ST AGNES CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL PETERSON STREET, HIGHETT 3190 TELEPHONE (03) 9532 0344 FAX (03) 9553 3039 Email: principal@sahighett.catholic.edu.au Website: www.sahighett.catholic.edu.au Term 4 Overview - Yr 3/4 2012 Dear Year 3 and 4 parents and students, We would like to offer you all a very warm welcome back to Term 4. We are looking forward to an exciting term of warm weather, consolidating and building on current learning and the celebration of Advent and Christmas. Important Dates Term 4 It is important to read the school newsletter weekly and to take note of school events. Wednesday 24 th October Andrew Fuller evening 7.00 9.00pm Friday 26 th October World Teacher s Day. Monday 5 th November School Closure Day Tuesday 6 th November Melbourne Cup Day Holiday Wednesday 7 th November 2013 Prep Parent s Information Night Friday 9 th November- Twilight Sports Monday 26 th November School Closure Day. Monday3rd December Swimming Program commences Wednesday 12 th December- Thank You Morning Tea for Parent Helpers Monday 17 h December- Meet the 2013 Teacher and Classmates Wednesday 19 th December- Mass of Thanksgiving (whole school 6:30pm) Thursday 20 th December- Last Day of Term 4 at 2:30 Page 1 of 5
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION This term the Religion units will be: Creation: Living in Harmony Emmanuel, God Is With Us! In this unit, Creation: Living in Harmony students will investigate the Christian tradition of stewardship and the equitable use of the earth s resources. Students are invited to identify either a local or global environmental issue, and to analyse what causes this issue and how it affects human life. Students will evaluate their values and beliefs about this issue in the light of Catholic social teaching and the Scriptures. They identify and plan ways that they can respond to this issue as stewards of creation. In this unit, Emmanuel, God Is With Us! students will enter into the seasons of Advent and Christmas. They will reflect on ways they experience God in their own lives and see signs of God s presence in their world during Advent. They will then analyse the characters and events of Matthew s Infancy Narrative. They will consider the importance of the story of Jesus birth in the celebration of Christmas. Students will be asked to participate in daily Advent prayer and celebrate Advent and Christmas liturgies. Thursday Morning Mass Each Thursday the Grades 3 to 6 attend morning mass. The children are seated in the church by 8.55am for a 9am start. Please ensure your child is at school on time to minimise the disruption to the parish community. During the term the students will also be attending reconciliation after mass with Father Vincent. INQUIRY LEARNING Imagine That In this unit the students will gain the following understandings: Matter takes up space and comes in three states: solids, liquids and gases. Matter can be transformed by energy, including heating, cooling and mixing. Some changes in matter happen quickly and some slowly; some changes are permanent and some can be reversed. People throughout time have used their knowledge of how to change matter to make better and more useful products. Some chemicals are dangerous if not used properly, others we use safely in our everyday lives. Page 2 of 5
ENGLISH Reading The students will continue to read and respond to a range of complex texts. They will continue to interpret the main idea and discuss the purpose of different texts. The main text types they will be focusing on this term will be Persuasive texts, Narratives and Reports. During the study of these texts the students will investigate the key features of particular genres and the authors writing style. Writing The students will focus on writing Explanations and Reports which tie in with our Inquiry unit this term. A strong emphasis will continue with handwriting and grammar. Speaking and listening The students will be asked to prepare speeches and informal presentations that demonstrate that they can project their voice adequately for an audience and ask clarifying questions. NUMERACY Number In number this term we will be focusing on using materials, drawings and notation to develop concepts of decimals to tenths and hundredths. We will continue work in place value extending number range to tens of thousands and beyond. Children will use place value understandings to round numbers up and down to the nearest unit, ten, hundred, or thousand. We will focus on clever and efficient strategies and continue to use mental and written methods to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers up to 30. Focus on clever and efficient strategies. e.g 46 + 9 = Add 10 and subtract 1. Measurement, chance and data As we are doing a science topic this term we will plan and conduct own chance experiments to further understanding of the concept of likeliness and display the results of these experiments. The children will explore estimating and measuring temperatures in metric units using thermometers. They will recognise and use where appropriate informal and formal metric units to estimate and measure mass in appropriate contexts. (For example circular scales such as bathroom scales) Space In space we will be continuing to investigate 3D shapes and in particular be looking at representing simple 3D shapes using nets, cross sections and projections. Page 3 of 5
SOCIAL SKILLS This term we will be reviewing all of St Agnes Values: Respect, Care and Compassion, Honesty Trustworthiness, Tolerance and Responsibility. Through stories, role playing and discussion the students will be looking at the meaning of values and how they assist them in living the life Jesus planned for us. I.C.T This term, the students in Year 3 and 4 will continue to develop their understanding of the need for working safely on the internet and how to send emails with attachments. They will be using my classes and search engines to gather information related to this term s topic. SPECIALIST LESSONS Please note that specialist teachers will be providing an overview of the work covered during Term 4 in the school newsletter. Our specialist program includes Italian with Anna Gugliucciello and Physical Education with Amanda Baker which will be held on Tuesday and therefore the students need to wear sports uniform on a Tuesday. The students second sport lesson this term will be held on Friday. Sport uniform days for Term 3 are Tuesday and Friday. Performing Arts specialist lessons will be held on Wednesdays with Amanda Baker. Visual Art lesson will also be held on Wednesday with Barb Lillie. Students need to bring an Art smock. Italian P.E Performing Arts Visual Arts 3/4H Tues 2.45-3.15 Tues 2.15-2.45 Wed 8.45-9.25 Wed 12.25-1.25 3/4C Tues 2.15-2.45 Tues 2.45-3.15 Wed 9.25-10.05 Wed 11.25-12.25 HOMEWORK In Grade 3/4 the children will be required to read independently each night as part of their homework. Students are expected to read for at least 15 minutes each night. This needs to be recorded in their homework books and signed by a parent or guardian. The children should also be reading aloud a couple of times a week to a parent, as this improves their fluency and expression. Homework tasks will go home on Thursday and are to be returned completed by the following Wednesday. We ask that you sight and sign your child s homework each week. Homework tasks will cover areas being taught in the classroom and there may be days where some children will bring home unfinished work to be completed that night. Spelling has a strong focus in homework again this semester. Each week the children will bring home a list of spelling words that usually follow a particular pattern or blend of letters. The children will need to learn these throughout the week and children will then be given a test on those words on the Wednesday morning. We continue to appreciate all of your support with homework. Page 4 of 5
REMINDERS Please send a note with your child, addressed to the class teacher, if he/she is absent or out of school uniform for any reason. All students are encouraged to have a water bottle at school which may be placed on their table. Research has shown that students learn better when they are properly hydrated. We encourage you to provide highly nutritious food at all times. Each day students have an opportunity to participate in Fruit Break as part of the school timetable. Students are allowed to eat a piece of fruit or vegetables at 10:00am to sustain them until recess. Students are required to wear a hat. The wearing of a school hat is compulsory during play and sport times. Parents are reminded that a Working with Children Check must be obtained prior to attending school excursions when the opportunity arises. Students are to wear school hats this term. NO HAT NO PLAY! Please feel free to call in or write to the class teacher about any queries concerning your child. We look forward to sharing the coming term with you and your child. Mr Cherry Emma Herbert & John Whitten Year 3/4C Year 3/4H Page 5 of 5