A Week in Review at Barbreck
Schools are busy places and St Catherine’s Junior School – Barbreck is no exception. To gain an insight into what happens in a week, I thought I would paint the picture with a ‘Week in Review’.
Much learning took place and some of the topics and activities the girls participated in are outlined below.
Prep
The art of story-telling and how stories can be used to pass on information, history and morals to the next and future generations was under the spotlight for the Prep students. The girls learnt about the different types of stories used for this purpose such as fables, family stories and myths. This work lays the foundation for an upcoming excursion when the girls will learn about Dreamtime stories.
The Prep students learn about the art of story-telling.
Year 1
The theme ‘Post Office’ incorporated much learning for the Year 1 students. The girls had been rewarded for hard work and good behaviour with stamped money and they eagerly spent their amassed fortunes at the classroom Post Office. They quickly learnt how to add their money to determine which purchases they could make and to calculate the correct change they should receive. This was a very exciting time for them, and their purchases from the post office encouraged them to write letters, following either formal or informal styles of writing.
The Year 1 students learn about the theme ‘Post Office’.
Year 2
Writing descriptive texts that paint the story for the reader has kept the Year 2 class busy. Inspired by a short film clip of a fireman rescuing a kitten, they took to writing newspaper reports which were showcased at the Junior School Assembly.
The Year 2 students wrote descriptive texts for a writing activity.
Year 3
With the upcoming Sunnystones Camp later in the week, the focus was on goal setting. The girls learnt about how to write a goal and consider whether it was achievable and measurable. Each girl created a goal for the term and for the camp. Some of the camp goals were:
- Not crying when unsure
- Being well organised
- Getting to sleep straight away
- Getting to know girls in a different light
- Accepting challenges.
The Year 3 students focused on goal setting in preparation for the Sunnystones Camp.
Year 4
On one of my visits to their classroom, the Year 4 students were learning about life in England in the 1780s when transportation to Australia began. They were learning about the crimes the prisoners were convicted of, their life on the hulks (old ships anchored in the Thames River) to house prisoners, and about the categories of people who came to Australia to live at this time: prisoners, free settlers, marines, Governor Phillip, government officials, a surgeon and a chaplain.
The Year 4 students learnt about life in England in the 1780s.
Year 5
Economics and town planning were key topics studied by the Year 5 students. The girls were busy engaging in making their town, thinking carefully about the infrastructure and which essential elements needed to be included for success e.g. stores, factories, schools and hospitals. The girls made models of their towns and were quick to explain why they were needed. They were also able to tell me about the Gross Domestic Product, explaining about the costs of goods and services. The girls were highly engaged in this activity and very excited to be building their town.
The Year 5 students study economics and town planning.
Year 6
The Year 6 students have begun learning about our closest neighbour – Asia. They have explored the geographical features of the region and the political map showing all of the countries that make up this sub-continent. Graphs have also been interpreted to identify key information about the health, wealth and education of the people of Asia. This introduction will form the springboard for further study as the girls are assigned to research various groups of Asian countries. They have also been learning about ratios in Mathematics.
The Year 6 students learn about Asia.
Event: Girls Talk Seminar – Keeping Your Children Safe on iDevices for Years Prep to 4 Parents
Parents who attended this night loved it, especially the presenter – a mother who knows the practicalities and strategies to help every parent navigate devices and assist them to take control of screen times, content that can be displayed and permissions around purchases. If there is another chance to attend this seminar, it is highly recommended by those that attended!
Lynette Coulson presents to parents of students in Years Prep to 4 about online safety and iDevices.
Year 3 Camp to Sunnystones
The girls left full of excitement on Wednesday morning and returned well satisfied on Friday. They had a wonderful time, engaged in numerous activities and, for some, it was the first time spending two nights away from their parents. A great deal of personal development in the form of self-care, getting organised by themselves and facing new challenges was undertaken with all girls feeling that they had grown in their time away.
The Year 3 students at Camp Sunnystones.
Years 1 and 2 Beyond Boundaries
The Year 1 students stayed until after dinner while the Year 2 girls stayed on to watch the Years 7 and 8 Musical, Cinderella, before staying overnight in the Barbreck auditorium. Afternoon fun playing sports and dining together helped the girls get to know everyone in the different year levels, and for the Year 2s, camping out with their teachers and classmates was their first step into our camping program. All girls enjoyed themselves immensely.
Carys Dreaver (Year 2) and Giselle Armstrong (Year 2) at the Years 1 and 2 Beyond Boundaries Camp.
The Week in Review highlighted to me the wonderful activities that the girls engage in and how these ignite their desire to learn and discuss what they have been learning. When students are eager to come to school, keen to engage in the activities and show a desire to discuss what they are doing and what they have learnt, we know good learning is taking place!
Ms Karen McArdle, Head of Junior School
Year 2 Writing Exercise: Fireman Saving a Kitten
As a writing activity, the Year 2 students recently watched a video on the internet of a fireman reviving a kitten after a house fire. While writing their pieces, the students had to pretend they were the fireman. They were also expected to use descriptive language, such as adjectives and adverbs, to enhance writing. Here are some of the excerpts from some of the students’ writing.
‘I received a call on my phone to say that there was a burning house. I arrived at the scene and slowly entered the house, carefully looking for life. The area was very smoky, so I had to use my torch.’ – Camilla Thomas.
Camilla Thomas.
‘A fire was called over the radio and I was so surprised. I got into my fire fighting clothes and arrived at the burnt and rusty house. When I arrived, I put on my breathing mask and went in.’ – Isabella Wilkins.
Isabella Wilkins.
‘I entered the dimmed room needing a flashlight to see. I found a deceased kitten lying on the floor. I fastidiously picked up the fragile kitten. I communicated to the other fireman that I was taking the kitten outside. I took the delicate kitten outside and gently laid it on the ground.’ – Joy Lovegrove.
Anna Roosenburg.
‘I curiously ran outside as slow and as quiet as a baby mouse. I gently placed the oxygen mask over the precious kitten’s face. I poured the cool water over the kitten. Finally, the kitten came back to life. I gave the kitten a gentle and precious cuddle.’ – Margaret Shao.
Margaret Shao.
