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.

This term the following teachers will be supporting learning in Year 5

*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.

This term in Religious Education, Year 5 will learn about:

Easter: A Time for Hope and New Life 

In this unit the students reflect on the hope and new life that Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection brings to his disciples and followers. The unit examines the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Jesus and the Church’s belief in everlasting life. Students will explore how belief in the Resurrection influences the way we live. The unit concludes by focusing on the Easter Vigil. 

Pentecost: Celebrating the presence of the Holy Spirit 

This unit explores the presence of the Spirit of God in all creation, in the early Chrisitan community, in individuals and the community today. The students will examine how the fruits of the Spirit are visible signs of the presence of the Spirit.

This term in English, Year 5 will learn about:

• Convince me! A study about point of view using persuasive and imaginative text. 

We are learning to compose, edit and present a variety of persuasive texts for a range of audiences and contexts. Students will learn that persuasive texts must take into account audience, form and purpose. Students will recognise that choice of language has an impact on all types of argument. Students will also learn to recognise the effect of language and multimedia elements in a range of multimedia texts. 

This term in Mathematics, Year 5 will learn about:

Whole number -  order, read and represent integers of any size and describe properties of whole numbers. 

Volume and capacity - learn to choose appropriate units of measurement. 

2D shapes - classify two-dimensional shapes and describe their features. 

Data 1 -  collecting and displaying information. 

Addition and Subtraction - select and apply appropriate strategies for multiplication and division, and apply the order of operations to calculations involving more than one operation. 

Time - uses 24 hour time and am and pm notation in real-life situations, and constructs timelines. 

Patterns and Algebra - analyses and creates geometric and number patterns, constructs and completes number sentences, and locates points on the cartesian plane.

Relate Math to real life

Talk to your child about how you use maths everyday so they can see how the maths they are learning at school relates to real life. For example, explore how you use fractions in cooking , percentages while shopping, distance in driving, keeping score in games and telling the time. 

Discover the beauty of Math

What shape can be made by unfolding a carton? How many apples can be packed into the fruit tray? What shape is in that box? How do you draw a circle with a piece of rope? Next, explore mathematics in nature, music, visual arts and architecture.

This term in Geography, Year 5 will learn about: A diverse and connected world

Students will explore countries of the Asia region and the connections Australia has with other countries across the world. Students learn about the diversity of the world’s people, including the indigenous peoples of other countries. Students will explore and reflect upon similarities, differences and the importance of intercultural understanding. 

This term in Science & Technology, Year 5 will learn about: Robotics

In this unit students will understand what a robot is, how a robot works and the importance of robotics in our modern world. They understand how to program a robot using block coding and the importance of sequential steps. Students will use their skills to develop ideas about engineering, coding and a design process. They will use the scientific skills of observing, questioning, predicting and communicating and use mathematical skills in patterns and algebra, and data, to analyse the effectiveness of their design solutions.

This term in Creative Arts, Year 5 will learn about:

Exploring Asian Art (Visual Arts)

Weeks 1-7

In this unit students will develop a deeper understanding of Asian art through a range of learning situations, discussions, research, art making and written activities. Storytelling and the use of pictures will be used as a stimulus for students to use for creating narratives in their works of art to communicate important beliefs, values, morals and traditions. The visual art forms the students will be using throughout this unit are painting, drawing and sculpture and 3D forms. This unit is linked to English and Geography syllabuses.

The Christmas Story, CEOoW Art Exhibition and Competition 2021 

Weeks 8-10

Students will be deciding upon and analysing scriptural references that evoke emotion, imagery and illustrations to guide students in making artworks and assembling materials in a variety of ways. Students will then be able to gain a better understanding of the subject matter in an attempt to represent likenesses of the world in response to CEOoW Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition 2021 guidelines. This unit is linked to Religious, English and Creative Arts syllabuses

This term in PDHPE, Year 5 will learn about:

The fundamentals of Athletics, in preparation for the athletics carnival. Year five will also continue working from the The Best You Can Be program which is facilitated by the St George Illawarra Dragons. In this unit we will be learning how to change our thoughts to have a growth mindset, eat healthy and care for our bodies. 

