Wellbeing Stories

The preps have been brainstorming the problems that the monsters may have had in the holidays and have even the categorised problems. The categories that they came up with were problems caused by 'unsafe play', 'not sharing or including others', 'misunderstandings' and 'unkind words'. After we talked about these categories the preps brainstormed ways to solve the situations. For example pne story involved Comfort Monster hugging Building monster's blocks and they fell over. This made Building Monster angry. The children suggested that Comfort Monster should ask before hugging the blocks or that he could explain to Building Monster that he didn't mean to knock them over but he was sorry. They thought he could help build them again too.

Music Update

This term in Music each Prep group has become a Djembe drumming ensemble! We have been using "home made" djembe to learn simple rhythmic patterns of 3 beats in a bar (like in a Waltz or a Lullaby) and 4 beats in a bar, for example "There's a Monster in My House". 

The Preps are also learning how to follow a Conductor's gestures and beating patterns: watching out for when to start or stop, play loudly or soft, and moving between unison rhythms and free improvisation ... and, wow! They are great at this!!

 

As the term progresses, we will invite each of the preps to have a go at conducting!

If you would like to make your own Djembe at home, the following Link to Child's Play Music will show you how.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-COHNyFTOnc

 

Deborah Kayser

Inside Out

Dear Parents,

In inquiry, we have been looking into friendship, emotions and resolving problems that happen with our friends. As it is a wellbeing focus, we have discussed themes in the film Inside Out, and will continue to refer to these themes over the next few weeks.

We have seen the value of this film in sparking discussion about emotions with the preps.

If you have been considering seeing the film, do! Please be aware, that the Australian Classification Rating is PG.

Thanks,

The Prep Team

Week 2 PMP

The children have continued to love the Monday morning PMP experience. Here are some photos from last week.

Many thanks to the parents who helped out this week. It is such a great way to meet children from our Neighbourhood.

If you are interested in helping next week, add your name to the PMP helper sheet on our notice board.

 

Week 3 Learning Focus

Reading: What is the 'setting' of a story? Why is it so important in story telling? Reading non-fiction texts to find out information when researching a topic.

Writing: Collaborative writing piece using story maps. Handwriting practice. Writing a reflection of Learning Agreement - focused on achieving their writing goal.

Numeracy: The children are continuing to explore halving amounts and some of the different ways that they could experience half (eg - half a pizza, half past 9, half of 10, half a cup of flour etc.)  Creating and analysing a graph of their social stores.

Wellbeing: What are most social problems in the neighbourhood caused by? Which social problems do Preps want to change? How can we bring about that change in our neighbourhood?

Week 3 Happenings

Monday

• PMP
• Reading, writing and mathematics workshops
• Singing 

Tuesday

• Learning Agreement
• Italian: Prep H and E
• Art: Prep E and M
• Physical Education: Prep M and H
• Buddy Time
• PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT 6.30 - 7.30 in the GYM

Wednesday

• Learning Agreement
• Reading, Writing and Mathematics workshops
• Handwriting

Thursday

• Learning Agreement
• Reading, writing and mathematics workshops
• Italian: Prep M
• Physical Education: Prep E
• Art: Prep H 
• Guided reading
• Handwriting

 Friday 

• Wonderings
• Wellbeing and mathematics workshops
• Library
• Singing
• Assembly 3 - 3.30pm in the Gym (pick up from the Prep neighbourhood)

Shoebox Donations

If anyone has a spare shoebox at home, please bring it in to Elizabeth this week. 

Thanks,

The Prep Team

Buddy Time

Last Thursday afternoon, the Preps engaged in a variety of experiences with their buddies.

• Reading
• Writing stories together
• Making shadow puppets 
• Block construction
• ICT skills 

Parent information evening tomorrow evening

There is a parent information evening tomorrow night.

'Reading with your child'

 

When: 28 July, 6:30-7:30pm

Where: PHPS Gymnasium

Presenter: David Hornsby

 

Week 2 Learning Focus

Reading: Shared reading - discussion of what we need to produce an effective role play of a story. Shared reading experiences with attention to reading strategies.

Writing: Creating a story map and adding labels. Handwriting practice. Writing a reflection of Learning Agreement.

Numeracy: Understanding the equivalence and the meaning of the word equals. Exploring and demonstrating amounts that are above 10.

Wellbeing: How can our relationships change the way  feel in a particular space?

Week 2 Happenings

Monday

• PMP
• Reading, writing and mathematics workshops
• Singing 

Tuesday

• Learning Agreement
• Italian: Prep H and E
• Art: Prep E and M
• Physical Education: Prep M and H
• Meditation 
• Handwriting

Wednesday

• Learning Agreement
• Reading, Writing and Mathematics workshops
• Handwriting

Thursday

• Learning Agreement
• Reading, writing and mathematics workshops
• Italian: Prep M
• Physical Education: Prep E
• Art: Prep H 
• Guided reading

 Friday 

• Inquiry groups
• Wellbeing and mathematics workshops
• Library
• Singing
• Assembly 3 - 3.30pm in the Gym (pick up from the Prep neighbourhood)

PMP

The Preps participated in their very first PMP session this morning. The Preps showed a lot of enthusiasm when moving through the 10 stations.

