Welcome to Mrs Cameron's Year 1/2 class.

Welcome to the start of a new year.  We hope that everyone had a happy summer holiday.

Your children are starting a new journey in their growing up and are becoming more independent.  At school they will be asked to be responsible for their belongings. This will be taking care of their

clothing, school hat, lunch box, drink bottles and school materials. 

Your children will need your help from the first day school begins by helping them to learn to tie their shoelaces, take off lids on lunch boxes and drink bottles. They will need to be able to open any food packaging so please show them where the markings are on these items and where to tear open. It will help if some food items such as cheese sticks have the top snipped off before they come to school.

Another helpful idea is to have one hat only for school.  Keep this hat in their school bag all the time so that it will always be at school as they will need this hat every day. Our school has a "no hat, no play" policy.

The children can have a bottle of water in the class to drink during the day.

Children are not to bring toys to school. This includes balls and skipping ropes. At school we have equipment for use in the playground. 

We like to cook at school and so many a yummy time will be had. Special days will be celebrated such as Australia Day, ANZAC Day, Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day to name some occasions when we will be cooking. We also find other reasons to cook and explore food such as looking at healthy food to keep our bodies fit and healthy.

As we are cooking and will be doing so in week one it is important to let us know if there are foods that your child is not to eat.

Special events will be enjoyed and remembered during the year. The children will invite their families to join them. Such events will include ANZAC Day, Under Eights Week, Sports Day, class presentation on parade, Mother's Day and Father's Day afternoon tea which the children will cater for.

For children in years one and two, homework will be part of the beginning of formal education. Written homework will commence in week three. In weeks one and two the children will be asked to learn to sharpen pencils at home and return them to school the next day. They will be asked to make sure that their hat is in their school bag before leaving for school. They will be asked to take lunch boxes and drink bottles out of school bags and put them on the kitchen sink for washing ready for the next day. This will help to develop their independence. During the first two weeks of school as part of daily routines this will be checked and discussed with the children. The children will be asked to tie their shoelaces at the end of week two.

Homework is not expected to be a time that causes anxiety for parents or children at home. The expectation is for children to develop study habits for their further education and to allow time for very busy families to come together and have family time. It is expected that all children borrow two library books from the school each week. An adult will need to read the books with the child. These books are to be returned by the due date. As part of their weekly homework the children are expected to talk about one of the stories to the class or their teacher.

All children will be involved in morning fitness so it is important that they have shoes for this purpose. If your child is unwell and may not be able to take part in some activities, a note or phone call must be received. If this does not happen then it is assumed that your child is able to participate in all school activities and lessons.

A big focus at school is on learning to work and play together. This involves taking turns, listening to others politely, speaking to others politely, waiting quietly, solving problems using words,

keeping problems small, using the high five, and using words such as please and thank you.

If you need to talk to me I am available after school most days from 3.00 to 4.00 pm.

I hope all the children have a happy and exciting year.

 Sharon Cameron