PRIMARY NEWSLETTER

TERM 1 2023

primary Newsletter
principal messages
NAPLAN & REPORTING

NAPLAN has been completed and well done to all students. We must always remember it is a

snapshot test. In other words, it is only measuring what that student is able to demonstrate on that

morning in a one-off test. As we do not get the results till Term 3, your child’s Semester One

report at the end of Term 2 and the continuous assessment tasks within the classroom give us a far

more accurate and triangulated picture of your child’s academic progress.

ROAD SAFETY

Can we ask parents to discuss with their children the importance of crossing roads at the

supervised crossings. Too many students are trying to cross roads with 20 metres of a crossing and

taking risks with a number of near accidents reported. Also, as adults where you cross the road

with your children provides a future role model and strategy for them. So please if you are

crossing the road with your children do so at the crossing.

RESPECT

Students have a weekly lesson on Social Skills every week and these are supported by our college

expectations and by our staff. We constantly praise students who are reflecting the value of

respect. However, many of the issues we see arise due to lack of respect for others either verbally

in or outside play. Please support us by reminding your children that we do not have to be friends

with everyone, we do have to respect everyone.

HOLIDAYS

Have a great break.

Term 1 Finish: Thursday 6 April 1.22pm finish (no lunch needed)

Primary Assistant Principal Assistant Principal

Assistant Principal
Principal of Curriculum P-6 P-2 3-6

Mike Lanyon Daniel Condon Emily Batchelor Samantha Burden

michael.lanyon@education.vic.gov.au Daniel.Condon@education.vic.gov.au Emily.Batchelor@education.vic.gov.au Sananth.Burden@education.vic.gov.au


PRIMARY NEWSLETTER
TERM1 2023

prep
This week in Prep, we started our Fairytales unit in English, we began the unit by reading The Three
Little Pigs and creating our own sentences about the story. The students identified the characters
and discussed why they were good or bad.

In Core Literacy, we have been revising the phonemes and graphemes we have learnt this term. So
far, we know m, s, f, a, p, t, c and i. We have been learning to segment and blend words including
non-words.

In Integrated, as part of the fairytale unit the Prep students created puppets and masks of the
characters from The Three Little Pigs. The Preps then grouped together to retell the story in their
own words. This was so much fun; it allowed the students to interact with each other and show an
understanding of the text.

In Maths, we started exploring different representations of numbers from 1 to 9. The students were
introduced to tens frames and showing different numbers. We worked in small groups to find
matching representations to a numeral. We have been practising writing the numerals 1-9 building
our number knowledge and pencil grip.


PRIMARY NEWSLETTER
TERM1 2023

one
Maths
Students celebrated world maths day. They worked together to solve open-ended maths problems.

They have also been learning about repeating and growing patterns.

Integrated
Students have started their fairytale unit. They have been exploring what fairytale stories are and

identifying specific features fairytale stories have.

English

As part of the students' fairytale unit they have been looking at different fairy tales. So far they
have explored Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Elves and the
Shoemaker. They have been identifying the different adjectives that have been used to describe
the characters and other elements within the stories.


PRIMARY NEWSLETTER
TERM1 2023

Four
Writing
In writing, we have been learning about character traits. First, we learned that characters can be
developed throughout the fable by including character traits. Secondly, the settings are described
briefly through choice tier two words. Mostly, Fables are written in a narrative format including a
problem and solution with memorable phrases. Lastly, the moral is stated in the last sentence.

Figure 3: Students practising using the

Figure 4: Students using a modified
Figure 5: Students using what they

Figure 2: Students practising using

strategy ‘Getting Sparked’ to draw and

narrative planner to map out character
learned in 2 to 4 to write a Fable

dialogue in their writing.

write about a setting for their
traits with a matching problem and
with a moral base on previously

upcoming fables. solution base around a moral. studied fables.

Maths
In maths, we have been learning about angles. The most common one is a right angle which is 90

degrees. There is an obtuse angle that is more than a right angle and less than a straight angle. The

acute angle is the is lesser than a right angle, obtuse angle, straight angle etc.

We have also been learning about length. You can measure using informal and formal units of

measurement. This week we have been learning how to measure items using millimetres and

centimetres and converting between each.

Figure 6: Students practising identify what is a right angle

Figure 7: An example of comparing angles to right Figure 8: Students practising measuring items using mm
and what is not, while justifying the decision using angles and by identifying angles that are larger and and cm. Then converting between mm and cm. Students
mathematical language. smaller by name. identified the appropriate unit of measure when
measuring items.


PRIMARY NEWSLETTER
TERM1 2023

four
Reading
In reading, we have been learning about Aesop’s fables which have a moral that is a life lesson. We
have been comparing the features of fables such as ‘The Lion and the Mouse’ and’ The Hare and
the Tortoise’ and the ‘Vain Jack Daw’. We have been learning about all the features of a fable so
that we can write our own and entertain our readers.

