Welcome to Year 1P for 2020

Hello and welcome Parents to the Year 1P blog,

I hope you have all had a relaxing and peaceful holiday and enjoyed some of this beautiful Summer weather!

I am looking forward to getting to know your beautiful children and working with you throughout your child's learning journey this year.

Year One is a big, but exciting year where your child will, discover, grow, create, learn, reflect and experience an abundance of fun and interesting things in our class!

As a parent of a Year One student, it is extremely important to keep in mind that we all build on small successes.  Each child will progress at his/her own rate, acquiring skills as he/she is developmentally ready.  Maintaining each child's self-esteem and building a secure foundation for future growth will always remain a priority in our class.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Celebrate your child's success, no matter how small it may seem.  This will keep your child enthusiastic about learning and proud of their work!
• Look for and read any notes and letters going home and stay updated on what’s going on in our regular blog posts. These will have important information and helpful reminders.
• Read to and with your child every day, if possible. The more your child is exposed to language, the easier it will be for him/her to incorporate new skills in reading and writing in the classroom.

A few important things for the start of Year One: 

Class Blog

This blog will be the main communication for any parent information over the coming year.  Please enter your email into the 'follow by email' section on the left hand side of the blog so you will get email updates when I post to the blog.

Stationery

All class stationery (pencils, crayons, scissors etc.) will be collected together at the beginning of the year and distributed to the students on a shared basis.  This year, we are trying to reduce our impact on the environment by not covering our books with contact. We have found in the past that the books have lasted throughout the year and it teaches the children to be responsible and take care of their belongings. 

Text books including Spelling Journal, Handwriting book and headphones (If you ordered them) are the only items that require labeling.

Names

Please ensure that all personal items (hats, drink bottles, lunch boxes, uniforms crunch & sip containers, etc) belonging to your child are labelled to avoid losing items! You would be surprised how often we find a rogue shoe around the place :) 

Uniform
Term one is our Summer uniform: 
Girls - Summer dress with brown sandals or black school shoes with white socks.
Boys - White shirt, grey shorts with brown sandals or black school shoes with grey socks. Please see school website for more information. 

New Bell Times
Doors open: 8:30
Recess: 10:40am - 11:00am
Lunch: 1:00pm - 1:40pm
End of School Day: 3:00pm for everyone, including pick up lane & bus. 

Gathering Time
Gathering time begins at 8:30am until 8:40am. Please ensure that your child is at school by 8.40am. If you arrive at school after 8.40am parents are required to attend the office first with your child to sign and pick up a Late Pass and then give this to the class teacher. During gathering time, take this as an opportunity to settle your child into the day.  Some mornings it could include your child completing a small English or Math game or activity or an activity relating to something we have been learning about. Please note no new learning will take place in gathering time. 

New Policy for Early Leaving
This is a new OLC policy regarding early leaving - If you wish to collect your child early from school, you are required to come to go to the office first, collect a Parent Pass and then hand this to the classroom teacher as you collect your child. 

Homework
OLC is following a new format for homework this year, from Years 1-6. This will be based on the Ian Lilico homework grid. There will also be a change to the Sight Words & Spelling homework tasks that the Year Ones and Two have completed in previous years. More information will follow in coming weeks. 
Home Reading - As the children are settling into the new routines and expectations of Year One, we will begin sending home reading books from Week 2 Monday - Friday. We ask that your child brings their Red Reading Folder everyday so they can write the title of their new book in each morning during gathering time. On a Friday the folders will be left at school, as there will be no homework assigned over the weekends. There will be a tub placed at the front of the classroom for all of the folders.

Specialist Days

Monday:  

Tuesday: Music and HASS

Wednesday: Physical Education (wear teal OLC sports shirt)

Thursday: Indonesian
Friday: Library & Class sport (wear coloured faction shirt)

Support Staff
We are very fortunate to have the outstanding Mrs. Michelle Hughes to help and support the children in their learning journey throughout this year.  Mrs. Hughes will be in our class Monday to Friday until 12.00pm each day. 

