Year 1s are scientists!

We have had a very eventful and informative last couple of weeks. A big thank you to Adam Sofis (Alex's father) who came and spoke to the Year 1s last week about his work as an electrician. The children loved learning more about electricity as well as sharing their own knowledge.

This week each class visited the secondary science lab where we used light boxes to explore many of the scientific concepts that we have been learning about. The students had a wonderful time being scientists!

Please ensure that iPads are 100% charged each day. Please also clear your child's iPad of unnecessary home photos, videos and apps as these take up a lot of storage space. At the moment we find we need extra storage space when creating school presentations.

Another reminder that the school jumper is not to be worn as an outer garment to and from school.

Finally, this is an incredibly busy time of year and the children are working really hard. Please make sure your child gets plenty of rest so they are prepared for the school day ahead.

Welcome to Term 4!

Welcome back! We hope you and your families have all had a wonderfully relaxing break.

This term starts on Day 2, Week 1 of the timetable.

A reminder that students are required to wear Summer Uniform during Term 4. If they wear an outer garment to and from school (not compulsory) this must be their blazer and not their school jumper.
Students are also required to wear their school hat when out in the yard. If students don't have their hat they will need to play undercover.

Show and Share for Week 1 will be free choice. For Show and Share in Weeks 2 and 3 we would like the students to choose a plant or animal and explain how it is connected to the sun. For example, plants - photosynthesise, reptiles - raise their body temperature to give them energy, humans - to see and to make vitamin D.

Please see the updated App List and ensure the required apps for Term 4 are downloaded onto your child's iPad. We have also included a list of apps that may be deleted.

Looking forward to yet another exciting and action-packed term!!

It's the holidays!

Welcome to the September school holidays!

All of the children have taken home multiple books to read during the holidays. With many of the children moving up a level within a 3-4 week period it is important that they keep their reading up over this long break. Please encourage them to record all of their reading in their school diary and to read from a variety of books. They can also work on IXL Maths, and/or try to give them lots of practical opportunities to develop their mathematical skills such as telling the time, measuring when cooking or building and shopping where they can add and subtract money. As adults we use maths regularly each day and there are lots of wonderful opportunities to consolidate and extend your child's knowledge.

In the last day or so we have set up a light experiment in the classroom. We have encouraged the children to have a go of it at home during the holidays too. They have the instructions in a Pages document on their iPad however if you require a little more detail about what is involved here are the directions.

Our new unit on light is proving to be fascinating for the students. The last two weeks of Show and Share have really highlighted the vast range of ways that we use light. Many students have asked about an app that we have been using as a teaching tool, it is called 'Bobo Explores Light'. The children are not required to have it but for those who are interested in downloading it this is the link https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/bobo-explores-light/id463809859?mt=8

We celebrated the end of our busy term by spending this week's Dhumba-dha biik session on the island toasting marshmallows. The children loved the opportunity to cook on an open fire so don't be surprised if they request to have a fire at home during these holidays!

Light and Dark

It has been a week of both light and darkness. On the one hand we have been enjoying the fun of Book Week - especially the character parade, storytelling in the dark and the science fair, but on the other hand it has been an extremely sad and difficult week with the unexpected loss of our good friend and workmate Glenn White. Glenn was such an asset to both our school and community and Dani and I miss him very much.

The Fathers' Day Stall is on Thursday and the Parents Association always do a magnificent job. Gifts range between $1-$5. Then on Friday, the Prep - Year 2 Fathers' Day Breakfast is on from 8.00-8.45a.m. Please ensure that you have RSVP so that we can cater accordingly. This also means that on Friday morning it will be very busy in the carpark. Parking for our Fathers' Day visitors will be on the grass behind the back basketball courts.

We are commencing our next theme this week 'How the world works' and we are investigating light. Show and Share for the next fortnight will focus on one of our lines of inquiry for this unit - How can light be used? Therefore the children can talk about any way that light is used e.g. party lights, a torch, a laser beam on a remote control etc.

Have a lovely weekend.

