1 Primary School Newsletter Issue No.14 20th September 2019 Dear Parents Enjoy the pictures celebrating the culmination of the children’s study over their time at Alamanda. Thank you to all families who attended the children really enjoyed this grand adventure. Teachers across the school must also be thanked as some 50 staff supported the year 6 teachers as extended mentors. Smile as you look at the happy faces in these pictures. A very happy holiday to all families. If you are travelling stay safe, and for those at home enjoy the weather and each other’s company. Sleep in and relax . Dare to be wise! Kindest regards, Lyn Jobson Alamanda College Principal Exhibition a great success!
Transcript
PB 1
Primary School Newsletter Issue No.14 20th September 2019
Dear Parents
Enjoy the pictures celebrating the culmination of the children’s study over their time at Alamanda.
Thank you to all families who attended the children really enjoyed
this grand adventure.
Teachers across the school must also be thanked as some 50 staff supported the year 6 teachers as extended mentors.
Smile as you look at the happy faces in these pictures.
A very happy holiday to all families. If you are travelling stay safe, and for those at home enjoy the weather and each other’s company. Sleep in and relax .
Dare to be wise!
Kindest regards,
Lyn JobsonAlamanda College Principal
Exhibition a great success!
2 3
News from PrepBy Ms Kady Stan, Prep K
The Prep cohort had an absolute blast as they ventured off to The Fairy Park in Anakie for Book Day. There were lots of smiles and excited chatter as the preps boarded the buses and set off on their adventure dressed up in their favourite book character. We arrived in time for some snack in the sun before setting out to explore the grounds. The prep students were amazed by the sheer size of the Camelot Playground and enjoyed crawling through the winding tunnels, climbing up the ladders in the castle turrets and sliding down the huge slide. The students
were amused as they discovered Merlin’s magic trick and upon pressing the big red button on the front door of his castle, the students were squirted with water from all directions causing bouts of screams and laughter every time. After finishing up on the medieval playground, the prep students began their journey exploring Fairy Tale Land where they viewed 22 animated hand-crafted scenes that came to life at the push of a button. The students we awestruck as they watched
their favourite characters, from Little Red Riding HoodandPinocchio to Aladdinand Snow White, dance around with music and lights as the windows retold the beloved folktale. Upon departures, the students buckled up the seat belts once again as they set off back to Alamanda College. There were many sleepy faces as the students talked amongst themselves about their amazing day, and were very exciting to arrive at school as they were able to share their new memories they had created with their families.
2 3
Alamanda College
ACTING LEADING TEACHER’S/LEARNING SPECIALIST’S SUMMARY
Writing - Collecting ‘seeds’Wow! How fast the year has gone! We understand our families do all sorts of wonderful and exciting things over the holidays, big and small! As part of the writing cycle, students are encouraged to plant ‘seeds’ or ideas into their Writer’s Notebook to develop into a Writing piece at a later stage. We encourage students over the holidays to keep this in mind when returning to school after the two week break. Some ideas for ‘seeds’ can be ticket stubs, photographs, pamphlets or anything that can be pasted down into a small workbook. If your child has photographs on their iPad, teachers can easily print these once students have arrived back at school. We love hearing how are families are travelling over the break, so please feel free to share or upload photos onto Seesaw also. Spare Clothing We would like to thank all our parents and families who have returned any uniforms that have been borrowed from sick bay in Term 3. We have been running low lately on items such as shorts and pants as some items have not been received back once they have been washed. If you have any items at home, we kindly ask that they are dropped off to the office as soon as possible. We also recommend that all students have some spare items kept in their school bags, such as a pair of underwear in case an accident occurs. Party Favors and Lolly BagsWe love celebrating milestones and birthdays in Prep and understand it is a very exciting time for students
