FOUNDATION – YEAR 2
With the mid-year break fast approaching, our students have been busy wrapping up Term 2 with a range of engaging learning experiences.
Foundation students have been exploring the features and habitats of birds and reptiles as part of their Inquiry topic, ‘Animals’. A highlight was their excursion to Myuna Farm, where they enjoyed hands-on encounters with a range of animals. Students were able to pat or feed lambs, baby goats, chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits and even Alice the camel, who proved to be particularly hungry!
Year 1 students took a step back in time on their recent excursion to Coal Creek. There, they participated in a 30-minute Victorian style school lesson held in a heritage classroom, bringing their historical learning to life. They have also been exploring how toys have changed over time, noting differences in materials, functions and design between past and present.
Year 2 students have been developing their writing skills by creating headings and descriptive texts for photographs. They have also been learning to read and follow maps, which is an important skill for building confidence and independence.
We wish all our families a safe and enjoyable break and look forward to welcoming everyone back for an exciting Term 3.
Foundation A students recently enjoyed a fun writing activity. One student wore a sentence on a headband or hat while their partner played the teacher, reading it aloud slowly. The writer then recorded the sentence on a whiteboard as accurately as they could. Students compared their written version to the original, helping them practise their editing skills. In this photo, Emilia reads the sentence carefully while Sifat sounds out and writes each word.
Foundation B students have been diving into the world of books during literacy rotations. They are enthusiastically using their blending and sound skills to explore and read our engaging decodable readers. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they practise early reading strategies!
The students of Year 1A recently enjoyed an exciting shape hunt around the school. They searched for 2D shapes printed on cards and carefully hidden in various locations. After collecting all the shapes, students wrote a recount of their adventure using sequencing words such as ‘first’, ‘next’ and ‘finally’. Their writing demonstrated excellent recall and structure. The activity was such a hit that many students are already asking to do it again.
This week in Year 1B, students have been learning how to collect data and represent it using graphs. They explored picture and column graphs, discussing how to interpret data such as the most and least popular choices. To finish the week, students completed a fun and colourful Skittles activity. Each student sorted their Skittles by colour, created a picture graph, then analysed their data to identify which colour was most and least common. The activity concluded with a sweet treat: eating the Skittles!
Year 2A students had a very special visitor, Sonny the puppy! They had a wonderful time cuddling, playing and showering him with love all afternoon. It was such a joyful and heartwarming experience for everyone!
In the library, Year 2B students thoroughly enjoyed a book scavenger hunt designed by their friends in Year 5A. There was an exciting buzz in the air as they eagerly searched through books to find words such as “prince”, “bird” and “king”. What a fun way to explore and enjoy reading together.
YEARS 3 – 5
It is very hard to believe that we are now almost halfway through the year! Where does the time go? The children from all classes in Year 3 – 5 have been brilliant ambassadors for Clyde Grammar.
Now that winter has finally arrived, it’s lovely to see students rugged up for the colder weather. As coats and jackets come out, please ensure all winter clothing is in school colours and clearly labelled. Labelling items, particularly jumpers and jackets, helps ensure lost property can be returned quickly and easily.
We’ve also noticed students bringing toys from home to play with during recess and lunch. While this can be lots of fun, these toys may be misplaced or damaged throughout the day. To avoid any disappointment, we ask that toys of sentimental or monetary value stay at home.
Wishing all families a happy and cosy winter.
Year 3A students explored place value in a fun and engaging way by building Place Value Towers. Using units, tens, hundreds and thousands blocks, they constructed towers to represent different numbers. Students then used addition to calculate totals and subtraction to compare towers, combining key numeracy skills in a hands-on activity.
During English lessons, students have been giving presentations on famous Melbourne landmarks. From the Eureka Tower to the MCG and Flinders Street Station, students have shared their research through informative leaflets and PowerPoint presentations. It’s been a great opportunity to build public speaking and ICT skills while learning about local history.
As part of National Reconciliation Week, Year 4 students took part in a Cultural Immersion Tour at the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Cultural Centre. The day began with a Welcome Ceremony, followed by storytelling, a traditional game of Marngrook, and hands-on learning about bush tucker, possum skin cloaks, coolamons, woomeras and spears.
Students also engaged in thoughtful discussions on the impacts of colonisation, the Stolen Generations, and the significance of Reconciliation. The experience deepened their understanding of the rich diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and cultures.
Year 4 students were fortunate to welcome Michaela from Bunnings to Clyde Grammar. She kindly donated a selection of plants, flowers and seedlings for the students to plant in the school’s vegetable gardens. It is now the students’ responsibility to care for the gardens by weeding, watering and nurturing them.
As part of their Humanities unit on the Gold Rush, Year 5A students enjoyed an exciting excursion to Melbourne. They visited the Old Treasury Building to learn how gold transformed the city and why the building was originally constructed to store it securely. Students explored the historic vaults and discovered the significant impact of gold on Melbourne’s growth and development.
The day also included a tour of Captain Cook’s Cottage and a scenic walk through the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens, bringing history to life in an engaging and memorable way.
“We toured Cook’s Cottage. The roof was very low and the rooms were quite small. This showed us what houses were like in the olden days. We also learnt that people grew many of their own resources.” – Viha
“The Old Treasury Building was a beautiful place. It was great to learn about Melbourne’s history and how they stored the gold.” – Aadi