In PDHPE we will be learning about respectful relationships and consent. The students will be building significant understandings around what consent and respect looks, feels and sounds like in our community.  We will be connecting our School rules, Catholic ethos and social norms to better understand consent and how to be respectful. This term we will continue to learn and practice how to work as a team, how to speak to each other and how to disagree using accountable talk.

• Where possible, arrive at school on time by 8.45am as it helps the children settle into the day. 

• Ask your child to share some of their learning with you by looking at their google classroom. On google classroom you will be able to see the daily slides that outline our learning in the classroom. There will also be photos and videos posted weekly that highlight key learning activities or school events we have participated in. 

• Please make sure your child is charging their Ipad each night and packing it to bring to school the next morning.

There will be no regular, set homework, but students should be reading regularly. Regular reading often helps students with their spelling and writing skills. 

Google classroom will be used to post a great deal of set work and this can be accessed at home when required, to complete any unfinished work or for students to share some of their learning with you. Students will also use Google Classroom to upload some of their work. Google Classroom is a closed group, meaning only enrolled students can access it, but please feel free to ask your child to show you what they have been working on. 

There may also be times when research tasks are set and students may engage in some of this work at home.

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

• In class requirements  - pens, pencils, ruler, fully charged Ipad, headphones, munch and crunch and a reading book. 
• Correct uniform, school hat, lunch and drink bottle.

CLASSROOM

Each class uses their co created behaviour matrix as a guide to help support and maintain a safe and positive classroom environment always linking in with our 3 school rules:

• Be Safe
• Be Respectful
• Be Responsible. 

These rules are supported by the classroom correction sequence. The sequence is used as a visual reminder for students to support them in getting back on track with learning.

PLAYGROUND

This term our tokens that are handed out for positive behaviours on the playground will be collected in each classroom’s token boxes. This way the students will be able to see as a class what a great job they are doing.

As a school the students have unpacked, role played and practiced positive and respectful ways they can interact with each other on their playground with a set of Social Norms. 

 SOCIAL NORMS FOR OUR PLAYGROUND

Social norm #1: Meet and greet politely.

• Say greetings, introductions, and goodbyes.
• Politely offer and receive compliments.
• Be able to start and finish conversations.

Social norm #2: Take turns talking.

• Listen when others are speaking and look them in the eye.
• Wait if adults are talking. 
• Respond appropriately and at the right time.

Social norm #3: Pay attention to others.

• Stop what you’re doing so you can listen.
• Read people’s emotions through their body language and facial expressions.
• Change your behaviour to match what other people are doing, such as quieting down with the rest of the room.

Social norm #4: Think about others before acting.

• Ask for consent.
• Don’t cut in line.
• Wait your turn.
• Stand a comfortable distance away when talking. 

Social norm #5: Cooperate with others.

• Follow directions when you’re asked to.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• Apologise when necessary.
• Be flexible and open to new ideas. 

UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

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. 

Students are expected to wear the correct Summer/Winter uniform including the correct footwear.

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.

Whole School Term 2 Dates:

Further information regarding events will be distributed closer to each of the dates.

APRIL:

22/04: School Photos

23/04: ANZAC Day Prayer

27/04: Diocesan Cross Country

30/04: Autism Awareness Day 

MAY:

3/05-4/05: Principals’ Overnight Retreat

6/05: Mother’s Day Liturgy

7/05: Mother’s Day Stall

11/05-20/05: NAPLAN testing

17/05: Athletics Carnival 

21/05: PUPIL FREE DAY Students do not attend school on this day

22/05-23/05: Confirmation Weekend

23/05: Pentecost

24/05-28/05: Screens Down Week

26/05: National Sorry Day

CEDoW School Director Peter Hill visit to GSFM

31/05: Reconciliation Week

JUNE:

3/06: MABO Day

11/06 Term 2 PB4L Day (Mufti Day)

14/06: Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend

15/06: Sth Coast Netball Gala Day

18/06: Semester One Reports distributed to Parents

21/06-25/06: Parent Teacher Interview Week

25/06: Excursion to Science Space 

25/06: Term 2 concludes