3/4 Happenings

There are lots of exciting things happening in Level 3 this term, so make sure you have a careful read of this newsletter to find out exactly what they are and how you can be involved!

INTEGRATED STUDIES

Our topic this term is “Our Changing World.”  This unit begins by exploring our local animals’ environment and their habitats. Students then investigate the impact that we can have as human beings on our local environment that may cause animals to become endangered. Following from this, students will investigate things that we can do to live sustainably so that we can have a more positive impact on the environment and the animals that live there. To explore this topic further in a hands-on way, students will visit Edendale Farm on Thursday 15 October.

From here, the unit will move on to look at endangered Australian animals and what they need to survive. Students will work in research teams to find out why their chosen animal is endangered and what kinds of things we can do to prevent the animal’s extinction. Your child may ask you to take them to the local library at some stage to help them borrow some books on their chosen animal for use in the classroom.

WRITING

The writing focuses for this term tie into our Integrated Studies Unit. We begin by researching and writing an information report on a local endangered animal. Following this, to fit in with the sustainability theme, students will story board and write a script for a persuasive advert about saving water. To help them with this they will be learning about persuasive techniques used by advertisers to sell products, including use of slogans, offers of bargains, exaggeration and catchy jingles. Students will also attend an excursion to the National Gallery to learn more about sustainability and water-themed artwork.

MATHEMATICS

We start this term revising the four processes (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) with a focus on problem solving. We also learn about how to read, write, add and subtract decimal numbers, including money. Students will also learn to measure mass and volume, as well as reading and drawing different kinds of graphs.

BIKE EDUCATION

This term students will participate in a Bike Education program which is run at school and teaches students bike awareness (practical and theory) and safety in general if riding on bike paths and the road. The cost for this was included in this term’s planner. Students will participate in 1 full day session on either the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 8^th, 9^th or 10^th of December. Children will be required to use their own bikes that need to be brought to school on the appropriate day.  There will also be a bike safety check day when all bikes need to be brought to school to make sure they fit into the safety guidelines.  This program will culminate in our BIG DAY OUT on Thursday 17 December to celebrate our year together with a BBQ lunch and a bike ride on the bike path across the road. More information will follow closer to the dates.

READING LOGS

It continues to be an expectation that children read for 20-30 minutes, 5 nights per week.  This can include reading with parents, reading on their own or conducting research for projects.  The children need to record their own reading in their Reading Logs, which will be checked each Friday. Parents are asked to sign and date their child’s reading log each Thursday evening. If your child does not return his/her reading log for 3 weeks, a letter will be sent home to parents to keep you informed. This letter needs to be signed and returned to the class teacher.

HOMEWORK

Mathletics – Specific mathematics activities are assigned to students online through Mathletics each week. These activities are based on the topics being covered in the classroom that week and are levelled according to your individual child’s learning needs. We encourage students to use a pencil and paper to work out problems where applicable, before answering them on the computer, to reinforce the mathematical processes they are using. If you do not have reliable internet access, please let your classroom teacher know so that alternative homework can be provided. For more information on Mathletics visit the ENPS website.

Spelling –  Following the same process as last term, students will continue to receive 6 - 10 spelling words for homework each week based on their ability level, which they have learnt about in their streamed spelling lesson at school. Students should be able to complete the activities independently, but it may be a good idea to give them a quick spelling test on their words on a Thursday evening before their spelling test at school each Friday. A record will be kept of students’ results by the classroom teacher to help them track their progress.

Correcting Spelling Homework - Students correct their own phonogram and rule marking at school each Friday, using the spelling book where they recorded their words during their spelling lesson as a guide. The reason for this is so that they can see for themselves what they have marked correctly and what they still need to work on. There is lots of thinking going on as students correct their homework, which is evidenced when they make exclamations like, “Oh, now I know why rule 5 doesn’t apply in this word!” In this way, correcting their homework becomes an important learning experience for students and motivates them to do even better next time! It also gives teachers the opportunity to walk around and take note of each student’s progress with their phonogram and rule marking when working independently.

Homework will be sent home by the classroom teacher generally on a Friday and it is to be returned, completed, each Friday for correction. Students who fail to complete their homework attend ‘Homework Club’. If for some reason your child is unable to complete the set homework one week, please inform your child’s class teacher so that an extension of time may be given.

PARENT HELPERS

The Level 3 teachers and students would like to take this opportunity to thank our parent helpers for their ongoing support. It is a pleasure to have you working with us! For more information about helping in the classroom this term, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING

Student Absences: being at school every day is important for consistency in your child’s education. If your child is absent, please send a note to their classroom teacher.

Late Arrivals: all students arriving after the 9am bell must go to the office to collect a late pass before going to their classroom.

Lunch Orders: Lunch orders are from Sharky’s, the shop across the road from our school. Students may bring their money and order in a brown paper bag to school on Friday’s only.

Rubbish Free Lunches: A general reminder that ENPS is a rubbish free school. This means that we are trying to reduce the amount of litter in the yard that can pollute the local environment. Please help students to make healthy food choices and use reusable labelled plastic containers, rather than plastic wrapping or bags. Any rubbish brought to school in lunches will be placed back in students’ lunchboxes to be taken home.

Meetings with teachers: the home/school partnership is critical to your child’s education.  If you have any questions, clarification or issues that need discussing about your child’s academic, social or emotional needs, please talk to your child’s teacher. As teachers have meetings before and after school on different days, please make a time to meet with the teacher. Doing this means that a specific time is set aside for you and the teacher. 

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to an exciting term!

The Level 3 Team (Melissa Osman, Bianca Pratt, Linda Drew, Kristy Ayres, Jo Harwood and Amanda Newing)