5/6’s… leading and exploring
These past few weeks have been big for the ⅚ neighborhood. We have been strengthening our determination and resilience capabilities by accepting challenges and seeking opportunities for further growth in the classroom and in the community. We have had tests in reading and mathematics and we have also worked on finishing up our exploration and understanding of geometry. Channeling our adventurousness, the year sixes had the great responsibility of taking the prospective prep parents on school tours, and the year fives commenced their letter exchange with their Hong Kong Pen Pals. We have also been continuing our research and exploration of growth through our chosen inquiry groups.
Learning Growth
At the start of term we all identified what we knew and what we didn’t know about geometry. We then engaged in a number of workshops focusing on area and perimeter, volume and capacity, as well as angles. Then, last week we were able to demonstrate our learning progress in geometry as well as identify areas of growth and celebrate our improvements. ‘I learnt how to measure area and perimeter on compound shapes.’ – Gertie Anderson
On Wednesday we sat the PAT test (Progressive Achievement Test) your results to see where you need to improve. The day after we had the reading test which applied the same rules. These help students improve and use the things they didn’t get correct to learn new skills. “(in regards to testing)… I think I did really well. I think PAT tests are pretty much just NAPLAN. It does not teach you anything, it’s what you should have already known.” – Jimmy Clayton
Adventurousness and open-mindedness
On Wednesday and Friday last week, the year sixes who signed up for prep tours all got together, partnered up, and got ready for the tour. They waited at the front of the gym with signs that had the parents’ names and stickers for the parents to find them. Once paired up, the parents were taken on a tour, clockwise around the school. They were taken to the ⅚ neighbourhood, art room, ¾s, ½s and preps, explaining the school philosophy and showing examples of student learning. “Prep tours were a fun experience to show our responsibility. We showed the possible prep parents around the school and showed them what we like about the school.” – Edie Murray-White
‘I enjoyed doing the prep tours as it gave me a chance to reflect back on my school experiences and also gave me the opportunity to promote the school and all we get to do.’ – Kitty Cochran Perfect
“I like Prep tours because it lets the parents know more about the school from a student’s perspective and it helps them know how good the school is” – Grover Treyvaud Swinn
Continuing with the adventurousness and open-mindedness, the fives who signed up for the Hong Kong letter exchange went into the construction space and had a meeting via Zoom. Over the hour, they were able to engage with their new exchange partners, the Hong Kong students, and had a casual chat with them about what their plans were for the rest of the year. “It is fun because you get to become friends with people from other people and your likes are pretty similar.” -Tom Collette
Inquiry Growth Project Groups
Every week the years 5 and 6s gather in separate chosen project groups (Historical Growth or Personal Growth).
The Personal Growth workshops explore the human brain and how different parts of the brain function, in particular with regards to the parts of the brain that control emotion. Everyone is using their research skills to learn more about the brain and then add it to the ever-growing inquiry wall. ‘I think personal growth is good because it teaches us how our brain works and how different parts of our brain works. Personal growth is good because it shows what part of our brains sows our emotions and reactions.’- Mila Fender
In the Historical Growth workshops we are creating what we call the ‘Terrible Timelines’ (working title) which we are thinking of turning into a play a bit like Hamilton or Horrible Histories where we rap or sing out our timelines of our life and the significant events in our life. We will either choose a historical event or a historical figure to focus on. People have already started working on their raps and some people have done some very interesting figures and events.