be in contact with more information regarding parent helpers.

Questions/Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher - they should always be your first point of call. If you need to discuss anything further please do not hesitate to make a time with our Team Leader Desiree Kinnes or one of our Assistant Principals, Scott Minetti or Annette Hayes. We are happy to help you where we can and are available after school at 3.30 to discuss any issues that you may have.

We look forward to sharing a wonderful year with you and your students at Antonio Park.

Desiree, Bec & Lauren