Striving for more in EY4

Once again, the end of term rolls around and we reflect on what we have learnt over the past 10 weeks. Most recently we showed off the results of our weekly practice with Coach Tim and cheered on the “big kids” as they competed in different events at the Athletics Carnival. This week we will travel to the Riding for the Disabled facility for our final visit of the year as it is now time for the Prep classes to enjoy the sounds, scents and sensory experiences of this weekly excursion. With the assessment and reporting period over for now, we will celebrate a semester of being safe, respectful learners with tasty treats for our Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) rewards day and pack up pieces of work to take home. We will also welcome Miss Catherine to the class on Mondays and Fridays while Miss Jodie is working with teachers to improve phonics instruction and literacy outcomes for students as the focus of the whole school 2025 Annual Implementation Plan for strategic direction.

In class we continue to explore the individual sounds that letters make and begin our investigations into digraphs, when 2 letters make 1 sound. For example, t + h makes a “th” sound as in this, then, that and s + h makes a “shhhhh” sounds, as in ship, shin, shell. Learning the individual sounds, called phonemes, helps us learn to spell at the same time as we are learning to decode. We are all at different stages in the literacy pathway so we have lots of ways of working, including whole class, small group and 1 to 1 with a supportive communication partner.

Exploring how things move has been the highlight of the term for all of our students who enthusiastically do this naturally at brain break or play times. We have enjoyed sliding different sized vehicles down a huge cardboard tube while holding it at different angles, and problem solving when magnetic train carriages repel or attract. Math continues to be expanding on our number recognition and we will revisit pattern next term.

As the weather continues to change, it is important to have a warm jumper or jacket to take off when the days warm up. At other times, the dewy grass leaves some of us with wet toes so please pack an extra pair of socks as well. School bags can get heavy, and you are welcome to leave a labelled bag of spare clothes at school if you prefer. There are still lots of coughs and colds and, although the days will slowly start to lengthen since the winter solstice, cooler weather means classroom windows often stay closed. We continue to spend extra time reminding each other to wash hands before eating, when coming in from the playground and after visiting the toilet. Learning to cough into our elbows instead of our hands, and to wash or use sanitizer after blowing noses is ongoing. We really appreciate families keeping children home to rest when unwell so they can make a quick recovery and stop the spread to others.

Next term we will continue learning how to take turns and be safe during soccer skills practice with Coach Tim. It is also time to start planning those costumes for Book Week with the theme, Book an Adventure!

We hope the break is filled with all the things and people you love.

Until next time

Miss Jodie, Miss Catherine, Miss Nairda and students of EY4.