Year One has had a wonderful start to Term 4! Students have settled beautifully back into routines and are showing great enthusiasm for their learning across all areas of the curriculum.

In Religious Education, students have been learning about the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. We have explored the rituals and symbols connected with each Sacrament, focusing especially on Baptism as a Sacrament of Initiation. Year 1 also enjoys many opportunities to pray together throughout the day. We begin each morning with Christian Meditation and share special prayers before our first and second breaks and again at the end of the day.

In English, students have been studying Looking After Country with Fire by Victor Steffensen and Sandra Steffensen. Through this text, they are deepening their understanding of sentence types — questions, statements, commands and exclamations — and using this knowledge in their writing. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Year 1 participates in Paired Fluency Reading, a reciprocal reading activity that helps develop decoding and fluency skills while encouraging students to give positive, constructive feedback to their reading partners. Students also love visiting the library on Friday afternoons!

During InitiaLit and Daily Review lessons, students have been learning that c can say /s/ and g can say /j/ when followed by the letters e, i or y. We have been practising spelling and reading words that follow this rule.

In Mathematics, students have enthusiastically begun the Rocket Maths program. This fun, fast-paced activity runs for the first 10 minutes of each Maths block and helps students build automaticity with number facts while working collaboratively with a partner.

In Science, Year 1 students have been exploring Forces with Mrs Ziegler. They have enjoyed hands-on investigations into objects that can be pushed or pulled, deepening their understanding through experimentation and discussion.

In PDHPE, students have been participating in a range of cooperative games and sports with Mr Hill. Relay races have been a class favourite, and there is much excitement as we look forward to the beginning of our swimming lessons.

In History, we have been learning about how play has changed over time. Students have loved exploring toys from the past such as marbles, trains and skipping ropes, and have even created their own peg dolls!

In CAPA, Year 1 is thrilled to begin dance lessons with Miss Erica and continue Visual Arts with Mrs Shannon. Over the past fortnight, students have created vibrant artworks inspired by Andy Warhol’s Colourful Cats.

As we move through the remainder of Term 4, we do so with joyful anticipation. Year 1 continues to consolidate their learning, share in special experiences, and prepare to celebrate the coming of Christmas — which will be here before we know it!

Mrs Rebecca Brady
Year 1 Teacher