Welcome to our Grade three students and their families. We hope you all had a great break. We are looking forward to launching the year with our own Positive Education program. This involves activities to help the students settle in, build friendships and further develop their sense of self and social skills. The five areas that we will focus on are Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Mindfulness and Accomplishment. We will continue to teach Positive Education to the students throughout the year by focusing on one of the Character Strengths each week.
Changes for 2018
Every 3 weeks, each class will have Cultural Studies.
Assembly will be every second Friday.
Each year level will spend a term doing music.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO HAVE AT SCHOOL
- A big smile!
- A sun smart hat (to be worn from September to April)
- A drink bottle containing water for use in class
- Library bag – to be brought on Thursdays
- Large zip bag/satchel to store take home readers
- Diary
- Snack and lunch (nude food encouraged – healthy with minimal packaging)
- Brain food- a piece of fruit or small container with fruit or vegetables to eat in the morning.
- Labels on EVERYTHING!!
Reading Program- The Grade Threes are supported in their reading development by our own adapted version of the CAFE reading program. This program provides strategies to assist students with building their Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency and Expanding vocabulary. Our Home Reading Program needs and thrives on parental support both in class and of course at home.
Diaries- We encourage parents to support their children by reading with them as regularly as possible (in Grade 3 the expectation is at least 4 times a week), and returning their diaries signed and with the name of the book read written in the diary. The diaries will serve to assist the students in the development of their organisational skills, as a reading record and as a communication book with your child’s teacher. We encourage parents to check student’s satchels daily for notes and other communication from school.
Smart Spelling- You will by now be familiar with BHPS’s SMART Spelling program. Students in will bring home their new words each week having had the spelling patterns and meanings explained during class. On Fridays, students will be tested to ensure that they have become familiar with the spelling patterns and correct spelling of the words from their list.
Writer’s Workshop- Students in Grade 3 will be given a Writer’s Notebook to record their ideas and develop their understanding of the Writing process. We use the 6+1 traits of writing (ideas, organisation, word choice, sentence fluency, voice and conventions) to teach the qualities of good writing. The writing process involves students developing their ideas, writing entries, planning, drafting, revising, editing and publishing their work. We would like students to decorate their notebooks at home with pictures and things that interest them. They will then be covered at school for protection.
Mathletics and Maths Program- The Grade 3’s will be investigating numbers to 10,000, counting, addition and subtraction in Maths this term. We encourage students in Grade 3 to use Mathletics on a weekly basis. Each child will have a username and password that allows them to log on and practise their Maths skills at home.
Grade 3 Teachers Mrs McIntyre is teaching 3B , Mrs Kebbell 3A and Mr Kerr is teaching 3C.
You can help your child by:
- Reading to them daily
- Taking the time to talk to them about their day
- Letting them be responsible for specific tasks (putting their lunch box and satchel in their bag, putting their bags into their lockers once at school, changing their take home readers)
- Including them in tasks around the home
- Becoming involved in what’s happening in the class/school
Grade 3 Camp- This year we are very excited to be attending Sovereign Hill from the 14th to the 15th of August. This camp was a huge success last year and we are looking forward to another fun time in 2018.
Tissues- Could you please send your child to school with a box of tissues for our classroom? Students will receive house points as a reward. Thank you in advance!
Parent Helpers- Please let us know if you would like to come and help in our classroom on a weekly or fortnightly basis. We welcome parent involvement.
Class Dojo- Class Dojo is a site that we use as a communication tool with parents. We also use this site to reward students and share photos of things happening in our class. There are a series of short Positive Education themed films which we will share with you. They make great discussion topics for families.
Parent Involvement- Our Pos. Ed. blog is a great way to gain an understanding of our approach to wellbeing at BHPS. We welcome comments from parents and even grandparents!
mrskebbell.global2.vic.edu.au
Finally- we look forward to getting to know you and your child this year. We welcome parents into our classroom before and after school to give students the opportunity to show work that they are proud of and share some of the things that have been happening in their school life. Please do not hesitate to come and see us about any concerns or questions (big or small) you may have. Email and Class Dojo are great ways to communicate with us at school. Messages and absences can also be written in your child’s diary.
Thank you, we are looking forward to having a fun and productive year!
Lisa Kebbell, Sam Kerr and Kate McIntyre
Thanks for such a comprehensive overview!
Thank you Madeleline, we hope you continue to use the site to keep in touch with all things happening at Barwon Heads Primary School.