Year Two�Parent Information 2023

Miss Amy McFarlane 2M

​

Mrs. Maree Noonan 2N

Welcome To Country!

Welcome!

Our Lady of the Cape Dunsborough

Four Core Values  

• Compassion
• Appreciation
• Respect
• Excellence

Term 1, 2023

What a great start we have had with all of your children. It was a bit of a whirlwind with daily trips to the beach, but what great way to enjoy the sunshine .This provided us with some time to establish positive teacher student relationships within the class, routines and expectations. 

There was no year level integration as each Year 2 teacher was getting to know their new 2023 class. 

​

​

​

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child be learning different curriculum when compared to each class?

The Year Two teachers communicate daily and plan weekly.  We meet during shared DOTT time to plan the following week’s tasks and activities, so they mirror each class.

In addition to teaching, student assessments will also be the same for each level. We will be reviewing the assessments, moderating and completing reports together. This will also inform our teaching for future lessons. 

We will ensure that we will continue to provide a detailed curriculum yet differentiated learning that caters for every child’s individual learning needs.  This is evident during guided reading, writing and maths groups that are differentiated in every class.

​

Frequently Asked Questions

​

Will there be opportunities for both Year Two classes to interact and learn together?

The Year Two classes will combine for several learning areas for three sessions a week where each year level combines through the learning areas of Health, HASS and Digital Technology.  

We also undertake daily fitness throughout the week together as well as Friday sport times. 

Each of the classes will also be attending an excursion/incursion together at some point in the year. 

​

General Business

See our ‘Welcome to 2023 Class blog’ 

• For information on: 
• Canteen days
• Uniform
• Crunch and sip
• Specialist days
• Homework and home reading
• Bell times
• Late drop off/ Early pick up 
• Teacher contact information

​

​

•  To increase our sustainability at our school, we would love it if you were able to pack your children’s lunch in reusable containers - such as nude food movers.  

​

• We are an ‘allergy aware’ school so no nuts of any kind are to be brought to school. 

​

• Parent interviews will be held in Week 8 & 9. Please email us if you have any concerns.

​

• Prayer Assembly, Performance Assembly                                or General Assembly every Friday afternoon                                   - please check the term Calendar. 

General Business

Absentee Notes

​

If your child is away from school, please either: 

• Fill out an OLC absentee note on the website 

       or

• Use the following template in an email to the teacher AND Mrs Murrell at the front office:

Dear Miss McFarlane,

Billy Smith in Year 2M has been away from school due to eating too much of his Nonna’s lasagne on the dates 1/6/22 to the 3/6/22.

Best Regards,

Sally Smith

​

Allergies/Medications

If your child has any allergies, please let us know immediately. This includes specific sunscreen and hand sanitiser allergies. 

If they are to take medication, it is only to be administered by the parent or kept in the office for Admin to access. 

If your child has asthma and requires medication, please make an appointment to discuss an administration plan. 

Our Lady of the Cape is an allergy aware school. 

Please be conscious of what you put in your child’s lunch box                                                             

How Parents can help

• Help your child be prepared for school each day: correct uniform, all school materials and homework is completed each night.
• Establish routines at home: consistent time when homework can be completed, a nice quiet and/or spacious area for homework.
• It would be great if you could help your child learn the skill of how to tie their shoelaces up over the course of this year. 
• Ensure your child arrives at school each day on time: between 8.30am - 8.40am 
• Encourage your child to be responsible for their work, both in class and at home. 
• Ask your child, “tell me one good thing 

about your day”.

Curriculum

Learning Areas

• Religion – (CEWA/ MJR/ Godly Play)
• English - (Language, Literature and Literacy)
• Mathematics (Number, Geometry and Measurement and statistics and probability)
• L.O.T.E (Indonesian)
• Physical Education
• Visual arts, dance and music
• Integrated Studies (Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Technologies and Health)

Seesaw

This is now OLC’s formal reporting format that we are implementing over the year to give you an insight to your child's achievement. This is so you as a parent are informed of your child’s learning in real time and it will allow you to celebrate their success and provide you with an opportunity to work towards their goals at home as well as at school. 

Don't forget you can have both parents or any family members (eg. Grandma) access your child's Seesaw account and that you can access directly with the Seesaw Family app on your phone, device or computer. We would love it if you can leave a comment on your child's work, as they can access the app at school and they love seeing your feedback!  The link for your child’s Year Two seesaw learning journal will be emailed to you soon, so keep an eye out! 