This morning there was a focus on developing these motor skills:

• crawling
• balancing
• bouncing
• throwing
• jumping

Apologies for the blurriness of the photos in the slideshow!

Many thanks to the parent helpers who came this morning. We will put a new parent sign up sheet for next Monday on the Parent notice board.

ACTION REQUIRED: SWIMMING NOTICES

Last Friday, some PURPLE swimming notices were sent home.

Please return no later than Friday.

Thankyou

New maths song - Grab a 10

Friends of 10 song

Smiling Mind Meditation

We have started to use the Smiling Mind Meditation sessiona with the preps in order to include some time for relaxation and reflection during the day. The children listen to a visual description that also tells them how to concentrate on their breathing and be aware of their body. We will be following the meditation with circle time where students have the opportunity to share how they are feeling or share an experience or story relating to an emotion.

Maths: 3D Shapes

The preps have been extending their knowledge of 3D shapes by looking at 3D shapes on their side and from above (Bird's Eye View). Everyone was quite surprised at how different the shapes looked from above. We enjoyed looking at our miniature city and pretending we were birds flying overhead as well.

Week 1 Happenings

Monday

• Holiday sharing
• Inquiry Groups
• Learning Agreement
• Writing

Tuesday

• Learning Agreement
• Italian: Prep H and E
• Art: Prep E and M
• Physical Education: Prep M and H
• Meditation 
• Handwriting

Wednesday

• Learning Agreement
• Reading, Writing and Mathematics workshops
• Handwriting

Thursday

• Learning Agreement
• Reading, Writing and Maths workshops
• Italian: Prep M
• Physical education: Prep E
• Art: Prep H 
• Guided Reading

 Friday 

• Inquiry groups
• Mathematics / Wellbeing
• Reading/Drama
• Library
• Singing
• Assembly 3 - 3.30pm in the Gym (pick up from the Prep neighbourhood)

Week 1 Learning Focus

Reading: Responding to a text through sequencing events on a story map. Responding to a text through role play. Revisiting reading strategies.

Writing: Continued development of letter writing skills; introducing writing on a post card. The children will write a recount of their holiday.

Numeracy: The children will construct a city and draw it with a side view and a birds’ eye view.

Wellbeing: The children will respond to social stories about the monsters by grouping them into similar categories. Their responses will be plotted onto a graph.

Parent Helpers!

Dear Parents, There will be a list on the Parent Notice board to put your name up for helping during Learning Agreement next week. If you can lend a hand this week as well you are welcome to come from 9:30 - 10:30 on Wednesday and Thursday. Some of the future activities that you will be helping with include: - finger puppet making - scribing art work and stories - helping to type a story - Helping with practicing handwriting - helping to write warm and fuzzy postcards - reading with a small group - researching different puppet designs on a laptop with a small group Thank you! The Prep Team

PARENT INFORMATION EVENING

PARENT INFORMATION EVENING – Reading with your child

When: 28 July, 6:30-7:30pm

Where: PHPS Gymnasium

Presenter: David Hornsby

David Hornsby was with the Victorian Ministry of Education for 28 years and taught at every year level from Prep to Year 6. During that time, he also lectured at La Trobe University, the University of Melbourne and RMIT University. For 4 years he was an education department curriculum consultant in primary and secondary schools. He was the principal of Ringwood Heights Primary School for 5 years. He is now a full-time education consultant working with teachers and presenting at conferences both nationally and overseas. He has completed many lecture tours of the United States and the United Kingdom, and has also worked with teachers in Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, Milan, Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. He has written or co-authored many books and two CD-ROM series.

Parents from the Community Relations sub-committee of school council will be present in the gym from 6pm to help answer questions around subscribing to the blogs, access to Compass, and general school communications.

Action Required: PMP Helpers

The Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) will be running in weekly 1 hour sessions during Term 3 and 4. The children will participate in different activities at stations around the gym; each one focusing on developing a particular motor skill.

We are looking for parent help to run to assist with running each station (there is explanation of how to run it and goes for 4 minutes per group). For example, one station might throwing a beanbag into a bucket 3 times.

We will confirm the day and time tomorrow afternoon and the parent interest sheet will be on the notice board. We are hoping to start in Week 2.

Many thanks,

The Prep Team

Welcome back!

It was so lovely to see the enthusiasm in the Prep Neighbourhood this morning. We are all looking forward to another fantastic term.

Today the children used their imaginations to think about what might have happened over the holidays with our monster friends. During Learning Agreement, they had the opportunity to express their ideas in a variety of ways including; painting, writing comics, construction and planning puppetry plays.

The Prep Team

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