Middle School Newsletter: Volume 17

Middle School Newsletter: Volume 16

Term 4

Weeks 8 & 9

What's happening in the Middle School?

 

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

Well, it's that time of year again! Christmas decorations going up and carols being sung. We have a busy couple of weeks coming up to make sure that the time flies and we will all be on summer holidays before we know it.

The Middle School have been reflecting upon their learning and looking forward to the new adventures that await next year.

During this hot weather (my favourite), please remind your child to pack a drink bottle, the school uniform wide brimmed hat and sunscreen each day.

  Remember to check for new events in the Calendar Dates section below.

 

Learning and Teaching

We Are Learning To (WALT)....

READING: 

know how words work using a word map
reflect upon the reading strategies and how they help us to comprehend what we read

WRITING: 

transactional - writing letters to Santa and invitations to our parents for our open afternoon

MATHS:

explore 2D and 3D shapes (including the properties of these shapes and symmetry)

SPELLING: 

Week 9:

Grade 3: The digraph /se/ making the sound “z” as in cheese.

Grade 4: The graph /a/ making the sound “a’ as in ant

 
UNIT OF STUDY (Design and Technology): 

On Monday the Middle School students ventured down to the Duck Park to test their
boats! Over the course of the term the teams have worked together to plan, design and build their boats using recycled materials. Their design brief was to transport a packet of biscuits and most groups were successful! Photos are below.

 

PLAY IS THE WAY: 

Takes great strength to be sensible.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LITERACY: 

Emotional triggers and how we react to the triggers.

Term 4 Calendar Dates

Thursday 7/12, 14/12: STOMP dance program.



Friday 8th December: Whole School House Athletics - all day


Monday 11th December: Whole School Rainbow-A-Thon. 9-11am. Information and sponsor forms have been handed out today and need to be returned ASAP

 

Friday 15th December: Carols Night

Wednesday 20th December: Middle School end of year party at Southern Road park

Friday 22nd December: Last Day of Term 4- Deck the Halls!!!!!!!!

 

In the Spotlight......Taskworks Excursion!

 

In the Spotlight......Boat Launch Day!

 

 

Have a very merry Christmas,

 

Nikki, Jess, Matt and Nick

 

 

 

Middle School Newsletter: Volume 16

Middle School Newsletter: Volume 15

Term 4

Weeks 6 & 7

What's happening in the Middle School?

 

"Money, money, money.....always sunny....in a rich man's world".

This term is flying as we approach week 8. The students are to be commended on their positive attitude and willingness to complete a mountain of assessment beneficial for report writing. They have all been outstanding at this!

STOMP Dance has begun and from the standard of the students in the first session, I can assure you that the end of year performance will be amazing from the Middle School. See some pics below.

During this hot weather (my favourite), please remind your child to pack a drink bottle, the school uniform wide brimmed hat and sunscreen each day.

  Remember to check for new events in the Calendar Dates section below.

 

Learning and Teaching

 

We Are Learning To (WALT)....

READING: 

combine prior knowledge with new information to create new ideas (synthesising) know how words work using a word mapWRITING: 

poetry -  Found poems using pages from old books
transactional -writing letters to Santa

MATHS:

represent money in a number of ways and solve problems involving money
SPELLING: 

Week 6

Grade 3: plural rule words - words ending in f/fe drop the f/fe and add ves. Exceptions

Grade 4: the graph /l/ making the sound 'l' as in leg. Words of more than one syllable that end in /l/, usually double the 'l' and then add the vowel suffix

 

Week 7

Grade 3: the graph /u/ making the sound 'w' as in quilt
Grade 4: the letter /u/ making the 2 sounds 'y' and 'oo'

 

UNIT OF STUDY (Design and Technology): 

Ships Ahoy.....The boats are complete!! The students are now using Powerpoint to present the design process. Our 'Boat Launch Day' will be conducted at the Duck Park on Monday 3rd December.
Families are welcome to attend this but if you cannot make it, there will also be a presentation in the Middle School during week 10 for you to see your child's boat, Powerpoint presentation and work completed for this unit.

 

PLAY IS THE WAY: 

Takes great strength to be sensible.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LITERACY: 

Emotional triggers and how we react to the triggers.

Term 4 Calendar Dates

Thursday 16/11, 23/11, 30/11, 7/12, 14/12: STOMP dance program.


Monday 27th November: Middle School Taskworks excursion. Please be at school at 9am sharp. See Flexibuzz for what to wear and bring on the day.


Tuesday 28th November: Curriculum Day...sleep in....zzzzz

Friday 1st December: Whole School Rainbow-A-Thon. 9-11am. Information and sponsor forms have been handed out today and need to be returned before Wednesday 13th December.

Friday 8th December: Whole School House Athletics - all day

Friday 15th December: Carols Night

Friday 22nd December: Last Day of Term 4- Deck the Halls!!!!!!!!

• 
  

In the Spotlight......STOMP STOMP!

