Welcome back to the new school term. This newsletter is to help keep you informed about the curriculum for the grade and the day-to-day activities of the grade.

Please be aware that due to the current COVID restrictions, this year parent information sessions will take a different format. This newsletter highlights all the necessary Term 1 information for your child, however, if you have any questions and would like to engage in a “meet and greet” phone call with your child’s teacher please follow the link below and they will be in contact with you as soon as possible. Please complete by 3pm on Wednesday 10 February 2021.

A “meet and greet” conversation is a ten minute phone conversation to discuss your child’s start to the year and for your child’s class teacher to clarify any questions you may have about your child’s school year. It is not a report on your child’s progress at this stage of the year.

https://forms.gle/jw4prfXCEafRNg6D7

This term the following teachers will be supporting learning in Year 3.

*Teachers work under the structure of an Enterprise Agreement that includes a number of entitlements. One of these is the engagement in Profession Planning Time (PPT) where they are released from class to carry out other professional responsibilities. Each full time teacher is entitled to the equivalent of 2 hours PPT each week, or a pro-rata thereof for part time teachers. Therefore, all students operate across the school week with at least two teachers engaging in the classroom program of learning.

This Curriculum Outline is designed to communicate what your child is learning so you can support them at home this term. At Good Samaritan, we believe that the partnership between you as parents and our teachers are the most important influences on your son’s or daughter’s education.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) is responsible for setting and monitoring quality teaching, learning, assessment and school standards across NSW public, Catholic and independent schools. NESA also develops Kindergarten to Year 12 syllabuses for NSW schools. Syllabuses identify: the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes students are expected to develop at each stage; what students are expected to know and do; Learning across the curriculum areas: cross-curriculum priorities, general capabilities and other important learning for all students.

At Good Samaritan we have a K-6 Scope & Sequence of learning which supports the implementation of the NESA Syllabuses. Below, is an outline of the Key Learning Area content & skills being taught this term.

All students take part in Religious Education Programs. The school also provides other opportunities for students to express and deepen their Faith through school Masses, liturgies, prayer and in Christian service and witness within their school environment and the wider community. 

Religious Education follows a curriculum set and approved by the Bishop of the Diocese in conjunction with the Catholic Education Office.

This term in Religious Education, Year 3 will be covering the topics:

• The Good Samaritan 
• Created by God: A Gift To Share  
• LENT: A Time For Reaching Out in Love  
• Preparation for the Sacraments

English is the Key Learning Area where students develop knowledge, skills and understandings about English language and literature. The students will be actively engaged in the development of skills through:

This term in English, Year 3 will be covering:

• Reading & Writing: Author’s Craft - Writing for a Purpose. Bringing Words To Life. 
• Spelling & Phonemic Awareness: Letters and Sounds

• Grammar, Punctuation & Vocabulary: What makes a good sentence? Capital letters, end marks, nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs.

• Reading: Modelled, Guided and Independent 

• Serial Reader: David Walliams

• Naplan preparation - exposing children to format of questioning
• Speaking and Listening: Topic Talks - Year 3 will be assessed on a 2-3 minute speech in approx week 7. 

The topic will be communicated to parents in advance. There is no weekly talk time in Year 3 - speaking and listening is integrated throughout all KLA’s.

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING in ENGLISH

• Chat to you about what they are reading - ask your child some comprehension questions, their favourite character, what they predict might happen in the story etc. 
• Read to your child when possible - this is important for increasing their vocabulary and understanding as they move into more complex stories.
• Occasionally there may be optional tasks/projects through seesaw.

An essential component of Mathematics is the development of students’ ability to Work Mathematically. This includes the skills of Communicating, Problem Solving, Reasoning, Understanding and Fluency. 

Students’ ability to work mathematically is development through the achievement of outcomes and working with content of the Mathematics K-6 Syllabus. Content is organised within the following content strands: 

This term in Mathematics, Year 3 will be covering:

• Working Mathematically - Communicating, Problem Solving, Reasoning, Understanding, Fluency

• Number and Algebra - Whole Number, Addition and Subtraction 

• Measurement and Geometry  - Length 

• Utilise Challenging Maths Tasks throughout the topics

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING in ENGLISH

• Look for opportunities to integrate Maths/number into everyday situations, going to shops, money, receiving change, baking etc. 

The objectives and outcomes of the Geography Syllabus are based on courses of study across Kindergarten to Year 6. The organisation of content for the stages in primary school is as follows:

This term in Geography, Year 3 will look at: 

Places are both Similar and Different - Takes place over 2 terms and covers:

• Learning how to use an Atlas and read maps
• Australian States, Capital cities and significant places
• Built, Natural and Managed Environments
• Landmarks
• Significant Indiginous Sites
• Climate Zones and their impact on Environments
• Countries around the world and how they differ from Australia

The outcomes, concepts and skills of the History Syllabus are based on courses of study across Kindergarten to Year 10. The organisation of content for the stages in primary school is as follows:

In Year 3,  History will be covered in Terms 3 and 4.