News

The children will be rostered on a particular day for news once a fortnight, with a roster and start date to be announced shortly. Each fortnight on the afternoon before your child’s news day, a bag will be sent home with some question prompts inside. 

The idea of the questions is to get your child to think about what they will say to the class before they speak. It would be greatly appreciated if you could spend five minutes the night before news assisting your child to answer the questions. Please feel free to email pictures/ links or send usb's in if you would like to show news items on the smart board. 

Crunch & Sip

Each morning we will stop for a 5 minute Crunch & Sip break. The idea of Crunch & Sip is that the students have a short break to increase their energy levels, increase awareness about eating fruit and vegetables, as well as encouraging them to drink water and keep hydrated throughout the school day. You can refer to the Crunch & Sip website (www.crunchandsip.com.au) for specifics on a list of foods that can be packed for this time of the morning. Generally speaking, the list will include fresh fruit and vegetables (celery/carrot sticks, broccoli, chopped or whole fruit, as well as dried fruit). Please bring along a water bottle with your child's name on it and this can be placed on their desks along with their small container of fruit/vegetables. 

Canteen 

Canteen will run on Tuesdays & Thursdays & there will be a limited lunch time only menu on Fridays. Students are welcome to purchase food and drink at recess without prior ordering. If your child would like a lunch order, there will be a black lunch order box placed in the classroom that your child can place their order in during gathering time. 

Teacher Contact

If you have any question or queries please don't hesitate to email me at:

monique.prowse@cewa.edu.au

I am looking forward to seeing your little ones on Monday!

Have a restful night and enjoy your weekend,

Miss Monique Prowse 

Week 9...just in time ;)

Good morning,

So here it is... the final blog post of the year with all the important information about the upcoming events this week.

I have absolutely loved this year, your children have been an absolute pleasure to teach and I feel so privileged to be able to call them 'my children'. 

Just a few reminders for the rest of the week...

End of Year Christmas Concert - is on tomorrow night Tuesday beginning at 5.30pm. If you can please have your child at school by 5.15pm dressed in Christmas colours/ Christmas outfits...seats will be at a premium so factor that in to your plans!

Colour Run - this will take place on Friday 13th December at 2pm. This a free dress and we ask that you send in a white t-shirt for your child to change in to with their name marked clearly somewhere on the collar or at the back. Please send the shirt in ASAP and we will keep them in the classroom for your child.e Please also pack a towel as they will get a spray down at the end. 

Reports - these will be sent home with your child on Friday. These will be placed in their top zipped pocket for safe keeping.  If your child is not at school on Friday it will be posted to you.

Books - these will be sent home with your child in the coming days. Please pack a cloth or recyclable bag for your child to carry their books home in. I will try to stagger the books throughout the coming days. 

This does not mean that all school work has stopped...it hasn't. It just means that we are keen to avoid a massive load being sent home on the last day!

Prayer Assembly - there will be a farewell prayer assembly for the Year 6 students on Friday morning beginning at 9 am. You are warmly invited to attend if you are able.

Cleaning day - As there are a few items to be cleaned in the classroom, we would love a few extra sets of hands to get it all done for the end of the term. If you can help with some cleaning on Wednesday morning from 9-10 am, we would be most appreciative. This would include cleaning our chairs, construction materials and tubs from our rooms. 

Big breath in...now out! Four glorious days to go...that also means four more days with Jingles :) 

Have a lovely day and I will see you all tomorrow for the Christmas Concert 

Miss Prowse 

Week 8 Information

Good afternoon parents,

Welcome to Week 8. Only two more weeks with your beautiful children before the wonderful Christmas holidays and then...moving onto Year Two (something I'm still not ready to admit!)

Just a few things for this week and next week:

Reading Folders
After conversing with Mrs. Kemp from the library last week, she has asked for all readers to be returned to her. The lovely Mrs. Hughes has taken the readers out of your child's folder today (if they brought it) and we are asking for any other readers to be returned if they have not done already.

