Del Monte curriculum

The past few weeks at Del Monte have been filled with excitement as students prepare for their upcoming Outdoor Education experiences at Tallong. Year 4 recently attended an informative meeting with Mr Walker and our enthusiastic Year 10 Outdoor Education Leaders. The leaders did a fantastic job answering questions and sharing their experiences, helping to build confidence and excitement among our Year 4 students.

Year 4 will attend their Outdoor Education Experience in Week 5, followed by Year 3 in Week 7. In Week 9, Year 2 students will participate in their Tallong Incursion Overnight Experience here at Del Monte, providing them with an opportunity to develop independence and teamwork skills in a familiar environment. All students are eagerly anticipating these experiences, and we wish them every success as they challenge themselves, support one another and create lasting memories.

We have also seen some fantastic progress within our Spelling Groups over the past few weeks. Several students have moved between groups, reflecting their dedication, perseverance and growth since the beginning of the year. These changes are a wonderful indicator of the effectiveness of the program and the hard work our students are putting in. Well done to all of Stage 2, keep up the great effort!

Writing Club is now well underway, with students enthusiastically engaging in creative writing tasks and exploring their imagination. I am very much looking forward to reading their developing pieces and sharing some standout work in an upcoming newsletter.

Teaching for Critical Thinking

Our teachers have continued their professional learning journey in the area of Critical Thinking. Last Thursday, staff came together to reflect on classroom practices and engage in valuable professional dialogue. Teachers shared examples of explicit teaching strategies and provided constructive feedback to one another. It was a highly insightful and collaborative afternoon and we are excited to continue implementing these strategies in our classrooms. Already, students are demonstrating higher-level thinking, asking thoughtful questions, and showing greater curiosity as they explore topics more deeply.

Kate Bakhos
Curriculum Leader P-4