Where has the term gone? Here we are at the end of week 8 with lots of learning and special events happening all over the school. As it nears the end of the term, teachers have been busy conducting assessments and preparing for 3-way conferences with parents and students.

NAPLAN

What an effort from our Year 3 and 5 students and all our teachers/staff involved.

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through their regular school curriculum.

Students sat assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The questions assess content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics.

NAPLAN gives teachers and parents important information about a student's skills and capability, so that more targeted support can be delivered to improve literacy and numeracy skills throughout the year.

tests completed = 496

# Year 5 students = 51

# year 3 students =73

Total number of year 5 test = 204

Total number of year 3 test = 292

We look forward to receiving our results later in the year.

Ramadan:

As we embrace the cultures and traditions of our school community, we would like to acknowledge the month of Ramadan.  Ramadan is a significant time observed by some of our staff and students, marked by fasting, prayer, reflection and acts of charity.

We understand the importance of supporting our students and staff who observe Ramadan, and we are committed to ensuring that they feel valued and included throughout this period .

Did you know……

1. Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam – these are key practices that the Muslim people should follow
2. Ramadan happens during the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar – it then lasts the whole month
3. During Ramadan Muslin fast- Muslims don’t eat or drink anything during the hours of daylight. This is called fasting.
4. The dates of Ramadan change every year – this is because the Islamic calendar is based on the moon cycle
5. Muslims have a special meal before and after each day of fasting – this meal is eaten at sunrise and its called ‘Suhoor’ which means ‘the dawn’. There is also a meal eaten after sunset which is called ‘Iftar’ this means the ‘break of the fast’.
6. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a big celebration called ‘Eid ul-Fitr’ - During Eid ul-Fitr Muslims see their family, give gifts and give thanks to their god, Allah.
7. The practice of Ramadan began in the year 624 CE. This was 2 years after the start of the Islamic calendar.
8. During Ramadan you can greet someone by saying “Ramadan Mubarak” - this means ‘have a blessed Ramadan’.

Eating breaks

As part of our commitment to fostering healthy habits and ensuring the best learning environments, we would like to emphasize the importance of eating breaks during the school day.

Our students are provided with scheduled eating breaks twice a day with a minimum of 10 minutes dedicated to enjoying their meals/food.  Additionally, some classes also incorporate a mid-morning fruit break which allows students to refuel and stay energised for learning time.

Ensuring the students have the right amount of food is always challenging for parents. There are times that lunch boxes are overflowing with lots of different snacks and meals and then there are times our front office staff are being requested sandwiches at lunch time due to not enough or the ‘I don’t like that’ food being packed.

We understand that students are eager to engage in playtime, and while it's natural for them to prioritise fun, we encourage parents to support healthy eating habits by providing balanced meals.

Helpful tips for planning and preparing your child’s lunch box:

• Involve your child – if children are involved in the process of planning and preparing their lunch box they are more likely to engage with their food and eat what has been included in their lunch box
• Balance is great – try and provide a balanced lunch box. You might like to include some protein (chicken and eggs), whole grains (popcorn, crackers, wholemeal bread) dairy (cheeses, yoghurts, custard) fruit and vegetables. Even if your child doesn’t come home having eaten everything, its ok.  Its about the exposure to the different foods.
• Make it bite sized – Children are more likely to engage with foods that don’t appear too overwhelming. Cut things up.
• Don’t introduce new foods – If your child has never seen that food before it is likely that will not try it in a school environment where there’s lots of things going on.
• Get organised – life can be very busy and one of the hardest tasks in the morning is organising the lunchbox when children are getting dressed, having breakfast and everything else that is going on at the same time. Doing some preparation on the weekend or the day before can sometimes ease the pressure in the morning.

Elizabeth Andrade
Assistant Principal

Hello everyone! We’ve got some amazing news we would like to share with you. We have been learning about our backgrounds and culture and the world around us (for science). We have also been learning the text structure of narratives and persuasive texts. We are going to create our own texts with visual elements and figurative language for the stories. Besides, we have been learning the power of growth mindset that helps us think positively.

This term, students have delved into the rich tapestry of family dynamics, exploring both the differences and similarities that make each family unique. From siblings to parents, grandparents to pets, our classroom has become a hub of familial discovery.

In a recent activity, students were tasked with drawing a picture depicting who resides in their household. This artistic endeavour not only showcased their creative talents but also served as a springboard for insightful discussions.

