Semester 2 Class Bulletin

6M and 6R
Issue 2 Friday 24 July 2015
WOOLLAHRA PUBLIC SCHOOL
Forth Street Woollahra NSW 2025 Australia
T: 61-2-9328 6313 F: 61-2-9363 3546 Email woollahra-p.admin@det.nsw.edu..au

Welcome to Year 6
Semester 2, 2015!
The more that you read, the more things you will
know.
The more that you learn, the more places you'll
go.
Dr Seuss.

English
In Semester 2, students will engage
with literacy in a variety of formats.
Explicit grammar and handwriting
lessons will be a regular feature of
each class program, in addition to
more integrated approaches to the English
syllabus. The text types of narrative and
discussion will be a focus in Term 3, looking at
creating and evaluating their own texts in
addition to the work of others. Multimodal
contexts and sources will also be viewed and
created as part of the English program. In Term 4,
students will be again focusing on poetry and the
specific techniques and roles of visual literacy.
The spelling program will continue in its current
format, with pre and post tests each week.
Students who require extension will be given
individualised content tasks. A clear emphasis on
correct spelling in everyday work will become
more important in the now more student directed
activity of editing.
Students will be encouraged and supported to
actively listen, build on and respectfully disagree
with others in formal and informal spoken tasks.
In Term 4, a grade based debating program will
also take place.
6R and 6M will be participating in a drama
program in collaboration with the Sydney Theatre
Company. Activities in the program are based on
evidence based research which shows that
integrating literacy with drama increases class
engagement and student achievement of English
outcomes. We look forward to seeing how
implementing more classroom drama will
positively impact on students this term!

In library lessons, students will be researching

using a variety of hardcopy and online resources
and using the skills of historical inquiry to learn
about significant people who have shaped and
helped the growth of democracy for the Who
Should Be Thrown Out project.

Mathematics
This semester, 6M and 6R will
continue to work at Stage 3
outcomes and engage students in a
range of problem solving activities and iMaths
investigations. The pace, depth and complexity of
the mathematics program will continue to be
modified as appropriate to the needs of the cohort
and individuals. The focus of our final semester of
mathematics will be on the strands of working
mathematically, directed numbers, number
theory, space and measurement. Students will
continue to receive explicit problem solving
instruction, small group strategy discussion tasks
and ongoing participation in the elite mathematics
competition, the Maths Olympiad. Lessons will be
given across a broad array of formats; from
teacher directed whole class lessons, to small
group problem solving tasks, paired work,
individual consolidation to practical components
and applications. Pretesting will continue to hold a
vital role in the mathematics program, allowing
individualised and compacted curriculums to be
provided.
We will undertake a creative, integrated
mathematics unit CityPlan where students plan,
create, and manage a model town through a
natural disaster. Students will be responsible for
calculating budgets and final disaster costs as
part of this activity. Another working
mathematically unit designated for Term 4, is the
Small Business Unit. Encompassing integrated
project learning, this unit provides links to
mathematics, science & technology, English and
visual arts. The unit will focus on collecting,
analysing and organising data; communicating
ideas and information; planning and organising
activities; working with others and in teams; using
mathematical ideas and techniques to real life
problems in real life contexts.
HIGHLIGHT! All small businesses will be
fully operational on Year 6 Fair day!

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Students are also encouraged to work from their
Step It Up textbooks and tailored Mathletics
programs at home for at least 30 minutes per
week. Students who have been dedicated in their
approach to their Mathletics homework and class
activities have maximised their results. The
Mathletics program is also utilised as a resource
within class based lessons.

Science and Technology

In Term 3, students will consolidate their
knowledge and application about Weather and
Natural Disasters. They will explore how sudden
geological changes and extreme weather
conditions can affect Earths surface. Class
lessons will provide greater detail and
connections between weather and natural
disasters. Guided discussions will be led and
evidence examined to look at the impact of
natural disasters on local and global
communities. A further extension of the science
program will be undertaken in a design
technology task in Week 8. This week will largely
dedicated to this one scientific task and places
emphasis on the design process as well as the
final product.
In Term 4, students will be engaged in a very
practical unit examining the key concepts behind
light and electricity. Within this unit students will
look at diagrammatic expressions of circuits, as
well as constructing their own circuits and
experiments. Again an emphasis will be placed on
working scientifically throughout these tasks and
while gaining in knowledge and understanding.
A range of technology hardware and software will
be integrated into the class program, and
cybersmart safety skills are continually
integrated across all of the Key Learning Areas. A
specific presentation from the local police liaison
addressing cyber issues will also be conducted in
Term 3. Further ICT skills and teaching will across
all aspects of the Year 6 program, including word
processing and publishing, gathering and
interpreting information, design skills, robotics.
The use of the internet, lap-tops, ipads and
Wikispaces will be extended.

