5/6W Classroom Letter
Term 3 2015
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome back to Term 3! As you may have already noticed, term 3 is an incredibly busy term for all year 5 and 6 students.
Preparations are already underway for our annual school musical, which has all senior kids excited.
Transition to High School
We also have a variety of transition to High School activities coming up for both 5 and 6 students. Students from both years 5 and
6 will be attending video conferences with different high school faculties every fortnight this term. Other transition dates for the
year six students are as follows:
•RAP Day (9/10/15)- A whole day at MHS to support Year 6 students planning to attend MHS in preparing to make new friends,
face new challenges and learn new routines. Students will participate in a day of activities that support the development of:
Resilience, Relationships, Organisation and Respect.
•GATS challenge (18/11/15)- Transition Academic Challenge Day to challenge the minds of Morisset High School’s current Year
7 Enrichment class and our new Enrichment class cohort for 2016 (currently in Year 6). The day will consist of challenges in
areas such as Maths, Science, English & HSIE / Technology. The students will be organised into teams and marks awarded for
each challenge. Although it is not important, there will be a champion team for the day announced.
•Orientation Day (3/12/15) - Year 6 students spend a day at MHS getting a taste of High School life including peer support
activities, orientation around the school, introducing key staff, sport’s houses and enjoy a series of taster lessons following a High
School style timetable. The opportunity is given to answer student’s questions, explain what to do and where to go on the first day
(and how to get home).
If there are any students planning to attend other high schools next year, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help
your child’s transition to their new environment. It would be great if you could email the transition details of these high schools as
well.
MHS Enrichment Class
Congratulations also to the students who put their names forward to be considered for the enrichment class at MHS next year,
the important dates for you to remember are:
Student Nomination Forms to be returned to Morisset High School by parents by the end of Week 4 (Friday 7/8/2015). Thank
you to all of the parents who dropped these forms into me, I filled out my part of the form and dropped them on time.
All nominated students to sit an independent selection test in MHS School Hall Thursday Week 7 (27/8/2015). There is no
cost to applicants. The test will be marked by the members of MHS Gifted & Talented Committee. Test time 9.15am –
10.15am. Students need to make their own travel arrangements to and from MHS.
All nominated students to be interviewed by Miss McRitchie (Year 7 Adviser 2016) and Mr Mitten (GATS chairperson ) during
Week 8 (Thursday 3/9/2015 and Friday 4/9/2015). Nominees will be required to showcase and discuss an example of an
independent learning task completed during Stage 3 for the interview. Interview times will be given to students at the
selection test in Week 7.
Selection of the Enrichment Class for 2016 during Week 9. Selections will be based on the students’ performance in the
Selection Test, Year 6 class teacher recommendations and student performance in the interview.
All nominated students will receive a personal letter advising of the outcome of the process either: successful, waiting list or
unsuccessful during Week 10. Primary Schools advised of all student outcomes.
Class work
This term the homework routine remains the same. New homework will be handed out each Monday. I expect all students to
complete their homework as it ensures good habits are established before heading into High School.
In the following subjects we will be learning:
Literacy
 Characterisation – How characters are developed by authors through a range of writing techniques. The texts that will
support this unit are ‘The Man From Snowy River’ and ‘Meet Ned Kelly’.
 Daily Reading groups with a focus on the Super Six reading strategies and technology.
 Spelling Mastery – students levelled according to current spelling level
 Comprehension utilising the whole school program ‘Focus on Reading’
Numeracy
 Students will be involved in a range of mathematical concepts from all three strands (Number & Algebra, Statistics &
Probability and Measurement & Geometry)
Science/HSIE
 Students will combine to make year 5 and 6 groups and be working with Miss Webeck to complete a Science unit
focusing on Earthquakes
 During HSIE lessons students will be working with Mr Lewis to complete a unit focusing on Disasters around the world.
Students are expected to present a speech on this topic in week 7 of this term. This presentation should focus on a
specific ‘natural disaster’ that has occurred around the world.
CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts)
 CAPA groups will continue during term 3. Focus areas will be Zumba, Recorders, Drama and Claymation.
PD/Health/PE
Sport will be on Fridays and we will be continuing our Drug Education unit this term.
School Musical
Each year MPS students produce a school musical for the enjoyment of students and the community. This is a fantastic
opportunity which is widely supported by all staff at the school where students are able to achieve many creative arts syllabus
outcomes as a part of the preparation and production process. Students will be expected to dedicate time towards learning their
roles, practising in class and outside class time also. All students will be expected to participate and put forward their best
efforts throughout the preparation process. The performance takes place in term 4 – further details will be sent home later in the
term. Students will be given their roles in the next couple of weeks and are expected to know all of their lines by the beginning
of term 4.
Other dates for your diary
 Interrelate - 3/8/15 – A program for year 6 students focusing on moving into the teen years.
 Debating - 4/8/15 - year 6 team against Coal Point
 Science Discovery Day – 18/8/15 – all positions have been filled.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me either in person, a note, phone call or email annalee.webeck@det.nsw.edu.au I am also trying to organise to have parents email address list, if possible send me an
email saying hi, and I’ll add you.
Thankyou,
Anna-Lee Webeck
Respect
Responsibility
Taken from the Youtube clip Kid President - 20 Things we should say more often to make the world a better place.
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Thank you.
Excuse me.
I’m sorry.
I forgive you
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You can do it!
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Please.
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Life is tough, but so are you. Sometimes we all need to be reminded to keep going!
I have barbecue sauce on my shirt too. Before you say something about the barbecue sauce on somebody else’s
shirt, take a look at the barbecue sauce on your own shirt.
Everything is going to be okay.
I don’t know.
You are awesome
Hello person I’ve never met before, here’s a high-five!
Nothing. Sometimes that’s the best thing you could say.
I disagree with you, but I still like you as a person who is a human being and I will treat you like that because if
I didn’t it would make everything bad and that’s what lots of people do and it’s lame.
Something nice! If you can’t think of anything nice to say, you’re not thinking hard enough.