2014 Overview

Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome back to school for 2014. I am really excited to have this class and I am looking forward to working with such bright minds this year. Our class incorporates both stage 2 and stage 3 this year and students will They will also experience and learn about music with Mr Archer (1hour per week) and utilise the library with Mrs Hall (1 hour per week). Mrs Brown will assist all classes where students have been identified with additional learning needs. Whole School Activities involving Stage 2 and or Stage 3 classes: Choir Scripture Friday morning 30 minutes Sport Friday 60 minutes Weekly Assemblies Friday Dance Groups Boys and Girls Carnivals swimming, cross country and athletics PSSA competitions and local school sporting events eg Winmalee Cup and The Summer Cup. Poetry Competition Public Speaking Competition Chess Competition Additional experience will be announced as they are finalised. Ukulele and guitar groups Music Ensemble Stage based activities: Fitness 2 sessions per week Excursions see below Excursions Planned for Semester 1: Major Excursions Zoo Snooze (Year 4) one night camp at Taronga Zoo Cost: Approximately $170 per student * Parent helpers may attend Minor Excursion The Rocks - Linkages to our unit called Our Fleeting Past (Stage 2) Cost: TBA Parent attendance to be advised. Stage 3 (years 5 & 6) Major and Minor Excursions are to be advised when finalised.

Year 4 students will attend stage 2 excursions, year 5 students will attend stage 3 excursions. NAPLAN Year 5 students All year 5 students will complete the 2014 NAPLAN tests. These tests assess their skills and knowledge in Literacy and Numeracy. The students will draw upon knowledge and skills gained in stage 1 and early stage 2 to complete these assessments. These assessments are used by the school to further plan for both individual and whole school teaching strategies to maximise student achievement. As teachers we understand that these tests are only one of many tools that are used to assess student progress and are a small part of our holistic approach in terms of assessment and reporting. These tests will occur Term 2 week 4. Term 1 KLA (Key Learning Areas) Overview Stage 2 and 3 This year our school, like all schools in NSW, will be introducing the New English Curriculum. Some changes you may notice with this curriculum will include increase use of digital technologies, students becoming more responsible for their own learning. The basics will of course form the core of our English program. English: Speaking and ListeningFurther develop skills when addressing the class, asking well-structured questions and engaging in class discussions. With our focus on persuasive writing expositions, students will have opportunities to state opinions on topics and back these ideas up with relevant evidence. Students may also be given the opportunity to produce a TV style commercial using iPod technology. Reading and ViewingEngage in modelled, guided and independent reading experiences. Exposed to a broad range of text types. Exploring persuasive texts using these as models for their own writing. Explore the purpose and intended audience and the use of language to create imagery and different worlds. Explore structure and grammar used in different texts. Reading and viewing will also incorporate digital media and TV sources. Students will be exposed to a diverse variety of text types from written to digital. Writing and RepresentingDevelop NSW foundation style and further skills in joining letters together with basic desktop publishing skills. Focus on expositions persuasive texts with a focus on the use of modality and logical justification for ideas expressed. Developing skill in the use of simple, compound and complex sentences. Further development of common letter patterns, recall of more complex high frequency words. Knowledge of rules and exceptions. Students will also develop skills in the use of rubrics, allowing them to plan and prepare quality texts and assessment pieces. Thinking Imaginatively, Creatively and Interpretively

This aspect of English will be embedded in the above. It will include learning to engage with texts, respond to texts, exploring creative language and images, role playing and making connections between authors and texts. Expressing Themselves This aspect of English will be embedded in the above. Students will respond to and create texts using quality literature as models. Explore cultural differences, make connections between characters and their own experiences. Experiment with visual, multimodal and digital technologies. Compose imaginative texts using both written and digital formats. Reflecting on Learning Develop criteria to determine ones personal success in completing tasks. Discussing and developing their interest in certain types of literature. Evaluate peer presentations using a guide to provide constructive feedback. Share and identify the qualities of texts they enjoy. Mathematics: (Term 1 Focus) 4/5F will be following the current Go Maths program this year. The year 4 program will be taught along side the year 5 program using the appropriate stage text book. Students will also participate in literacy-based problem solving activities (Newmans) and daily mentals drills. Mathletics will be used to support both stages mathematics programs. The mathematics program taught within this class is the same as what is being taught in 4M and the other year 5 classes. Mathematics extension work is available to any student within this class and is highly encouraged. All programs follow the current NSW Maths Syllabus. Students will work with concrete materials to complete mathematical problems, and mathematics will be tied into every day activities so children can see the relationship between mathematics and the real world.

COGs (incorporating HSIE & Science): Our Fleeting Past Discovery of Australia, Aboriginal heritage, the first fleet and settlement. (An excursion is being considered for this unit) A home study project and webquest will be assigned to year 4 students Rainforests, sustainability and the environment. A home study based project and webquest will be assigned to students in year 5. CAPA: * Linkages to Rainforests, Australian native plants, early images of Australia depicted through artworks and class based programs. * Role-playing and daily drama games * Weekly music lessons including the recorder with Mr Archer.

PD.H.PE.: *Friendly Schools Program Anti Bullying *Class based fitness 2 sessions per week *Sport All year 4 students will participate in sport as a stage group. [skill based focus: striking, throwing, catching, fielding and teamwork skills, Swimming Carnival week 2(Monday 3rd) All year 5 students will participate as a group in Stage 3 Sport refining previously developed skills, sportsmanship and teamwork skills. Technology: We will undertake 2 technology sessions each week. During these sessions students will develop research, word processing and digital presentation skills. Students are required to provide their own USB stick and headphones. I have requested headphones as many websites children will research have sound files. These can be quite distracting to other children whilst conducting their own search, or the computers do not have speakers attached. As children move into senior years, independent research is important for learning so we are getting started now. Recognising Student Achievement The 3 6 stage of the school has a reward program called The Star Card System. Students are issued with a star card by teachers for such things as demonstrating good manners, being helpful, achievement and improvement in all areas of school life. When they have collected ten Star Cards they should be bundled together and places in the box in the admin office. Students are responsible for looking after their own cards and keeping track of their quantity. A certificate will be issued at our weekly 3 6 assembly together with an iceblock. When 5 certificates have been collected they will be invited to attend a movie and popcorn reward afternoon. Also, each week at the 3- 6 assembly students are awarded certificates for achievement for Citizenship and Merit. These are not part of the Star Card system and are classified as stand alone awards. At the conclusion of the school year we hold a presentation day assembly where all students receive a certificate of merit as well as 3 students per class are awarded an additional special award. Contacting me I am more than happy at anytime to discuss any thoughts, ideas or issues you or your child may be having. I welcome all feedback and I am available most afternoons after school for a chat. I can also be contacted via email at: [email protected] please dont hesitate to contact me at any time. Juli Flaherty 4/5F Classroom Teacher