Head of Primary P-4
Writing
On the Primary campus this year one of our major focuses has been the explicit teaching of writing to ensure that our students are confident and expressive writers. The focus in the classrooms is exploring the language features and structures of a variety of types of texts.
The students explore writing as a process from drafts to published pieces. They are encouraged to write for an intended audience and for real purposes and utilise a range of types of text such as factual texts, notes, recounts of events, narratives and poetry to name a few! They are explicitly taught to consider how to appeal to different audiences.
Below are some tips for helping your child/ren at home with writing.
- Focus on the Process It is important to talk to your child about the purpose of the work and what they learnt, rather than emphasise the errors. Tell me questions are great such as: Tell me about this work, Tell me how you did this… Tell me what you liked about this activity…
- Encourage children to write, write, write! Provide many opportunities such as writing the shopping list, sending letters and cards to friends and relatives, writing emails, keeping a diary, publishing personal stories, and leaving notes. Locating writing apps such as Book Creator. Writing should be relevant and meaningful rather than writing for the sake of writing.
- Give children opportunities to read their writing aloud (while you sit back, relax and listen). Listen for the message they are conveying. It is great to comment on what they have done well, for example: ‘I loved the interesting words you used especially …..’ ‘The character you created seems so real’ Leave comments about spelling, punctuation, and grammar to another time — they are important if and when it is to be published.
- Draw children’s attention to how writing is presented, for example, on brochures, billboards, books, and electronic media — these are models of writing for real purposes.
- Write together for fun Encourage family activities that make writing fun. Create jokes, riddles, stories, rhyming lists, and anything else you can think of!
- Display writing done in the family Use the fridge, family noticeboard or calendar. This shows children how writing works in our lives and how important it is and how it is valued.
Next term our Learning Walks will focus on the students sharing with you their Writing! Below is a sneak peek of examples of students writing across the campus.
Father’s Day Gift Wrapping
A huge thank you to all of the mums who have been wrapping the Father’s Day gifts ahead of our upcoming Father’s Day stall. The Father’s Day stall will take place on Tuesday 29 August for students in Prep to Year 4.
P&F Disco
At the end of this term we will be having a disco organised and run by the P&F. The disco will be in the Del Monte Hall.
The disco will be held on Thursday 21 September 2023 at the following times:
Prep-Year 1 4:45pm to 5:45pm and Years 2-3 6:00pm to 7:30pm. What a great way to celebrate the end of the term.
Get your dancing shoes ready!
Instrumental Music Learning Walks
On Monday 11 September we will be having Instrumental Learning Walks! On this day families are warmly invited to come and watch Instrumental lessons.
- Year 2 | 11:45am – 12:05pm
- Year 3 | 12:25pm – 12:45pm
- Year 4 | 2:30pm – 2:50pm
Book Week Parade Date Change
Just a reminder that all families are warmly invited to join us for our Primary Book Week parade. Due to a clash with Sports Photography, the parade has been moved from Thursday 24 August to Friday 25 August.
On Friday 25 August the students will come to school in their Book Week costumes. Parents are also welcome to dress up! The theme for Book Week this year is Read, Grow, Inspire!
Time: 9:15 am
Location: Piazza and Warami
Parent entry: Carrington Ave gate from 9:00 am
We look forward to celebrating Book Week!
Upcoming dates
| Book Week Parade | Friday 25 August 9:15am Parent entry via Carrington Gate 9:00 am | Piazza + Warami |
| Fathers Day Stall | Tuesday 29 August | DM Hall |
| Father’s Day Breakfast and Mass | Thursday 31 August 8:40am Breakfast 9:30am Mass | Senior School Hall Santa Sabina Chapel |
| ICAS Maths | Friday 1 September | Classrooms |
| St Dominic the Adventurer Award – Flora and Fauna ID Year 3 and 4 | Tuesday 5 September 3:30 pm – 4.30 pm | Del Monte Campus |
| Year 2 Tallong comes to DM | Thursday 7 September Friday 8 September (students finish at 1:00pm) | Del Monte Campus |
| Prep and MBH Athletics Morning | Friday 8 September 9:30 am – 10:30am | Del Monte Campus |
Joanne Gianinni
Head of Primary P-4