15/10/19

Today we started off our morning in the Village with inquiry-based play. One “Neighbour” group worked with Mr.Bartold on the laptops and another “Neighbour” group engaged in a numeracy provocation with  Miss Matthews.

Numeracy Neigbours with Miss Matthews

Today we looked at collecting data using smarties. Each pair was given a packet of smarties and used their 100 languages to determine which colour was the most popular colour in their packet of smarties. We loved comparing our data  with each other to see whether everyone had the same colour.

 

“Green is winning because we have 1, 2, 3 browns, 1, 2, 3 blues and 1, 2, 3, 4 green. So green wins” – Declan

“Orange is winning because I see more orange there” – Oliver

“We have more blue because there are more”- Isabella

“We’ve got 5 purple, 3 yellow and 3 blue. Purple is winning” – Nahom

We’ve all got 42 smarties”- Declan

Welcome Term 4!

Investigations: Come Play With Me

Welcome back to another term full of learning in The Village. We hope everyone enjoyed their break and were able to spend some time with family and friends! We have not missed a beat in The Village today, diving straight back into a busy morning of investigations. It was fantastic to see the children as active participants in their learning as they engaged in provocations tailored to meet their interests.

Student Reflections

In investigations I was trying to make a house using some glue and seeing what really sticks, and it didn’t work out really. It didn’t work out because it was too sticky and only should have put a little bit on there- Dimi

In investigations I made a challenge. Koby, Jordan, Me and Hendrix. You had to stay in the square or circle the longest- James

In investigations I played with Cooper on the laptop and we were racing- Viraj

In investigations I played with Viraj on the laptop and we were playing it was called, ‘Cool Maths Games’- Vidal

In investigations I was designing the dolls clothes and her handbag was Annabella and Alannah – Zahra T

In investigations I liked the doll and me and Annabella played schools- Alannah

In investigations I liked the village and I liked the challenge that James made up- Jordan

In investigations I played with Alexander and Elnathan- Leo

In investigations me and Alannah and Annabella and Angie, we were playing schools and there were teachers in it and then we had lots of fun- Ishpreet

I was making a ship with Nyok and Jayson and Nelson. We used Lego – Enrique

I worked with Daemon to build a space ship using lego- Nahom A

I wrote out the alphabet and then wrote a sentence about what I did in the holidays- Adum

I played with Annabelle and Alexia. We were using modelling clay to make a sunset – Eva

I was building a big house. Everyone was welcome and we became friends- Arjan

I was playing with Bibi, we were making love hearts and making unicorns. We used lots of colours – Dhyani

I was writing the alphabet – Mithra

I was playing with Jordan, we used blocks to make up a strategy game- Kobe

Fitness: Boot camp

This morning we decided to join forces for boot camp! It was a fun way to challenge our body and minds into completing a workout.. which left no prisoners. We got our heart rate up with jogging on the spot, sprinting, star jumps and push ups.

Numeracy: Graphing

After recess we explored data collection and graphing. The Village gathered and collaborated to investigate what the most popular colour in the Village is.

We then completed our own data collection as we recorded what coloured cars drove down Shepherdson Rd. Jordan shared, “silver was the most popular”. This provocation saw the children very engaged and enthusiastic!

Nature Play

Change to Blogging

Hello families and friends,

After much deliberation and conversation, we have decided that it is best to create our own blogs for our doubles, as well as continuing to use The Village Blog for our shared learning. This will mean that the content on our blog will be much more specific to what we are doing in each class, and we will hopefully be sharing more of what your children are doing throughout the day. We have noticed, as well as having had some feedback at the end of last term, that some children are being missed when we are blogging, so this will hopefully rectify that!

We can’t wait to continue to share our learning with you all.

Please follow these links to find and subscribe to the new blogs:

R/1MC & R/1EN: http://blogs.holyfamily.catholic.edu.au/r1mcr1en/

R/1EQ & R/1MS: http://blogs.holyfamily.catholic.edu.au/r1eqr1ms/

As always, please contact us by email, phone call, or pop into the class if there is anything we can help you with.

Ms Quigley, Mr Stramare, Miss McCarthy, Ms Matthews & Mr Coad

Marvelous Wednesday

Hi everyone,

Thank you to the parents who were able to join in on our ‘Come Read With Me’ time this morning. The children were immersed in their reading as they continue to gain confidence within independent and shared reading.