and their families! Due to a high number of allergies and cultural reasons, unfortunately we cannot give out party favors that include any edible items such as lollies and chocolates. An alternative that we encourage if your family chooses to do so, could be a new pencil or other items that may be useful within the classroom. Teachers also ensure the day is wonderful for your child, by singing ‘Happy Birthday’ and other small celebrations unique to each classroom. We appreciate the ongoing support from our families and school community. Please feel free to contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions. Term 4 - Summer UniformNext term, students will be required to wear their summer uniform. All students are required to wear their school hats outside for snack and lunch time. Please ensure that all hats are clearly labelled, as hats are quite easily misplaced. For boys, summer uniform consists of blue button up shirt, navy blue One Seed shorts, navy blue school socks and black school shoes. For girls, summer uniform also includes navy blue school socks and black school shoes. Girls have the option to wear the school dress or the One Seed skort/shorts with the blue button up shirt. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. Dare to be wise,
Georgia Bell on behalf of the Prep team
4 5
The Year One students have enjoyed exploring their next Unit of Inquiry, looking at the Central Idea, ‘People work together to produce and process the foods we eat.’ Students have considered the natural and processed foods we eat and the physical changes food goes through, such as cream to butter and oranges to juice. All students thoroughly enjoyed this experience, developing upon their understanding and knowledge of the
News from Year 1By Ms. Georgia Skeen- 1J, Ms. Jess Bennett- 1K, Mrs. Lisa Calus- 1L,
Ms. Cassey Robinson- 1M & Mrs. Tegan Ma- 1N
and ‘Where do cherries come from in Australia.’ This curiosity has seen an extension into the student’s families and homes, as they identify where foods from their own fridge and cupboard have come from. It is great to see that students are becoming more connected and aware of the foods they consume. Woolworths are currently running a promotion at the moment, where if you spend $30.00 or more then you receive a packet of seeds. The Year One team are asking for donations of any seeds you may have received during the promotion that you don’t want so that we can develop our understanding of the processes foods go through.
Nathan 1N‘I liked shaking the cream to make butter. I got to use my muscles.’
Pihu 1N‘I liked making the fairy bread because we made our own butter and it was yum!’
Aarav 1K‘The orange juice tasted so sour.’
Braxton-Marlee 1K‘This orange juice was so tasty and I loved the pulp.’
process that different food goes through before we eat it. The students then extended upon their knowledge, where they created a flow chart and explained each of the processes these foods went through.
We have begun our unit on location and researching where some of our whole food comes from within Australia. Using research and questioning skills, students have asked questions such as ‘Where do bananas come from in Australia?’
4 5
,
The Year Two students have commenced their new Unit of Inquiry based around the Central Idea ‘Indigenous people have a significant and enduring culture’. Students are exploring the connection that Indigenous people have to their country and place, as well as their diversity and longevity. They are also learning about how Australian Indigenous communities have unique features.
To provoke student thinking, classes explored the number of Indigenous tribes within the country. To do this, students first investigated how many states and territories are on our continent. They then used the numeracy skill of Perimeter to compare and order th¬¬¬e size of the different states and territories. Students used concrete materials to represent how many Indigenous tribes are located in each area, discovering that the
News from Year 2By Mrs. Erin Beardsley, 2A
number of tribes in Australia, over 600 in total, differed between each state and territory.
Along with the numeracy concept of Perimeter, students have also been exploring Area and Mapping through hands-on activities. Students are also continuing to develop their understanding of Narratives, in particular by investigating Dreamtime Stories and how these stories explain the creation of life.
Students Reflections:“I enjoyed working together with a group and looking for a way to figure out the perimeter together” – Mishka
“I enjoyed getting to know some new people in year 2B and learning about how perimeter is the distance around something” – Madison
“I liked learning about Australian Indigenous people and how there are many different tribes found all over Australia” – Dhruv “I really liked listening to didgeridoo music while creating a visualisation in my mind” – Aakash
Year 2 Students are being encouraged to bring in an artefact if they haven’t already done so. Students enjoy sharing their ideas and knowledge with their classmates, as well as providing students with an opportunity to practise and build upon their communication skills.