Human Society and its

Environment
With the new history curriculum now embedded
in the school programs, students will continue to
refine their skills of historical inquiry. Research
skills will be practised and refined with the
students required to harness their skills at
locating, selecting, organising, presenting and
assessing the information they find in books and
on the internet.
As part of our investigations of State and Federal
government and democracy, students will gain
base knowledge through research and direct
instruction. Students will then move into an
expansive role play unit, Parliament of Wizards.
This unit mirrors the actions and processes of
Australian parliament and examines the ideals
and functional logistics of democracy. Students
will also attend an excursion to State Parliament
to complement their learning.
In Term 4, students will participate in a unit,
Current Issues, which will look at several
problems that are prevalent in our society from
multiple perspectives. The issues
students will tackle can range from
mining, whaling, refugees, foreign
aid to disaster management.
Students will analyse current affairs
issues at a local, national and international levels
from programs such as Behind the News,
individual research, specified documentaries,
classroom tasks and discussions.
Signor Kirkby will continue to provide his vibrant,
immersive Italian program weekly. Integration
with key concepts will also be mirrored in the
Italian program. Students will work towards a
term project that will be presented. Further
details can be found on the Italian Wikispace, or
with Signor Kirkby.

Personal Development,
Health and Physical
Education
All students at Woollahra Public School
participate in the Personal Development program,
deepening their understanding of the Wellbeing
Policy, healthy lifestyles, child protection and
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Semester 2 Class Bulletin

personal development. Our specialist PDHPE
teacher, Mrs Mooney, will be taking Year 6
students through a specific, mandated DEC
program that will look at the changes that
students experience through puberty. Further
information will be sent to parents early in Term
3. In Term 4, students will participate in our
yearly Drug Education program.
Semester 2, will see a continuation of the highly
successful Friendship Tree program. This program
allows students to actively apply the leadership
skills they have been taught through the year. A
further focus building reflection and resilience
skills will form part of each class program.
Students will continue to participate in the Year 6
Buddy Leadership Program.
In Term 3, students will be involved weekly in a
grade wide fitness program focusing on ball skills,
in addition to a formal gymnastics program run
by Moving Bodies each Thursday.
In Term 4, students will continue their weekly
fitness learning a series of dances for their
Graduation Dinner. The weekly sport will take
place at UNSW pool, and will give further
instruction and improvement to students
individual swimming levels.

Creative and Practical Arts

Drama, Visual Arts and
Music

conduct research as part of their Who Should

Be Thrown Out assignment. A Task sheet will
be distributed to students in early Term 3.
Homework builds on and adds further depth
to areas studied within the classroom.
Organisation skills will continue to be
explicitly taught to help student manage
competing demands and workloads. The
Woollahra Public School Homework Policy
subscribes to State recommendations and
expects students in Yr 6 to be completing a
minimum of 60 minutes of homework
Monday-Thursday. If there is a reason that
homework is unable to be completed, please
contact your class teacher.

Library
6M and 6R will participate in
library lessons every Friday
morning. The library is open
Mon-Fri from 1.40pm 2pm.
Library lessons are with the
school librarians Kellie Hoare or Robyn
Reynolds and the class teacher.
The library program focuses on developing
the students critical research and
information skills. The students will be
exposed to new and varied reading
resources. By Semester 2, students will
complete in the Premiers Reading Challenge.
The website associated with this task is:

https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/p
rc/home.html

In Term 3 and Term 4, Year 6 students will benefit

from the expertise of our dance specialist, Miss
Helena Kyriacou. Students will learn dance skills
and techniques in addition to skills of composition
and appreciation of the art form. Students will
learn a series of dances that will be performed
during the Year 6 Graduation Dinner.
The Drama and visual arts program are
intrinsically linked to our units of study and will
also feature prominently in our English program.
Art Hot Spots will also give students an
opportunity to examine prominent Australian
artists, their stories and their work.

Whats on at WPS?
Please keep an eye out for the school newsletter, or follow the
link on the Woollahra Public School website http://www.woollahra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/ - for important
dates in the Woollahra eSchool News.

