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

This newsletter highlights all the necessary Term 1 information for your child. Due to COVID restrictions parent information sessions will take a different format. Conferences for parent teacher interviews via phonecall will be made available on compass by Friday 11 February.

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.

Click to complete the Year One  Link

Parent Engagement Google Form

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

*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 One will be engaging in the following units:

• The Good Samaritan - As an introduction to the new school year, the students will revise the Parable of the Good Samaritan and reflect on ways they can be like the Good Samaritan in their daily lives. This unit of work is integrated with our PB4L Behaviour Matrix to enable students to see how they too can show love and compassion.
• Baptism
• Lent and Holy Week

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 One  will be engaging in the following:

Characters In Our World

In this unit, students will further develop their understanding of how a sentence is formed and how to link more than one sentence in a text to produce a description of a character. Students will focus on a grammar perspective with the use of nouns, adjectives, descriptive language, verbs (past and present) and time connectives. Students will also continue to develop their use of reading cues and punctuation to enhance fluency when reading.

Students should be encouraged to read at home. Here are some tips:

1. Read funny things
2. Read anything anywhere
3. Talk to your children about what they have read
4. Follow their interests
5. Read regularly 
6. Read for pleasure
7. Variety is the spice of life!
8. Make a dedicated reading space in the home

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 developed 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 One  will be engaging with the following substrands:

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 developed 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 One will learn about:

• Data- collecting and displaying information
• Addition and subtraction- counting on, breaking numbers into parts
• 2D space- Horizontal, vertical, parallel and perpendicular lines
• Whole number- Sequencing to 100
• Time- Seasons, months and days
• Multiplication and division- Counting by 10's, making equal groups
• Patterns and Algebra- number patterns and skip counting
• Addition and subtraction- combinations to 10

It is important that students are competent in their knowledge of times tables. Here are some tips:

1. Teach your kids some tricks
2. Listen to some fun songs
3. Quiz them regularly, but not incessantly
4. Reward their efforts

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:

Geography is taught in Terms Three and Four.

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:

This term in History, Year One will learn about: 

Families Past and Present

This topic provides a study of present and past family life within the context of the students’ own world. Students learn about similarities and differences in family life by comparing the present with the past. They begin to explore the links, and the changes that occur over time and are introduced to the use of historical sources.

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

This term in Science & Technology, Year One will be engaging in the syllabus unit

What’s This Sound?

• What are the different forms of energy around us and how can we detect them?
• How are forces used for a purpose?

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

 This term in Creative Arts, Year One will be engaging in: Music

During Term One, students will work within the unit of ’The long and the short of it’, students have a chance to explore duration through play and imagination in creating/making music to match animals and characteristics. Students participate in class singing, playing and moving to recognise the beat, describe long and short sounds and perform these songs in an appropriate way. Through story telling students are able to comment and discuss ideas also.
Students will be assessed on their ability to work collaboratively, explain relevant terms learnt throughout the unit and show learnt techniques and skills through performance and theoretical understanding.

This term in PDHPE, (Physical Education) Year One will be engaging in: 

Students at Good Samaritan engage in 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 (Class Sport), Year One will be engaging in:  Moving My Body

Students will develop specific fundamental movement skills (FMS) while participating in individual/group/team physical activities. They will apply decision-making and problem-solving strategies to develop and perform movement skills and sequences, building their self-awareness and communication skills in the process. The main focus will be throwing, catching, and cross country running while participating in a range of activities and games.

Talk time - Students have been allocated a specific day to present an oral presentation to the class which will help develop confidence with speaking and listening skills. An overview for the term will be sent home outlining the topics for each week. Students will present a 2 minute presentation focusing on a specific listening and speaking focus. As the term progresses additional activities may be added either for the whole class or individually as required.

Home Reader - The students will be given a home reader to take home daily. Students are encouraged to read to an adult for 10-15 minutes every day and parents are encouraged to complete their child’s reading log daily. Home readers need to be returned to school every day. Use this opportunity to ask your child questions about their book to help and improve their reading and comprehension skills.

Please support your child to be Ready to Learn each day by ensuring he/she has the following in his/ her school bag and that it is clearly labeled:

• Reading Folder, with reading books,  to be brought to school every day
• Water bottle
• Munch and crunch, recess and lunch
• School hat
• A change of underwear and socks in a labeled plastic bag
• Raincoat
• notes are returned promptly

PB4L in Year One:

• In Year One, students are rewarded in a variety of ways.
• Students may be working towards a whole class reward 
• Students may each have a reward card that once a predetermined number of rewards have been reached they can choose a variety of awards such as move seats for the day, choose from the prize box, 10 minutes free choice activity and more.
• Throughout the day verbal praise will be given to the whole class and individuals as well as a thumbs up.
• Students may work towards group points
• Our Term focus is “Love of Learning”
• Mission Behaviours-

Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School operates the Positive Behaviour 4 Learning framework to  assist in improving student behaviour and enhancing learning within the classroom. The PB4L  framework recognises individual student needs on both our playground and in learning spaces.  

PB4L enables the school to identify areas of need where work is able to be done with students who  are unclear of expectations and appropriate behaviour whilst developing empathy within their  relationships. This process may include the key principles of Restorative Practice. In this way Good  Samaritan is making our school and playground a friendly and enjoyable place for all our students.  

At Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School, we are proud of the positive behaviours displayed by  our students. Recognition and celebration of these behaviours occur both within the classroom and  at school assemblies.

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 the teacher’s 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.

14th-18th February - Teacher/Parent Introduction Week

28th February - Catholic Schools Week

2nd March - Ash Wednesday Mass

4th March - Clean up Australia Day

21st March - Harmony Week

8th April - Holy Week Liturgy and Easter Hat Parade/Last day of Term One