The Year Two teachers hope that all students and their families have a safe and relaxing holiday period. Thanks again for all of your support and help throughout Term 3 and we look forward to seeing you in Term 4.
6 7
Alamanda College
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S SUMMARY
Dear Parents and Carers,
Term 3 Reflection and Primary Years Programme
The term has flown, many highlights including a visit from Green Peace for the Year 1s, Geology Rocks
Incursion for Year 2s, the swimming program for some students, the Book Parade during Book Week and the Premier’s Reading Program. These events were happening while the students were also taking part in Unit of Inquiry 4 and 5.
The Year 1 team in Unit of Inquiry 5 are exploring ‘How We Organise Ourselves’ through the Central Idea ‘Foods may go through various stages before they reach our mouths.’ The students use of explanation texts to support their developing understandings, explaining the processes foods go through to reach our plates. The excursion to Woolworths Supermarket will explore one element of the food production chain.
The Year 2 team in Unit of Inquiry 5 are exploring “Where we are in Place and Time” with students identifying Indigenous peoples’ connection to country and place, the diversity and longevity of Australia’s Indigenous people and Indigenous ways of life. They will research the Indigenous ways of life and how it shapes their culture and community as well as analysing the connections between Indigenous communities and places. Reading and analysing different Indigenous Dreamtime stories will help students understand the origin and purpose of these
stories. The Melbourne Museum excursion will provide an opportunity to explore these ideas further.
Looking Forward to Term 4.
Term 4 commences on Monday, October 7. A reminder that students wear summer uniform during this term and hats are required to be worn for outside play, in the interest of being “Sun Smart.” Please name jackets, jumpers and cardigans as this is the term when the days start cool and students tend to discard these layers of clothing throughout the day. Named clothing items are usually able to be returned.
The teachers have planned some interesting incursions and excursions for Term 4 that include a visit to the Melbourne Museum for the Year 2 students, for the Year 1 students a visit to our local Woolworths and a Stay and Play. I hope next term doesn’t go as quickly as this term!
A very big thank you to the students and teachers for being their best this term.
I wish everyone a relaxing and safe term break and look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, October 7 for the first day of term.
Dare to Be Wise,
Helen WelshAssistant PrincipalYears 1&2
6 7
News from Year 3By Mrs. Teegan Brown 3N
It has been a busy couple of weeks for the Grade 3’s as we have been immersing ourselves in our Unit of Inquiry ‘The decisions we make influence our wellbeing’. Students in 3N have been unpacking the lines of inquiry to investigate the different areas of health which make up wellbeing, including physical, emotional, mental and social health. Students have been reading a range of articles and information texts to further their understanding of physical health, with a particular focus on nutrition. It has been fantastic to see their thinking change as they synthesise information.
We were fortunate to have an
informative and engaging visit from St John’s Ambulance where students learnt all about emergency response. They showed enthusiasm and interest as they practiced placing each other in the recovery position.
On the 12th September we joined the ‘R U OK?’ day campaign, where students developed their knowledge and understanding around mental health. As a class we shared personal experiences of when we were upset, and the different it made to have a good friend to support us. Students demonstrated empathy when hearing stories of others hardships which prompted thoughtful action
throughout the day, including showing gratitude to each other through ‘friend nominations’ and creating posters around the importance of kindness.
Over the past few weeks students across Grade 3, along with their classroom teachers, have taken part in a kindness challenge. Each day presents a new challenge promoting kindness towards themselves and to others, such as expressing gratitude for things in their life and acknowledging the hard work of someone in the school community. These challenges have sparked wonderful conversations and connections made to the central idea.
8 9
Well, what a wonderful term 3 it has been for grade 4!
Currently we are investigating into the Transdisciplinary Theme; How the world works. With the Central Idea: Global warming leads to disastrous changes in weather patterns.
