Senior School Term 2 Weeks 3 & 4

Senior School Term 2 Weeks 3 & 4

CONNECT WITH
THE SENIOR SCHOOL



Last week we started our Inquiry Unit on chemical and physical science. Students brainstormed their ideas on both topics and then undertook an activity where they had to categorise examples into either the physical strand or chemical strand: an egg breaking, mowing grass, shredding paper, burning toast, popping popcorn and crushing a can. We then learnt how to write up a scientific report using the headings; Question, Prediction/Hypothesis, Materials, Method, Table of Results and Findings.  
Our experiment was to find out how many half teaspoons of salt can dissolve in 50ml of water. Fair to say the findings did not match our predictions!!! We also discussed the many variables that could have affected the outcomes. Stirring Vs non-stirring, fork Vs spoon, length of time to wait for the salt to dissolve and whether each cup was measured to exactly 50ml were all examples of variables.
We are looking forward to immersing the students in 4 new science experiments this Friday!

Pictures of this experiment can be viewed below.

Reminders:
 Art- Students will need their art smocks during Term 2 classes.
Camp forms and $100 deposit is due Friday 12th May. Camp packs with relevant information will be sent home in the coming weeks.
Year 7 2018 transition forms due Friday 12th May.
 

Interschool Sport
We started Winter Interschool sport last week against St. John Vianney's with excellent feedback of sportsmanship from all teams. This week we take on St. Mark's at home (football at Southern Rd Oval) and all games commence at 9.30am. We would love to see some parents come down for support. Could all students please bring an orange.

District Cross Country
Wednesday 17th May at Karkarook Park with the first race commencing at 10am.


NAPLAN
Congratulations to all the Grade 5 students who completed this year's NAPLAN. We would like to commend their willingness to give everything a go and put all the strategies that they had learnt into practice. Results will be released late in Term 3.

Learning and Teaching 
 

ENGLISH: Students have devised and completed their own persuasive texts. They were given the opportunity to write about a topic that they were passionate about and then present their arguments through persuading an audience using facts, figures and emotions. In reading, we have been focussing on the strategy- synthesising where students combine ideas from the text with what they already know to create new ideas.

 

MATHS: 
We have been completing a detailed program of revising all areas of the curriculum in readiness for NAPLAN. Areas highlighted and flagged for high importance were; Area and Perimeter, Sequencing and 3-Dimensional shapes. Upcoming topics include- extended Addition and Subtraction and Statistics and Probability.

 

Captured moments


Science Experiment- How many half teaspoons of salt can be dissolved in 50ml of water?

 

    

 Green Gang visited Carrum Primary School to research sustainable practices

 

 

 

 

Senior School Weeks 8 & 9

Senior School Weeks 8 & 9

CONNECT WITH
THE SENIOR SCHOOL

We began the week with a very engaging and thought provoking incursion, 'Just Like Me', which enabled the students to interact with the day-to-day tasks a child in a third world country experiences. Many valuable discussions have been happening and a more empathetic understanding is becoming prevalent.
Mordialloc College representatives came and spoke to all of our students on Wednesday 15th March. It was most informative and engaging, students who are interested were able to take a bag home with relevant information. Most of the neighbouring secondary colleges come and talk to our students as well as providing dates for open nights at their schools.

Reminders:

First day of Term 2 is Tuesday 18th April

Art smocks are required for classes during Term 2

 

Learning and Teaching 
 

ENGLISH:

Our Big Write prompts have added excitement to the start of each week! The students walked into the atrium space and were confronted with a 'Crime Scene' in which they became the detectives. Lots of rich discussions and suppositions have been taking place, so we are looking forward to their Big Writes with anticipation.
 

MATHS: Over the past couple of weeks we have been exploring Angles and Lines and most recently our unit on Prime, Composite and Negative numbers. Students have experienced an assessment this week using the Plickers app. Ask your child how it works!