21 July

Homework
Homework will continue to include weekly
spelling lists, a reading log, Step It Up and
Mathletics Tasks. In addition to the usual
programs, 6M and 6R will be required to

24 July
27-31 July
29 July
31 July
7 August

Cyber Seminar with Snr Constable

London
High Jump Day at school
Education Week
Maths Olympiad 3
6R robotics
6M robotics
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11
17
19
28

August
August
August
August

District Athletics full day

District Athletics half day
Maths Olympiad 4
Who should be thrown out?
Biographies Due
2-4 September
Year 6 Camp
7 September Who should be thrown out?
Discussion & Creative Genius Due
9 September Maths Olympiad 5
16 SeptemberFitathon
18 SeptemberLast day Term 3, Principals Awards
6 October
First day Term 4
22 October
Battle of Minds
30 October
Halloween Fair
9-13 November
High School Week
11 November Remembrance Day
20 November Year 6 Fair Day
27 November Principals Awards
3 December Awards Assembly
9 December Presentation Day, Yr 6 Graduation
Dinner
16 December Last day Term 4

Helpful Websites for

Parents
http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/ Homework, Wellbeing and technology tips for
both parent and students.

informs the programs that are developed by class

teachers. A wide variety of data collection,
analysis and tracking allows teachers to further
gain insights into the progress of individual
students. A final formal report will be supplied at
the end of Term 4 that will contain further details
of individual attainment and progress for their
final year of Primary School.

Information- How parents

can help
Excursion and permission notes are sent out as
they are received. Notes are also available on
the Woollahra Public School website. Please take
note of the due dates and have notes and
payment sent in as soon as possible. Please put
monies and notes inside a single envelope and
label all of the contents clearly (please
include the name of your child, the
excursion and the monetary value on the
outside). Money is collected and sent to the
office before 10am each morning only.
Online payment facilities are now provided
through the schools website. Copies of all notes
can also be downloaded from the website.
woollahra-p.admin@det.nsw.edu.au

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/ - Cybersmart
safety tips for parents and students.

Please make any messages or requests contact

via a note or through email:

http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/ - Useful tips

and strategies for supporting the positive
wellbeing of young people.

If you have any special expertise or experience

in any of our fields of study, and are willing to
speak to the class or run an activity, please
contact us to discuss details.

http://www.andrewfuller.com.au - Specialist in the

wellbeing of young people (resilience,
cybersafety etc).
http://www.michaelcarr-gregg.com.au (young
peoples concerns).

Classroom requirements
Please ensure that your child brings the
following labelled items to school every day:
school bag, pens (red and blue), glue stick,
pencil sharpener, lead pencils and rubber. Other
optional items include a USB device that is
labelled and kept safe with a key ring or
chain and a painting shirt.

Uniform Policy
Assessment and reporting
General Assessment is an ongoing feature of
class programs. Formal and informal assessment

Students are required to wear their full

uniform at all times and sports uniform on
sports day. Year 6 students are encouraged
to wear their school jerseys. Please ensure
your child has a blue hat, as we follow the
sun safe policy of No hat, No Play.
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Semester 2 Class Bulletin

Punctuality and absences

It is essential to obtain a pink note from outside
the office for each occasion where a student is
either late or needs to leave early. This is to be
given directly to the class teacher. If someone
else is going to pick up your child from school,
please send a note to school advising the class
teacher of the arrangements including a phone
number. DEC policy requires that absences
need a written note submitted to the
classroom teacher within 3 days of the
absence.

School Organisation
The Schools Student Wellbeing Policy is
available on the schools website (under
policies). Please familiarise yourselves with this.
Assemblies are on Monday mornings, this is
where announcements are made about the
many activities in our school community. Stage
3 assemblies are held fortnightly, on a Tuesday
afternoon. This is where awards are presented
and any information pertinent to Stage 3
children only is given.

Thank you for your support, engagement and

assistance in your childs education. We look
forward to another vibrant, enjoyable,
academically challenging and rewarding semester.
If you have any queries throughout the semester,
or need to be added to a class parent list, please
email your class teacher at the address below:
Aimee Morgan: aimee.morgan2@det.nsw.edu.au
Laura Robinson:
laura.robinson16@det.nsw.edu.au

_______________
Aimee Morgan
Class Teacher
_______________
Samantha Nicol
Symeou
Deputy Principal

________________
Laura Robinson
Class Teacher
________________
Simon
Principal

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