Students have engaged in the lines of inquiry:
- Weather patterns, global warming and climate change (Function)
- The connections between human action, global warming and weather patterns (Connection)
- Scientific advancements may contribute towards minimising effects of climate change (Change)
Schoolbox is aiming to be operational and accessible to all students and parents at the start of term 4, allowing greater links of communication between school and home. Items currently viewable is the optional grade 4 holiday homework, specialist timetables, calendar, important announcements, teacher blog and inquiry overviews.
Enjoy the term 3 holiday break.
Go Cats!
News from Year 4By Mr. David McGill, 4K
,
8 99
Alamanda College
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S SUMMARY
Here we are already at the end of Term 3. It’s been a wonderful term, with plenty of events, and cause to celebrate. Grade 4 camp was a great success, with staff and students adventuring through the city streets to see some of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks
and points of interest. We had various incursions and excursions, including Fizzics experiments, First Aid, and trips to the local parks. Book Week was a hoot, not only with the dress up day, but also with the Book Doors across the school, and the collaborative book making in each classroom. As well as these special events, our teachers and students continued to explore their units of inquiry and plan a rigorous curriculum based on student goal setting and aspirational targets. We were all delighted to receive our exceptional NAPLAN results, which demonstrate the hard work and dedication of our entire school community. Thank you to all the staff and students for their tireless contributions. I have no doubt the holidays will be a great opportunity to unwind and recharge.
SnakesAs the weather warms up, it is a time to remind students about the animals who call our local wetlands and grasslands home. Snakes have been sighted in the Featherbrook area recently, so please remind your children to stay well away from them. Generally snakes
are more scared of us than we are of them, and will avoid you unless provoked. Throwing rocks or poking them with sticks will make them scared and more likely to defend themselves. We will also remind students at assembly next term. Digital devices late at nightIt’s been interesting to encounter quite a few children recently who mention they have been using their devices late into the night, often in their bedroom. These are children who are having trouble focussing at school, and are sometimes getting frustrated or angry quite quickly. It is worth chatting to your children about when they use their iPad, and even setting up a charging station out of their bedrooms to ensure they are not using it at night. An interesting article here discusses late night usage and its potential mental health impacts:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-13/late-night-tablet-phone-use-creating-device-vampires/9644628
Uniform Term 4A reminder that students should wear full summer uniform in Term 4. This includes hair accessories in school colours. Students will also be required to wear a hat outside at all play times and PE sessions.
Dare to be Wise
Hannah NewtonAssistant Principal, Years 3 & 4
10 11
News from Year 5By Mr. Alex Romaniw, 5B
Earlier this month was the famous Alamanda Book Day Parade. This was an opportunity for all members of the school community to come together and celebrate their love of reading.
Teachers shared with the students their knowledge of books. As our class is really engaged and intrigued in reading, we were looking forward to this year’s Books Day.
We started off with a code cracker that revealed the book we were looking at. Which was After by Morris Glietzman. We made a Memoir based on After using show don’t tell and inspiration from Morris Glietzman. Once we completed our Memoirs, we made a Jewish star out of a cloth dipped in coffee to make a distressed look. Our class each wrote a special message in the middle of the star relating to After. We finished off the day with reading Michael Morpurgo’s Alone On A Wide Wide Sea our current class novel.
This year’s Book Day with 5B was inspiring as we could make and produce something that meant something to us. Therefore, I can’t wait until next year for Book Day.
Gabby Boukouvalas
The last day of term the whole school came together to support Footy Colours Day in support of ‘Fight Cancer Foundation’, it was brilliant to see some many students and teachers get behind their team and donate to a great cause.
Our new Unit of Inquiry launched this week our central idea is ‘Light and vision determines the way we see the world’. To look deeper into our concept we used many different visible thinking routines to help us investigate and understand the process of how the eye works.
10 11
News from Year 6By Ms. Tiffany Baldacchino, 6A
As the end of Term approaches the Grade 6 students have shown persistence and enthusiasm in the completion of their exhibition displays.
Over the entirety of Term 3 students have thrived as PYP learners, creating and completing their own units of inquiry. Students have worked incredibly hard to compile all of their findings and action into a display ready to share with you.
