We are a partnership……..

where we all work together for the benefit of your child.

The most important part of our school.

Each child is a unique individual developing at his or her own rate.

Children learn to crawl, walk and talk at different ages. It’s the same with learning at school.

Our Class

S1/2W is a Year 2and Year 3 multi staged class, with 29 students. The transition for your children is becoming serene and calm. Each child is reminded of the different responsibilities that we each have to keep our classroom a safe, fun and happy place to stay and learn.

My role this year to is foster self-reliance in your child and to help them become independent.

We are also focusing on RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, CARE and CONSIDERATION– the 4 values of the school.

Thank you to the parents who have already purchased the requirements for our classroom so that we can start using them.

Class Routines

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 9.00 am Morning Assembly 9.15 am Drama – Mrs Wood 12.00pm-1.55pm ICT in library

9.00 am RFF Music- Mrs Adams - recorder Mr Piggott on class 2.30pm CAPA Yr 2 Choir – Mrs Hubbard Yr 3 Choir - Mrs Adams Star Stuck Prac

9.00 am Morning Assembly 9.15 am: Scripture 9.45 am: Michael Day - Maths 12.00pm Library- Mrs Payne

9.00 am : Michael Day - Maths 9.00 am: Multi Lit tutors 12.30 -1.00pm Mrs Edwards (STLA) Year 3 1.00 pm Sports in Schools

9.00am: Mrs Edwards (STLA) Year 3 10.00am: PD/Health Mrs Savage 2.15pm: Whole school assembly alternate weeks Assembly or Parliament Yr 3 – Yr 6

Reading

Within our classroom all types of reading occur.

We have group, individual, shared, modelled and individual learning programs. We are using the Wings series at the moment for groups 1 to 3 and group 4 are reading Bookshelf Books.

The children who work with Mrs Edwards have been assessed and their programs started this week. They see Mrs Edwards on a Thursday and Friday morning starting at 9.00am. So if your child is in one of these groups can you make sure that they are at school on time.

Reading Box, Yellow and Blue is another graded reading scheme which is being used. This kit is made up of cards using different types of texts with comprehension activities, self-marking cards and a progress chart for students to complete. Students work on these cards individually and at their own level.

Home Reading will begin in Term 2. Children who are reading at PM benchmark level 17 or more will borrow library books for their home reading. Children who are at a level less than 17 will be given supplementary readers to take home. This year there is a Ppt booklet to add the books that you read. It is on the class blog to download.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Year 2 and Year 3 students will be taking part in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Bob Carr started this program to encourage a love of reading. The students who take part need to read 20 books from now until August.

Year 2 children need to be read 30 books. This will happen in the classroom.

Year 3 children need to read 20 books -15of these books must be from the Premier’s Reading Challenge List. Students in Year 3 will fill out a Reading record at school as they complete each book. Year 3 will enter their reading online whilst Mrs Payne or myself will enter Year 2 online.

Mrs Payne has compiled the list of books at school. The list is quite extensive and therefore it shouldn’t be too hard to find at least 15 books from the list. The other 5 books that they need to read need to be of a similar quality to a book on the list. Or it can simply be 20 from the list.

A certificate will be issued to each successful student.

If you wish to know more you can log onto www.schools.nsw.edu.au/premiersreadingchallenge/rules34.html

Spelling

All Year 2 and Year 3 children have been assessed using the Single Word Spelling test. This ensures that the lists that your children are exposed to match their capabilities. We are using the Spelling Conventions Text Book which

caters to individual student learning.

Also I have purchased a subscription to Spelling and Vocabulary City. http://www.spellingcity.com/

Your child has been given a username and password and the activities on the site are in line with the spelling words for the week.

Writing

Writing encompasses writing different text types –information reports, procedures, narratives, explanations, discussions, recounts, as well as handwriting, spelling and grammar.

At the moment we as a class have been concentrating on persuasive texts and will soon start information reports for our Creepy Crawlies theme.

This year my students in Year 3 will be taking part in NAPLAN. Students are assessed using common national tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.

These will take place on :

Tuesday 15 May 2012 Wednesday 16 May 2012 Thursday 17 May 2012

Year 3 Language Conventions

40 minutes

Writing

40 minutes

Reading

45 minutes

Numeracy

45 minutes

We have been told that the text type will again focus Persuasive Text. You can find out more information at http://www.naplan.edu.au/

Our Class blog is http://cnps2.edublogs.org//

Please see attached note about our blog.

Talking and Listening– Our weekly news timetable develops confidence within the children to speak in front of their peers. We have a time keeper and a person to choose the best listener. There is also a time for questions or comments about a person’s

news.

Something that will be fostered this year is when children have completed an activity we will share what we have done. Sometimes with a small group and sometimes with the whole class. Talking and most especially the listening aspect are very important to children's’ learning.

Students will also record their news some days to add to our blog.

Maths:

This year the school has again purchased the rights for 12 months to Mathletics, It is a great program that supports the K-6 maths syllabus. I am setting your child's homework from here. If you do not have internet access no child is disadvantaged, as I give them time in the classroom to do this part of their maths homework.