Books are lighting up Year One!

Book Week (fortnight) is in full swing! The Year One classes have already enjoyed some amazing activities and next week is shaping up to being super exciting too. Don't forget that on Thursday the children can dress up as their favourite character from a book. With our focus on sustainability please don't go out and buy a costume, simply see what you might be able to use from home. The Book Week Character Parade will be held during Primary Assembly. The children can then remain in their costume for the day. Don't forget to bring the book that their character features in!

Fathers' Day is fast approaching and we need to confirm numbers for the Fathers' Day Breakfast. If you haven't already done so please book to secure your spot using this link https://www.admindept.com.au/bookingprocess/Cornish-College/383

We have noticed that there are a number of students who do not have working headphones. Please check with your child to ensure that their headphones are operational and if they are not, please replace them at your earliest convenience.

The calibre of the last fortnight's Show and Share was most impressive. We really enjoyed hearing the children's presentations. Please note that there will be no Show and Share this week as both classes are busy finalising their current summative assessment.

Finally, please be aware that during Terms 2 and 3 the children need to wear their blazer to and from school. On days that they have Sport, they need to wear their tracksuit pants and spray jacket over their shorts and polo/rugby top.

Making connections

The Year 1 students have been immersing themselves in our invertebrate unit. Our trip to Seaford Beach was very successful and the data that we collected will be used by The Baykeeper to monitor the health of Port Phillip Bay. Both classes enjoyed macro invertebrate hunting on Friday in our lake where we found several different types of these tiny creatures.

Book Week (or rather fortnight) is coming. There will be a lot happening that week, including a book character parade and family lantern night so please check the Parent Notices for details.

For Weeks 5 and 6 Show and Share we would like the children to select an invertebrate (it can be the one that they shared in the previous weeks) and present its food chain to the class. As an added challenge they can also investigate if their invertebrate has any other connections to animals that are not food chain related e.g. Hermit crabs place sea anemones on their shell to protect them from predators and sea anemones eat the left over food that the crab doesn't eat.

Busy Bees

Well, Year 1 are back and they are as busy as bees!

Already this term we have participated in a drama incursion where the children got to experience life as an invertebrate in the garden. They have also enjoyed a lovely morning with their Grandparents and Special Friends.

Next week is shaping up to be a busy week too.

If you haven't already done so please return your child's permission slip to your classroom teacher (not the office!) no later than Monday. This is the link to the form if you need to print it off http://www.cornishcollege.vic.edu.au/sites/default/files/Term%203%20Week%202%20Year%201%20Excursion%20Invertebrates%20In%20Our%20Bay.pdf

On Tuesday we have school photos. Please check the uniform requirements as students must wear their full Winter uniform.

Mrs. Sturma and I are praying for tropical weather on Thursday as all of Cornish will be turning off their heaters for the whole day and rugging up. Students are to wear their school uniform on this day however they can add items of clothing such as thermals, beanies, scarves and gloves to help to keep them warm.

On Friday morning we are off to Seaford Beach to work with the Baykeeper Neil Blake. As outlined in the parent notice the students need to be wearing their full sports uniform with gumboots. They must also wear a waterproof jacket (which is in addition to their Cornish spray jacket) and a beanie and bring a small backpack that contains a piece of fruit and a water bottle. Thank you to those parents who have already volunteered to assist us.

Friday night is the opening of the production "Two Weeks With The Queen." Tickets can be booked by following this link http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=144053&embed=144053

For Weeks 3 and 4 Show and Share we would like the children to find and photograph on their iPad an invertebrate in their garden, home or somewhere that they have recently visited. Then using the concepts of ;
Form (What is it like? e.g. describe it-size, shape, features)
Connection (How is it connected to other things? e.g. food web - what does it eat and what eats it?) &
Responsibility (What is our responsibility? e.g. what can we/should we do to ensure its survival?)
share what they have discovered with their classmates during their Show and Share time.

Finally, please ensure that your child has all of the required apps for this term loaded onto their iPad as we are already utilising them.

Have a great weekend!