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.

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This term the following teachers will be supporting learning in Year 6

*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 6 will be engaging in the following units:

Unit: Vision and Mission- The Good Samaritan

Students will learn:

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.

Unit: The Reign of God

Students will learn about: 

This unit explores how Jesus broke down barriers that prevented right relationships. It looks at concepts such as personal and social sin, and how our behaviour and relationships can advance or hinder the reign of God. Students will explore issues of prejudice, discrimination, rejection and acceptance, exclusion and inclusion.

Unit: Lent- A Time For Building A Just World

Students will learn about:

This unit explores ‘mission’.  The unit highlights the mission of Jesus as announcing the reign of God.  It investigates how the Church, the baptised, work to bring about the reign of God – a time of truth, justice, love and peace.  It explores Lent as a time when we renew our commitment to the mission of Jesus.

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 6 will be engaging in the following:

In this unit, students learn to critically analyse and respond to texts, with a focus on multimodal, multimedia and visual texts, including the shared text of Wonder by R.J Palacio and Once, by Morris Gleitzman. They explore the ways in which texts are structured and presented in order to communicate ideas and influence viewers, especially focusing on the author’s voice and characterisation. Themes of identity and rite of passage, physical deformity and self-image, bullying and friendship will be explored. Students will become authors and write a narrative for their Kindergarten buddies. 

Spelling: Students will continue to have daily spelling lessons that focus on the four forms of spelling knowledge: Morphemic, Etymological, Visual and Phonological.

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING in ENLGISH

Students shjould be encouraged to read at 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 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 6 will be engaging with the following substrands:

Whole Number

• The unit focuses on key aspects of Whole Number, including reading/writing numbers, place value, expanding notation, patterning, patterns and problem solving.

Addition and Subtraction

• This unit focuses on developing an understanding and fluency in mathematics through inquiry, exploring and connecting mathematical concepts, choosing and applying problem-solving skills and mathematical techniques, communication and reasoning using addition and subtraction concepts.

Multiplication and Division

• This unit will focus on the student's ability to solve problems involving multiplication of large numbers by one- or two-digit numbers using efficient mental and written strategies and appropriate digital technology, solve problems involving division by a one-digit number, including those that result in a remainder and use estimation and rounding to check the reasonableness of answers to calculations.

Fractions and Decimals 

• This unit will focus on the student's ability to develop efficient strategies for numerical calculation, recognise patterns, describe relationships and apply algebraic techniques and generalisation.

Time

• This unit will focus on am/pm notation, digital/analogue time and the interpretation of timetables and time elapsed.

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING in MATHEMATICS

It is important that students are cometent in their knowledge of times tables.

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 Term Two.

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 6 will be engaging in the syllabus unit entitled Australia as a Nation:

This unit will focus on the diversity, identity and culture of Australia. Students learn about the way of life of people who migrate to Australia and their contributions to Australia's economic and social development.

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

This term in Science & Technology, Year 6 will be engaging in the syllabus unit entitled Greenhouse:

In this unit, students explore sustainability with a specific focus on food. Students design and construct a mini greenhouse from recycled materials to grow and germinate seeds or seedlings. They plant the same seedlings in a vegetable patch. Both the mini greenhouse and the vegetable patch are monitored, observed and the results recorded daily. Students investigate the concepts of sustainable design, what plants need to grow, photosynthesis and how the analogy of the microclimate within a greenhouse relates to the global greenhouse effect. They research a vegetable and the planting specifications.

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

This term in Creative Arts, Year 6 will be engaging in:

Visual Arts

Throughout this unit students will be engaged in both making and responding to art forms. They will discuss reasons why artists make particular artworks and why different interpretations are possible, recognising similarities and differences in how subject matter is represented. Students will investigate selected techniques and styles to create their own artworks for a variety of different purposes and artwork displays to capture ideas and perspectives. The students will create artworks ‘all about me’ and ‘magazine silhouette’.  

Music

Chinese New Year Project

This unit provides a sequence of learning opportunities based around a project. It uses this repertoire as a vehicle for developing students’ ability to create and structure their own Chinese composition through a series of whole-group activities that lead to a small group and individual work. Musical concepts students will learn are duration, pitch, dynamics, tone colour and structure.

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, Year 6 will be engaging in:

PE - Basketball

The basketball unit is an opportunity for the children to consolidate skills covered in previous years and use them in a game situation. Rules, positional play and teamwork are the focus of all lessons.

This unit aims to prepare students for the cross-country carnival using activities that encompass the basic elements of fitness-aerobic/anaerobic activities, strength, flexibility and endurance.

The Fine Motor Skills of dodge and leap will be incorporated into locomotor activities.

PDH - I Like Me

God has created each of us to grow into the fullness of life. We are made in God’s image and therefore, we are of inherent dignity and worth. Students examine how they are similar and different to others, describe the factors that influence personal identity, including their strengths and achievements. They study stereotypes and examine factors influencing self- esteem and body image. 

Year 6 Leadership Program

Explicit teaching of personal and social skills to give students a basis for resilience and the resourceful management of their own lives.

It is recommended that students read, revise times tables and complete any unfinished tasks when asked by the classroom teacher.

Please advise your child’s class teacher if your child attends tutoring, so we may assist where possible.

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

Year 6 Diary, stationary supplies, iPad, water bottle, hat, notes returned promptly

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:

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

1. If the issue remains unresolved beyond the Middle Leader then please address your concern/s to the Assistant Principal or the Principal. 
2. 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. 
3. 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.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YEAR 6 & GOOD SAMARITAN

• Upcoming dates

• Due dates eg: parent permission that may be needed this term

8 February- ERC and St Mary’s visit

8 February- 12th- Internet Safety Week

9 February- Holy Spirit School Visit to GSFM

12 February- Opening School Liturgy

15 February- Year 6 Leadership Program

17 February- Ash Wednesday

19 February- Swimming Carnival

25 February- Holy Spirit College Information Evening and Tour

3 March- Year 6 Liturgy with Father Bernard

5 March- Clean up Australia Day

8 March- Holy Spirit 2022 Enrichment Applications due

22 March- Year 6 Leadership Program

26 March- Holy Spirit College Enrichment testing for 2022

29 March- Holy week