This tern for Inquiry, our focus is 'Our Natural World'. All life on earth is interconnected. For life to continue, humans are called to be stewards of creation, managing resources, protecting and sustaining the natural environment.

Our students will observe, investigate, analyse and compare the differences and uniqueness of systems and phenomena.

We seek to stimulate wonder and awe, curiosity and an appreciation of our natural world which leads to active citizenship where people are compelled for action for the common good of our environment.

National Recycling Week, established by Planet Ark in 1996, is held every year during the second week of November (7th to 13th of November 2022).

This year, National Recycling Week explores the idea that Waste isn't Waste until it's Wasted. Our school will be participating this year, particularly because of our Inquiry focus this term. We will be exploring how you use resources by giving them a second life, reducing the need for newly produced resources, and recycling, this year it is all about quality over quantity, it is not about recycling more, but recycling better. During that week, each year level will be participating in recycling challenges and we will also be launching a whole school community competition. Stay tuned next week for more information!

In the lead up to Advent, the Preps have been learning about our blessed Mother Mary. We have been discussing who Mary is and our relationship with her. We have been identifying that Mary is our mother too and that she looks after us. It was explained to the students that when Mary was alive, there were no cameras to take photos of what she really looked like. People drew or painted pictures years later based on what they thought she may have looked like. Students were shown different images of Mary, based on people's interpretations.

We have been looking at ways that Mary is like our own mother. The Prep children made connections between Mary and their own mothers. Some examples include; Our Mother's care and love us, and so does Mary. Our Mother loves us unconditionally and so does Mary. As a part of the unit, they have learnt and have been practising the Hail Mary. They have been introduced to Rosary Beads and throughout morning prayer, they pray with them.

The Prep children have really enjoyed learning about the significance of our blessed Mother Mary and the events leading up to Christmas, such as the Visitation and the Annunciation.

The year 1 students have begun their ‘Bug Me’ Inquiry which focuses on mini beasts. We were lucky enough to attend an excursion at the Royal Botanical Gardens where we learned all about the creatures that share our gardens and plants. During our visit to the Botanical Gardens we used our eyes for looking, our hands for touching, our ears for listening and our bodies for exploring the minibeasts that live in the gardens and help our gardens grow.

We learned so many interesting facts about worms - they have 5 hearts and two brains and they are both male and female!

The gardens were so beautiful! We made potpourri out of dried rose petals and lavender seeds.

Last week we even had Gabriella come in to show us some amazing extatosoma tiaratum (aka stick insects). Gabriella taught us some amazing facts about stick insects, including how to tell whether a stick insect is a make or a female. Did you know that male stick insects are thin with long skinny legs and wings? Male stick insects can actually fly and the females can not! The females are larger and look a little bit like a scorpion.

Gabriella showed us tiny stick insect eggs that are so small they look like little seeds! In fact, they often get mistaken for seeds by ants who carry them down into their burrows. Baby stick insects even look like little ants so the ants don’t even realise they have a different species among them!

This semester, the Year 2s are exploring the fascinating world of BUGS!!!

Our unit, 'Stop Bugging Me!', has given the children the opportunity to learn about bugs and how their existence is of great importance to our planet, so no, we cannot 'Stop Bugging!'.

We have been fortunate enough to have an expert visit us and teach us about stick insects as one of Australia's native bugs. Gabriella taught us about looking after these magnificent insects and provided us with one to look after! We spray the leaves they eat twice a day, as we need to be responsible for keeping the stick insect well!

We are also looking after a cocoon, waiting patiently for it to turn into a butterfly! During our time in this unit, we have also learned how to research information, note take and compose paragraphs to create informative texts. Here is a little snippet about the Dung Beetle. Enjoy!

YEAR 2 COOK BOOK

During Semester 2, the Grade 2 children explored the Catholic Social Teaching of Solidarity. They focussed on understanding that we are all part of God’s family who are called to love thy neighbour and to live in a just and compassionate society.

As part of our learning in Religious Education the children and teachers decided to create a Grade 2 cookbook with the children's very own recipes. During Literacy, the children wrote their favourite recipe with a specific focus on the structure and language features of procedural text types. The primary purpose of the Grade 2 Cookbook is to raise funds for @vinniesvictoria which is a very special organisation that our school supports each and every year. Our Grade 2 children are passionate about helping those in need within our local community, and would truly love your support in making a difference to the lives of others.

The Grade 2 cookbook includes very delicious and multicultural recipes.

WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT, THE CHILDREN RAISED $947 for St Vincent De Paul! Thank you to everyone who purchased one. Alleah (whose winning design adorns the cover) is holding her copy below!