After brain food, students moved into their Literacy Investigations where they had an abundance of fun exploring their new letter/sound ‘Mm’. Provocations ranged from creating mothers day cards and special messages to women most special in their life, to being mini monkeys by creating their own masks, students explored the laptops to write sentences; m words and to video record them saying m words, students created marble runs, mazes for ozobots and so much more. Students even manipulated provocations to cater for their interests and/or extend their learning.

It was incredible to see the engagement levels of the students, the sharing of learning within one another, and more importantly, the fun that was being showcased by all.

After recess students entered into their play based investigations, as R/1EQ and R/1MS took it in turns to visit the library to read our text together for the week, and borrow our new set of books.

Lunch soon followed, and afterwards students engaged in relaxation, where students in R/1Ms and R/1EQ were given various options to explore from quietly sitting/laying, reading, drawing and yoga which students were able to choose which activity they would like to engage in during this short space of time.

Afterwards, The Village came together to further our learning about Jesus.

The children were shown an image of Jesus and asked who they think it might be:

Jesus – Kobe
God – Nhial
Jesus – Jacob
Joseph – Dimi
God – Sonny God – Viraj
Jesus & God – Oliver
Mary – Elnathan
The bible – Cooper
God’s brother – Declan
God’s love – Nahom
Jesus’ sister – Ishpreet
The king – Alexander
It looks like it is actually God – Alexia

Mr Stramare asked if God and Jesus lived at the same time as the teachers when they were young children. He explained that God lived a long time before we did. He told the children that the picture is what we think Jesus looked like.

Do you think Jesus would have looked the same as the picture?

He has long hair – Jacob
He has long hair and he has a ring around him. It’s different – Kobe
He hair is bigger – Viraj
His clothes have a trapped love heart in it – Dimi

The children all agreed that they think that Jesus was a boy.

Boys sometimes have long hair – Max

What special event in the holidays celebrated Jesus?

Easter – Jacob
He died on the cross – Dimi
Some people didn’t trust God – Sonny
Jesus tried very hard to not go on the cross – Oliver
They didn’t like Jesus – Adum

What’s a really special thing that happens on Easter?

Jesus loved Easter and he loves Easter hunts – Khyle
He went to school and then he died on the cross – Oliver
Jesus had to sacrifice him because that was what Jesus had to do – Enrique
After Jesus came back alive – Eva

Where might Jesus be now?

Jerusalem – Elnathan
In a cave – Annabelle
On the cross – Cooper

The children used their learning journals to draw and/or write something special they know about Jesus.

Wishing you all a pleasant evening 🙂

Terrific Tuesday!

This morning the Village participated in Come Read with Me, it is fantastic to see all the students developing their reading skills. Students choose to read with a teacher, a friend, or special family member.

We then started our day going over the days of the week, what month we are in and then the season it is. We noticed all the trees outside are changing colour as are starting to fall from the tress because it is AUTUMN!

R1 EN and R1 MC explored Rainbow facts sharing if they knew different ways to make 10, the students then participated in numeracy play.

R1 MS and R1 EQ participated in for a shape hunt around the school, connecting to where they could see shapes in their everyday lives. They then recorded their learning in their learning journal, conferencing with their teachers.

The Village then participated in numeracy play developing their number knowledge and having a go at practising their numeracy skills.

The children loved exploring different numbers games, some of the students were playing number bingo, Snakes and Ladders, adding bugs, Go fish, making 10 games and number towers.

After Recess the village participated in free play, the aim for the students here were for them to lead their own learning and be independent learners as they explored and played. Classes moved in and out of The Village as r/1 EN and MC had library and R/1 EQ and MS had Spanish.

“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” -Joseph Chilton Pearce

 “Play is the exultation of the possible.” -Martin Buber

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good” -Lucia Capocchione

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -George Bernard Shaw

Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” -Diane Ackerman

We then ventured out to Grevillea Park taking our play and learning outside.

At the end of the day we introduced our new sound “M” tomorrow we are looking forward to exploring the sound more through play and provocations. We are working on our stamina which is something we educators learnt at Berry Street.

