Term 2 Overview

Welcome back to Term 2! It’s going to be another busy and exciting term with lots of events and opportunities taking place. Below is an overview of some of the activities students will be involved in.

Reading

This term students have begun studying our class novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. They’re making great connections with the text and exploring the difficult subject matter in a mature and thoughtful way.

Our OC Book Club will meet at the end of the term. We are reading the text Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley, a beautiful story about life, love and books.

At the end of last term I purchased a whole range of new novels for our OC Class Library. It has been wonderful to see so many students borrowing and enjoying these and sharing their recommendations with others. Please encourage your child to choose a book to bring home if they haven’t done so already.

Writing

This term students will be learning about a variety of concepts and devices to enhance their writing skills and will use these to produce imaginative, informative and persuasive texts. Part of this process involves students sharing their work with peers for critiquing and publishing finished pieces of writing on their individual blogs.

Last term our students demonstrated great skill and flair for writing imaginative texts. This term our focus will move towards producing persuasive texts. I will continue to showcase quality examples on the blog.

Students are currently working on a writing project based on the visual text Small Things. We will also begin working on an entry for this year’s NESA Write On competition. 

Mathematics

During our maths sessions, students will work in group rotations. The maths content we will be covering this term includes: 2D Space, Fractions and Decimals, Volume and Capacity, Patterns and Algebra, Chance and Data, Whole Number and Time.

During this term and next, the OC will be participating the in annual APSMO Maths Olympiad and Maths Games program. The entry fee is $15 per student. Students are able to access past Olympiad papers as part of the homework options. The Olympiads are quite challenging, but a great way for students to develop their problem solving skills.

Students have also been enjoying taking taking part in Ken Ken puzzles, similar to Sudoku but more challenging, and I have added these to our weekly homework options.

Students invited to take part in the AMT Challenge will begin working on their problems later this term when notes/payment have been returned.

Excursions

The first event for OC students is the Interschool Chess Challenge, held tomorrow. Thank you to the parents who are helping out with transport.

In Week 4, our Year 5s are heading to a sports GALA day at Waratah Campus and our Year 6s are attending the GRIP Leadership Conference. 

We also have an excursion planned for Week 9 to the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst as a culmination to our novel study of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. 

Homework

Homework for students began last week (Week 2). Again, homework consists of a choice menu, where you can negotiate with your child what activities to complete at home. There is a speaking and listening task for all students to complete – due Week 6. The top 3 speakers will be invited to compete in our Speak Off in Week 7. Parents/carers are invited to attend this event.

 

Geography

This term students will be covering the topic Climate Change with Mrs Derricott on Wednesdays. Students have the opportunity to investigate the causes and effects of climate change on the local and global environment. Students will learn about how to deal with this threat.

Science

Our unit this term is Extreme Weather Phenomena. Students will be learning about a range of extreme weather phenomena, their causes, their impact on humans and the Earth, and how their effects can be mitigated.

Sport

Congratulations to our PSSA Soccer and Netball teams representing our school each Friday. Students remaining at school will be taking part in the Aussie Hoops program. Thank you to the families who have already paid their $10 fee.

Our Athletics Carnival has also been rescheduled for the 6th June.

Writing Buddies

Last term our class worked with 3S for our Reading Buddies program. This term we will be doing Writing Buddies and I am looking forward to seeing them share their amazing writing skills with our younger students.

Children’s University

We are organising some fantastic opportunities for our Children’s University students this term. We will be having an after school session on Wednesday 30th May where students will take part in activities provided by the University as well as any keen parents or community members willing to share a skill or passion. There is also a Campus visit day for students to attend with a family member. Notes about this will be sent home on Tuesday at our CU Check In session at 1.15pm.

Events

The UNSW ICAS competitions begin this term. We had our Digital Technologies last week, Science in Week 5 and Writing and Spelling in Week 7. 

Our Hall of Fame assembly will take place on Monday afternoon in Week 10.

The OC will be hosting our Monday assembly in Week 9, 25th June at 11.40am. We’d love it if you could come along and join us. 

Our SRC will be organising a Disco to take place in Week 8 – Wednesday 20th June. Special guest DJ Mix-a-lot will be back! Tickets on sale soon.

We will be celebrating NAIDOC Day in the last week of this term with a special day of activities on the Friday and cultural events throughout the week.

Permission notes and information has been sent home about our Term 3 major excursion to Canberra. Payments can be made at the office or online.

Semester 1 reports will be sent home with students on the final day of term. 

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

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