Level 2
Level 2 Yearly Overview
2009 promises to be full of exciting and wonderful opportunities for our 124 students. We are really looking forward to the challenges ahead and now that each Level 2 grade is located together, we can utilise the opportunities to work together as one big team!
Our teaching team in 2009 is Anne Forbes, Jill McInnes, Conny Plant, David Mithen, Linda Carter and Olivia Dyer. Our specialists’ classes on offer are as follows: Art with the Libby Shaw, Environmental Science conducted by Carli Lange, Physical Education with Stuart McLean and Krista Demiris facilitates our growing Music program.
In Semester One, the students have been involved in a Whole School Quality Beginning. They have participating in getting-to-know-you activities and have made a terrific start in building strong classroom communities for the year. We have a very strong focus that encourages the empowerment of students in setting goals and mission statements for the year ahead. The first term offered many new and educational experiences for all the children. Our topic for the term was “Let’s be Happy and Healthy.”
In this unit we looked at personal wellbeing, self esteem, healthy food, sun protection, water safety, fitness and leisure interests. We discussed how we best communicate with others, our feelings and emotions and self esteem. Sunsmart, water safety and making healthy foods choices are also topics that offer a variety of discussions and learning experiences. Over the whole year, we continually focus on Kalinda’s healthy eating program. We encourage brain food consisting of fruit or vegetables. Food can be eaten in class when appropriate and drink bottles full of water are encouraged.
It is wonderful to meet parents early in first term at the “Getting to know You” interview and again at our 3 Way Conferences mid-year, where we set setting academic, social and emotional goals together. The opportunity to form strong relationships between teacher, parents and students is important. We encourage honest and open discussions as this is vital in the development of students at our school.
In our Level, we encourage children to take home readers nightly during the week. Reading for 15-20 minutes a day develops lifelong reading habits. It is important that children are exposed to a variety of texts and we encourage them to explore various forms of text. Our team encourages our students to participate in the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge. An initiative this year was to introduce a “notice bag”. It is great to see everyone using the large plastic wallets for newsletters, notices and take home readers. It is ideal for these wallets to stay in bags and be brought to school daily.
In Term 2, our students just loved the very “hands-on” topic of Light and Sound. We organised a visit by the “Hands-On Science” company to tune them into the unit. In the Light and Sound Show, they enjoyed discovering what light and sound can travel through, investigated light sources, experimented with liquid and gas filled balloons, explored the effects of sound waves, and participated in the discussion on sustainability. This incursion was the catalyst for a sensational semester of work that culminated in our very own Light and Sound Expo. Every student had the opportunity to share their creations with peers, family and teachers throughout the school. Some of the items they confidently shared information about were string telephones, spinning wheels, kaleidoscopes and various musical instruments.
Our topic for Term 3 was “What about Wetlands”. Early in the term our level ventured to the Wildlife Sanctuary at LaTrobe University in Bundoora to observe animal, insect and plant life in the Wetlands. The students were in groups with an Environmental Science guide who took us through many activities. The students delighted in ponding for insect life from the boardwalk. They used nets to scoop up water invertebrates and observed these tiny creatures first hand in their habitat. They listened to a nature talk about insects and saw close up many features of insects they had retrieved from the pond. They certainly enjoyed the walk around the Wetlands and the “rock and roll” activity where they found many creatures hiding under logs and in long grass. The bird life and their habitats were fascinating to observe in the sanctuary. The students asked many interesting questions of the sanctuary guides and their inquiries have continued back at school. This topic leads to many investigations of both insect and animal life in our Wetlands. Our topic will be integrated across all the curriculum areas especially in our literacy sessions with the many resources we have.
During this term we also participated in a Connex Tigers football clinic. We were fortunate to have Richmond footballers running a ball skills program sponsored by Connex. A representative from the transport company spoke about safety on public transport. The students once again delighted in the Tony Bones performance to celebrate Book Week. Also in the same week Oz Opera performed the opera titled the Scented Garden where the students experienced the many elements of theatre.
In Term 4 the Level 2 team will be implementing an exciting new technology unit to embrace ICT (Information, Communication, Technology) skills. We will be starting from a very basic skills approach and ultimately build into movie creation and navigating through blogs and wikis!
SuperClubsPlus Australia, the whole school online program will be the highlight of the term’s learning. This program is designed to teach young students all about cyber safety and the amazing way information can be transferred using the Internet. It is a completely safe environment which is monitored 24/7 to ensure all users are safe and adhering to the strict rules set by the programs operators. It is wonderful to have interactive whiteboards in every grade and the students will have numerous opportunities to use these fantastic tools throughout the remainder of the year. It constantly amazes us how uninhibited the students are when it comes to ICT and the range and depth of skills in every room.
A new addition to the Level Two Term 4 agenda will be our Bush Craft days. This program will be run over two consecutive days and offer the students experiences in the following:
Date: Tuesday Term 4 date (TBC)
- Casual Clothes Day (TBC)
- Rotation Program - E.g Bark Huts, Bark Rubbing, Gods Eyes, Commando Course, BushBand
- Orienteering Trail for mapping skills
- Cooperative Games
Date: Wednesday of the same week
- ‘Bush Campers’ Dress Up Day
- Celebration including BushBand presentation, artwork display, slideshow
- Sausage Sizzle Lunch and Icypole
As a team we believe the Bushcraft Days will offer a range of learning both personally and interpersonally. The students will enjoy a variety of challenges in team environments and independent tasks. The program will provide a rich and positive experience for our whole level.
The swimming program at Kings Swim Centre at Chirnside Park is another component of a very exciting Term. It usually costs $90 approximately based on the number of children attending.
As you can see Level Two is jam packed with numerous learning experiences and provides many opportunities for academic and personal growth.
Jill, Linda, David, Anne and Conny
