Prep/1 G Newsletter

Issue #4, Term 4 2012

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Prep/1 G Newsletter

Term 4, 2012

October
10 School Dance th 12 Swimming Carnival th 20 Working Bee th th 20 -28 Childrens Week 25th Official B.E.R. Building Opening th nd 29 -2 Wellbeing Week st 31 - Halloween
th

November
5 Curriculum Day th 6 Melbourne Cup th 14 Illustrator visit (Sue deGennaro)
th

December
3 Christmas Carols th 11 A Day in the Life transition program th 12 RE Program (Scots Church) th 19 Meet the Teacher th 20 Movie Day st 21 Last day of school (1:30pm finish)
rd

WELCOME TO TERM FOUR!

WELCOME back to the Term 4! Its hard to believe that were approaching the end of the year. This term is full of great activities, special events and learning opportunities. Keep an eye on the class blog for regular updates on classroom events and activities!

REMINDERS:
Students in Room 16 have fruit snack each day. This is a short, 5-minute break. Please provide a fresh fruit or vegetable snack, preferably cut up. If your child is absent from school (for any time period) please provide a written note to explain the absence. These notes are kept for administration purposes and are very important. School hats are compulsory this term please support your child in remembering their hat each day. (Dont forget to label them!) Many children are commenting about heavy school bags. Please support your child in identifying items that should and should not come to school each day. If they are bringing a special item in to share, consider using a separate bag. When checking your childs blue folder each night, please ensure that any work that comes home is taken out of the folder. Also, where possible, please ensure notices are returned promptly.

Prep/1 G Newsletter

Issue #4, Term 4 2012

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places youll go. (Dr. Seuss)

LITERACY
Reading
This term students will continue to explore a range of texts that highlight the component of good childrens literature. We will also explore the work of wellknown authors and illustrators. Students will continue to work on identifying the key features of narratives (plot, characters, setting, theme) and simple information texts.

WRITING
Throughout Term 4 students will explore the text types narratives, exposition, and poetry. We will identify the features of each text type and practise writing and sharing them.

SPELLING
Our spelling program continues this term with a focus on common letter patterns that make the basic sounds in the English language. We will also take the time to review and extend our knowledge of long and short vowels.

Grammar Handwriting
This term we will be revisiting the letter formation families, focusing on problematic letters. The preps will begin to explore the use of dotted thirds when forming letters. This term we will explore a range of grammar conventions, including antonyms/synonyms, similes, tenses and abbreviations.

Library
Students will continue to attend the library for one session each Monday. It is very important that students bring their Library bags to school by Monday to ensure they can borrow. 2

Prep/1 G Newsletter

Issue #4, Term 4 2012

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. (Albert Einstein)

Numeracy
Grade one Focus
Number Revision of word problems, all operations, and fractions of a collection Measurement, Chance & Data Length, area, perimeter, data collection, and creating and interpreting graphs Space Revision of symmetry and transformations Working Mathematically Using place value to enter numbers on a calculator and verifying estimations to problems

Prep Focus
Number Number concepts (to 100), counting and making groups, addition and subtraction Measurement, Chance & Data Time, length, area Space Location, revision of 2D and 3D shapes Working Mathematically Estimation and patterns

Prep/1 G Newsletter

Issue #4, Term 4 2012

SPECIALISTS
ICT (Graham
Jackson)
Students will spend one fifty-minute session a week in the computer lab this term, using a combination of iMacs, iPads and our new set of MacBooks. The focus this term will be on using the Internet to create and experiment accessing specific sites using bookmarks. Websites we will use this term will include Storybird (www.storybird.com), Voki (www.voki.com), and Fidgit (http://pbskids.org/designsquad/games/fidgit). Many of the websites we will use can be found on FUSE, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Developments website designed specifically for students (https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/primary/pages/Default.aspx). Where possible we will publish our work on our ICT class blogs, which can be accessed at http://hpsict2012.global2.vic.edu.au. The password is: hps2012

Integrated Studies
Curiosity Its About Time
Throughout this topic we will investigate: - Curiosities of the past - Skills that promote lifelong curiosity Our unit has a history focus, introducing students to the idea of journeying into the past, looking at: - Stories of the past - Sequencing - Distinguishing between the past and the present - Looking at sources about the past - Exploring a point of view

Japanese (Danielle Durando)

The topic in Japanese for term four is At School. During this term students will learn to understand and use more classroom instructions and phrases. Students will also learn to name classroom objects. This new language will be learnt through games, songs and reinforced with simple writing tasks. Students will also revise all the songs they have learnt this year and learn to sing and dance to Maru Maru Mori Mori, which was a recent popular childrens hit in Japan.

Music (Rochelle Pennefarther)

Welcome back for the final term of 2012. This term in Music, children will be building on their understanding of beat and pitch, and learning about tempo (fast/slow) and dynamics (loud/soft). We will be following the Upbeat Music Program and experimenting with different ways to make sound and respond to it. In what is sure to be a busy time, we will also be preparing to perform at the schools Carols Night. Stay tuned for more details. Wishing all the children a fun and creative learning experience, Rochelle Pennefather.

Physical Education and science (Peter Ruff)

To be advised at a later date.

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Prep/1 G Newsletter

Issue #4, Term 4 2012

SWIMMING

Swimming Lessons will commence Friday 19th October at 9:00am.

This term students will have the option of swimming lessons once a week on Friday mornings. A notice will be sent home early in Term 4, include permission forms and payment instructions. Students participating in swimming lessons will be required to bring the following: - Bathers - Swimming cap - Towel - Change of underwear - Goggles (optional)

PLEASE NOTE:
Due to our early lesson time (at 9:00am), students MUST meet in Room 16 at 8:45am. We will walk to the pool at 8:50am. Students who are running late will need to be brought to the pool by an adult. Students not attending swimming lessons are not permitted at the pool.

http://hpsprep1g.global2.vic.edu.au

Thank you!
Thank you for your support and participation in Septembers Family Blogging Month Challenge! Thanks to all of the families and friends who visited the blog and left comments for our class. Though we (unfortunately) did not have time to reply to everyone, we thoroughly enjoyed reading all about your favourite books, your memories of school and your dreams and ambitions.