PREP FEBRUARY 2018 INFORMATION EVENING WELCOME Dr Kim

PREP FEBRUARY 2018 INFORMATION EVENING WELCOME!

Dr Kim Dray Principal

Mrs Jean Denning Mr Brent Brickhill Assistant Principals

2018 Prep Team Prep B – Mrs Taryn Bailey Prep J – Miss Jess Bruce Prep K – Miss Kate Williams Prep R – Mrs Mandy Ryan /Ms Jenny Simmons Prep W – Miss Jen Wake Pre-service teacher – Mr Nick Dart

2018 Specialist Classes and Teachers Art – Ms Zoe Zapantis and Mrs Maria Wheelton Music – Ms Naomi Elias PE – Mrs Eden Ralph Mr - Ed Connor Library – Mrs Wendy Keogh Spanish – Señora Luisa Plata

Laburnum P. S Strategic Priorities • English and Mathematics • Reading and Spelling • Mapping inquiry – 2 year scope & sequence • Consistent whole school approach to wellbeing • Assessment, tracking and monitoring

The Prep Curriculum What is my child learning? In Prep, the children certainly learn a lot – academically, socially and emotionally. As well as English, Maths and the mentioned specialist subjects, we also teach Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship and Science.

The Prep Curriculum – A brief overview English Preps learn about: • how language can be used in different ways • the letters and sounds of the letters of the alphabet • syllables, rhyming words, initial, medial and final sounds in words • high frequency words – Oxford words • sentences and basic punctuation. • responding to texts, share their thoughts about the events and characters • the difference between fiction and non-fiction books • reading simple texts • writing and recording their thoughts and using grammar correctly Oral Language Preps also learn to retell the stories and rhymes they have heard, listen while others speak, the importance of appropriate voice level, body language, gestures and eye contact and how to present to their peers.

READING and WRITING In the classroom How Reading is structured in the classroom Each week there is a reading focus. Children are grouped based on need and are involved in reading rotations to develop their reading skills. Children participate in Guided Reading sessions each week How Writing is structured is the classroom Weekly focus on 2 letters – letter name, sound and writing of the letter. Modelled writing, shared writing, guided writing and independent writing with lots of talking about their thinking. Variety of genres; recount, procedure, letters and lists

• • • Reading at home Take home books provide the children with the opportunity to practice the skills that they are taught at school. These books are NOT meant to be challenging. They are an opportunity to develop fluency, confidence and to practice reading strategies taught at school. Nightly reading at home should be an enjoyable and happy time together. Always praise your child for the attempts they make. Your child's Take Home Book bag should be returned to school each day. All children are expected to read every night at home and complete the record of reading in their reading diary. Children will borrow books from the school’s ‘Take Home Book Collection’. Your child does not have to always be the reader to participate in reading. Reading activities could be: Reading with your child [either taking turns or together]. Reading to your child. Or the reading could be done by the child, where the child reads independently [aloud or silently].

Before Reading: Read the title· Predict what the book might be about During reading: Ask your child to read the book to you Whilst reading you can assist your child to: • Develop word by word matching; encourage your child to point at the words as they read. • Use the picture to assist in predicting what the text may be (never cover the picture, pictures are there to help the child with understanding the meaning). • Use initial sounds to predict words. After reading: Talk about the book What happened? The characters.

High Frequency Words at home • Knowing how to read HFW is important as it takes away processing demands at the letter and word level so readers are free to focus on meaning • Oxford words – based on research of the most frequent words used in young children’s writing and reading • Take home ‘word’ book goes home daily • Students read words to teacher daily

The Prep Curriculum – A brief overview Maths Key focuses: • counting to and from 20 – moving from any starting point • connecting the names of numbers to their quantity and numerals • Adding and subtracting from a group of objects • Sorting and classifying objects and creating patterns • Measurements - comparing objects to say what is longer, shorter, heavier or lighter • Naming common 2 D and 3 D objects

MATHEMATICS In the classroom How Mathematics is structured in the classroom: We use a lot of concrete materials, such as counters, unifix cubes, MAB/base ten blocks, pattern blocks, ten frames, etc. We teach through games and hands on activities. We also use educational apps on the i. Pads to reinforce concepts. The children will participate in targeted focus groups for support and extension based on need.