​

English Learning Area

​

• Teacher modelled, step-by-step experiences.
• Literacy-based activities incorporating the T4W program. 
• Handwriting and printing instruction (NSW Foundation font).
• Literacy groups - will be allocated according to reading levels.
• Writing Process - We encourage the children to sound out their words and have – a- go. 
• Guided Reading Groups - We will be teaching a small reading group each day.  
• Reading – All classes from K-2 are following the comprehensive program called InitiaLit. This is a current research-based program acquired from Mcquire University. It aligns with the theories with the latest research of the Science of Reading and is used in conjunction with OLC’s current reading support program – Mini Lit, Mac Lit & Multi Lit. We are excited to be implementing this program commencing this term. 
• Spelling  – spelling strategies using a synthetic phonics program. 

​

InitiaLit

​

​

​

InitiaLit is an evidence-based whole-class literacy program which will provide all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers.

​

InitiaLit is a three-year program, covering the first three years of school (typically Foundation to Year 2). InitiaLit–Foundation was released in 2017, InitiaLit–1 in 2018, and the release of InitiaLit–2 in 2019 completes the program. MultiLit has broadened its scope beyond purely providing remedial reading interventions. 

​

InitiaLit addresses initial literacy instruction in the hope that, by providing strong foundations in reading and writing from the outset, fewer children will fall behind and require more intensive intervention. In the context of a Response to Intervention framework, InitiaLit is a Tier 1 program, designed to be delivered to whole classes by classroom teachers.

By Year 2, most children will be well on their way to reading independence. 

​

The program builds on the skills taught in InitiaLit–F and InitiaLit–1, with the focus shifting now to consolidating children’s reading and spelling skills, working specifically on reading comprehension, fluency, spelling and vocabulary

Home Reading

​

​

​

​

• Reading time should always be a positive and supportive experience for your child that should take no more than 10 minutes. Please ensure it is reading aloud no matter what level they are eg. Chapter book or picture book. This is important for your child to listen for anything that doesn’t ‘sound right’ and self-correct.
• A book will be sent home every night (Monday - Thursday) for the children to read and please complete the reading log accordingly. 
• Children are provided time every morning during gathering time to change their home reader. They are able to choose a book from their allocated book box and write in their own title. It is expected that your child complete this task independently. 
• Oral reading and reading with comprehension are different skills that children develop.

​

​

​

​

Homework

​

• Children in Year Two are encouraged to complete 10- 15 minutes of homework each night. 
• This includes:
• Reading their home reader (please fill out the reading diary), starting Wk 3.
• Optional items:
• Fluency grid reading - with the fortnight focus sound
• Spelling – practice writing unseen or read aloud spelling words in sound circles 

Fluency grids and spelling lists (which will be on the back) will be placed in their R.E.D reading files every two weeks. Keep these on your fridge for a quick review when you can!

​

​

Homework

Completed fluency grid example:

Mathematics Learning Area

• Encompasses Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability.
• Numeracy dedicated time each day with hands on, meaningful activities.
• Maths will be hands on, fun and engaging. Often, we will play math games that will target the skill we are focusing on. 
• Start with whole group introduction to concept, children will then participate in math activities and games and then return to whole class setting to share their mathematical findings.
• Mathletics and other numeracy ipad apps – Will be completed in class and at home with support. 

Kimochis and Friendology

​

Kimochis

• Kimochi’s are a Social Emotional program that is implemented at OLC in the Early Years
• They help children by communicating feelings and emotions that they may be feeling in relatable books and songs for the children to join in with.
• It helps them develop positive relationships and provides skills for communicating between peers.

Friendology

• URSTRONG’s Friendology 101 is a skills-based social and emotional learning program that helps build children’s skills in fostering and maintaining healthy friendships.
• It is an 8 week program that aims to assist children in years 1-6 in developing the skills, language and self-confidence to be better friends and develop a solid foundation for future healthy relationships.

KEEPING SAFE

​

Within the Keeping Safe Program the children in class will explore Two themes of:

• Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe

• Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust

​

Within each of these themes there are four focus areas which will teach your child about:

1. (We all have) The right to be safe
2. (Building positive) Relationships
3. (When they may be) Recognising and reporting abuse
4. (Developing) Protective strategies

​

KEEPING SAFE

​

​

​

Focus Area 1 The right to be safe covers age appropriate areas such as:

• Feelings

• Being safe

• Warning signs

• Risk-taking and emergencies

• Psychological pressure and manipulation

Focus Area 2: Relationships covers age appropriate areas such as:

• Rights and responsibilities

• Identity and relationships

• Power in relationships

• Trust and networks

​

​

KEEPING SAFE

Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse covers age appropriate areas such as:

