Parent signature on the Learning Agreement Document

The purpose of the weekly parent signature on the Learning Agreement Document is twofold. Firstly it is connected to the children’s personal management of their document.  Being able to hold on to it for the week, follow the timetable and manage their Learning Agreement time and have it signed by a teacher and a parent which is the organisational goal.

Secondly the document gives parents the opportunity to discuss the weeks learning with their children, using the document as a starting point.  

It is the teachers role to check completion of learning tasks and to conference with the children about their progress and to set goals alongside them.   This is when the child obtains the teacher signature.

We do not expect parents to check and follow up on completion, although you are most welcome to do so.

We are very happy to respond to any queries about this process and encourage feedback and comments form our parent community.

Little Big Shots

On Thursday June 9th, the 3-4 neighbourhoods will be attending the Little Big Shots International film festival at ACMI. There is no charge except for the cost of the transport which will be covered by the excursion levy if you have paid this. Details are coming soon as part of the permission slip.

Knitting and sewing materials

We are investigating knitting and sewing as a part of our design and technology inquiry this term in our neighbourhood. We would be grateful for any contributions of wool, knitting needles, materials, thread and sewing needles. We would also like to hear from any parents who would be interested in helping the neighbourhood with these activities.

The Season of Runny Noses

Winter is upon us early this year and  it is looking likely to be a cold and bitter one. Unfortunately, we are running very low on our supply of tissues in our neighbourhood. We would be really grateful if students in our neighbourhood could donate a box of tissues (or two) so that our runny noses can be tended to until spring arrives. Thank you!

Architectural Design Project

This term our neighbourhood Inquiry has a design and technology focus.  As a guided numeracy project the children have been given the brief as follows.  The aim is to link mathematical learning to an authentic context.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Architectural teams (students working in small groups within each home group) are challenged to design as many houses as possible using 4-cubic modules. The resulting designs have to be drawn up, costed and justified as part of a housing development. Embedded in the story shell, the learning  is a lot of fun. However finding the complete set of houses such that the modules all touch face to face, where  there are no 'cantilevered' structures and designs cannot be transformed into each other by a simple rotation around a vertical axis, is quite a spatial challenge.

Costing the designs adds further interest and results in not only achieving objectives in the Space and Measurement Strands, but also in the Number strand.

The learning outcomes are

• creating models in three dimensions
• representing 3D in 2D (isometric & plan/elevation views)
• scale diagrams
• operations with money
• basic number skills

The home groups are working together as independent companies and competing against each other to win the design contract.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Each home group will present the following to a judging panel

• A 3D model of the estate using unifix cubes.
• Design brochures with drawings and costings prepared in the smaller groups
• A joint presentation to the developers promoting the features of the model.
• A full page newspaper advertisement and/or an advertising video to promote Cubist Homes and the new estate to the public.

We would like to invite parents with a background in architecture, building, construction, real estate or design to volunteer to be on the judging panel  to determine which group will win the contract for the architectural design of the housing estate. 

The date for this event will be Thursday 16^th June from 9.30am to 11am.

Please contact Kerri for any further information.

NAPLAN

Grade 3 students were provided with a brochure from the Department concerning NAPLAN this week. This provides information to parents and carers regarding the NAPLAN testing taking place nationally next week between Tuesday 10th May and Thursday 12th May. If your child did not receive the brochure, you can download it from the ACARA site by clicking HERE. A hard copy is also available to parents from the school office. You can also find out additional information from the official NAPLAN Parent/ Carer Support site.

If you need further assistance, please feel free to approach one of the neighbourhood teachers and we will try and answer any of your queries.