PREP
GENERAL COMMENT
Welcome to the Grade Prep Department, parents and students of 2019! We hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer break and you’re ready and eager for a wonderful year together. We are so excited to introduce the Grade Prep teachers for 2020; Ash Marruso as Team Leader (PAM), Sarah Blair (PBL), Melissa Crosthwaite (PMC), Samantha Boyd (PSB) and Melissa Hosking (PMH). We could not be more pleased with the positive start the children have made to their school education. Such bright and bubbly faces arriving at the door each morning, ready to learn each day. We thank the parents for the openness, honesty and flexibility as the start to the year was different due to the assessments prior the children starting school. You have all done such an amazing job and we encourage you to begin to instill independence in your children by leaving their classroom door promptly each morning. Please consider the toys your children bring to school as we wouldn’t like for the children to lose such special items.
LITERACY
What an exciting start we have made in developing a love of reading! The children have been exploring their classroom libraries, listening to exciting and fun picture story books and have begun to sort their library into fiction and non-fiction categories. They have been exposed to a wide range of different texts, and are beginning to visit the school library and create their own book box in class. Home reading is set to commence at the beginning of Week 6. The children have been enjoying reading independently, doing picture walks and developing the habits of Independent Reading. Language experience has also been a focus, with children doing letter investigations and working on pointing to the words as they read aloud. We have been reading Big Books such as ‘Mrs Wishy-Washy” and have started to read familiar and simple poetry. These sources are helping to create readable material for the students’ Independent Reading book boxes.
INQUIRY
During the first few weeks of Term 1, we will be setting up classroom routines and expectations. Together with the classroom teacher, the students establish relationships with their peers and switch on to their learning.
The Integrated Inquiry this term is based on developing and maintaining these relationships so that they feel happy and confident for the year. The children are learning about the different people in the school and their place at Lara Lake. This is done through open exposure to the many teaching staff so that students are familiar and comfortable with the different teachers and environments at school.
NUMERACY
In Numeracy this term, students will begin the year with a selection of fun activities by gathering and recording information from their new grade. Students will then continue to build their number and place value knowledge by investigating number sequences as well as recognising, modelling and ordering numbers from 0-10 and beyond. We have been learning through number walks around the school, visual representations of numbers and real life application of concepts.
Throughout the term, students will make connections between addition and subtraction in order to solve problems using a range of efficient mental and written strategies.
REMINDERS
Satchels
Please support your child to bring their satchel and reading material to school each day.
Drink Bottles
Please ensure your child has a water bottle each day with their name clearly labeled. Please no juice or cordial.
Hats, Hats Hats!
The weather remains warm and our ‘No Hat No Play’ Policy is in force. Please ensure your child brings their school hat to school each day to protect them from the harsh UV rays.
Label all Clothes and Belongings
Please ensure that all items belonging to your child are clearly labeled with their full name and grade.
Tissues and Hand Gel
We ask that you please purchase a box of tissues (or paper towel) and a bottle of liquid soap for the classroom.
Independence
Term One focuses on developing independence as quickly as possible. We establish high expectations of the students. At school, they are expected to pack and unpack their own bag, collect their notes, bring their satchel daily and hand in notes or lunch orders as required. We ask that children carry their own school bag and walk to line up ready for the start of the day when the music plays. We understand that students will misplace belongings throughout the year, such as hats and jumpers, but we ask that the students look in their class during the school day and that families check lost property regularly.