We are working to create a culture of academic persistence by nurturing resilience, emotional intelligence and a growth mindset. The students increase their stamina and work towards their perseverance.

“M is for Mudla,” – Annabelle. A great example of how our students are connecting their learning to the world around them.

Term 2: We’re Ready for You!

Welcome back to another term full of learning in The Village. We hope everyone enjoyed their break and were able to spend some time with family over Easter. We have not missed a beat in The Village today, diving straight back into a busy day of investigations. We all started our day with Come Read with Me, a great social time for the children to catch up about their holidays and share their books with friends. Thank you to the parents and friends who are able to join us for Come Read with Me throughout the week, we love having you with us!

R/1EQ & R/1MS started their day with investigations, allowing the children to choose their own adventure. The children were busy with restaurants and hospitals in the home corner and book nook. We also had amazing teamwork with the Lego as children worked on houses, shops and cars. Outside, Bibi, Dhyani, Charlee and Harper created a base where they made their own slime and potions. Nhial worked on a building, which Alexander, Nahom and ‘S’ flew their paper planes through. We had lots of creativity and collaboration as the children engaged with box construction, making hammers, binoculars, boats, dinosaur tranquilliser guns and some things that the children were not yet able to name.

 

R/1EN & R/1MC enjoyed come read with me, spent time recognising character strengths in their welcome circle, fitness on the playground and exploring numeracy concepts.

After recess, The Village re-joined to continue investigations.

R/1EQ & R/1MS packed up early before lunch and spent some time exploring in Log Park. We also visited the fish pond to check on the goldfish and tadpoles. The children loved checking on the fish and sharing their knowledge with one another. We even had some of the boys naming the fish.

 

We spent the afternoon reflecting on our holidays. The children were able to choose to reflect in their Learning Journal or writing book. We supported the children with a sentence starter: In the holidays…

 

R/1EQ & R/1MS finished their day with student-led prayer:

Thank you, God for giving us this world to live in and giving us a house, so we can sleep and get good rest and get energy. Thank you for the brothers we have and the sisters we have and mum and dad and grandma’s and grandpa’s – Kobe

Thank you, God for letting us have lots of toys to play with and a lot of people in this school and our teachers and our family – Mikayla

Dear God, I like how the teachers are here and we share and then we get some mums and dads – Nyok

Dear God, thank you for this school and the teachers and to get a bit of rest and get to sleep and grow – Alexander

Cold or Flu?

Dear Parents,

In Australia, seasonal influenza of varying severity occurs every year, usually between May and September.  Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by the influenza A or B (or rarely C) viruses. It is highly infectious.

Influenza is a notifiable condition – in South Australia the law requires doctors and laboratories to report some infections or diseases to SA Health. These infections or diseases are commonly referred to as ‘notifiable conditions’.

If your child has influenza, they should stay at home while they are sick.

Please see your local General Practitioner for further information.

Thank you 🙂

Fabulously Fun Friday

This morning, the children were treated to a great assembly by 2RG & 2JH. The children shared their curiosity and creativity, incorporating their learning from their classroom and weekly music lessons. It was a great reminder of how we can use our learning powers each day. After assembly, we stayed for GoNoodle. R/1 children were able to dance on stage, which was very exciting!

After recess, the children continued their Easter investigations from Thursday. We saw some great creativity as the children continued to add details to their Easter baskets, create Easter bunnies and cards. Children also chose to build and battle with Beyblades and play in the courtyard.

Just before lunch, the moment we had all been waiting for occurred – an Easter hunt in Log Park. The children were super excited to find the eggs they had made earlier in the week, exchanging them in class for a chocolate egg.

We wish you all a very Happy Easter and happy holidays and we will see you back next term, for another exciting term. God bless, The Village teachers.

“Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted, not simply in terms of things, but in terms of ideals” – Charles M. Crowe

This morning the children began their day by making Easter eggs, ready for an Easter hunt in Grevillea Park tomorrow. In R/1EQ, the children engaged with The Beginners Bible Easter story as they created their eggs.

The children thought about different Easter eggs they have seen in the shops, adding colours and patterns as they worked.

After recess, children continued with Easter-themed investigations, making cards, baskets, masks, finger puppets and more eggs.

