February 17 2016

To my wonderful One Purple Parents

This letter aims to fully elaborate on what was discussed at our Parent Information Evening last Wednesday.
Behaviour:
Please take a moment to come and see our behaviour wall in the classroom or look at the photos on our class
website www.weloveonepurple.weebly.com. It describes specific rules, expectations, as well as rewards and
consequences for the classroom and individual. The steps for inappropriate behaviours in 1 purple work as
follows
Eyes- a non verbal cue that allows the student to see I am not impressed with a behaviour and is
a quick reminder to them to change their choice without disrupting learning or verbally calling on
the child.
The finger point signals non verbally that this is their warning. It is not confrontational and is a
simple way to show that their consequences will begin to affect them the more that the
behaviour progresses. At times, a name may be attached to the warning if they are not looking in
my direction.
Watch and learn is a move away from the main group (only slight) with its purpose to be fully
restorative and allowing them time to watch the group and see how their behaviour differs with
the view to fixing it. Re-entry is very important in this step
Black book is where the childs name and continuing behaviour is written in the black book. They
know this book can be shown to parents and if there are two occurrences in one day then parents
are contacted. If their behaviour restores, they get to put a line through their name which allows
them to begin again.
'Coaching room' is the final step in my behaviour plan. If your child attends the coaching room,
you will receive a letter home from the administration team.
The students spent time conducting a photo shoot of expected rules and expectations in the 1 Purple classroom.
Check out our behaviour wall in the classroom to see how this looks!
Curriculum:
Our Phonograms and Magic Words programs are up and running, continuing on from what the students learned
in Prep last year. These individual sounds/phonemes are extended this year and we expect students to be
writing using more of these as the year progresses.
Literacy/English: This term we will be exploring the author Eric Carle and learning how to retell a story as part of
our English unit. Students will learn more on how to extend their sentences and how we must write for longer
periods of time when constructing texts. They will also learn how to monitor their own writing for appropriate
sentence level punctuation (full stops, capitals, sight words and handwriting). Reading takes place as individual,
shared and guided sessions that allow students to read and engage with texts at their level.
Science: Students will investigate how materials change (such as melting, stretching, heating/cooling (solid and
liquid). They will also learn how different properties exist for items around the classroom and school.
Religion: Students will learn how they are like Jesus in their lives. This term students are also learning how I
conduct prayer and prayerful meditation in our classroom. With the beginning of Lent, students will also be
looking at their choices as a person and how they can better themselves.

Health: Student will investigate the personal attributes/qualities and abilities that are unique to them and how
others have similarities and differences in their personalities also.
Geography: Students will learn why certain places have certain features and how they are arranged to suit a
purpose.
Mathematics: We explore all numbers to 100. Students will work to look at patterns on a hundreds board,
including tens and ones. We are learning how to count to 100 in different ways, such as 2s, 10s and 5s.
Students will apply this understanding when solving number problems (both addition and subtraction stories).
History: We will explore how the family structures have evolved and changed over time. This will also include
looking a different roles of people within these structures.
Parent Helpers:
This will not begin until term 2. A note went home today asking if there are any parents interested in having
odd jobs sent home to them. This may take numerous forms. A interest email for rotation helpers in Term 2
will be sent home closer to the beginning of Term 2. Please remember that parent helpers will be announced on
the parent forum part of my website. All volunteers for 2016 MUST complete a volunteer register, available at
reception. It must be returned before any help can occur (including parents that are chosen for excursions).
Uniform:
Some specific reminders for Year 1 uniforms as per our uniform policy. The leadership team follow uniform
infringements up with formal letters of reminder.
-

Earrings must only be PLAIN silver or gold studs (no gemstones) or shapes. Sleepers and hoops are
extremely dangerous in such a hands- on environment (and in the playground).

Shoes- must be all black and LABELLED. If you have purchased laced shoes for your child please continue to
take the time to teach your child how to do these up. Multiple laces for teachers affects learning time in
the classroom so we appreciate your assistance with this.
Hair- for girls must be tied back with appropriate school colours. Please avoid extravagant styles and clips
as they become a safety hazard and may be lost in the bigger oval. Boys haircuts must not cover eyes, be
shaved or touch the collar. Please dont shave areas or tracks into the hair or do an undercut style.