• Privacy and the body

• Touching

• Recognising abuse

• Secrets

• Cyber safety

• Domestic and family violence

Focus Area 4: Protective strategies covers age appropriate areas such as:

• Strategies for keeping safe

• Persistence

• Network review and community support

​

​

KEEPING SAFE

You can help your child by:

•  Actively listening
• Talking together
• Encouraging the development of respectful relationships
• Supporting and monitoring children's’ developing networks
• Monitoring safe online use
• Supporting your child to practise problem solving strategies 

If you would like more information about the program and its content, brochures are available on the DECD website:

http://tiny.cc/DECD-KSCPCParentInfo

​

​

Start of the day info

• Gathering time is between 8.30am-8.40am
• This is a time for children to set up their work area including chairs and desk mats. Students in Year 2 are also expected to complete their nightly reading log.
• No new learning will take place during gathering time.
• This is a chance to settle your child into class and get them ready to start the day, which can help their wellbeing for the remainder of the day.

​

Class Management

• Each class has their own positive rewards system where smart and good choices are encouraged.
• Tokens and Spirit of Jesus Awards– will be awarded throughout the term to encourage positive behaviours.
• Merit Awards: Each child will have an opportunity to receive a merit award throughout the year and parents will be given notice by text message for when this will occur.

​

Behaviour at OLC

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The children have helped to formulate a set of classroom rules. The children are reminded of these regularly and children are encouraged to refer these back to our school values. 

All students will receive a related consequence that is Respectful, Related and teaches Responsibility for their behaviour. Positive reinforcement is encouraged in the class. 

The whole school policy is: 

1. Verbal warning – the child is always informed about why they are getting a warning.
2. Second verbal warning – a private discussion is had between the teacher and the child. This behaviour may be noted in the teacher’s behaviour book.
3. Third warning (or for a more serious behaviour) – The child is required to spend 10 minutes at lunch with the teacher (either in the admin office, or out on duty), discussing the behaviour and what needs to occur for this behaviour to change. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Specialist Teachers

• Mrs Melinda Kartana: Indonesian 
• Mrs Jane King: Music 
• Mrs Mandy Sinclair: Sport
• Mrs Anne Coltrinari: Science
• Mrs Ellie Haines: Dance (Sem 2)
• If you would like to contact these teachers they can be contacted via the same email address as us eg. Firstname.lastname@cewa.edu.au

Year Two Specialist Times 

CRUNCH AND SIP/Brain Breaks

• Children are encouraged to bring in a single serve of fruit and/or vegetables to have throughout the morning. They can bring this in a small container which they can leave on their desk or in a special area. 
• Please note yoghurt, crackers, cheese or popcorn are not a part of the crunch and sip initiative, but can be included in their recess.  
• To accompany this healthy eating, we are big believers in whole body learning using a website called GoNoodle.com
• Using physical activity challenges in the classroom helps children be ready to learn and remember information. 

Birthdays

• We love celebrating birthdays in Year Two!
• If you would like to bring in something to share, cupcakes, chocolates, fruit kebabs or iced biscuits are preferred work best.
• If your child has certain dietary requirements, it is encouraged that you supply an alternative that we can store in the cupboard or fridge so your child doesn’t miss out.
• Birthday invitations – We ask that you please hand them out discreetly or contact other parents outside of school.

Parent/Teacher Communication

• Please email either of us directly if something has happened which will affect your child’s day at school or send a written note with your child to school. However, please keep in mind that emails are not checked once classroom doors open at 8:30am.

​

• In addition, as a part of the OLC staff wellbeing, please be aware that emails sent after 5pm will not be checked or responded to that evening. 
• Often drop off time is not an effective time for detailed parent/teacher discussions. If you have any concerns or queries please email us or arrange a time to discuss further.  
• General communication will be put onto the OLC classroom blogs.  
• Please ensure your contact details are up to date with administration as SMS texts are sent when there is a new blog post available.

Collecting Your child

​

• Our bell goes at 3.00pm for all children.
• In order to support us in getting the children organised and settled, we ask that you wait in the courtyard area.
• This will minimise distractions for the children and ease congested areas at 3.00pm.

Other Information

Class Reps:

• We are looking for 1-2 for each class.

​

Questions?

Please feel free to email your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding the presentation and the upcoming year.

​

Miss Amy McFarlane

amy.mcfarlane@cewa.edu.au

​

Mrs Maree Noonan

maree.noonan@cewa.edu.au

​

Thank you

Thank you for reading through this presentation to support your child’s learning!

We look forward to working in partnership with you for a fun and fabulous year of learning! 

​

Thank you

Amy and Maree