Transcript Year 3 Parent Information Night

St Joseph’s Primary School Mount Isa
2012
Teachers:
Mrs Kim Higgs
Miss Lauren Nicholas
Yearly Overview
 Term 1: “Are We There Yet?”
Students will explore the story book “Are We There
Yet?” by Alison Lester. They will investigate each
location in Australia visited by the characters in the
book. Some concepts covered include map reading,
unique features of Australia and how this relates to us
an individuals.
 Term 2: “Fairy Tales”
Students will investigate various fairytales, their make
up and construction and apply this information to
creating their own fairytales.
Yearly Overview cont.
 Term 3: “Discovering the Galaxy”
Students will research and investigate the planets of
the solar system, and how Earth, moon and sun are
connected. This leads up to our sleepover camp.
Term 4: “Celebrations”
Students learn about Celebrations in our culture, and
how other cultures celebrate similar events. Aspects
covered include festivals, religious celebrations,
sporting events, significant days and how food is
incorporated into some of these celebrations.
Literacy
The Literacy Program has been formulated in accordance with the
National Curriculum – English program released early this year.
 Phonics – based largely on the THRASS and Sound Waves
programs and teaches students to make correct spelling choices.
 Spelling program is derived from THRASS program, Sound
Waves spelling, theme words from the integrated units, Year 3
core words as well as individual student writing.
 Literacy rotations focus on writing tasks, guided reading,
spelling, unit-based literacy, and practice for NAPLAN.
 Throughout each term, students will be learning different text
types and their conventions. Term One genres are Recount and
Persuasive Text.
 Speaking and Listening is enhanced by the students
participating in Morning Talks later in the year.
Mathematics
 The iMaths program will be implemented in
conjunction with material from other programs
 The iMaths Tracker Book will be one of many sources
of assessment material.
 Problem solving, mental mathematics and openended tasks are emphasized this year as students
prepare for the National 3/5/7 Testing.
 The strands of Mathematics are: Number and Algebra,
Measurement and Geometry, Statistics and
Probability.
Religious Education
 Each term the students will learn about a different aspect
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of the Catholic faith:
Term 1 – Who is the church?
Term 2 – Spirituality and Personal Identity
Term 3 – Morality Stories and Messages
Term 4 – Scripture: Making Meaning
Beginning of Year and End of Year Mass
Other special Masses and Liturgies throughout the year
Daily prayer and Christian Meditation in the classroom
Weekly prayer during school assemblies
SOSE
 The Essential Learnings for SOSE (Studies of Society
and Environment) will be covered through the
following units in each term.
 These integrated units are;
 Term One – ‘Are We There Yet? (Australian Landmarks)’
 Term Two – ‘Australia -Symbols and Currency’
 Term Three – ‘Environmental Conservation’
 Term Four – ‘Celebrations’
Science
 The Australian Curriculum - Science are covered
through the following units in each term.
 Term One – ‘Feathers, Fur or Leaves’
 Term Two – ‘Melting Moments’
 Term Three – ‘Spinning in Space’
 Term Four – ‘Heating Up’
Health and Physical Education
 Physical Education – taught by Miss Marshall
 Swimming lessons TBA
 Health taught by classroom teacher:
 Term 1: Safety – Sun, Road, School
 Term 2: Making and keeping friends
 Term 3: Self esteem
 Term 4:Handling your feelings
Cultural Studies
 Cultural Studies taught by Mrs Thinee
 Term One – Chinese
 Term Two – Kalkadoon (local indigenous language)
 Term Three – Philippines (links with our parish
multicultural festival)
 Term Four – AUSLAN – sign language
The Arts
 Music taught by Mrs Freeman
 Integrated throughout term units:
 Media
 Drama
 Dance (incorporated in Physical Activity)
 Visual Arts
Technology and ICT
 Technology: Design, Make, Create and Evaluate.
Terms 1 and 3
 ICT integrated in the classroom
 Children can access their ‘MyClasses’ page at home.
Interesting and relevant websites will be available on
this page – more information will become available
shortly.
Homework
 Students will be given homework each Monday and it
will need to be handed in on Friday of the same week.
 Homework will include Spelling, English,
Mathematics and other Key Learning Area topics.
 If homework is unable to be completed, a note bought
in on Friday would be appreciated.
 If homework is not returned on the Friday, it will not
be marked until the following Friday, however, it is
important to have your homework book for Monday.
Home Readers
 Students will be given two readers to read at a time.
 Books will changed on Tuesday by a School Officer.
 Books are to be bought to school every day for reading
practice, and will be returned each afternoon.
 Parental reading at school will commence as soon
possible – keep an eye out for a note home.
 See your child’s teacher if you are able to help.
Camp
 During the ‘Space’ unit, students will participate in a
‘Space Day’ which extends to Space Camp at night.
 This will be held in Term 3 – dates to be confirmed.
 Students will have the opportunity to star gaze and
experience a slide show of pictures and historical
moments in space.
 More details will be sent home in Term 3.
Assessment and Reporting
 Term 1 – Parent /Teacher interview (End of Term)
 Term 2 – Report card (End of Term)
 Term 3 – Parent/Teacher interview (Beginning of
Term)
 Term 4 – Report card (End of Term)
3, 5, 7 NAPLAN Testing
 The national tests will assess student achievement in literacy and
numeracy. Students will practice the test formats and the type of
questions they have to answer before they sit these tests.
All students at Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in schools across Australia will
be doing the same tests on the same days in 2012.
Students will have their skills assessed in numeracy, reading,
writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Parents and carers can best assist students by making them feel
comfortable and relaxed about the nature and purpose of the
tests. They can assure their children that the assessments will
give them an opportunity to show what they have been learning.
General Information
Specialist lessons : Monday – 3N Library borrowing
 Wednesday- both classes Music and Cultural Studies
 Thursday – 3H and 3N PE (sports uniform needed)
 Fridays –3H Library borrowing
General Information cont.
 Please ensure all notes and money for excursions and
performances (etc.) are returned on time to avoid your
child missing out.
 If students forget hats, musical instruments or library bags
and wish to call parents, they will be charged for the cost of
the call on their school fees.
 Our door is always open and if you have any questions or
concerns, please come and speak to us. If you feel it is a
matter that may take longer than 5 minutes, please make
an prior appointment to ensure that we can gather all
relevant information and we can give you our undivided
attention.