Term 3 Update

Within the blink of an eye, we are already half way through Term 3! We have had such a busy start to the term, with all Year 5 classes presenting their assembly. A huge congratulation to all of the students for the wonderful effort they put into practising and performing. The students spoke beautifully and we are very proud of them all!

Well done to all students who competed in the Australian Mathematics Competition. We have so many mathematicians in Year 5!

The first round of the Year 5 Spelling Bee was completed this week. Congratulations to all students who participated and good luck to those who have moved onto the next round. Keep practising your words!

We had a wonderful book week parade on Friday! Students were encouraged to dress up as a character from a book. The theme this year was ‘New Worlds, Old Worlds, Other Worlds’. The children looked wonderful! Thank you to all the parents who took the time to put together their amazing costumes! I know it's not easy, so thank you.

It has been wonderful to see so many students completing their homework each week. It provides students with the opportunity to revise concepts covered in class independently, and develop work habits needed for the future! We have a number of students who have not missed a homework in a year and a half! I have been very impressed with their effort and commitment. Doing homework is a true reflection of work ethic. Keep up the fabulous effort! Remember to keep reading at home for at least 10 minutes each night.

Term 2 Super Scientist

Super Scientist is back for Term 2. This time, the competition sees students present a science concept to the class by way of a power point or chart. The students will need to present an experiment or investigation. 

A few rules to follow are: 
* No longer than five minutes, with a minimum of two minutes. 
* No specific science strand to draw from. Children are free to choose a topic that interest them but they must 'add value' to the topic. By this, I mean that students can not simply cut and paste a series of texts or pictures to a power point and recite it - they must attempt to re-frame it in their own words and give their own 'why this is interesting' perspective.
* When assessing, I'll be looking for the usual speaking etiquette (eye contact, volume, body language etc), plus the real passion and authentic attempt by the student to understand the concept and get their ideas across to their audience. The depth of knowledge is the key here.

Welcome Back

Welcome back for another busy term. The students have jumped right back into routines and are working hard and learning plenty! This week, the class finished their ANZAC Day poems that will be hung around the room. They did a wonderful job and wrote some beautiful poems. On Friday, we had our annual ANZAC Day ceremony to commemorate Australian and New Zealand soldiers. We spoke about the importance of this day and listened respectfully during the ceremony. 

We are lucky enough to have scouts in Room 29. Ashton, Wynter, Kate & Amelia all attend scouts and proudly wore their attire to the ANZAC Day ceremony.

I look forward to seeing the students' progress this term!

Harmony Day

Harmony Day is coming! On Friday, March 26th, the students will dress up for Harmony Day. It is a day of respect and appreciation for everyone who calls Australia home. It's also a wonderful time to celebrate our cultural diversity at Wattle Grove. We have many students and staff from different backgrounds and it is important that we recognise and celebrate our differences. Diversity is our strength! So this Friday, we will all be dressed in cultural attire or in Harmony Day orange. Classes around the school will be discussing the importance of respecting other cultures and celebrating our multicultural country. Students will also have the chance to show off their traditional outfits at our Harmony Day parade! We'll also celebrate this special day with our buddy classes, doing crafts and other activities. It should be a wonderful day!

Image sourced from Radio Adelaide

Even with the Sun, we managed to get some smiles with their beautiful artwork in the background!

Class Councillors & Assembly Merit Awards

This term, the students in Room 29 had an opportunity to put their best foot forward and "compete" for the Student Councillor role. Many students spoke, and spoke well. The students voted and selected Heidi and Dibbo to represent our class! Both students were ecstatic and I know they will do a wonderful job putting our ideas forward at the student council meetings this semester. Congratulations to Heidi and Dibbo.

Well done to the Room 29 certificate recipients for our first assembly! Jayden, Bryce, Asha and Kate have done a fantastic job in class. You can see our superstars and their citations below :)

Jayden - For being a strong independent worker. You can always be relied upon to work quietly and efficiently during any task. Well done, Jayden.  

Bryce - For your outstanding effort in writing. You are producing some creative stories with excellent punctuation. I have enjoyed seeing your passion for writing. Keep up the great work.

Asha - For being a kind and caring class member. You are always courteous to others and show respect in all situations. You are a role model and leader within the classroom. Well done, Asha.  

Kate - For being an avid reader! Your enthusiastic approach to reading has been wonderful. I love hearing how much you read each night. Keep up the fantastic work.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to Room 29 for another great year! It has been wonderful seeing all of the students again and I feel very lucky to teach them for another year.

Reading

We have started the year off quickly and students are right back into routines. A big focus for the start of this year in Room 29 has been reading. I have encouraged the students to read for at least 10-20 minutes each night. In class, we read at every opportunistic chance and we have been challenging ourselves to read as much as possible. We have already finished our first class book! The students loved the true story of 'Malala' and we are now reading Sky Dragon by Anh Do. The book hooked us in from the first chapter and it has been hard to put down. I ask all parents to encourage their children to read, even if just for 10 minutes a night. The benefits of reading are endless!

English and Mathematics

We have also had a big focus on English and Mathematics to start the year. The students are beginning to remember a lot of work we did last year and we are starting to build on that. It is still important for the class to work on their times tables at home at least 3 times a week. This will help them stay on top of their mental maths!

Homework

Homework has resumed and it is the same format as last year with spelling, English and mental maths. Through the first three weeks, 95% of students have brought their homework! This is a fantastic effort and we must strive to keep it up. 

Speaking Task - Week 5

All students will need to present a 2-5 minute presentation on the topic: What makes me special?

Presentations will be held in Week 5, from Tuesday, 2nd March. Presentations may be in the form of a power point, poster or palm cards. We look forward to hearing more about what makes each of you special!

The students have been working very well in class and I look forward to seeing their progress this term!

Mr Eaves