Senior School Term 2 Week 6, 2019

  What's happening in the Senior School? 

Term 2 Week 6 2019

The weeks continue to fly by and already we have achieved so much. A huge congratulations to our Grade 5 students who completed NAPLAN online, our first year doing so. Although we experienced some minor technical glitches on the first day we were so impressed by the way the students remained composed and continued on without fuss. Thank you must also go to our Grade 6's who were flexible in their learning and moved to the Middle School Area during testing times. 
While some students enjoyed a rest and kept warm on the curriculum day, many of our Senior students braved the cold and competed in the District Cross Country. Well done to all who participated and special mention to Cy R. of Gr 5 for progressing to the next level. Amazing effort and we wish you all the best!
  

In Reading we are learning to...make inferences based on background knowledge and clues from the text

In Writing we are learning to...demonstrate understanding of how a procedural text is written

In Maths we are learning to... compare and order fractions

In Spelling we are learning words... Gr 5- st as in castle Gr 6- ist suffix

In Inquiry we are learning about...physical science and the importance of sustainable energy

Monday 27th May - Simultaneous Reading Time

Friday 31st May - I/S Sport (Away)

Tuesday 4th June - Whole School House Sports Day

Friday 7th June - I/S Sport

Monday 10th June - Queen's Birthday Public Holiday (No School)

Friday 14th June - I/S Sport Winter Gala Day

Friday 21st June - Multicultural Day

Tuesday 25th June - Semester One Reports sent home

Wednesday 26th June - JMS Little Scientists & Parent/Teacher Interviews

Friday 28th June - Last day of Term 2

                     

Whole School House Sports Day

Although our House Sports Day is commonly held in Term 4, it is being held in Term 2 to avoid the extreme heat we often experience in December. Tuesday 4th of June is our 2019 Whole School House Sports Day and will run in a similar fashion. Events are split into 2 sessions, AM and PM and students will have a long lunch break at approximately 11:40am. A presentation and results will be held at the end of the day either on the oval or in the hall. All students are encouraged to dress in their house colours, come prepared with drink bottles, snacks, fruit break, lunch and appropriate clothing depending on the weather (eg. a rain jacket, spare socks, runners and clothing to keep warm when not competing). Updates will be made on FlexiBuzz regarding the running of the day and the weather. We are still in need of parent helpers for the day so if you are available, please either let the Senior Team or the office know of your availability. Any help is greatly appreciated! 

Fundraiser

If you remember those fabulous "Choose Your Own Adventure", "Twist-a-Plot" or "Pick-a-Path" novels you used to read when you were a kid, our feature book 'The Art Show That Came To Life At Mentone Park' is a gamebook just like those... a multi-choice plot format where the reader decides what's going to happen next!


This great fundraising opportunity for Mentone Park is a wonderful way to excite and engage our students as they read their way through 22 different adventure endings! Please submit your order form to your classroom teacher by the 21st of June so you don’t miss out!

Notice Board & Communication

Along with the newsletter, Flexibuzz and student diaries, the display board in the center of the Senior School Atrium will also be a point of regularly updated communication. Here you'll find:

- important dates throughout the term

- a weekly outline of our timetable

- learning focus (WALT)

- reminders

- spare copies of notices/handouts etc.

- spotlight on a particular student, grade or event

If you haven't done so already, please update your class box on FlexiBuzz to ensure you are receiving the latest communications.

Uniform

All Senior students are role models and leaders for the lower year levels. As we regularly represent Mentone Park across the school and out in the community, students are expected to have proper and neat uniform. The Senior Sports tops are only to be worn on Friday's. We appreciate all assistance in ensuring we are setting the best example. An attachment regarding clothing for the Inter School Sport Winter Season has been sent out separately on FlexiBuzz.

Homework

Homework will be a variety of tasks including: maths, reading, SMART spelling, current affairs and wellbeing. All tasks need to be completed as we are encouraging good habits leading into Secondary School. It will be handed out on a Monday and is due the following Friday unless otherwise stated. The expectation is that students manage their time during the week so that they have their weekends free to relax and spend with family. This term we are putting an emphasis on student effort, not only in presentation but also in content as students will be completing extended tasks (mini projects) directly related to current affairs or our inquiry unit.

Absences

If your child is absent from school, you must notify the school via flexibuzz of this in the morning. If not, you will now be sent this message from your child's teacher via flexibuzz:

Dear Parents/Guardians.

Your child has been marked as absent from school today. Can you please contact the office to notify us of the reason for this absence.

Kind Regards,

Mentone Park Primary School/Your Child's Teacher

METRO TRAINS Poster Design Competition 

 

To enter the competition, download the entry form HERE

  

Thank you to the families who attended our Open Night. With the focus being on Literacy we shared fun games we use in the Senior School that assist in our spelling, comprehension, sizzling starters and narrative writing. It was also a perfect opportunity to showcase student responses to both a text and recent current affair. After reading 'If I Was Prime Minister' by Beck & Robin Feiner, students first discussed what qualities they believed a good leader of Australia should possess and what they would do if they were Prime Minister. Below are some examples of their wonderful responses...

I would make a team of children and teens to speak on behalf of Australia’s youth and make more jobs, especially for the homeless. I would focus on the wellbeing of Australia’s people and environment. – Kate 

I think a good leader of Australia would focus on environment, education, wellbeing and climate change. They would respect their country and let everyone have a say. – Hazel 

I would really focus on climate change because if not, our country will not be liveable. I would make women and men equal in Australia so it’s not all about women doing the housework and the men doing jobs. – Adam B

A good leader of Australia can look like however they want to look and the fact that out of all the past Prime Ministers, not one of them has been aboriginal and only one a female, is disgraceful! – Jas

I would reduce costs for electricity by using environment friendly alternatives to make electricity. I would also make it easier for rural people to get medical attention. – Kirby 

A good leader needs to care about not just themselves, they also need to care about the whole of Australia and acknowledge other people’s ideas. – Tina

A good leader of Australia would make sure that all kids get a good education and that everyone, Male or Female gets an even pay from their work.  Asylum seekers should not have to go to refugee camps off Australia and should live in Australia in harmony. - Rickii

A good Prime Minister would make changes to benefit the country and keep our country safe. They would also set a good example. – Tara W

I would find a way to stop coal mining and use more reusable energies so we can stop global warming. I would also strengthen the boarders but also give the refugees proper treatment and shelter. – Bodhi 

Cooking with Fractions

What better way to study fractions than to create, bake and eat your work! In our ability based groupings we made ANZAC biscuits to reinforce common fractions, equivalent fractions and to extend to operations with fractions and converting to decimals.