Dear Parents,
Welcome to a new and exciting year. We are sure you have all had a wonderful break and no doubt the students have many stories to tell. As this is the beginning of a new year, we are encouraging students to adhere to high expectations as BHPS role models of the school. The first step to starting off the school year well is to make an extra effort to arrive to school on time and ready to learn.
POS ED: We will be starting the year with our Positive Education program. This will involve activities to help the students settle in, build friendships and develop their sense of self and social skills. The five key areas we will focus on are Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Mindfulness and Accomplishment. We will continue to teach Positive Education explicitly through the character strengths each week.
Sun Smart: BHPS is a SunSmart school and it is expected that all students wear a broad-brimmed hat from the start of September to the end of April. Students who do not have a hat will need to play in the shaded areas for the duration of lunch and recess.
Stationery: Please remind your child to bring a pencil case to school to store their coloured pencils, textas and any other personal stationary they would like to have at school.
Diaries: Diaries are a fantastic means of organisation for all students in preparation for High School. It is expected that all students will bring their diary to and from school each day, as a means of recording information and relaying messages between students, parents and teachers. This year our diaries were created as part of the Barwon Estuary Project and have the amazing work from this year’s Grade 6 students.
Homework expectations: Standard homework will consist of independent reading, writing, grammar, Mathletics activities, SMART spelling and a variety of other activities to support our learning in class. Students will also receive projects and tasks based on topics covered in class as the year progresses. Students will record their weekly homework in their homework book with nightly reading reordered in student diaries. Homework is designed to support what is learned at school and as such does not usually include new work. From time to time unfinished work may be sent home for completion.
Reading: All students are expected to have a ‘good fit’ book ready to read every day during school for independent reading time. Students can also borrow a book from class libraries at any stage!
SMART Spelling: This year we will continue with the SMART spelling program, written by literacy expert Michelle Hutchinson. Students will select their 10 spelling words from the class focus for the week. This will include 2 of their own choice words which we call B.O.B words. The students will complete daily spelling activities and also be expected to practice their words for homework, completing at least two spelling activities each week for homework.
Sport: In Grades 5 & 6, all students will be expected to participate in 5/6 sport for an hour a week on top of Physical Education with Mrs. Kneebone. These sessions will include opportunities for students to train for team sporting events such as the lightning premiership, hoop time and T20 blast cricket. As well as this, students will also have opportunities to make connections between the grade levels, get out into the community for elective sports in term 4, and get to know all the teachers from the 5/6 team.
iPads: iPads are used daily in the classroom. Students are expected to have their iPads at school charged and ready to use every day as per the student leasing agreement. During the course of the term there will be new apps that we would like students to download, these will be given in advance and will always be free apps unless otherwise stated. A note will be sent home to parents before an app is needed in order for parents to approve and download the app.
Leadership: Grade 6 is very much considered the senior area of the school and as such, students are encouraged to think about what it takes to be a good leader. Students are consistently encouraged to show initiative and responsibility. Students are also reminded often of their responsibilities with regard to modelling appropriate behaviour and attitude to younger students, wearing correct school uniform and representing their school accordingly.
Studies of Society and Environment (S.O.S.E): This year our students will be learning about a new concept each term. These units will be integrated into the curriculum as well as specific lessons each week.
Our first concept is: Making Democracy
Camp: Grade 6 camp will be held from Monday 21st May 2018 to Thursday 24th May 2018 in Canberra. This camp links to our ‘Making a Democracy’ unit in SOSE which is part of the year 6 curriculum. The camp consists of visiting many interesting attractions and students have the opportunity to participate in many fun and challenging activities.
Uniforms: All students are expected to be in school uniform at all times. If there is any reason for a student being out of school uniform a note must be provided.
COMPASS: Please be reminded to regularly log onto Compass school manager and make use of the number of functions that are available to you such as viewing attendance data for your child, event notifications, access to your child’s semester reports, access to the Newsletter, regular reminders from the school and communication to and from your child’s teacher.
Live Reporting: Live reporting will continue across the whole of BHPS in 2018, in the form of Learning Tasks uploaded to COMPASS. Each student will submit at least 5 learning tasks throughout each term, which are accessible through COMPASS. Parents are reminded to check on these tasks regularly.
We are looking forward to getting to know all of the grade 6 students and families this year and having a fun and productive year. Please feel free to contact us at any time should you have any queries or concerns (big or small) to organise a time to meet. Email is a great way to communicate with us.
Changes for 2018: Every 3 weeks, on a Tuesday each year 6 class will have Cultural Studies. Assembly will be every second Friday. Each year level will spend a term doing music.
Regards,
Grade 6 teachers: Janelle, George and Lisa
Emails:
dixon.janelle.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
sands.george.b@edumail.vic.gov.au
miller.lisa.k@edumail.vic.gov.au
A bridge to the future.