Under the Transdisciplinary Theme of How We Organise Ourselves, Joelle and her group worked together
to inquire into the similarities and differences of public and private school funding. Joelle described, “From this experience, I have gained the ability to develop and lead my own inquiry in my own way. We did this by creating our own central idea, and lines of inquiry. It was challenging but exciting to see what happened behind the scenes of an inquiry.”
With students now eager to show their work to the Alamanda Community. The Grade 6 students and team would like to extend their appreciation and
thanks to all of those involved in the production of the exhibition.
After the holidays we have a very exciting and fun-packed term to look forward to. To begin term 4, we have a new unit of inquiry under the Transdisciplinary theme of Sharing the Planet. Students will inquire into the ethics of businesses and their impacts on the environment.
A friendly reminder that during Term 4 all students should be dressed in full summer uniform and hats need to be worn during recess and lunch.
12 13
Well, another busy Term over for our Year Five and Six Students! Teachers and students have been reflecting on all the exciting events and achievements over the past 10 weeks. It has been incredible to see the personal and academic growth that is evident in students.
Year 6 Exhibition The 2019 Grade 6 Exhibition officially opened this week, exuberating an exciting buzz.
In preparation for the busy but jammed packed week, all the students in year six worked relentlessly preparing for this exciting experience.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) exhibition represents a significant event in the life of a PYP student. It is an opportunity for students to exhibit the attributes of the International Baccalaureate learner profile that they have been developing throughout their engagement in the PYP. Students have been engaged in a transdisciplinary inquiry process that has required them to identify, investigate and offer solutions to real-life situations. The preparation for exhibition has the students engaged in an in-depth, collaborative inquiry and an opportunity to demonstrate responsibility and independence in their learning. Students have tuned into their learning through research, excursions, surveys and interviews of knowledgeable community members. The preparation for exhibition has allowed the students to apply their learning of previous years through the PYP and demonstrate acting in accordance with their inquiry.
Students have tuned into their learning through research, excursions, surveys and interviews of knowledgeable community members. The students kicked off their exhibition presentations, by inviting classes to come through Monday – Wednesday and further into the evening for our parent community. Classes were welcomed by viewing a video presentation of the learning journey experienced by all year six students before
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S SUMMARY
Alamanda College
viewing their exhibition presentations. The atmosphere was abuzz as the students and parents stopped at various booths as the were enlightened by our year six exhibitors. Students and parents walked away with new knowledge of various topics. I would like to thank the year six students, staff and mentors who prepared the students well for the big event. It was definitely an exciting and successful event in the lives of our year six students and teachers.
Term Four UniformAs warmer weather approaches, it’s time for students to be in full, summer uniform. The summer uniform consists of the summer dress, shorts, shirt, cardigan, jumper navy socks and black school shoes. Sport uniform is to be worn on PE days and /or on Fridays. Term Four also requires students to wear the school Sunsmart hat, in line with the school’s Sunsmart Policy. Students will be required to wear their school hat for recess, lunch, PE and all outdoor activities. Alamanda’s uniform needs to be purchased from Noone Imagewear’.
We also encourage students to apply sunscreen before coming to school and have a small tube of sunscreen in their bag and for families to discuss with their child the responsibility of taking care of our skin when in the sun.
Assemblies- Time to celebrate learningGrade 6 assembly- Tuesday 8:40-9:40 (To be held in the Theatre)Grade 5 Assembly -Timetable A- Wednesday 8:40-9:40Grade 5 Assembly- Timetable B- Thursday 8:40-9:40Grade 5 Assembly- Timetable C- Friday 8:40-9:40
Assemblies are a great opportunity for students, teachers and parents to come together to celebrate student learning and action driven by students through the Unit of Inquiry. I look forward to seeing you at one of the assemblies.
I would like to wish all families a safe and relaxing break and look forward to seeing lots of smiles and refreshed faces in readiness for Term 4.