 

Have a great week,

 

Nikki, Jess, Matt and Nick

 

 

 

Middle School Newsletter: Volume 15

Middle School Newsletter: Volume 15

Term 4

Weeks 4 & 5

What's happening in the Middle School?

 

Poems, poems, poems.....Mrs Mac thought she'd have a go at writing some poems too. Let her know what you think!!!

Haikus for Writing

Amazing from the kids

Fun to write and read

There once was a group of kids called Middle,

Who liked to solve all kinds of riddles.

They worked them out

And gave a shout

Then got up and sang 'Hey Diddle Diddle'

 

  Remember to check for new events in the Calendar Dates section below.

 

Learning and Teaching

 

We Are Learning To (WALT)....

READING: 

make inferences by using our schema and the clues in the text that we read

WRITING: 

explore poetry and use the structure of a Haiku and Limerick to publish our very own

MATHS:

solve division problems using our knowledge of different strategies

 

 

SPELLING: 

Week 4

Grade 3: Plurals- words ending in y add ies
Grade 4: Prefix 'dis' as in disorganised

 

Week 5

Spelling Assessment

 

UNIT OF STUDY (Design and Technology): 

We have finished our designs, collected the required materials and begun making the boats!! You might like to ask your child how much their boat is going to cost. Stay tuned for the date for our 'Boat Launch' celebration.

 

PLAY IS THE WAY: 

Takes great strength to be sensible.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LITERACY: 
Emotional triggers and how we react to the triggers.

Term 4 Calendar Dates

Monday 27th November: Excursion to Taskworks. See QKR for payment and please return orange permission form asap

Thursday 16/11, 23/11, 30/11, 7/12, 14/12: STOMP dance program.

Friday 1st December: Whole School Walk-A-Thon. More details soon

Friday 8th December: Whole School House Athletics - all day

Friday 15th December: Carols Night

Friday 22nd December: Last Day of Term 4- Jingle Bells!!!!!!!!

• 
  

In the Spotlight......Our very own Poets!

 

We've been busy writing Haikus and Limericks.

Come in and see all our wonderful poems displayed around the Middle School.

Have a great week,

 

Nikki, Jess, Matt and Nick

 

 

 

Middle School Newsletter: Volume 14

Middle School Newsletter: Volume 14

Term 4

Weeks 1, 2 & 3

What's happening in the Middle School?

 

Come on and sing along....."It's the final countdown!"
Term 4 is a long one....11 weeks full of fun and festivities to cap off a brilliant year! We have some exciting happenings so be sure to check the Calendar Dates section below.

 

The teachers are especially looking forward to seeing what the students achieve in our new inquiry unit called What Floats Your Boat? We are sure you have heard lots about this and like us, can't wait to see the final product! In only a few sessions, the students have already shown how eager they are to explore this new topic which is so pleasing. Just what we like to see....enthusiasm, self motivation and team work!

 

  

 

Learning and Teaching

 

We Are Learning To (WALT)....

READING: 

ask questions related to the text at different stages of reading
make inferences by using our schema and the clues in the text that we read

WRITING: 

understand the structure of a recount and use this to write about an event from the school holidays
explore poetry and use the structure of a Haiku to publish our very own

MATHS:

tell the time to the minute and investigate different units of time
solve division problems using our knowledge of different strategies

 

 

SPELLING: 

Week 1

Grade 3: The digraph /aw/ making the sound “or” as in saw
Grade 4: The graph /n/ as in net, the digraph /nn/ as in dinner, the digraph /kn/ as in knee

 

Week 2

Grade 3: The trigraph /our/ as in colour.
Grade 4: The graph /m/ as in mouse, the digraph /mm/ as in hammer, the digraph /mb/ as in lamb

 

Week 3

Grade 3: The graph /e/ making the sound “eh” as in garden.
Grade 4: The quadgraph /eigh/ as in eight, the split digraph /a-e/ as in tape

 

 

UNIT OF STUDY (Design and Technology): 

Exploring materials that float and brainstorming ideas in groups to create a boat that will float and hold a weight. Look how much fun we had exploring materials!!

 

 

 

PLAY IS THE WAY: 

Pursue your personal best, no matter who you are working with.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LITERACY: 
Emotional triggers and how we react to the triggers.

 

Term 4 Calendar Dates

Friday 27th October: Play is the Way Open Day- 11.30-1.30

Friday 3rd November: Whole School Photo

Tuesday 7th November: Melbourne Cup Day - No School - Giddy Up!

Monday 27th November: Excursion to Taskworks. See QKR for payment and please return orange permission form asap

Thursday 16/11, 23/11, 30/11, 7/12, 14/12: STOMP dance program.

Friday 1st December: Whole School Walk-A-Thon. More details soon

Friday 8th December: Whole School House Athletics - all day

Friday 15th December: Carols Night

Friday 22nd December: Last Day of Term 4- Jingle Bells!!!!!!!!

• 
  

Making News

Term 4 - Design & Technology

Stay tuned for information regarding our 'Boat Launching Day'. A great opportunity for family and friends to see what the students have achieved in this unit.

Have a great week,

 

Nikki, Jess, Matt and Nick