The second half of Term 2 has been packed with exciting opportunities and achievements for our Grade 4/5 students. We celebrated National Walk Safely to School Day, encouraging healthy habits and road safety awareness while enjoying the journey to school with friends. Students visited the annual Scholastic Book Fair, exploring a wide range of books and fostering a love of reading. We also joined schools across the country for National Simultaneous Storytime, reading the picture story book, Luna Roo. 

Several of our Grade 4/5 students proudly represented our school at the Football and Netball Lightning Premiership tournaments, demonstrating excellent teamwork, determination and sportsmanship. We were also incredibly proud of the students who competed at the Greater Western Cross Country event, showcasing resilience and perseverance at a high level of competition. 

A highlight of the term was the Grade 5/6 Urban Camp in Melbourne. Students enjoyed a range of educational and cultural experiences while developing independence, responsibility and teamwork skills. A classroom highlight was our Grade 4/5 assembly presentation of ‘I Am Australian’ performed in AUSLAN. The class celebrated inclusion through song and sign language.

As the term draws to a close, we are looking forward to our MND Big Freeze Fundraiser and our Swimming Celebration, providing wonderful opportunities to come together as a school community and celebrate our learning and achievements. Overall, students have continued to demonstrate enthusiasm, persistence and a positive attitude towards their learning, and we are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished this term.

In English, students have completed their study of The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor. Throughout the unit, students closely examined the narrative structure of the novel, exploring how authors develop characters, settings and plot to create engaging stories. Drawing on the themes and historical setting of the text, students planned, drafted and published their own historical narratives. A strong focus was placed on developing sentence fluency, varying sentence openings and constructing well-organised paragraphs. Students have demonstrated impressive growth as writers. Their creativity and sophistication are evident in their final pieces. As part of our assessment and moderation processes, students also completed a Writing Moderation task, providing an opportunity to independently showcase the writing skills and strategies they have developed throughout the semester. Daily Sounds-Write lessons have continued to strengthen students' understanding of spelling patterns, vocabulary and morphology, while Fluency Reading sessions have supported the development of reading accuracy, expression and confidence.

In Maths, students successfully completed our Angles unit, demonstrating a strong understanding of identifying, measuring and classifying angles. Their learning was evident in the Common Assessment Task for Measurement and Space, where students confidently applied their knowledge and skills to a range of problem-solving tasks. We are now focusing on multiplication and division, developing efficient strategies and using inverse operations to solve problems and check the accuracy of solutions. Students continue to build their mathematical fluency through Daily Retrieval and strong learning structures and routines.

In Inquiry, students have been exploring Australia's rich history and cultural heritage. They have investigated Australia's natural landmarks and learnt about the customs, traditions and achievements of First Nations Australians. Students have also examined the many inventions and innovations developed by First Nations Peoples that continue to influence and benefit modern Australia today. Moving forward, students will deepen their understanding of Australia's history by exploring the impacts of colonisation and how it has shaped the cultures, communities and perspectives that exist in Australia today.

In Respectful Relationships, students have been exploring positive coping strategies and problem-solving skills. Through class discussions, role-plays and reflective activities, they have developed strategies to manage challenges, regulate emotions and respond to difficult situations in constructive ways. Students have also learnt the importance of seeking support when needed and using effective problem-solving approaches to build positive relationships and resilience.

- Miss Dillion