Wendy’s Group Week 2 Term 1
Hi again everyone.
This week we’ve worked on measuring length and perimeter in Maths and created treasure maps using coordinates. We looked at characters, setting and plot in our shared book, “Blueback” by Tim Winton, wrote a chapter summary, practised cursive writing and had our first trip to Lane Cove pool for the term. We would have also visited Lane Cove Library but the weather did not look too good on Monday afternoon after that incredible storm!
Our student teacher, Keeghan, from Southern Cross University, visited on Wednesday and she will start her six week prac with us on Monday. We hope she has a wonderful learning experience with us.
Discussion about camp in Week 6 has begun and next week we will have a meeting with all Year 4, 5 and 6 to explore the details. We will be at the Castle Mountain site owned by the Outdoor Adventure Company. It is on Webb’s Creek, one of the Hawkesbury River tributaries.
The whole school parent meeting on Wednesday evening was a great event. Thank you to all the parents who came along to our class discussion. I really enjoyed sharing all that information about our group with you and hearing something about how you found Currambena. Here is a brief summary for those of you who were unable to be there.
Introductions: Those present introduced themselves and spoke about how they first found Currambena and what keeps them here. I explained that I first found Currambena as a student teacher many years ago and loved the way Currambena values relationships and individuals.
Our Group: 5 boys and 13 girls, with an age range of 9 to 12 years. They are all settling in very well and some lovely mixed age relationships are developing already. Lots of inside games and activities are bringing them together well as a group.
Our week: Most days include a discussion time when we share information important to the day’s events or future plans. The wide range of learning needs is met by grouping children in different ways, always having multiple resources and levels of difficulty available in learning activities, offering choices and encouraging children to choose levels appropriate for them. We value challenge and expect there to be mistakes if we’re trying something new. We’re using three textbooks this year: spelling, Maths Mentals and handwriting. A list of MUST DO activities is generated and written on the board each week. These must be completed by Friday for children to be able to go to the shops to buy lunch (once they’re 10 years old). Children place completed work into coloured folders for marking and mistakes are corrected (“excellented”) with help as needed. On Fridays, each person in the group has a 1:1 chat with me during which I record their progress over the week, check that they’re reading at home and ask them some times tables questions.
Communicating: Please email or pop in for an informal chat if you have any concerns or comments or questions about anything relating to the class or your child. We can make time for an interview if there is something important to discuss. Jo Stevens (Emme’s mother) has offered to be our Parent Rep this year. She will set up a WhatsApp group for parents… Thanks Jo! I’ll send information home about camp in Week 6 very soon. I’ll also request parent help with driving to and from excursions at different times in the year, usually through the newsletter. Overall, the children are a delight and we are having lovely days so far! Thank you all for trusting them to our care!
Forms: all parents need to sign forms about exemptions so if you were not at the meeting, ask your child for these and return them to school asap please.
One last thing: we have had a case of nits in the class. Please be vigilant and treat as needed. Maybe do the conditioner and combing thing every wash just in case and encourage kids to keep long hair up each day.
Cheers,
Wendy