The outcomes and content in the Science and Technology Syllabus are organised in the following strands and substrands:

This term in Science & Technology, Year 3 will:

Living World - It’s Alive - Takes place over 2 terms and covers:

• Living and Nonliving
• Needs of living things
• Life cycles
• Case study on Emperor Penguins
• Different Climates around the world and animals that live in them.
• Climate change - Endangered animals
• How our actions affect climates and environments

Possible incursion - Butterfly Experience

The Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus is organised within the following strands: 

This term in Creative Arts, Year 3 will:

• Be taught by Mrs Narelle Nuttall every Tuesday.

Students at Good Samaritan have Physical Education/Sport each week. All students participate in the School Athletics and Cross Country Carnivals. Eligible students participate in the Swimming Carnival. After these carnivals squads are chosen to represent the School at Regional and Diocesan Carnivals. Students can then be selected to compete at MacKillop and State levels. Good Samaritan has a clear policy regarding student participation in sporting gala days and representation at competitive sports. Parents are asked to become familiar with this policy. 

This term in PDHPE, Year 3 will:

• PE: Fundamental Movement Skills, Field Invasion Games & Cross Country Practice 

• Personal Development / Health: PB4L & Personal Identity and SEL - Self awareness 

• Bounce Back

We ask your child to:

• read daily (15 - 20 minutes) 
• chat to you about what they are reading - ask your child some comprehension questions, their favourite character, what they predict might happen in the story etc. 
• Optional: phonics/spelling work if you would like. Integrate maths/number into everyday situations, going to shops, money, receiving change etc. 

Topic Talks - Year 3 will be assessed on a 2-3 minute speech in approx week 7. 

The topic will be communicated to parents in advance. There is no weekly talk time in Year 3 - speaking and listening is integrated throughout all KLA’s.

Occasional Projects and seesaw tasks.

Encourage your children to ask questions about what they are reading especially if they don’t know what a word means. This will aid their comprehension and increase their vocabulary for writing tasks.

Please support your child to be Ready to Learn each day by ensuring he/she has the following:

• Scissors, glue, writing pencils, ruler, whiteboard markers
• Reading books
• Headphones
• SeeSaw app - new classes to be set up shortly

• Classroom Expectations & Behaviour Matrix

• Active listening (Relationship skills - SEL competency) 

What do good listeners do / Following teachers instructions

• Communication (Relationship skills - SEL competency) 

What good speakers do/Teacher/adult/Peers/Verbal & non-verbal communication/Asking for help

• Group work 

Think, pair, share/Partner work/Group work

• Managing challenge

Agreeing/ Disagreeing

• Staying on task (Self Management - SEL competency) 

• Introduction to Zones of Regulation

Students will be rewarded continually for positive behaviours in learning within the classroom and on the playground. Additionally students will work towards a class based reward system agreed upon at the beginning of each term and will be celebrated when achieved. Students will strive towards receiving individual school based merit and values awards.

Please refer to the weekly newsletter for regular PB4L updates.

All students are expected to be neatly dressed in their school uniform or sports uniform each day. Classroom teachers will monitor the wearing of the uniform on a day-to-day basis and inappropriate dress will be brought to the attention of the student and, where necessary, parents. 

This term students are to wear the correct Summer/Winter uniform.

GOOD SAMARITAN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL UNIFORM

Students are also expected to wear the correct Sports Uniform on sports days:

ALL ITEMS OF UNIFORM MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE CHILD’S NAME

Ongoing communication between school and home is essential. The school aims to work in partnership with the home and recognises that parents wish to be informed of any problems. Likewise, there is a need for parents to keep the school informed of any events that may impact on the life of their child at school.

Through this mutual communication we aim to provide a safe and supportive environment for your child.

1. If you have any educational/behaviour concerns about your child always contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. Your child’s classroom teacher will always make contact with you if they have any concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. 
2. Grades and classes across the school are supported by Middle Leaders. You are welcome to contact the Middle Leader/s responsible for your child’s class/grade if you have continued concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. The Middle Leaders will also contact you when and if necessary.

Middle Leaders 2021

3. If the issue remains unresolved beyond the Middle Leader then please address your concern/s to the Assistant Principal or the Principal. 

4. Parents may contact teachers by email via the school office (info@gsfmdow.catholic.edu.au) but are asked to understand that a response may not be immediate and certainly cannot be expected beyond the regular hours of the school day or week. 

At Good Samaritan, we believe it is important to speak with parents either in a face-to-face meeting or over the phone when responding to emails that may be of a sensitive nature or, that may require a lengthy response. Therefore, the email response you receive may be of a generic nature. 

5. Parents are asked to understand that teachers primary responsibility throughout the school day is towards the students. Therefore, teachers are unable to engage in discussion when they are in direct supervision of students.

For any absence the school must receive notification of the reason for the absence within 7 days of the return to school. This applies for partial absences as well as whole day absences. Please supply the reason via Compass. In the event that a notification is not supplied the absence will be recorded as Unjustified/Unexplained.

Please refer to the weekly school newsletter for any other important dates.