In Grade 3 we have been learning about Mother Mary. We have learnt about her life and her importance in our lives. We know that Mary lived life without sin and said yes to the Angel Gabriel when he asked her to be the mother of Jesus. We learnt that Jesus asked Mary to be a mother to all of us. Mary lives in heaven and sends our prayers to Jesus. To show our appreciation to Mary, we have written our own prayers to her.

This term the Year 4's were fully immersed in the wonderful world of the Melbourne Zoo for our Zoo Snooze camp. They braved the elements to camp out amongst the stars, animals, creepy crawlies, teacher and classmates to take part in conservation quests and learning experiences.

Through their adventures, students developed survival instincts and worked together in tribes to take on the many challenges that they were presented with. We are very proud of our campers, as we are sure you are too.

Last week, the Grade 5s visited SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium to immerse themselves in our Inquiry Unit ‘Save Our Seas’. The students explored many different types of ecosystems that the Aquarium showcases and discussed what is affecting animals that live in the ocean today. They had a whale of a time exploring the many fantastic exhibits that the Aquarium had to offer.

In Reading, the Grade 5s have been exploring nonfiction texts features and structure. They have been busily reading and questioning what they are reading to gather information to support their understanding of our Inquiry unit to explore the effects of human impact on our ocean environment.

In Writing, the students have been concentrating on adding detail into their writing by writing a snapshot of an image to portray what they can see to their reader. They have successfully increased their descriptive and figurative language within their snapshot writing pieces!

Deep at the ocean depths there are bubbles from the hot rocky ground. This place is magical. I can call it heaven. The waves crash viciously on the rocky shore as The seaweed sways “Wish , wish , wish” as the current is moving the seaweed. “Wish, wish, wish.”

Deep at the ocean depths there are colourful fish that have bright orange stripes that make it stand out. The fish are so fast that you can’t see them when they swim through the water. They speak to each other and bubbles come out of their mouths.

Deep in the ocean there is a jellyfish that is a hybrid that is colourful and that is see through but it is so fast that you can't see it when it swims past you like a race car soaring past.

It glides through the water as fast as a cheetah, it's blue and it's as blue as the sky. Its skin is as thick as a great white shark. It is as big as a human. It can also nip people if they think they can be a threat to them. But they like to swim in front of boats and they can jump out of the water. “Splash, splash.”

Christian R 5M

It glides through the water as fast as a cheetah. It's blue and it's as blue as the sky. Its skin is as thick as a great white shark. It is as big as a human. It can also nip people if they think they can be a threat to them. But they like to swim in front of boats and they can jump out of the water. “Splash, splash.”

It glides through the water as fast as a cheetah, it's as blue as the sky. Its skin is as thick as a great white shark. It is as big as a human. It can nip people if they think they can be a threat to them. But they like to swim in front of boats and they can jump out of the water. “Splash, splash.”

Xavier 5M

In Mathematics, the Grade 5s have been investigating fractions, decimals and percentages and have been exploring these using concrete materials to understand their role in our lives as parts of a whole. We have been comparing, ordering, representing and converting to build our knowledge to use these with confidence.

Term 4 has started off full steam ahead in Grade 6. We were lucky enough to begin the term with our excursion to the Melbourne Aquarium where we learnt about Marine Conservation which was a great introduction to our Inquiry unit; SOS: Save Our Seas. It was a great day where the 6's learned so much about how we can protect our marine life as well as being able to see some interesting animals.

The Art Show was a great success for the Grade 6's. We were able to display the different pieces we have been working on throughout the year as well as sell our Celebration Cards and continue to raise money for "Hope in a Suitcase". Thank you to everyone who came to support our work and purchased some of our cards!

Some more fantastic news regarding our STM softball team. Both the girls team and boys team made it through to the divisional final where they competed against other teams from different divisions. They worked so hard as we can see their efforts have paid off. Both teams have given their absolute all and made it through to the next level, regional finals. We wish them all the best for the next round. GO STM!!

This week we had 4 students attend the Regional Athletics competition held in Epping. The children represented our school wonderfully and did very well. Congratulations to Lyam, Krista and Chloe who competed on behalf of STM and a big congratulations to Tiffany who came second in her Long Jump event. Tiffany will be progressing to the State finals at Albert Park in November! Well done and good luck Tiffany!

Last but not least, Rita in our canteen wanted to share some of her yummy tastings on offer in the Canteen. The children love not only eating the food, but also chatting and learning about how it is run! Thank you to Rita and all who support our canteen, for the benefit of our childrne!

We hope you enjoyed reading about the amazing learning that has been happening in our classrooms this term!

Kate Korber

Learning & Teaching Leader