Junior News - Croydon Hills Primary School

!
CHPS
Junior School Newsletter
Term 1 2015
Dear Parents,
Dear
Parents,
We hope
that you and your family had a great
Easter break. It’s wonderful to see the students
back refreshed and ready to learn.
Welcome to 2015.
Each
ourto team
willyour
provide
Please term
remember
ensure that
child’s a
belongings are
ensure they of
newsletter
to clearly
keeplabelled
you toinformed
can be returned
when
lost.
special
activities
and
events relevant to
the
Junior
School. Because we have 10
Term
2 Topics
classes
indue
ourtoJunior
school
thisJunior
year, for
This year,
the large
size of the
school,
we
have
split
into
two
working
for
some activities we will work groups
as two
our
integrated
units.
This
means
that
there
are
separate groups and other activities we
more resources available to classes and it is
will
work as a single team. Regardless of
easier to organise incursions and excursions.
how activities are completed all
students
cover
the same
curriculum
The Juniorwill
A team
includes:
Jr-PB, Jr-Y,
Jr-S, Jr-MT
and Jr-F. and assessment tasks each
learning
The Junior B team is comprised of: Jr-MC, Jr-B,
semester.
Jr-RT, Jr-J and Jr-MA.
Junior
School Staff 2015
It is expected that the topics covered this term in
either A:
Junior A or B will be covered
by the other
Junior
Support
team
before
the
end
of
the
year.
Kristy Sotiropoulos –J-S
Deb Letson
Paul Brock – J-PB
This term Junior A s topic will be Kitchen Capers .
Sian Yallop – J-Y
During this unit we will look at the following
Kali
Fraser – J-F
Health and Science based understandings:
Marg
Trompf – J-MT
between different food groups
• distinguishing
Junior
B: eating practices
• healthy
Bree
Jennings
J-J undergoes during the
that–food
• changes
cooking
process
Jessie McKittrick – J-MC
happening –toJ-MA
the food during the
• what isMackenzie
Jacinta
cooking
process.
Ruth
Terpstra
– J-T
Ben Burch – J-BB
th
Gourmet Kids Incursion
only
May 20
Junior A
Specialist Curriculum
The incursion, run by Gourmet Kids, allows
Visual
Arts
students to independently participate in real
Claudia
cooking Michielin
experiences. Children don their own
Music
chef hats and aprons and create their own
Kathryn
healthy Lane
treat. This provides students with a
wonderful
opportunity to learn about food,
Physical Education
healthy McMenaman
eating and different cooking processes
Noreen
while
enjoying
the fun of(Bu)
baking.
LOTE Libby Browning
The Junior B team are working on the topic
Home,Timetables
Sweet Home .
2015
During this unit we will look at the following
This
year, our school has moved to a new
Sustainability and Science based
timetable
of hour learning blocks each
understandings:
day.
replaces
the previous
50 minute
• This
identifying
different
Australian and
Asian
animals
sessions used in the past. This new
• distinguishing between endangered, at
arrangement
was put into place to allow
risk and safe animal species
all teachers
to dedicate
anhelp
hour
each
• recognising
ways we can
protect
day toendangered
Maths, Reading
and
Writing.
animals
• identifying habitats of different animals
With that change however, the Specialist
Zoo Excursion
26th
Junioraltered
B only this
program
has May
been
slightly
year. In some terms Junior classes will have
Through visiting the zoo, children will have a
a
particular specialist program on either a
chance to see a range of different animals close
weekly
a fortnightly
basis. habitats.
For Term 1, all
up and inor
a replica
of their natural
Studentsstudents
will become
Explorers
the day,
Junior
willWild
have
Musicforeach
investigating
wonders of wild
life Then
through
the
week,
LOTEthe
(Language
Other
English
rich, sensory environment of Melbourne Zoo. Wild
– Indonesian) every week and both Art
explorers learn about animals through educatorand
PE once a
fortnight.
led experiences
and
inquiry-based activities
located around the zoo.
Each class has been allocated a session
to be taken by class teachers at both the
Library and the ICT Room every week.
CALENDAR DATES FOR TERM 2
School Times
6th May - Mother’s Day Stall
19th May - Open Day/Night
School starts – 9:00am sharp
20th
May –
Gourmet
Kids Incursion (Junior A)
Recess
11:00am
26th May Zoo Excursion (Junior B)
Lunch 1:30pm
2nd June Stage Struck!
School dismissal: 3:30pm
8th June - Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Curriculum
It is a 9th
longJune
stretch
betweenDay
recess and
June
Junior Hooptime
lunch 17th
so we
encourage
parents to pack a
substantial
snack available
(or mini lunch)
for
19th
June Reports
on Compass
students
eat - at
recess.
24thtoJune
3 Way
Interviews
26th June - LAST DAY OF TERM 2!
Students will also be allowed to eat “brain
food” at times chosen by each class
teacher.
Campaspe Drive, Croydon Hills 3136 Phone: 0725 1206 Fax: 9723 4320
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Email: croydon.hills.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Web: www.croydonhps.vic.edu.au
!