It provides a fun and stimulating way to learn their maths. It is also from there that I can monitor how well students have grasped different maths concepts. Some children are exceptionally good at number, some at space and measurement, and some with patterns and algebra. At this stage there is a lot of revision happening. One aspect that has shone through is the need for their times tables. This will be practiced every day in the classroom.

At the moment we are also busy assessing the children with Maths assessments to see where each child needs extra help with their learning.

Music

Mrs Adams as part of her RFF program teaches music to the students. She also teaches recorder. Please ensure that your child brings their recorder on a Tuesday.

Parent Helpers.

Parents are most welcome to help in the classroom with reading, working on the computer and art. There is a Parent helper’s sheet that is at the back of this information sheet. You are most welcome to come and join in our fun with learning.

Some Useful Things to Know

Absences.

This year if a child needs to leave early or arrives late you must report to the front office and fill out a leaver’s book. A small yellow slip with your child's name, class, reason and time are entered onto this slip. This goes into the class roll.

If a child is absent a note must be returned to the school within 7 days of the child’s return to school.

If you are going on a holiday, then you need to fill out a form available at the office which the principals must sign.

Assembly

This term every second Friday at 2.15pm. You will be let know when it is our time to perform. Awards are also given out at these assemblies. If you can, please come and watch.

Awards.

Awards are given out at assemblies. Please keep all awards in a safe place as your child might be eligible for a Gold, Silver or Bronze award at the end of the year.

Birthday Cakes

Birthday cakes are most welcome at our school. Due to not wanting to have a knife in the classroom could they please be either cupcakes or already precut?

Class Requirements.

Thank you for your prompt response to these. Please don’t let your child bring in rubbers. Thank you to the parents who have already purchased the Spelling text book. We will be able to start using them soon.

Connected Learning Awards

The students will again participate in the Connected Learning Awards. These awards give students opportunities to design and create digital works for real life purposes. Students develop skills in communicating, collaborating, and having fun.

Each student contributing to a creation is required to sign a ‘Permission to Publish’ form. This form needs to be signed for each competition that they enter. It also needs to be returned by due date otherwise your child’ entry cannot be uploaded to the CCL site.

Crunch and Sip

Children can participate in a fruit /vegetable/water break during the morning session. Please if it is an apple can it be cut up? Crunch and sip is only a 10 minute break.

Enquiries

If you have any concerns regarding your child please contact me. If the matter needs to be discussed at length a suitable interview time can then be arranged. Straight after school I am responsible for bus duty. Some afternoons it can come quite late. Also on a Wednesday I have a staff meeting.

If you wish to see me after school, please be patient until I have completed bus duty as the children's safety is very important.

Events for Your Calendar

Crossroads Swimming: 23rd February

Clean Up Australia Day ~ 2nd March

School Cross Country ~ 2nd March

Performance ~ 15th March

Newcastle Show Day Holiday ~ 16th March

Zone Cross Country~ 21st March

School Photos. –27th March

Home Reading~ Starts term 2

Excursions- Yr 2- Term 3 week 8 Hunter Wetlands (tentative)

Yr 3 – term 3 week 7- Sydney (tentative)

Lunch Orders

These must be handed into the canteen before school. Please provide a paper bag with your child’s name, class, money and order written clearly on the bag. Don’t forget the canteen is closed on a Wednesday.

Labels

Please label all belongings, especially pencils, hats, raincoats etc….

Library

Library borrowing is on a Wednesday. The Year 3 children are extremely excited as they can borrow above the Yellow line .If possible children should have a cloth bag so that the books can be protected.

Medicines.

If your child needs to have medication at school please have itlabeled and take to the office. An indemnity form must be completed and signed at the office if your child need medication at school.

News

Your child knows when their news day is. Unfortunately due to time constraints if your child is away and misses their news day they will need to wait till the next week. Please don’t let your child bring in valuable items as sometimes accidents do occur.

Notes and Money

Please send these in in a clearly marked envelope. I will collect these and make sure that they get to the office.

Planning Room

Sometimes things happen out in the playground and we need to sort out what has happened. Therefore your child might be asked to attend the planning room. It is a place where they can go and talk with Mrs Westwood about what has happened and work out a plan to try and stop it from happening again. Sometimes children are asked to go there as witnesses and to sort things out.

Parent/ Relative Helpers.

We love to have you in our room. You are most welcome.

Responsibility

Please encourage your child in this. By having their lead pencils, rulers, ets packed for each school day, notes and money for various events, homework completed and packed.

School Bulletin

This goes home every Wednesday to keep you informed of special events. You can also find a copy on our school website.

School Photos.

Wash the hair. Put on your Sunday best. The photographer is here on29thMarch

Scripture

This is non denominational. It is held on Wednesdays at 9.15-9.45 am.

The Year 3 Catholic children are invited to attend Catholic scripture in the library.

Sport

Thursday is Sport day for Term One. Children wear sport uniforms. PSSA sport starts Term 2 for yrs 3-6

SOS

Some children are asked to go and see Mrs Westwood simply to help resolve issues for others because they may have seen something that happened. Thank you to the children who come along and help sort out these issues.

Staff Development Days

Day 1 Terms 1, 2, 3.

Children are not to attend school on these days.

Uniforms.

Thank you for the way your children look in their correct school uniform. Well Done. Red school hats should be worn every day,

Thank you

Stephanie Westwood