 

After lunch, we went to the hall to watch the year 5/6 classes present their modern-day take on The Trial of Jesus and The Stations of the Cross.

 

We will continue to learn about Easter tomorrow.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

This morning, The Village started their day with literacy investigations – a great way to first introduce a new sound – ‘Rr’ and then get the children involved in consolidating their learning, but engaging in investigations based on words that begin with the sound. These investigations include, drawing, writing, making, colouring, building, designing and constructing, and lots and lots of oral language. We started by brainstorming some words that begin with ‘r’ or ‘wr’. The children then chose their own adventure, moving across the four classrooms to find activities that suited their understanding and interests.

Children were able to create rabbit masks, write ‘r’ words, design their own robot and rocket (both through drawing and construction), design their own roads and race tracks, make a fishing rod to catch and write ‘r’ words, design and build with rocks (words, letters and objects), paint and draw rainbowsrecord ‘r’ words found in books, and make books for writer’s workshop. We saw such high levels of engagement as the children moved across the activities and used their own understandings to engage in a way that helped them to make sense of the new sound, linking it to their interests. It was such a wonderful way to begin our Wednesday.

   

After recess, the children continued their investigations, with the addition of the Spheres, Ozobots and Easter card making. R/1EQ & R/1MS also visited the library, where the shared reading text was Say Something by Peter H Reynolds. This beautiful story explored the different ways children can share their voice, and even use their 100 languages to make a difference, both on a local scale and a more global scale.

The blurb reads:

There are so many words to SAY SOMETHING.
So tell the world – who you are, what you are thinking. What you are dreaming. What you believe. And how you’ll make it better.

In this empowering new picture book, beloved author Peter H. Reynolds explores the many ways that a single voice can make a difference. Each of us, each and every day, have the chance to say something: with our actions, our words, and our voices. Perfect for kid activists everywhere, this timely story reminds readers of the undeniable importance and power of their voice. There are so many ways to tell the world who you are… what you are thinking… and what you believe.

We reflected on the message from the story:

It was kind, it doesn’t matter which voice – Zac
Share and be nice and take care of other people – Bodhi
You need to be nice and be kind and when somebody is angry, you will say ‘why are you angry’ and you need to be happy and not be cross – Declan
You be kind and respect others – Arjan
You be kind and share together and be friendly and you help each other – Nyok
Be nice and kind. If someone is pushing someone, say stop – Nahom
Be grateful, be kind, share to one another and be kind to one another – Alexander
You be friendly every day and you play every day and be very happy and no more being unkind – Oliver
Be kind to one another, don’t hurt one another, love one another, care for one another, like one another. If you don’t care for one another, you will get hurt. You need to share to all of your friends and family. Give food to the poor and the people who don’t eat your kind of food, you give them something else to eat and care for the people who are poor and do not hit one another, or they will get angry and sad and they will cry and then tell the teacher and then the person who hurt them will say sorry, and then they will be friends again. Be kind to people, even if they are not in your family and pray every night and morning, so we can have a nice day – Elnathan
You share the world and be kind to one another and we share toys, don’t fight to one another, we love them whenever they hurt themselves and we don’t spit water at people. We be responsible and we share goodness – Charlee
When the person gets pushed down, you go to help them and everybody is nice and respects elders – Arjan
If you angry you can use your voice to tell someone – Eva
When somebody gets hurt we can help them by bringing them to the teacher – Annabelle
Don’t be afraid to be creative – Kobe
Animals should be nice to one another as well – Alexia
When someone falls help them – Kyle
Help people – Hayley
We have to help people when they are hurt – Irin
Be kind to other people not just my friends – Max
When you get hurt make sure you help them – Emily
Don’t be afraid to put your hand up – Nelson
Always speak up – Charlize
Always speak from the heart – Mikayla
You can say something is so many way – Darina

After lunch, we went to the hall to watch the year 3/4 classes Holy Week presentation about The Last Supper and The Trial of Jesus (thank you Charlize for the photos).

We finished the day with some time at Log Park (thank you Elnathan for the photos) and prayer in our classes.

Thank you, God for letting us all have friends and letting us share toys with everyone in your home. If you want to play with them, you say yes – Mikayla
Dear God, thank you for all of the things we have at school and letting us have fun and play every day and giving us food – Adum

We finished up with some of our songs: