English
This term students have benefited greatly from the large volume of sentence level writing through explicit direct instruction and daily review. Students have worked hard to hone their writing craft using adverbs, stative verbs and conjunctions in narrative writing. They have practised building correct sentences, joining dependent and independent clauses with appropriate conjunctions. The culmination of their hard work was an outstanding collection of narrative pieces written under assessment conditions.

We have also commenced a new class novel entitled “Catch A Falling Star” by renowned Australian author Meg McKinlay. Students have been listening intently to identify and tabulate figurative language such as simile, metaphor, hyperbole and personification. They have also looked at the art of using subtle humour in their writing through the analysis of sarcasm, dark humour and irony.

Maths
In Year 5/6 students continue to be highly engaged in daily reviews. Each day, we cover a wide range of key concepts that allow for a significant degree of differentiation to cater for the diverse learning levels of a multi-age class. This term we have completed explicit lessons on division, number facts, adding and subtracting like and unlike fractions, perimeter, area and order of operations incorporating indices. 

Students have been working diligently to complete modules to mastery level in Maths Pathway, with a strong emphasis on taking a thorough approach to setting out bookwork, as well as checking and rechecking written responses before moving on.

Religion
Students in Year 6 have recently completed their major assessment project on a Saint of their choosing to coincide with Sacrament of Confirmation completed by over twenty of our year six students. They learned about the fruits of the Holy Spirit, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they relate to the modern context. Students in Year 5 chose an inspirational leader to complete a major project on. This is a particularly significant unit for Year 5 as they begin to transition towards being the official leaders of St Mary’s in 2024.

Creative Arts
This term all students in Stage 3 have been learning about Electronic Music including different kinds of instruments that produce sounds electronically as well as MIDI programs for making songs. Students had two projects to complete including a research project on an electronic instrument of their choice as well as creating a song using Chromelabs Music Maker. Students were assessed on the number of changes in their song as well as varying pitch, changing dynamics, thoughtful timbre and great tempo. Students are also looking forward to having some of their artwork from Term 1 displayed at the end of the year.

Science
All students in Stage 3 have been doing Chemistry this term with some very interesting concepts and facts about elements, protons and electrons, states of matter, the universe, the big bang theory, supernovae and chemical changes. Year 6 students used chemical change to create delicious choc chip cookies. Year 5 students attempted to form crystals using household solids with limited success. No wonder diamonds are so expensive if it takes this long to form crystals!

History
This term students have been learning about migration. It is very interesting to see how many students have relatives and ancestors from all different parts of the globe. Earlier this term students completed a research project on an Australian Prime Minister. We had just about everyone from Edmund Barton, to Robert Menzie, Julia Gillard and “ScoMo”.

Sport/PE
PE with Mr Hill continues to be a big highlight with Year 5/6 students each week. It is really inspiring the way all students in our class enjoy the physical movement aspect of PE as well as thoughtfully contribute during health lessons. This term all Stage 3 students thoroughly enjoyed the chance to play hockey each Friday and we have been blessed with some amazing weather.