News from around our Learning Spaces.
" Tell Show me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” (Benjamin Franklin).
News From the Leadership Team
Religious Education- Ms Clare Hicks
We are looking forward to another term of exciting learning in our Religious Education classes. We will make connections to our inquiry question "How did we get here?" embedding our Catholic Social Teaching Principles and the themes of Advent, hope, joy, peace and love. Our rich question will include a time of reflection and pondering about "How did we get to this point; in our homes, classroom, community and global world. We will particularly focus on embracing diversity, working cooperatively, looking out for the common good and respecting the human dignity of all. Advent will allow us to reach out to the vulnerable and discover ways to ensure others also experience joy at this special time of year.
Learning and Teaching - Mr Stu Andreou-Mill
After an amazing term culminating in the school production, this term we turn our attention to Australian history focusing on the central question "How did we get here?" Students across the school will be exploring the concepts of change and perspective looking at history through different eyes. This unit lends itself to transdisciplinary teaching with natural links in Literacy and Numeracy being explored by the teachers.
Additionally this term selected 5/6 students will be presenting at the International Kids Conference at Melbourne University for the second year in a row. This highlights the incredible learning and teaching happening at Our Lady's and all of the students and staff should be proud of the work that is happening. These students will be presenting their work from the Term 3 units of inquiry.
Furthermore a group of 5/6 students have been working in a Global Citizenship program throughout 2023 and will be presenting their work at a national conference later this term. They have focused on inclusion and community building within the Our Lady's student body. Isla, Sebastian, Sammy and Sage from 5/6 have worked hard this year, giving up their lunch breaks to work on this project and should be congratulated on their efforts.
Literacy- Mr Stu Andreou-Mill
Literacy continues to maintain a strong focus within the learning and teaching at Our Lady's. This term the students will continue to explore Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening concepts during the two hour literacy block each day. Across the school genres taught this term include persuasive texts, historical fiction and speech writing, linking in with events and topics covered in other areas of the school term. Data informed teaching, small group and individual teaching opportunities are central to the way we approach learning at Our Lady's, and will continue to be our approach in the Literacy block.
E-Learning and STEM - Mr Brendan Hawke
Over the last term we went from one 3D printer to four thanks to the incredible support of our parent community, particularly the Wong family. We have also recieved and set up a laser engraver. These are very exciting steps on our school's journey towards becoming a haven of digital creativity. Over the course of this term, we hope to develop our staff capacity in using these devices and applying them in our teaching to enhance the learning of our students. We have also purchased touchscreens for every composite grade level, again through the generosity of our parent community, which have already made a huge difference to the learning experience of our students.
Last term, I was invited to join the executive committee for the Eastern E-Learning Network. This organisation will give our school access to new resources and expertise. It has also allowed me to share some of the incredible digital learning that has been going on at our school. Our STEM program has been of particular interest to the network and I have enjoyed sharing some of our learning from the year so far.
This term, our STEM program will introduce the students to key principles of engineering and design. They will follow an iterative design process and consider physics concepts, such as tension and compression, when constructing towers and other structures from household and recycled materials.
Mathematics - Miss Katie Lynch
Throughout the I have worked with a dedicated group of Year 4 students in Mathematics. They arrive to the lessons prepared, full of energy and eagerness to learn. We begin each lessons with a tools session (warm up)/game and this week we started with Solve my Number. While the game is simple to play it helps to consolidate addition and subtraction skills using a number line or number chart. The girls enjoyed the game and look forward to revisiting it again next week.
Following the tools session, we move to problem solving, applying new strategies to answer questions, complete NAPLAN practice questions as well as revisit counting patterns. These lessons are thoroughly enjoyable as the girls are enthusiastic about the learning and they also develop their confidence within the curriculum area. Our wonderful Educational Support Staff (ESS) will also work with the girls throughout the week.
Keep up the great work girls, I am so proud of you!
I will also work with other small groups of students in the middle and junior school levels to help build their self efficacy, close gaps in learning as well as foster of love of learning in Mathematics.