Sight Words
Mrs. Hughes tested all of the children's sight words last week so your child would have received their final note home today of where they have finished in the sight word program. We have collected up the sight word sets and I will pop on here the 1-100 and 101-200 list of sight words if you would like to review them over the holidays. If you have any loose sight word sets at home, could you please return them to school this week.

Mental Maths
These were meant to go home today (so sorry, my fault!) This will be the last week for Mental Maths (unit 25 - due this Friday) and then the children may complete the book at their leisure over the holidays.

Christmas Concert  and Awards Night
Please keep next Tuesday the 10th of December in your diaries for the annual OLC Christmas concert that is sure to be a hit! The children are required to be at school at 5.15 pm for a 5.30 pm start. We ask that the children come dressed in their best Christmas clothes ready for the concert.

Colour Run - Last day of school
On Friday the 15th of December, the children will participate in the first OLC Colour fun run. Information went home with the eldest child about what the day will include. If you need another sheet, please go and see Mrs. Marrell in the office.

We are asking that you child:

- Wear a white t-shirt to school with dark/old shorts and shoes that can be taken off easily, ready for the run
- Bring a towel as they will be sprayed with water at the end of the day
- Bring their best dancing moves in between stations and obstacles

Phew! I think that is it!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.


Miss Prowse

Week 6 information

Good evening Parents,

Wow...I cannot believe it is week 6! Only 4 more weeks left with your gorgeous children. I know for certain I will not cope with not teaching them next year!  They have been such a delight!

Just a few pieces of information for this week...

A big OLC welcome to Pippa Mader who joins our class this week. She has come into the class with a beautiful confidence about her and all of the children have been so excited for her arrival. We are so lucky to have you Pippa!

SHARED LUNCH FOR MRS. RADISICH 

This Friday 22nd of November we would love it if all the children could bring a small plate to share to farewell Mrs. Radisich and congratulate her for a wonderful 5 week practicum. 

We are asking that the boys bring a small plate of savoury food and the girls bring a small plate of sweets to share. 

This will be the children's lunch for Friday so just recess and sip and crunch will be required. We are so please for Mrs. Radisich, but also sad that she is leaving us :( 

MENTAL MATHS 
We are currently on unit 23 of our Mental Math books. As we still have quite a few units to complete in the book, I would suggest using this great resource over the holidays to keep those little minds active!

VINNIES CHRISTMAS HAMPER APPEALPLEASE HELP! Each year at OLC we take time to be thankful for our blessings and to assist those local people in need by contributing to Christmas Hampers distributed by the St. Vincent De Paul Society. There are boxes in our classroom for your donations. Each year level is to donate particular things. PP, Yrs 1& 2: Tinned food, pasta, rice, biscuits, crackers, sauces, jams, condiments, (basically any non-perishable good food, which can be used beyond Christmas).

FIRE DRILL 26TH NOVEMBER 2:30PMThis drill is for all students, parents and staff at OLCWe ask that all parents collect, or organise to have their children collected by another parent/adult/guardian, from their child's classroom, once you receive a Bush Fire Emergency SMS from the school at approximately 2:20pm. Please do not collect your children prior to receiving the SMS from the school. 

If your child goes home with one of the school buses please make other arrangements for your child to be collected. 

If you use an organised Day Care pick up service on this day, please contact your day care service prior to the day and discuss your options for the drill as well as in the case of a real life emergency evacuation. 

If your child is being collected by another parent/adult/guardian, please advise the school office by phone, after you receive the Evacuation SMS, as to who will be collecting your child. This information will be passed on to the classroom teacher. 

Congratulations to our Star Citizen for Excellence Jarrah! You are a true Star Citizen!

Miss Prowse

We are data detectives

This week’s focus for Mathematics has been Data.

We have formulated questions, gathered data and created tally, picture and bar graphs. The children answered questions using the data from their graphs and even wrote their own questions for others to answer.

Our learning links to the Curriculum Standard of Statistics and Probability: Data Representation and Interpretation. It has been great to see such enthusiastic mathematicians!

