Year 1

Classes

Students who enter Year One are excited about entering the big school. To ease the transition from Preschool/Prep to Year One, we have put a number of measures in place. For example, Year One teachers closely supervise student's eating and play time for the first few weeks, ensuring students know where everything is, and making sure they have a friend to play with and know where to play.

Year One students learn a great deal through play and hands-on activities. They work at their own pace with each student showing significant progress throughout the year. Early reading and writing, as well as development of mathematical skills, are the highlights of Year One achievements.

Teachers

Our Year One educators have a variety of teaching experiences between them. The year one teachers plan, moderate and evaluate together at regular intervals to ensure a standardised year level approach. They are all passionate early childhood educators.

Program

The Year One program includes seven key learning areas: English, Maths, Science, Study of Society and Environment, Health and PE, the Arts and Technology. The children also have specialist Library, Music and Physical Education lessons and visit the Learning Technology Centre. At the beginning of the year many of our activities are focused on early literacy and numeracy including phonics and counting.

The Year One syllabus is taught largely through a hands-on, learner-centred approach. We use a combination of independent, whole class and small group activities. We cater for various learning styles by providing a range of experiences.

Year 1 Calendar

Term 1

Bunyaville Excursion – We will visit Bunyaville State Forest and take part in their Easter program.

Term 2

Craigslea Sensitivity Unit Excursion
Under Eight’s Day – Fun activities for The Gap Early Childhood community.

Term 3

Healthy Breakfast – Children enjoy a three-course breakfast at school served by teachers and parents.Junior Sports Day
Book Week
Science Fair

Term 4

Day Camp – Children participate in a program of activities, swimming, afternoon tea and a sausage sizzle.
Carols Night
Swimming Carnival

Homework

Daily: take home readers and practice of sight words
Weekly: sounds and letters, sight words and related activities

How parents can help?

Joining our roster to help with classroom activities, reading to your child for pleasure every night, reading take home readers, practising sight words, sounds and letters.

Other Important Information

Come in before school begins and help your child become familiar with the physical layout of the school, eg. where the year one classes are, where the toilets are, how to work the drinking taps, where your pick-up point will be.
Make lunches easy to open, no tins or tubes needing cutting, please.
Children should practise writing their names in lower case letters and using correct pencil grip.
Anything that helps develop the small muscles in the hands is of value eg. pushing and pulling apart Lego, squeezing play dough, popping bubble wrap.
Identify your school bag with a marker eg. glitter paint
Reading with your child for enjoyment cannot be underestimated.
Talk with your child and problem-solve any likely difficulties, eg. what would she do if she didn’t have anyone to play with? If she couldn’t find you at going home time? If she ate all her lunch at first break?
On the first day, bring all stationery items, named. They will remain in the classroom for the year in personalised containers. Arrive at around 8:30am, have a look around, come in at around 8:40. Class lists will be outside the Year One rooms.
On the second day, bring in your child’s books, glue, etc.