TERM PLANS

Grade Prep to 2

Prep - Mrs McKinnon; Ms Steward

Grade 1/2 A - Mrs Giles

Grade 1/2 B - Ms Katie Backholer

Grade 1/2 C - Ms Katie Casa

Grade 3 to 6

Grade 3/4A - Mrs Glew; Mrs Truscott

Grade 3/4 B - Mrs Gill

Grade 3/4 C - Mrs Ulbrick

Grade 5/6 A - Ms Seng

Grade 5/6 B - Mrs Ward

Specialists

P.E/Sport/P.M.P Mrs Truscott

Senior Science Mrs Glew

Junior Science Mrs McKinnon

Music Miss Nadine D'monte

Art Mrs Botterill

Enhanced Literacy Mrs Cosentino

Speed Pathologist Ms Krause

Please feel free to talk to the teachers about your child and let us know about any problems, health or otherwise, which could affect your child’s learning or happiness at school.

Punctuality - The school day begins at 8:55am each day and concludes at 3:15pm. It is helpful for children to be at school by 8:50am, as this enables them to be in their classrooms, ready to begin work when the bell rings and so hear all instructions. It is very hard for children to understand what they are to do, if they arrive after instructions have been given.

Behaviour – At Southvale we don’t expect to need to ‘discipline’ children. We operate under a set of agreed behaviours based on mutual respect. Students are in partnership with each other, and teachers, to create an environment that allows everyone to succeed and develop to the fullest of their ability. Everyone has a right to learn at school and no one has a right to interfere with that right.

Rest and sleep – Children need to get a good night’s sleep so they are prepared for a busy day at school. Please ensure your child has a “bedtime” that enables them to get a good night’s sleep

Homework will involve practising their reading, writing, and maths skills. It will also include children completing work not finished at school and at times carrying out research for negotiated curriculum tasks. In fairness to all students and to facilitate ease of correction, students must return homework on the due date. Students should plan for daily homework time along with reading time and set themselves a portion of the work to be completed daily.

Responsibilities:
Children in grades 3 - 6 are expected to be responsible for themselves and their belongings. This means looking after their own clothes, hanging up their bag in the morning and carrying it home themselves at the end of the day; handing their homework in on time, putting their lunch orders in the bag themselves, bringing back permission notes on time, etc.

We expect the children to read every day for at least 30 minutes, and to ensure they get a good night’s sleep each night so that they are ready to learn the next day.

Children are allowed to have a water bottle at their table during the day and a healthy snack (fruit, cheese, carrot, etc). It is the children’s responsibility to bring the water and snack into the room at the start of the day, so they have it when they need it.

Though children are permitted to go to the toilet during class time when needed, it is important that children go to the toilet before school and during play times, so as not to lose out on their learning time.

Curriculum
Reading is more than saying the words. It also involves understanding the author’s message, relating information to your own experience and the world you are familiar with; and making judgements to think critically about whether you agree or disagree with the writer. We encourage children to question what they read and to be aware that what they read may not necessarily be true or accurate. To do this we engage children in reading a wide variety of reading material (Fiction and Non Fiction) and have them explain their understanding of what they have read in a variety of ways.

Writing includes learning correct letter formation and joining techniques in order to develop legible handwriting. It also covers the different genres and purposes of writing – eg. narratives, instructions, letters, e-mails, reports, etc. Punctuation, correct grammar and sentence structure, and interesting language are all important in conveying meaning accurately and engaging the reader. Children need to consciously proof read and edit their writing to ensure their meaning is clear and that it is interesting enough to make the reader want to read it.
Spelling is an extremely important part of the writing process. It is covered both formally and informally in the classroom. The Smart Words program introduces children to particular word families and rules associated with spelling. It develops their vocabulary as they explore the different meanings and uses of the words.
Speaking and Listening is vital if children are to communicate effectively with each other and their world. Skills needed include projecting the voice, and speaking clearly in full sentences, identifying the main points from spoken texts, being able to follow instructions.
Mathematics is not simply number, though number is a major part of the program. It also covers space, measurement, chance and data, working mathematically and structure.
In number some of the areas covered include counting patterns, place value, the 4 processes, fractions – decimal and vulgar, percentages, automatic response and tables. Measurement involves the use of various scales and tables for weight, length, area, volume, capacity, and angles. Chance and Data involves the collecting, collating and recording of information graphically; interpreting graphs and tables and calculating/predicting the likelihood (chance) of events occurring. Space involves the world of shapes, location and direction. Working mathematically and Structure look at the practical application of maths such as in problem solving – knowing what aspects of maths (skills/rules) to apply and when to apply them, and the use of mathematical tools such as a calculator or computer.
Negotiated Curriculum Here the children, under guidance, are able to determine the direction of their own learning. The aim is to skill children to carry out their own investigations and to present the findings in a way that demonstrates their enhanced knowledge and skills. It is an opportunity for all students to meet their own personal goals in general knowledge development in areas of interest, but also develop generic skills along the way. Emphasis is placed on learning how to learn and how to find information rather than on the specific facts gathered.
Children select topic, followed by recording their already existing knowledge. From there children formulate further questions they wish to answer about the topic. They research various media to find their answers then present back to the class. The form of presentation can be: pictorial, a recording, a model, digital, written, book, poster, slide show, dramatisation, etc. To conclude children revisit the recording of their prior knowledge and compare that to what they now know.
Information Technology The use of computers, associated hardware and software programs is integrated into all aspects of the curriculum. All students in years 3 – 6 will create and develop a digital portfolio during the year, recording their achievements and progress.

Specialists
Children attend science, music, physical education and enhanced literacy classes as well.

Term Topics
Term one          Relationship
Term two          Government
Term three        Antarctica
Term four         The Environment
These topics cover the curriculum areas of Civics and Citizenship, Humanities (history and geography), Health and Science

Enhanced Learning Program
On Wednesday afternoons, beginning in term 2, children will be doing an enhanced learning program which will involve, them choosing activities they would like to learn about. Activities will include options such as cooking, scrap booking, knitting, crochet, cartooning, making cards, playing board games and card games, netball, etc. Each activity will run for 5 weeks. In order to provide the materials needed for the different activities children have asked for there is a fee of $20.

It is really important that all payments are made by the due date or students will miss out on the activity. This is because of the computer accounting system that needs definite cut off dates so payments can be made. Remember to put all payments in correctly marked envelopes and make sure you only pay the discount amount if you write this year’s discount number on the envelope.