Term 3 Overview

With Term 3 well and truly underway, below is an overview of some of the opportunities and learning programs students will be involved in throughout the term. Remember to visit the OC Events page as I will be updating it regularly throughout the term when dates and information become available.

Sapphires Fundraising

We are so proud of Elsie, Sophia and Sia (our Sapphires) who will be representing our school at the Australian Championships later this term. A huge thank you to everyone who has shown their support by getting involved in our Friday fundraising festivities. So far we’ve had a cake stall and out of uniform day. Next week is a lunchtime disco and pizza day is Week 4. Be sure to get your pizza orders in by Tuesday 4th August as no late orders will be accepted.

Homework

Homework for students began this week (Week 2). Included in our homework menu this term, students will have the option to work on past papers for the Newcastle Permanent maths competition which is coming up in a few weeks. This term’s speaking and listening task has also been sent home and is due in Week 6.

Class Needs

It’s that time of year when many students need to replenish materials and equipment. Please encourage your child to bring the required equipment each day, in particular – glue stick, USB, headphones and pens. We are also running low on tissues.

Mastery Core Value

This term we are focusing on the core value of quality. Students who achieve 5 mastery ribbons will be inducted into our Hall of Fame during our special assembly in Week 10.

Reading

This term students will be studying the class novel Esty’s Gold by Mary Arrigan. This historical fiction novel supports our history topic and is about a young Irish girl and her family who survive the potato famine and make their way to Australia to find gold.

OC Book Club

A note will be sent home next week about our August book. We have been recommended Troll Mountain written by Matthew Reilly. Well done to everyone who read last month’s favourite, Fairy Tales for Wilde Girls.

Writing

This term our major focus is on informative texts. Students will be learning about a variety of devices used to create effective informative texts.

Students are currently working on an imaginative piece of writing for this year’s Board of Studies Write On competition. Our best entry will be submitted to represent our school for Stage 3.

Mathematics

During our maths sessions, students will work in groups, covering a different strand each week. The maths content we will be covering this term includes: Fractions & Decimals, Volume & Capacity, Mass, Patterns & Algebra, Chance, Length, Area and Data. Students will continue their participation the in annual Maths Olympiad and Maths Games– 3 to go! So far, students have been doing a terrific job solving these challenging problems. Students also have the opportunity to access past Olympiad papers as part of the homework options.

The ICAS Maths competition is coming up in Week 5 and the Australian Maths competition next week for students who have paid. All students in Year 5 and 6 will take part in the Newcastle Permanent Maths competition in Week 7.

Premiers Reading Challenge

Well done to the students who are taking part in this year’s challenge and who have been entering their books online. There’s not long to go – all reading logs need to be completed by 21/8/15 (end of Week 6) for validation. Keep reading!!

Premiers Spelling Bee

One of my favourite events – the Premiers Spelling Bee – will be taking place this term in Week 6. Information will be sent home soon for students who wish to participate. Parents and carers will also have the opportunity to come and watch the Spelling Bee.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

At the end of this term we will again hold parent/teacher interviews to discuss student progress and development. These interviews will also allow the opportunity to review student’s Individual Educational Plans (IEP). The online booking system will again be used and information regarding this will be sent home closer to the end of term.

Excursions

In Week 9 this term is our Stage 3 excursion to the Great Aussie Bush Camp. Thank you to all the families who have finalised payments or have been making regular instalments. If you require assistance or have any questions, please let me know.

The OC will also be taking part in the Science and Engineering Discovery Day in Week 9. Permission notes will be sent home later this term.

Our top 5 Chess players (Jack, Dan, Cala, Adrian and Zane) have been invited to compete in the semi-finals at Coal Point PS in Week 5. Good luck!

HSIE/History

This term students will take part in the unit Australian Colonies: Gold.  Students will have the opportunity to explore the influence of the discovery of gold on Australian identity, environment and heritage. The unit focuses on significant events, actions and people as well as lifestyles and perspectives of the people and groups living at that time.

Techno Buddies

Last term our class worked with 1E for the Writing Buddies program. This term we will be focusing on technology where students will have the opportunity to share their technological skills with our younger students and create and use projects using our class iPads.

CEP Outdoor Festival

Our school will be taking part in the Callaghan Education Pathways (CEP) Outdoor Media Festival in Term 4. This event was very successful last year with many schools in our cluster participating. Part of the festival involves a short film screening and the OC have the task of making a film for our school. We will begin working on our filming project this term. Information about the CEP Outdoor Festival will be sent out towards the end of this term.

Events

This term has already been quite busy with lots of events taking place. Many of our Yr 5 students are working on scripts and storyboards for this year’s Water Catchers competition. Some of our Yr 6 students will be taking part in the NBN Junior Journos program in Week 4. We have another group of Yr 6s devising a story for the video category of the Newcastle Herald writing competition.

We are celebrating Education Week – Grandparents Day this Thursday 30th July beginning at 9.30am. We will be showcasing creative and performing arts programs with performances from our choir, dance groups, school band and public speakers. Following our assembly you’re invited to visit our student Art Gallery set up in the lower hall. A huge thank you to Jane Lander who has been working with students on their art project in the Art Cave and is setting up our student gallery.

We will be receiving a visit from our Mathematicians in Schools partner, Dr Jarad, in Week 6 as part of National Science Week.

In Week 10 this term, students will be organising our Year 5/6 Fair which is a fun celebration day for all students and our major fundraising initiative for our Year 6 Farewell and school gift.

Finally, congratulations to all the students who have had a wonderful start to the term. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding OC learning programs or events.

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