Figure 1: Students identifying the difference between a narrative and

fable using a modified venn diagram

Personal and Social Capabilities

In social, we were learning about our personal goals. The activity was that we were supposed to
write our goal then we were supposed to write some strategies for that particular goal. We have
been looking at school expectations around respect in response to our ‘Attitude to School Survey’.
We made respect posters to provide ideas on how to be respectful when in our school community.

Figure 9: Students reflecting on school expectations when making a

poster on respect. Students reflected on scenarios of disrespect and how

they could be proactive in practising how to show respect in our school

community.

Reading Eggs
In Reading Eggs, we were reading some books and doing quizzes as homework. We had learning
apps like Fast Phonics. We had different sections such as myths, etc. We also had sections like
library, apartments, arcade, etc. This is another application being used by students. Students can use
the online library to select from lots of books that they might like to read. It is strongly encouraged
the students use this resource at home to improve and practise their reading skills.

Essential Assessment
In Essential Assessment, most students have finished their post assessments and some are still
finishing their pre-assessments on their numbers and algebra and their measurement and
geometry. We also did My Numeracy as homework. This is a great application being used by
students in the classroom and at home to assist students to improve their maths, reading and
writing skills.


PRIMARY NEWSLETTER
TERM1 2023

six
The Year 6 cohort have had a fantastic start to 2023. It has been an action-packed term 1, with
still more fun things to happen before the end of term!

In Reading, students explored many different texts relating to immigration, focusing on the
topic, “How Migration to Australia in the 1900s Contributed to Australia’s Economic and Social
Development.” Students were very enthusiastic to learn about the history of immigration in our
country since 1900, and some students were even able to teach the class new facts with their
prior knowledge of history! Students worked on searching for and using information within texts
and summarising the key information. Subsequently, we began our Fairytale unit, with the
Grade 6 cohort exploring myths and legends. Students have been fascinated to learn about the
rich, interesting tales of Greek Mythology. Through inferring, and extensive vocabulary work,
students have been exploring new words, character traits, character relationships, and character
motivations.

In Writing, students began the year with writing information reports, which tied in well with our
immigration topic. Students ensured they included the correct structure of an information
report and included facts and nonfiction features to back up their writing. Students created
information reports both on topics of their choice, and on our unit topic, immigration. Next, we
have now begun writing our myths and legends narratives, to tie in with our new unit topic. In
order to create interesting stories, students have been using techniques such as author’s craft and
show don’t tell. Students were excited to create their own myth narrative, including their own
characters.

In Mathematics, students started off the year learning about place value. They drew on their
prior knowledge of place value to solve problems including multiplication and division of whole
numbers and decimal numbers. Students used a range of concrete, visual, and abstract
representations of place value to assist them in solving problems. Students then began exploring
measurement, including length, area, and perimeter, using informal and formal measuring tools
and units. In addition to Mathematics lessons, students have also been participating in SNMY
(Scaffolding Numeracy in the Middle Years) lessons twice per week, where they have
demonstrated their knowledge of multiplication strategies and multiplicative thinking.

Other exciting activities students have participated in this term, include Clean Up Australia
Day, NRL Rugby Clinics, our Buddy program, and Year 6 Sport Gala Day. In the last week of
term, we have a very exciting excursion planned to go to the Immigration Museum in the city,
to further consolidate students’ knowledge about our immigration unit. Overall, an exciting
start to the year, with much more excitement to come!


PRIMARY NEWSLETTER
TERM1 2023

specialists
Physical Education/ Health

Foundation, Year 1 & 2

Over the past few weeks in Health and Physical Education foundation, year 1 and 2 students have
been focusing their learning on various fundamental motor skills. These skills include balancing,
eye tracking, moving into space and spacial awareness. Students have also been collaborating and
working in small groups. They have been learning new team sports and inclusive games.

Year ¾ & 5/6

Over the past few weeks in Health and Physical Education Year ¾ and 5/6 students have been
focusing their learning on various track and field athletic events. These include hurdles, shot put,
discus and relay races. Students have used trial and error to improve their skills and learning.

Year 6 Summer Gala Day

On Friday, the year students participated in the first District Gala Day for
2023. The sports were cricket, tennis, volleyball and softball. The students
have been practicing and refining their skills throughout the term on Fridays.
The sports were played at schools and reserves around the local community.
 Wellbeing News
Individual Education Plans
As part of the new Disability Inclusion Reforms we have recently reviewed our
Individual Education Planning processes. Whilst all students at Manor Lakes
College are involved in goal setting to improve their learning outcomes, formalised
Individual Education Plans are developed for approximately five percent of
students at the College.

In 2023 Individual Education Plans will continue to be developed for students in

receipt of individual disability based funding.

Indigenous students and those in statutory Out of Home Care placements will also
have an Individual Education Plan as part of the Marrung Aboriginal Education
Plan and the Out of Home Care Partnering Agreement. Individual Education Plans
will be developed using our Compass software and parents/carers of students
receiving Individual Education Plans will receive emails to let them know when
termly learning goals are available for viewing on Compass.

Individual Education Plans will also integrate into the students semesterly reports -
creating a single streamlined document for families.