Inquiry Week 7

The children investigated all the different clubs and groups that exist in our school.  In groups they discussed and wrote their own thoughts on:

-      Why do different clubs and groups exist in our school?

We further explored, who would we ask, if we wanted to be certain of our understandings and the types of questions we would ask.

Here are our initial questions we asked.  In week 8 we will be revisiting and refining our questions before we begin our interviews.

Watercolour in the Art Studio

The year 2 children were all given the opportunity to develop skills in watercolour in the Art Studio on Friday. These skills can be transferred and used into other areas of learning.

2014 National Day of Action against Bullying

The 2014 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is on Friday 21 March 2014.

This annual day provides a focus for all schools to say Bullying. No Way! and to strengthen their existing everyday messages that bullying and violence at school are not okay at any time.

In 2013 more than 1400 schools across Australia participated by running local events, inviting guest speakers and exploring bullying, and the role of bystanders, in classroom lessons. Watch highlights of the 2013 National Day of Action.

   http://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/national-day/

 Regards Meredith Flanner (eSmart)

National Ride2School

Dear Parents / Carers,

Wednesday 19 March 2014 marks the eighth National Ride2School Day, where over 250,000 Australian children, just like ours, will ride and walk to school. It is a day about celebrating riding and walking and encouraging everyone to give it a go!

Not only is riding and walking a fun way to get to school, but it also contributes to your children’s daily physical activity needs.

Although some of you live far away, or have conflicting commitments that makes it difficult to ride and walk every day, even going by bike or foot for part of the way, or on some of the days is still great!

Be part of the fun and pop National Ride to School Day in your calendar now.

https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/ride2school/43455/

(Heidi Marfurt, a sustainability officer from the City of Yarra Council, will be representing the council and handing out prizes to all walkers and riders from 8:30am-9:00am).

                                            Regards Meredith Flanner, Ride2School co-ordinator

Book Talk Week 7

Thank you once again to all the parents and year 5/6 students who joined us on Wednesday morning at 9.00 to 10.00 am for Book Talk.  The children thoroughly enjoy listening to stories being read by parents and older students.  Thanks again.

LA Happenings Week 7

The children in the Year 2 neighbourhood have been developing understandings and concepts on 'Change' during Learning Agreement. Some of the Learning Agreement provocations include, conducting surveys, creating puppets and scenery, writing puppet plays and performing.  Other Learning Agreement provocations include, writing 'ch' words in word-study journals, reading and responding to non-fiction books using the Connect, Extend, Challenge (Thinking Routine) and  working on Negotiated Agreement.  The children have been working extremely hard and have been creating fabulous work.

School Photographs

Dear All,

School photo envelopes have been sent home today.  Envelopes have gone home with the ‘only’ child – or in the case of families, ALL envelopes have been sent home with ONE child.

School photos will be taken over 3 days (18,19 and 20^th March) – there are no set days for neighbourhoods (we will be fitting in with timetable constraints).

If you are doing online payments – please ensure they are done PRIOR to Monday 17^th March as this is when ALL ENVELOPES ARE DUE BACK TO SCHOOL.

If you have any queries, please email Julie-Anne Effemey, including your phone number, and she will endeavour to answer your queries.

Anaphylaxis Awareness

Hello everyone,

Here is a note to remind you that although Princes Hill Primary School is not a nut free environment, there are a number of students in our community that are allergic to nuts and/or other food.

Please discuss with your children the importance of not sharing food with others to help reduce the possibility of anyone suffering an adverse reaction.

Connect Extend Challenge

We read the big book ‘How Frogs Grow’ by Brenda Parkes.

The children were introduced to the Thinking Routine, Connect / Extend / Challenge.This routine helps children make connections between new ideas and prior knowledge. It also encourages children to take stock of ongoing questions, puzzles and difficulties as they reflect on what they are learning.(Visible Thinking @Harvard Project Zero)

The children were asked how they connected (what they knew) to the text in the book, how their knowledge was extended (what they didn't know) and how they were challenged by the text (surprised/or in wonder).  We wrote the children's responses on large paper.

As part of Learning Agreement this week, Year 2 children will be responding to non-fiction text using the Thinking Routine, Connect / Extend / Challenge.

Inquiry Week 7

As part of inquiry on ‘Change’ we have been developing concepts on;

-      How can we be the change we want to see in the world?’

We have continued to ask questions on;

-      How can we make a difference in our school?

Last week the children investigated all the different clubs and groups that exist in our school.  In groups they discussed and wrote their own thoughts on:

-      Why do different clubs and groups exist in our school?

We further explored, who would we ask, if we wanted to be certain of our understandings and the types of questions we would ask the appropriate person.

This week we will be revisiting and refining our questions before we begin our interviews.

Learning Agreement Happenings - Week 6

Parent Representatives

We are looking for volunteers to become parent reps. This role is an important one within our school as it helps to bring the school community together. Parent reps also help to provide opportunities for parents to become involved in the learning in neighbourhoods. If you are interested please see your neighbourhoods teachers.