Healthy Eating at School
Just a reminder that all students are encouraged
to bring brain food daily, which may include
small, chopped up pieces of fresh fruit and
vegetables. Please pack brain food in a
separate container from their snack and lunch
box. Food requiring a spoon or a straw, are not
suitable for Brain Food snacks in the classroom.
Mondays continue to be promoted as “Rubbish
Free” and it is most pleasing to see many parents
providing lunch and snacks in containers that
can be taken home, rather than in wrappings
that need to be placed in bins. The concept of
Rubbish Free lunches is to teach students the
importance of sustainable living where we can
recycle as much as possible, in line with school
initiatives.
Lunches
Just a reminder that Monday lunch orders can
only be accepted online. Please do not send a
lunch order to school with your child on Monday.
Occasionally, the blue bags used for students
lunch orders need to be wiped out or washed.
Please check your child s school bag and
lunchbox regularly for uneaten fruit, food scraps
or spilt drinks/yoghurt.
Homework
As part of Croydon Hills Primary School’s
homework policy, it is expected that students in
the Junior School complete no more than 30
minutes of homework each night. Junior School
homework activities include: reading and
discussing a ‘Take Home’ book and practising
sight words. Reading Eggs and Mathletics are
excellent tools to help your child further their
learning at home. The blue satchels with reading
books, sight words and reading logs should
come to school everyday.
** These satchels should also be checked daily
for notices sent home from school.
Open Day & Night
This year our Open Night will have a Maths focus.
CHPS Open day and night is a great opportunity
to get into your child's classroom and to visit all
the different areas of the school. Open day
starts at 2:30-3:30, when you can see your child's
work in progress and then continues 6:00-8:00
pm. The evening will finish with a performance
by the choir. The book fair will also be running
until 8:00pm. We hope too see you there!
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Library Borrowing
At CHPS we are fortunate to have access to
such a well-stocked library, with a fantastic
range of genres and interest areas. In the Junior
School we aim to develop a love of reading and
want children to borrow books from the library
that they will enjoy. Encourage your child to find
books that they will enjoy and be interested in
reading, rather than focusing on the difficulty of
the text. These library books can be read
independently or shared with an older sibling or
parents. Library books may be borrowed for two
weeks. Students are reminded regularly to bring
library books back within that time. However,
from time to time, overdue notices are sent
home when students have books that have
been overdue for several library sessions. Please
ensure that your child has a safe place to keep
library books so they can be easily found on
Library day.
Reports and Three Way Interviews
As in 2014, Reports will be available online
through Compass. The school newsletter will
provide more information towards the end of
term.
In the last week of term 2 after student reports
have been made available, teachers will offer
times for parents and students to attend a ThreeWay Conference. We find that having the
opportunity for students to be involved is an
excellent way for them to share and reflect on
their achievements as well as be part of the
conversation about developing their future
learning.!
Absences
Just a reminder: If your child is absent from
school, please provide reasons either directly
through the Compass system or by a written
note to teachers. If you have planned a holiday
let the teacher know in advance when your
child will not be attending school. Please
remember that even if you have discussed an
absence with your child’s teacher we still require
a reason in writing or online by logging into
Compass.
Junior Playgrounds
In our school, particular playground areas are
designated for different age groups. The Junior
students have two playground areas to use
during school hours. One is near the double
Junior classroom (JR-PB and JR-Y) and the other
in on the Junior Oval. The Junior students may
NOT play on the equipment in the Foundation
area. This restriction also applies after school.
(See school newsletter Week 1, Term 2).
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Mathematics
In Mathematics this term, the students will
continue to learn in a ‘hands on’ and ‘openended’ manner. We will look at number and
place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division strategies, fractions, money,
measurement (capacity and mass), shapes and
location. Students will explore measurement
using a range of informal units.
At home you can assist your child further
develop their understanding of mathematics by
participating in activities such as: board, card
and strategy games, cooking together,
practicing skip counting, allowing them to help
with the shopping and telling the time.
Literacy
As your child’s reading develops they will
continue learning a range of strategies to
support their independence.
Comprehension and discussion of the text
continues to be a major focus, along with other
reading strategies: decoding unfamiliar words,
improving fluency, and building vocabulary.
For interested students, the opportunity to
participate in the Premier s Reading Challenge
has again been offered. See the school website
or Compass for the sign up form.
Writing continues to be driven by each students
personal interests and ideas. You can support
your child by encouraging them to “think like an
author”, bringing their everyday experiences
and imagination into the classroom for their daily
writing time.
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All classes have been practising good audience
etiquette: body language, looking at the
speaker and listening to what has been said so
that interesting questions can be asked. We
have also been practising good speaking skills
including: looking at the audience and speaking
at an appropriate volume and pace.
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Premiers’ Reading Challenge is an excellent
way to encourage students to read at home.
Between now and August students at Year 1
and 2 level are encouraged to read novels from
the Challenge list and enter them into the PRC
website. At the completion of the Challenge
students who have met the Challenge ( 30
books at this level) will receive a certificate.
Students are encouraged to join. Mrs. Offer in
the Library is only too keen to match readers
with books! The consent form can be found on
the school’s web page and on Compass.