The highlight of our activities was the m&m graph. Each child had a mini packet of m&m’s and before opening they estimated how many would be in their packet. Next, they represented the colours of their m&m’s as a tally and then a bar graph. After adding a title, labels and numbers to their graphs they analysed their data to answer questions such as which colour did you have the most of?
Each graph was different, and the children were able to compare their results with others in the group.
Of course, there was enjoyment after lunch when they were able to eat their data (m&m’s).

Mrs. Radisich

Week 5 update

Good evening parents,
What an excited bunch we had today when they saw the additions to our playground. The children were so excited to see the two new boats and the amazing car right in our playground! The children got to have a little play this afternoon and it was an absolute hit! 

Just a few pieces of information for this week...

Sight words
The children were tested on their review words last week by the outstanding Mrs. Hughes and they were sent home with a review page of how they went. If your child got more than 5 wrong, they still require some consolidation and we encourage you to practise these words at home - along with their current sight word set.

Please have a look below at the example page.

As you can see, Miss Prowse was tested on 13 words (that have been highlighted), but she got 7 wrong, so she still has to consolidate these words at home.

Mental Maths
We are currently on unit 22 of our Mental Math books. As we still have quite a few units to complete in the book, I would suggest using this great resource over the holidays to keep those little minds active! 

Christmas Hamper donations
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS HAMPER APPEAL PLEASE HELP! Each year at OLC we take time to be thankful for our blessings and to assist those local people in need by contributing to Christmas Hampers distributed by the St. Vincent De Paul Society. There are boxes in the ECC wet area or in our classroom for your donations. Each year level is to donate particular things.
PP, Yrs 1& 2: Tinned food, pasta, rice, biscuits, crackers, sauces, jams, condiments, (basically any non-perishable good food, which can be used beyond Christmas).

Wheelie, Walkie, Waste free Wednesday
This is the last week for the WWW day. So far we have done very well with our waste free lunches and our human powered journeys to school. Word has it that we are very close to winning the excursion! Please park at a friends house or at Cape Rise and get those point us for our class!

Tornado in a bottle
Next week for our Science lesson, we will be creating some tornados in a bottle. If you have any 1L or 1.25L water or soda bottles you can part with, we would love them for our experiment next Thursday. 

A very big Happy Birthday to Mrs. Radisich for this Wednesday! Keep an eye out for her blog about data coming up!

Thank you for your ongoing support

Miss Prowse 

Week 4 Information

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to week 4.

I can’t believe that it is week 4 already!! Time truly does fly when you are having fun. Just a few messages for this week :)

Water bottles:

As the weather gets warmer it is even more important to stay hydrated. Could you please make sure that your child has a water bottle and that it is bought into school. This is to help curve the disruption caused by people constantly wanting to leave the classroom during explicit learning time.

Mental Maths and Sight words:

We are currently on unit 21 of out Mental Maths unit. Thank you to all the parents who are giving their children instant feedback and writing in their books if their child finds a particular area difficult. This allows me to make this a focus when we do our Wednesday Mental Maths. 

The children will be tested on their sight words from their 1-100 review that they completed last term. The children will be tested on no more than 15-20 and if they got less than 5 incorrect, they will be tested on their current sight word set. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me. 

Mr John Hogan Healing Mass:

You may have read in the newsletter that John Hogan our groundsman has recently been diagnosed with cancer. We will be holding a whole school mass on Friday morning at Our Lady of the Southern Cross beginning at 9.30am. All parents are warmly invited to attend if you are able. Award cards and MJR awards will be given at Mass as well.

WWWFW:

It is looking to be better weather wise this week! Thank you for your support in sending in waste free lunches and coordinating bike rides and buddies! I have it on good authority that we are doing very well against all the other classes. With some great weather this week, please feel free to park in Cape Rise or the church and walk to school, every little bit helps! 

Merit Award Winners for Week 3:

Congratulations to Summer and Beau who were the week 3 merit award winners. 

You are both Year One super stars! 

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me. 

Thank you for your ongoing support

Miss Prowse