Week 1 Term 4 2020
Hello Year 1/2K parents,
Welcome back to another busy term - I absolutely can't believe it is our last term together! I have loved watching our little loves develop and mature as the year has progressed and I am so very proud of all of their hard work. I will be sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the year for sure! I hope you all had a lovely holiday and got to enjoy some of those beautiful days in the sun!
Just a few things for this term...
INITIAL LIT PROGRAM
This term we are trialing a new whole class initial instruction in Literacy program called Initial Lit. This program requires strict time tabling and therefore we will be swapping our daily fitness to a mid-morning break and starting our explicit teaching session at 8:50am. Unfortunately, this means that we will not be able to chat with you after the 8:40am bell in preparation for this first mat session. If you have anything you need to tell us, please email us.
If your child is late, please sign them in through the office and send them into the classroom independently to avoid disrupting the first mat session.
More information about the Initial Lit Program can be found here:
GATHERING TIME
As we are still in Phase 4 Restrictions, parents are not permitted in the classroom during school hours. Please continue the Kiss and Drop routine that we have had in place since the beginning of Term 3. If there is any important information that you need me to know, please email me to let me know.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be sent home on Monday which includes the homework grid, fluency reading grid and a spelling list with the focus sound that we are learning. We love it when you can fill in your child's R.E.D reading folder which helps us track how they are going in their reading. This fortnight, our focus sound is 'au & aw' 😎
Please ensure that you sign your child's homework grid before the due date so we can monitor your child's progress at home. Please refer to the photo below of what a completed homework grid should look like. Many students like to add times under the fluency grid to try and better their record each day. 🌟
KEEPING SAFE
This term, the children will be learning Protective Behaviours through the program Keeping Safe. Over the next few weeks, we will be talking to the children about:
• the concept of personal space and how this is different for different people
• correct anatomical names of sexual body parts
• the whole body is private
• appropriate and inappropriate touching.
This term, the children will be taking part in the Keeping Safe lesson about personal space and body parts. We will be reading stories and emphasising the fact that all parts of their body are private. I understand that the children may laugh and giggle when we talk about the anatomical names, but this is important for every child to know. Recent research shows that knowing the anatomically correct language terms enhances children’s body image, self-confidence, and openness. This is in conjunction with the Child Protection Curriculum which has been mandated in all schools in Western Australia.
Please find the lesson outline below if you feel you need to discuss this with your child after Friday.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.
I'm looking forward to a jam packed Term Four with your little ones! Thank you for your ongoing support :)
Kind regards,
Penny and Gemma
