Week 4 is upon us already and we are well and truly into our third unit for the year. As our unit title suggests, testing is the main focus of our unit and this is certainly the case this week! We will be conducting some more scientific tests this week to again familiarise ourselves with writing lab reports and testing different products.
Reflections – 19th – 23rd January
Students continued to investigate our first teacher question for the year – “What are materials made from?” and finished writing up the results of our paper towels test in the form of a lab report. Mr Gocentas’ class spent part of the week investigating the periodic table in preparation for their assembly presentation while Mr Barrett’s class investigated different properties of materials as they designed their own cubby houses. The children in 6B did a great job with their cubby house designs and Mr Barrett is convinced there are a number of prospective architects in his class! The end of the week saw 6G do a fantastic job entertaining the Junior School at assembly. It was a lot of fun and the students should be congratulated on their efforts.
Unit of Inquiry
The children seem to have developed a good understanding of the types of materials companies use to make their products and the reasons why certain materials are used over others. This week we turn our attention to our second teacher question and look at the types of tests companies undertake on their products to ensure that they are safe and ready to be sold to the general public. We also begin our next stage of product testing this week. Our next test will see the children look at rubber bands and test them for their elasticity, strength and value for money.
Mathematics
The focus of our maths groups this week will again revolve around division concepts. The children are now familiar with a variety of mental and written methods for division and will apply this knowledge in solving algorithms and in problem-solving situations. Our focus in homeroom maths is on measurement concepts once again. We will continue to work on measuring the volume and capacity of different objects and shapes as well as start work on measuring the mass of different objects as part of our unit of inquiry work.
English
The children have now completed writing up their first science lab report under the guidance of their classroom teacher. The children will continue to work with this text type in class through a series of experiments and begin to develop their own lab reports and tests in the coming weeks. Reading groups will continue to focus on good reading and comprehension strategies, particularly on isolating key facts in a text.
Homework for this Week
Click on Homework to go there.
What can I do to help?
• Don’t forget to check the class blogs to find links to sites that will support your child in their class work. Look for the Testing, Testing 1,2,3 link in the Unit of Inquiry menu box to find great websites and information for you and your child.
• Use the class blogs as part of your child’s reading homework. There are many great links to interesting websites and articles on our Testing, Testing 1,2,3 page. Why not ask your child to read a particular article and report back to you the main facts from their reading!
Upcoming Events and Reminders:
• Thank you to those parents who have returned the second UOI reports to your child’s class teacher. If you haven’t already done so, please return your child’s rubric as soon as possible. Remember, if you have any feedback on the new reporting system this year please pass on your comments to your child’s classroom teacher.
• The Junior School cross country (Years 3-6) will be held on Friday, 30 January. Year 6 will be leaving school and walking to the course at 1:30pm and the race is scheduled to start at 1:45pm. Parents are more than welcome to attend and support the children. If the cross country event is cancelled due to wet weather, the race will be rescheduled for Monday, 2 February.
• Music - From term 2 all music sheets will be posted only on Ms Balazs’ blog. If you need a hard copy, you should contact your Ms Balazs.
With thanks,
David Barrett, David Gocentas and Ms Isabel Costa Pereira
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Latest News
It’s only week 3 but we’ve already had a busy start to the year. Mr Barrett’s class did a fantastic job entertaining us at last week’s assembly while our third unit for the year Testing, Testing 1,2,3 has got off to a flying start. We hope you have settled in for Term 2 after Christmas break and are well and truly back into your routines.
Reflections – 7th – 16th January
The children have made a great start to Term 2. We began work in class on answering our first teacher question for the unit, "What are products made from?" and have started conducting some scientific experiments to assess the quality of different products on the market, including the quality of paper towel brands in terms of their absorbency and their value for money. The children also began Wednesday afternoon activities last week with activities ranging from cooking to football! The children seem very enthusiastic and excited and are sure to learn new skills while having fun!
Weekly News: 19th — 23rd January
Unit of Inquiry
This week we will continue to look at different products and test them for their durability, quality and value for money. From our last unit of inquiry we know that companies need to sell quality products to keep their customers happy and to remain profitable. We will be investigating the kinds of tests some companies perform to ensure their products are safe and marketable. From our testing last week (which will continue this week) we now know that not all paper towel brands are as reliable and such good value for money as they claim to be!
MathematicsThe focus of our maths groups this week will again revolve around division concepts. Last week the children revised some of the mental and written strategies for division that were taught during Year 5 as well as concepts such as factors, multiples and products. They will continue to practise and refine their understanding of division strategies this week and apply them in their number work and problem solving. Our focus in homeroom maths this week is on measurement, particularly measuring the capacity of different objects and shapes as well as measuring area.
English
Reading and writing scientific lab reports is again the major focus of our language program this week. The children have already discovered the major features of writing a lab report, starting with an aim and hypothesis and ending with an evaluation and conclusion. The children will continue to work with this text type in class through a series of experiments. Reading groups this week will continue to focus on good reading and comprehension strategies, particularly those skills relating to critical thinking skills and analysing texts for bias and content.
What can I do to help?• Don’t forget to check the class blogs to find links to sites that will support your child in their class work. Look for the Testing, Testing 1,2,3 link in the Unit of Inquiry menu box to find great websites and information for you and your child.
• Use the class blogs as part of your child’s reading homework. There are many great links to interesting websites and articles on our Testing, Testing 1,2,3 page. Why not ask your child to read a particular article and report back to you the main facts from their reading!
Upcoming Events and Reminders:• SDIS is still looking for volunteer families to host visiting students from around the world during the Service Learning and Community and Service Conference between March 5-8. If you can help, please contact Callie Roth Welstead at c.welstead@dominics-int.org. Notes about this event were sent home last week if you require additional information.
• The second UOI reports were sent home last week. Could you please return the UOI reports to school as soon as possible (complete with your signature and any comments you have made). As you are no doubt aware this is one of the changes to our reporting procedures for 2008/09. We hope you find the new UOI report informative. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher to discuss the rubric report as well as the Term 1 reports which were also sent home last week.
• Just a reminder that as of last week homework is being sent home every Monday and is due back on Friday. With regards to the spelling words can we please ask that parents assist us in ensuring that the children practise their spelling words each week. We will not be correcting the students spelling words during the week as this is the responsibility of the students (as the correct spelling of the words is already displayed on the homework sheet). A reminder too that homework that is not neatly presented will not be marked and corrected by the teacher. While teachers will do the utmost to have students complete their homework to a satisfactory standard, it is up to each student to be responsible to do this.
• Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for PE classes as they are currently training for the Cross Country Carnival later in the year. Don’t forget all students need a spare set of shoes, especially as the weather has been so unpredictable of late.
• Year 6G will be hosting this week’s assembly. All parents and family are invited to attend.
With thanks,
David Barrett, David Gocentas and Ms Isabel Costa Pereira
Reflections – 7th – 16th January
The children have made a great start to Term 2. We began work in class on answering our first teacher question for the unit, "What are products made from?" and have started conducting some scientific experiments to assess the quality of different products on the market, including the quality of paper towel brands in terms of their absorbency and their value for money. The children also began Wednesday afternoon activities last week with activities ranging from cooking to football! The children seem very enthusiastic and excited and are sure to learn new skills while having fun!
Weekly News: 19th — 23rd January
Unit of Inquiry
This week we will continue to look at different products and test them for their durability, quality and value for money. From our last unit of inquiry we know that companies need to sell quality products to keep their customers happy and to remain profitable. We will be investigating the kinds of tests some companies perform to ensure their products are safe and marketable. From our testing last week (which will continue this week) we now know that not all paper towel brands are as reliable and such good value for money as they claim to be!
MathematicsThe focus of our maths groups this week will again revolve around division concepts. Last week the children revised some of the mental and written strategies for division that were taught during Year 5 as well as concepts such as factors, multiples and products. They will continue to practise and refine their understanding of division strategies this week and apply them in their number work and problem solving. Our focus in homeroom maths this week is on measurement, particularly measuring the capacity of different objects and shapes as well as measuring area.
English
Reading and writing scientific lab reports is again the major focus of our language program this week. The children have already discovered the major features of writing a lab report, starting with an aim and hypothesis and ending with an evaluation and conclusion. The children will continue to work with this text type in class through a series of experiments. Reading groups this week will continue to focus on good reading and comprehension strategies, particularly those skills relating to critical thinking skills and analysing texts for bias and content.
What can I do to help?• Don’t forget to check the class blogs to find links to sites that will support your child in their class work. Look for the Testing, Testing 1,2,3 link in the Unit of Inquiry menu box to find great websites and information for you and your child.
• Use the class blogs as part of your child’s reading homework. There are many great links to interesting websites and articles on our Testing, Testing 1,2,3 page. Why not ask your child to read a particular article and report back to you the main facts from their reading!
Upcoming Events and Reminders:• SDIS is still looking for volunteer families to host visiting students from around the world during the Service Learning and Community and Service Conference between March 5-8. If you can help, please contact Callie Roth Welstead at c.welstead@dominics-int.org. Notes about this event were sent home last week if you require additional information.
• The second UOI reports were sent home last week. Could you please return the UOI reports to school as soon as possible (complete with your signature and any comments you have made). As you are no doubt aware this is one of the changes to our reporting procedures for 2008/09. We hope you find the new UOI report informative. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher to discuss the rubric report as well as the Term 1 reports which were also sent home last week.
• Just a reminder that as of last week homework is being sent home every Monday and is due back on Friday. With regards to the spelling words can we please ask that parents assist us in ensuring that the children practise their spelling words each week. We will not be correcting the students spelling words during the week as this is the responsibility of the students (as the correct spelling of the words is already displayed on the homework sheet). A reminder too that homework that is not neatly presented will not be marked and corrected by the teacher. While teachers will do the utmost to have students complete their homework to a satisfactory standard, it is up to each student to be responsible to do this.
• Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for PE classes as they are currently training for the Cross Country Carnival later in the year. Don’t forget all students need a spare set of shoes, especially as the weather has been so unpredictable of late.
• Year 6G will be hosting this week’s assembly. All parents and family are invited to attend.
With thanks,
David Barrett, David Gocentas and Ms Isabel Costa Pereira
Friday, January 2, 2009
Welcome Back to the New Year
Welcome back to the new term. We hope you all had a well-deserved break and enjoyed the Christmas festivities and the New Year. We have some exciting plans for the start of the term including the new Unit of Inquiry where students will be testing the quality of commercial products to see if they are well made, safe and worth what we pay for them. Don't miss the link to the unit in the U.O.I section on the right. For selected student we also have the Junior School Production which will require a lot of energy, time and dedication. But we know it will be a valuable and enjoyable experience for those involved.
Reflections – 15th – 19th December
Students finished their Trade Fair. It was a great success and students were excited with how well they all did. Counting their profits at the end was a highlight, even if it wasn’t real money! Their final assessment rubrics will be sent home next week. Teachers received wonderful comments about the Year 6 choir at the end-of-year Christmas Concert. Well done year 6!
Weekly News: 7th – 16th December
Unit of Inquiry
This term we start the new Unit of Inquiry “Testing, Testing 1,2,3”. The assessment task for the unit will be to design a series of fair tests for an everyday product to show how and why companies test products before releasing them to the public. The test could be comparative to compare quality and cost of different brands. We will start the unit by discussing the qualities and other features of materials used to make most products.
Mathematics
This week students will start on division. We will revise the connection between division and multiplication and continue our practice of times tables.
English
This week students will be looking at the vocabulary which relates to the new unit and practise using the words to make sure they understand the meaning. The language focus for the unit will be the writing of procedural texts, ie, describing accurately a scientific testing procedure.In our reading groups we will be reading about and discussing materials used in making things we use everyday (plastic, metal, paper and glass). We will also be researching using the library computers.
What can I do to help?
Discuss with your child things that you have purchased that have not been of good quality. Have you ever had a product recalled because of a fault in the product.
Upcoming Events and Reminders:
• Due to technical problems reports could not be delivered during the holidays. Reports will be sent home this Friday.
• Junior School Production practice starts next week. Students will practise Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after school and Wednesday periods 7 and 8. More information will be available soon.
• Wednesday afternoon class activities start next week periods 7 and 8.
• PTA meeting January 13.
• Junior School Cross Country Friday January 30. All students need to bring a spare pair of runners in a plastic bag each PE day. The Cross Country track is very wet on after rain.
With thanks,
David Barrett, David Gocentas and Ms Isabel Costa Pereira
Reflections – 15th – 19th December
Students finished their Trade Fair. It was a great success and students were excited with how well they all did. Counting their profits at the end was a highlight, even if it wasn’t real money! Their final assessment rubrics will be sent home next week. Teachers received wonderful comments about the Year 6 choir at the end-of-year Christmas Concert. Well done year 6!
Weekly News: 7th – 16th December
Unit of Inquiry
This term we start the new Unit of Inquiry “Testing, Testing 1,2,3”. The assessment task for the unit will be to design a series of fair tests for an everyday product to show how and why companies test products before releasing them to the public. The test could be comparative to compare quality and cost of different brands. We will start the unit by discussing the qualities and other features of materials used to make most products.
Mathematics
This week students will start on division. We will revise the connection between division and multiplication and continue our practice of times tables.
English
This week students will be looking at the vocabulary which relates to the new unit and practise using the words to make sure they understand the meaning. The language focus for the unit will be the writing of procedural texts, ie, describing accurately a scientific testing procedure.In our reading groups we will be reading about and discussing materials used in making things we use everyday (plastic, metal, paper and glass). We will also be researching using the library computers.
What can I do to help?
Discuss with your child things that you have purchased that have not been of good quality. Have you ever had a product recalled because of a fault in the product.
Upcoming Events and Reminders:
• Due to technical problems reports could not be delivered during the holidays. Reports will be sent home this Friday.
• Junior School Production practice starts next week. Students will practise Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after school and Wednesday periods 7 and 8. More information will be available soon.
• Wednesday afternoon class activities start next week periods 7 and 8.
• PTA meeting January 13.
• Junior School Cross Country Friday January 30. All students need to bring a spare pair of runners in a plastic bag each PE day. The Cross Country track is very wet on after rain.
With thanks,
David Barrett, David Gocentas and Ms Isabel Costa Pereira
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)