Routines:
Please allow the students to develop their own independence in the morning and let them unpack their own
bag and get ready for the morning. Any notes for me should be placed in my blue letter box on the shelves just
inside the door. Please try not to leave notes in the blue homework folders as I dont check them individually.
Mornings are a tricky time for meetings about serious matters. Small issues or reminders are not a problem, as I
can attend to them easily and quickly. When the bell goes students are to line up outside the classroom and Ill
let them in ASAP.
In the afternoon, please wait over the tuckshop side of the undercover area. It is incredibly noisy and distracting
to the students as we try to complete our afternoon tasks. When students do exit the room, please let them
pack their own bags and find you. Hats are to be on their heads and folders INSIDE their bag.

Magic Words/Homework:
Home readers have now been sent home. They are changed on a Monday and Thursday only if they are placed
in the green basket.
From next week, a lined book will become a homework book. No homework grid as such will be sent home,
rather use this book as a place where students can write magic words, practise counting, glue magazine
searches of words or respond to a specific learning task that will be glued in. A specific task may not be sent
home each week, it depends on what we are doing in class. A typical days homework should involve the home
reader, magic words (oral and written), counting and perhaps a library book. Learning at home should be
incidental and meaningful. For example:
-

Talking about halving while cooking

Numbers on letterboxes
Reading signs in the environment
Writing magic words on the shower glass
Looking at words in books

Using letter magnets on the fridge

Counting knives and forks in 2s
Looking on the class website at games and
videos
Practising letter formation

A gallery of magic word learning suggestions is on our class website for you to view.
BugClub will also start shortly for those who wish their child to read books online. I will send details of
that home soon. It is, however not to replace the valuable time of home reading.
Food:

Please remember that St Peters is a nut

free school. In our classroom
particularly, we have severe nut and
egg allergies

Healthy, minimal processed snacks will

allow your child to learn and remain
focussed for sustained periods
Birthdays- please send items that are
easy to distribute ie: cupcakes, ice
blocks, lollipops or anything cut up
before it arrives at school.

Absences
From this point, any unexplained absences are followed up by the classroom teacher. To avoid phone calls
home chasing an explanation, please consider reporting your childs absence in the follow ways (as soon as
it occurs)
-

Phone call to the absentee line

Online on the parent portal
In a note the following day
In person (verbal explanation)

When picking students up for early appointment, please note that if there is a repeated pattern, (i.e always
30mins before the end of day), the leadership team will contact parents to discuss importance of being
present for the afternoon routine up to 3pm.

Communication:
The class website will always have copies of the notes I send home. I will return phone calls if you contact
the office or reply to hand written notes (if they are placed in my blue letterbox).
When emailing, what I ask is that no big or serious matter is emailed to me; if this occurs I will ask you in
for a meeting or contact you over the phone. Partnership for your childs learning is my passion and
priority. Together we can help your child achieve great things this year!
If your child is not reaching levels of achievement, or there are specific concerns to attend to, we will
discuss these at meetings and have other school staff assist us. This may include
Miss Anita Katajamacki (Guidance Counsellor)
Mrs Lisa Freeth (Lower years support teacher)
Mrs Astrid Van Der Lan (Speech Therapist)
Mrs Deb Hodges, Mrs Deborah Kerr, Mrs Julie Wilson, Mrs Toni Fritsch
take numerous groups that work with students requiring social and academic support. You may hear your child
talk about them from day to day.

Reporting
Parent Meetings are compulsory at the end of Term 1. This will be an online booking system.
Now that your child is in Year 1, the reporting scale has changed. Last year they received achievements
that were
Working Towards the
Working at the
expected level
expected level
If, at the end of Prep, your child was working at the expected, they were classed as achieving at the
expected level If they received working towards, they are currently a below
This year, the reporting scale changes and you will see the following
Well Below
Below
Expected
Above
Well Above
This gives you a clear picture of where your child is working. The majority of the cohort will be working at
the Expected level, as is set by the Australian Curriculum.
If you have any question and queries, please dont hesitate to see me. I have tried to outline what I
discussed as best I can. Other parents that attended the night may also have a take on what was
discussed if you ask them.
Yours in Learning

Yours in Learning
Ms McLady