To find out more about the Challenge and access the
booklist visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/prc
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Term 1 Art Reflection
Miss Claudia Michielin
Junior students explored the Chinese New Year Year of the Goat, their traits and characteristics
to create a 3D goat.
Students explored the creative elements (colour,
line, shape etc) found in the indigenous artworks
and transferred these understandings into a print
of an Australian native animal. Students
continued to developing strong printing skills
through their collage print based the countries
that make up the ANZACs, Australia and New
Zealand, as well as develop an important
understanding about the symbol of the poppy
to create a class collage of poppies.
Level 2 students have focused on the art works
of several Asian countries as well as Indigenous
Australia to create a classroom collage mural of
a snake, displaying their own creative individual
style. Students developed a marionette puppet
focusing on form, colour, shape and movement
as well as extending collage/construction skills of
an animal that is found in the Asian continent.
Based on the paintings of Giuseppe Arcimbolo
students developed a collage to create a very
different and unique season based portrait.
Each student had an opportunity to discuss their
own and each other’s art works.
Term 2 Indonesian – Mrs. Libby Browning
In Term 2 we will be using Indonesian to talk
about ourselves. We will learn to talk about our
age, family, favourite pets, colours and continue
to practise our counting. Songs, games and the
use of the Languages on Line materials will
enrich our program.
Term 2 Music – Mrs. Kathryn Lane
Students in the junior level will continue to learn
dance routines from the REDed dance series as
well as some other dances just for fun – “The Sid
Shuffle” from Ice Age 4 being just one. They will
also continue to focus on beat and rhythm this
term, playing the boomwhackers and untuned
percussion instruments, consolidating their
reading of traditional and non- traditional
notation.
Children will sing a variety of songs and work on
their breathing and vocal technique. Juniors will
continue to learn a number of songs using the
marimbas, xylophones and glockenspiels with
the whole class and in small groups. Junior A will
be learning some fun music about
“Food/Kitchen Capers” which fits in with their
integrated studies and Junior B will be studying
the music of “Peter and the Wolf” by Prokofiev in
detail.
Junior A classes will have music once a fortnight
with Beth Parker, a very experienced musician,
generalist teacher and music specialist. Junior B
will continue to have weekly music sessions with
me. I am looking forward to having Beth “on
board”.
Stagestruck Tuesday 2nd June
This is our annual concert showcasing the talents
of our Performing Arts students. Those children
who learn an instrument, dance, sing or have a
talent that they would like to showcase for an
audience will need to see Mrs. Lane and collect
a notice in early May. Items are to be a
maximum of 2 minutes long so that we can have
lots of participants. It is important that the
children are practising regularly and have
something very polished if they want to be
involved in this concert. Rehearsals for this event
will begin in early May and children learning
instruments with Junior Rockers are strongly
encouraged to be involved.
Junior Rockers Instrumental Lessons
We now have over 80 students learning
instruments with Junior Rockers on a Tuesday. It is
important to check the timetable each week as
lesson times do change from time to time. If you
have any queries don’t hesitate to call Junior
Rockers on 1300 GO ROCK (1300 46 7625) or
email them at info@juniorrockers.com
Thank you, Kathryn Lane
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Term 2 Physical Education
– Mrs. Noreen McMenaman
The Juniors will be having PE every week this
term so it will be great to see all the smiling faces
ready to run and play games in their PE sessions.
Could I please remind all parents that children
should be dressed appropriately in their sports
attire, being a polo and shorts, skorts or pants,
especially the girls. There are still some girls who
are coming to their PE lessons with their dresses
on which can cause a problem.
The focus of PE this term will be throwing and
catching, as always, as well as kicking. This will
be taught through football and soccer. So far
this term we have been doing a unit of
Volleyball. There are some children who still
struggle with just being able to focus on
catching a large soft ball so if you have one at
home and a little bit of time to spare, have a
throw and catch with your child, it’s great
practice for them.
The “Running Club” has started and many of the
Juniors have been running with Mr Brock, Miss
Yallop and some of the other Junior teachers on
a Tuesday at lunchtime. They run around the
school yard, within the school boundaries, so if
you would like your child to have some running
practice, it would be a good idea for them to
wear runners on a Tuesday as well. The Junior
Cross Country will be held in Term 4 so its good
practice for them to start getting their distances
up.
Asian Connections
The Junior School has been fortunate enough to
form some bonds with schools in both Malaysia
and South Korea this year. Mr. Brock recently
spent 10 days forming a new connection with
the SK Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin State School in
Malaysia. His trip has enabled Croydon Hills to
develop a new blog connection for our Senior
school and our Juniors participated in a Skype
session with Mr. Brock while he was in the
classroom with his Malaysian host class.
Some of the Junior classes also had sessions on
Korean culture and games with Miss Yun Soon
Kim from Seoul Jeongok Elementary School in
Seoul and Miss Ji Eun Lee from Ungcheon
Elementary School in Chonnam. Miss. Fraser will
also be participating in a professional exchange
back to these schools later in the year.
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