SOME CAPTURED HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEKS!
Just Like Me Workshop

 

 

 

Wellbeing Program

Yoga

 

Marine Ambassadors Workshop with the Preps

 

 

 

Senior School Weeks 4 & 5

Senior School Weeks 4 & 5

CONNECT WITH
THE SENIOR SCHOOL

Congratulations to all students who participated in either beach swimming or Somers Camp over the past two weeks. Behaviour was exemplary and many new skills were acquired by all. Eager to hear the stories from our campers on their return. February has been very busy with our new school leaders learning how to organise and present at our weekly assemblies. The leaders that attended Somers Camp will now join our group to shape the many tasks we have highlighted for the year.

Homework will continue next week when we have full class attendance.
Homework includes:
- Big Talk (due Wednesday)
- Spelling task and rewriting their words in spelling book (Due Friday)
- Mathletics task
- Reading Eggs (continue at their level)
- Daily reading

Learning and Teaching 
 

ENGLISH:

We are currently developing character profiles to enhance our writing.
Our learning intention has been to focus on the structure of a narrative and their features. Students will continue with their 'Big Talk' and 'Big Write' sessions next week.
 

MATHS: 
Our focus has been on Place Value and improving the speed of our times tables. All students have experienced various maths activities and games to improve their skills.

 INQUIRY: 
Students have been introduced to the 'Just Like Me' program, where they have discussed issues in third world countries such as health, women's rights and water conservation. This will continue for the remainder of the term and in our upcoming incursion.

IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP:

Thursday 2nd March: District swimming
Friday 3rd March: Social and emotional wellbeing program begins for 5 weeks
Friday 3rd March: Interschool sport against Parkdale PS
Monday 6th March: Just Like Me Incursion

 

SOME CAPTURED HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEKS!

 

 

Senior School Weeks 1,2 & 3

Senior School Weeks 1,2 & 3

CONNECT WITH
THE SENIOR SCHOOL

Learning in the Senior School has begun with a buzz of excitement as many new faces become accustomed to our environment. In welcoming the new Grade 5 cohort as they begin to understand what is expected of a senior student, we have been focusing on building relationships with each other and learning the new language of ‘Play is the Way’- a practical methodology for teaching social and emotional learning using guided play, classroom activities and an empowering language.
Our Senior school leaders were presented with their badges at last Friday's assembly. Looking forward to a great year of moving forward with your teams within the grade 6 cohort. Congratulations!

Learning and Teaching 
 

READING:
We are establishing our reading groups and our learning intention is to frame Higher-Order questions while reading. Students are experiencing the various reading activities we focus on at the senior level. All students have had opportunities to borrow books from the library and there are many times throughout the day the students can catch up on their reading.

WRITING:
Our learning intention has been to focus on the structure of a narrative and their features. Students began their 'Big Talk' and first 'Big Write' session this week. They have all showed enthusiasm and produced some excellent pieces of writing.
 

MATHS: 
Our focus has been on place value and improving the speed of our times tables. All students have experienced various maths activities and games to improve their skills.

 INQUIRY: 
The students will be exploring the three dimensions of health: Social; Physical; Mental/Emotional. The focus being on how do we keep physically and socially healthy? Looking at and identifying all characteristics of health.

 

COMMUNICATION

At Mentone Park Primary School we have many forms of communication. Newsletters from all levels are fortnightly and whole school in the alternate week. One to one interviews are held twice a year (Feb and June) but please feel free to make an appointment with your class teacher when necessary. We also use tiqbiz  regularly to keep parents notified of upcoming events. 

IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP:

Friday 17th Feb: Swimming Carnival at Mentone Grammar
Monday 20th Feb: YOGA begins
Monday 20th Feb to Friday 24th Feb: Beach Swimming
Tuesday 21st Feb to Wed 1st March: SOMERS camp
Wednesday 22nd Feb: Meet the Teacher!
Thursday 2nd March: District swimming

 

SOME CAPTURED HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEKS!