Wendy’s Group Week 9 Term 1

Posted on April 1, 2021 by wendyp

Hi everyone.

Last Newsletter for the term and a short week to report on.

We finished our PIP presentations on Tuesday and they really were wonderful. The children all have a record of all the topics covered and have made comments or written something they learned from each one. The variety of topics was fascinating and many of the children have already decided on topics for next term and have even begun their research!

We had our first post-COVID visit to Lane Cove Library on Monday afternoon! It was terrific to be able to walk in with the group and allow them to browse and search, sit and read. We’ll be back to regular visits every three weeks next term.

This week we have focussed on using our times tables to complete long multiplication algorithms and great progress has been made! Lots of those “ah-ha!” moments when the understanding dawns! We will have some finishing off to do with this topic next term.

In English, we have focussed on reading carefully for understanding and writing answers to comprehension questions to give the best possible information responses. This is a very particular skill which is relevant, of course, in many different subject areas as we continue to learn. We’ve also had more fun with homophones and practised using its and it’s in the right (or is it write??) places.

Yesterday, we completed a reflection task and it was interesting to see how the children rated themselves on their learning this term and what they have valued and want more of next term. Very helpful for me for my planning over the break!

So today we are off to the beach! The sun is shining and the sky is blue… looking forward to a fun day.

IMPORTANT EARLY NOTICE DATES
Our excursion to Canberra in Term 3 has been booked for the last three days of the term, Wednesday to Friday, 15th to 17th September. Please make sure you don’t book any family holiday for this week! These dates are not ideal, really, but cannot now be changed because the bookings were begun two years ago and the different venues have all been booked for us already.

We all wish Xavier a very speedy recovery from his operation on Monday.

And I wish you all a very safe and happy break.

Love,
Wendy

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Photo of the Week Term 1 Week 9

Posted on April 1, 2021 by juliannam

IMG_5353

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Julianna Term 1 Week 9

Posted on April 1, 2021 by juliannam

Hi Everyone,

THANK-YOU!  To our fabulous drummers Sebo & Yacou, the kids and parents who joined in and to all those who helped with the set up and pack away. What a great night AND we had fine weather!

THANK-YOU! To Brett and other helpers who attached the stoppers on the front gate.

THANK-YOU! To all the kids, parents and staff who helped shift 3 ton of sand into the sandpit yesterday afternoon. A great effort and good to be all shifted before the rain last night!

ORGANISERS NEEDED:

Playgroup Many thanks to Noni and Stephanie who have offered to run our playgroup in Term 2. Please look out for more information first week back next term

Have a great Easter break and we look forward to seeing you all Tuesday 20th April

Cheers

Julianna

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌“We don’t stop playing because we grow old: we grow old because we stop playing.”

George Bernard Shaw ‌

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Preschool News Term 1 Week 9

Posted on April 1, 2021 by katrinaa

Hello everyone,

The term seems to have raced by and now here we are at the end of it. On reflection we’ve done a great deal as a group as well as individuals. Each and every child has come a long way in such a short amount of time.

We hope that those of you that attended the drumming social last Friday night had a great time. It’s always a lovely experience for children to be able to return to school of an evening and share this gorgeous environment with their families.

We’ve spent the last week exploring the wider school environment. Children are currently extremely keen on developing their skills in climbing. There are constant requests to head down to the bottom playground to climb the tree house. There’s been lots of success with this for many of the children. There’s also been great success on the monkey bars and climbing to the top of the rope swing. We’re really looking forward to having the while school to ourselves today Thursday to explore further.

A huge thank you to all the families that have supported the preschool and the wider school community. This week we had Arabella’s Mum, Tui, come in and fix the preschool chairs that were missing a few bolts, Lucia’s Mum, Olivia, come and clean all the preschool windows and Oscar’s Mum, Jane wash and return lost property as well as donate spare clothes. Thank you also to Olive’s Mum Ashely for the donation of spare clothes too!

Wishing everyone a relaxing break over Easter and the school holidays. We look forward to seeing everyone return in term 2.

Love

Katrina, Michael and Lisa

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From Jess Term 1 Week 9

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Jess

Dear Parents,
Thank you for everyone who came to our social last Friday. It really was a special community night and I was very proud to watch the children participate and bravely perform their newly acquired drumming skills. I always love seeing the children at evening socials, race around the school, red faced and sweaty.

Last Friday, Emma and I took our classes down to the ‘Bomb’ Park together to try out a few old-fashioned games including Captain ball, three legged, sack and wheelbarrow races. We also spent some time playing, talking, resting and exploring. It was a bunch of fun and brilliant to spend some special time with our friends in Emma’s class. For some of the children, there was an intense interest in the abandoned council building which is now mostly smashed up and covered in graffiti. Some children were drawn to it, whilst others explained that looking at it made them feel uncomfortable and a little bit scared. I explained that this uncomfortable feeling was an early warning sign and their body’s way of telling them that the situation might not be safe. I explained that they should always acknowledge these feelings. Another way of saying trust your gut!

We had a very focussed discussion on Wednesday about what the children are interested in learning next term. The scope of suggestions was very broad and also very interesting, I explained to the children that I would look at the list over the holidays to try and work out a way to include as much as possible in our learning next term.

What a lot one term brings. The children have done a fabulous job of making the classroom their own little community. They have embraced class meetings, learnt to begin to work with some independence and with each other in groups, made new friends, played, negotiated, fallen over, gotten back up, come to school five days a week, visited the pool and the local parks, been on excursions, participated in paint week, cooked food, performed shows and so much more. I think they all deserve a well-earned break!

I run a class that is quite adventurous for young children and I acknowledge that I couldn’t do so without the support of parents. So, thank you to everyone who has supported the class this term; at swimming, in literacy stations, on excursions, with maintenance, with your expert knowledge and in so many other ways.

Wishing you all a restful and refreshing break,
Love Jess x

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Emma’s Class Week 9 Term 1

Posted on April 1, 2021 by emmab

I am delighted with the way the ‘Puppy Crew’ have settled in to the new school year this term and the warmth they have shown me in my first term at Currambena. I loved the fun and friendly atmosphere last Friday when Jess and I took our classes to the ‘Bomb Park’. After having a bit of a giggle about the old-fashioned games we saw the children playing in the video that Wes’ grandfather shared with us, we decided to try it out for ourselves. I discovered pretty quickly that jumping along in a sack is more difficult than it seems and that it’s also quite a challenge for two people to move as one in the three-legged race. We’ve completed a few little academic ‘check-ins’ in the past week and I was so impressed with the mature attitude the children showed when approaching slightly tricky tasks. We’ve been talking a lot about how mistakes are our learning friends and that supporting each other and trying hard to do our best is actually more important than anything else. In Maths this week we’ve been looking at the concept of money. My thanks to Aurelia who found an interesting book for us in the library called ‘The Great $20 Adventure’. After sharing the story together, the children created their own creative and thoughtful plans for what they’d do with $20. Lastly, I’d like to thank the parents for their kindness and positive feedback this term. It’s been wonderful to establish connections with many of you and I look forward to our continued shared journey this year.

I hope the ‘Puppy Crew’and their families have a happy and safe holiday break.

Love Emma

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Sarah’s Class (Vinnie’s) Term 1 Week 9

Posted on April 1, 2021 by juliannam

Hello everyone,
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable term.
Thanks to those parents volunteering today for Beach Day. We are all keen to get down to Chinamans Beach.
This week we investigated the Maths concept of “Place Value”. We looked at expanding 3, 4 and 5-digit numbers in order to clearly see the place value with a range of numbers. We all watched a musical video clarifying our learning on place value. We spent some time finishing off some comic book writing. We also spent a lot of time with free choice as children finished off various end of term sustaining roles. This week a lot of free choice was in the form of hand ball games as well as child led play.
I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe break from school.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone next term,
Vinnie
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Leesa’s Class Term 1 Week 9

Posted on April 1, 2021 by leesaj

We’re off to the beach today, for some fun in the sun! Our final swimming session for term one showed how much the children have worked on their swimming strokes and breathing techniques. The children have also grown in their confidence in the water and increased their stamina.

It has been another busy week in the classroom. This week our focus was on finishing topics, Food and Fibre Production is complete however, our healthy eating component will go into next term. Sound Waves this week included the sound ‘o, a’ as in orange and watch. Personal Interest Projects were completed earlier in the week and the children reflected on these to set goals for next term.

The children revised factors, multiples, their times tables and we measured everyone’s height in Mathematics sessions this week. We also revised how to use a ruler and how many millimetres there are in a centimetre.

On Wednesday, we participated in reading groups and completed questions to go with our text. Thank you to Maura (Hugo’s mum) who volunteered her time to support these groups.

The children have expressed interest in learning about kings and queens for next term. So we’ll be exploring some of the kings and queens of ancient time.

The rats’ cage has now left the classroom and a wonderful reading corner is coming to life. Thank you to Brett and Maura (Hugo’s parents) for removing this. Also thank you to Cathy (Ariel’s mum) who is washing our towels and spare hats during the holidays.

Have a wonderful break throughout the holidays! I’ll see you all next term.

Leesa x

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Photo of the Week – T1 W8

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Newsletter Editor

Jess - Rainy days with good friends

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Julianna Term1 Week 8

Posted on March 25, 2021 by juliannam

Hi Everyone,

THANK-YOU! What a fabulous turn out of people on Sunday for our maintenance day, in spite of the rain!! What a difference come Monday morning. So thank you again for all your efforts cleaning, washing, sweeping and repairing. I hope you remembered to write your hours in the maintenance book.

What a joy to see the sun yesterday! I just happened to glance out my office window and a king parrot was very busy feeding in the Chinese Elm tree next to the blue umbrella. I imagine he was feeling very hungry having not been able to feed during the torrential rain.

ORGANISERS NEEDED:

Playgroup Starting in Term 2 we would like to have our playgroup happening one morning a week from 9.30-11am

Canteen Great News! Judy (mum of Lilith in Sarah’s) has offered to be our canteen coordinator for Term 2. There is a roster sheet on the noticeboard outside the staffroom. If you can volunteer for a Monday, please write your name on the roster. If you are not sure, please talk to Judy or Julianna. We do have a folder with recipes and help with what quantities to buy. It also contributes to your maintenance hours

I have included an article in the newsletter “Boy culture: Be part of the solution not part of the problem” which I thought had some interesting points to think about

Cheers

Julianna

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