Grade 6 students have commenced Term Three with enthusiasm. Students have continued to strengthen their connections with peers and teachers while developing their leadership skills, with many opportunities ahead to showcase these qualities.

In English, students have been exploring prefixes, suffixes and base words during our Sounds-Write and Morphology sessions. This term in Text Study lessons, students have commenced a new novel, Can You See Me? Through the explicit study of a range of texts, students are strengthening their reading comprehension, vocabulary development and writing skills. Students are reading accurately and fluently by applying their understanding of text structures and language features while monitoring their comprehension to build meaning. They are responding to questions by evaluating information and ideas, making inferences about characters through their actions and dialogue, and examining how authors use vivid and emotive vocabulary to create mood and engage readers.

Students continue to expand their vocabulary and apply new words confidently in their speaking, reading and writing. In writing, they are developing sentence structure by using conjunctions such as because, but and so to express reason, contrast and result, while enhancing their writing through the use of adverbials at the beginning of sentences for greater precision and effect. Students have also begun exploring persuasive writing by learning about the purpose of persuasion, identifying persuasive language features and devices, developing persuasive points and generating strong arguments to support a persuasive letter. These learning experiences are building students’ confidence as thoughtful readers, effective communicators and purposeful writers.

In Mathematics, throughout Term Three, Grade 6 students have been developing their understanding of measurement by investigating the concepts of perimeter and area. Students have learned to calculate the perimeter of rectangles by adding the lengths of all four sides and applying the formula P = 2 × (length + width). They have calculated the area of rectangles using arrays and the formula A = length × width, while strengthening their understanding of the difference between these two measurements. Students have compared the area and perimeter of different rectangles, explored whether a larger area always results in a larger perimeter, and solved problems involving mixed units by converting measurements into the same unit before calculating. They have also investigated rectangles with the same perimeter but different areas and examined how doubling a rectangle’s length and width affects both its perimeter and area. These investigations have helped students develop their mathematical reasoning, problem-solving skills and understanding of the relationships between measurement concepts. The next unit will focus on angles and their properties.

Our Grade 6 Inquiry unit this term is based on Sustainability. Students will explore how they can make sustainable choices, identify the ways they already contribute to sustainability at home and school, and investigate new ways to develop their sustainability knowledge and skills. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in multiple woodwork sessions with the local Men's Shed, with a focus on linking these experiences to their learning about sustainability.

In Respectful Relationships, students have been focusing on stress, including how to manage it effectively and recognise events that may contribute to different levels of stress. Students have also been learning what it means to ask for help and when it is appropriate to seek support. They will also have the opportunity to participate in Life Education sessions, with a focus on puberty.

Overall, it has been a great start to Term Three. Students have demonstrated enthusiasm, curiosity and a strong commitment to their learning while continuing to develop their leadership skills and participate in many exciting opportunities. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and development throughout the remainder of the year.

- Mr Connor