The Prep Curriculum – A brief overview If you would like to find out more about the Prep Curriculum and what will be covered this year, there is a great resource online from the Department of Education. http: //www. education. vic. gov. au/school/parents/learning/schoolmate/Pages/default. aspx

A day in the life of a Prep 9. 00 am- start 2 x 50 minute sessions 10. 40 am- Recess 11. 10 - 2 x 50 minute sessions 12. 50 pm- Lunch 1. 50 pm- 2 x 50 minute sessions 3. 30 pm- finish *Wednesdays in February are testing days **Please make sure your child is in their line by 9. 00 am, the teacher will bring them into the classroom (the music will start at 8. 58 am)** *Absences*

Independence Now that your child has started school, a little independence goes a long way. The sorts of things that you can do at home to assist are: - Have your child dress and undress themselves (Please note swimming is in Term 3 and they will need to be able to do this). Teach them to tie shoelaces. - Making sure your child can open and close any containers they use in their lunch box - Carrying their school bag on their back to and from the classroom - Packing and unpacking their own school bag

Extras Labelling- Please make sure all uniform and belongings are labelled Lost property- In the office Uniform- please make sure your child is wearing the correct uniform to school each day. Summer and winter uniform and hats Term 1 and 4 Sleep- Prep students need between 10 and 12 hours sleep please have a routine for your child Lunch orders- Every day except Tuesdays and can be ordered online through classroom cuisine. There is a link on our website under ‘our community’ Assembly- Fridays at 2. 40 pm in the hall. Certificates do get handed out at the beginning of assembly Healthy snack- After lunch we encourage students to have a healthy snack- this can be fruits or vegetables and they will have story time

Volunteers Throughout the Prep Year there are many opportunities for parents to assist e. g. swimming, excursions, classroom helper, local walks. To be a volunteer you do require a Working with Children Check. These can be obtained online. Just visit http: //www. workingwithchildren. vic. gov. au/ Parents must attend the Maths and English Parent Helpers Courses that take place during Term 1 to assist in the classroom. Literacy Session TBC Numeracy Session 27 th February 9. 00 am – 10. 30 am

Communication Skool. Bag App - Find on the App Store and Play Store Please download the skoolbag app for your smartphone. Reminders and alerts are sent out using the app and you can also add school events to your calendar from it. Very rarely you may receive an SMS from the school. Please treat these seriously as these are only used as part of our emergency response.

Communication Newsletter Have you subscribed to the Newsletter? http: //www. laburnumps. vic. edu. au/ The key source of information is the school newsletter. It usually comes out on Thursdays. Please make sure you read it each week. Prep Blog Have you checked out our Prep blog? Have you subscribed? http: //www. laburnumps. vic. edu. au/ http: //preplaburnum. global 2. vic. edu. au/ You will find updates about Prep activities on the Prep blog. It is found on the school website. Notices will from time to time be placed on the blog. Please print these out and send them back with your child where requested. You can set up an email alert when blogs are updated.

Communication Each class has one or two Parent Representatives. These classroom representatives will at times email you with information and requests from the school. Please make sure you read all emails from the class representatives. If you wish to contact your class teacher, please call 9898 5811 or email using laburnum. ps@edumail. vic. gov. au Please make sure your contact details are up to date with the office to ensure you receive all forms of communication from the school.

Prep Picnic Thursday March 8 th from 5. 30 pm Parents, grandparents and other family members of our prep students are invited to join us for a picnic in Black’s Walk. BYO food and drink This is a great opportunity for you to meet the families of your child’s Classmates. Teachers will be there from 5. 30 pm-6. 30 pm.

Buddies • The Laburnum Buddy program will be beginning in March • Each Prep student is paired with a student ‘buddy’ from Year 6 who will become a ‘friendly face’ in the school grounds. Each term the children enjoy planned activities together.

Further Resources Additional information can be found on the school website, under Our Community http: //www. laburnumps. vic. edu. au/index. php • The A-Z of Starting at Laburnum • 201 Literacy and maths tips to help your child

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