Through these discussions, students enthusiastically shared how their families are alike and dissimilar to their peers'. Whether it be the presence of a beloved family pet, the shared love for Sunday movie nights, or the cultural traditions passed down through generations, each revelation fostered a deeper understanding of familial bonds.

This exploration not only celebrated the diversity within our classroom but also highlighted the universal threads that connect us all. As the semester progresses, we look forward to further discoveries and revelations as we continue to unravel the beautiful complexity of family life.

Exploring Directions with Bee Bots: A Hands-On Learning Adventure

Recently in 1/2 Redway students enthusiastically participated in activities designed to deepen their understanding of positional language—concepts like forward, backward, left, and right. With guidance from their teacher, students programmed Bee Bots to follow specific routes, incorporating their understanding of directional language into real-life scenarios. Through trial and error, they honed their problem-solving skills and enhanced their ability to communicate directions effectively. The excitement was palpable as students cheered on their Bee Bots, celebrating successful navigation and learning from any missteps along the way. Beyond mastering positional language, this hands-on activity encouraged teamwork, perseverance, and creativity—all essential qualities for success both inside and outside the classroom.

Group 1

We have been having so much fun in Preschool! The children have had a blast exploring space and building rocket ships to take them to loads of different planets. The magnetic construction area has been a busy worksite lately with zoos, towers, rocket ships, water slides and houses all in the works. Outside there have been countless bug and insect hunts and even a bbq or two on the veranda with friends. We have been creating patterns, practicing our Auslan signing, learning all about our school mascot RRRIC and focusing on understanding and building capacity around respect and resilience.

Group 2

Students in Group 2 have been working hard at developing their oral language skills during our morning circle time. They have been asked questions and shared these answers about themselves with their peers. We have witnessed many wonderful friendships developing in the Preschool because we have been taking the time to get to know each other. The students are asking for their friends, asking to play with each other and working together as team to build, paint, create and role play different characters. At reflection time, students are using their voice to share with their Educators what they like about Preschool, what learning they would like to do and what activities they would like to see in the classroom. We have many expert drawers in our Preschool group who have been modelling how to draw for their peers. There is also a very keen interest in retelling stories, music and movement, writing our names, signing and creating provocations for our peers to play with.

Group 3

Students in Group 3 have been practising asking for and offering help. They learned phrases such as, “Help me please” and “Can I help you?” and the hand gestures used to sign that help is needed.

We have also observed many students showing persistence and determination in everyday pursuits. Some examples of this include, students climbing on the outdoor netting, climbing over the A-frames in our obstacle course, putting cushions on the shelf when they repeatedly fall off, independently putting on shoes and socks and making models with Mobilo. We watched the episode of Bluey: Bike from season one, to help students further understand what persistence looks like and know that it is okay to become frustrated or upset when trying something new, but to ‘reset’ and try again.

Group 4

It’s exciting that many of the students in Group 4 have started resourcing their own learning by requesting items of interest from the shed or storeroom and sharing what they would like to do at Preschool during our end of day reflection. We have intentionally incorporated many of their interests and ideas into our program to ensure our learning experiences are engaging and child centered. Over the past two weeks we’ve observed student interest in sequencing, easel painting, monster trucks, sensory experiences such as playdough and kinetic sand, dramatic play with dolls, mobilo construction and small world experiences including doll houses, animals, princesses and dinosaurs. Some skills we’ve been working hard on include turn taking, playing catch with a ball, cutting safely with scissors, putting our belongings away, helping at pack away times, being kind to others, recognising and naming colours, shapes and numbers.

Here is a link to see what the Preschool Teaching and Learning cycle looks like: Frequently Asked Questions - Zuccoli Primary

We are very excited that vacation care is only a couple of weeks away and have lots of fun activities planned on the calendar. Bookings are open today and families are encouraged to book in as soon as possible to avoid missing a place. Please follow all the information provided in how to secure your child's place.

Due to the high volume of students enrolled at OSHC, vacation care spaces are limited to 85. Applications will be processed on the date we receive them. Even though we have stipulated a closing date for applications, our spaces for vacation care may fill up prior to this date.

We continually update our Facebook page with space availability and encourage families to "follow" our posts. We will have a waiting list available if your child misses out on a placement.

The Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge encourages students to read more books for pleasure.

Every student from Transition to year 6 in the Northern Territory is challenged to read 12 books or more in 24 weeks.

Eligible books include printed books, digital books, and audiobooks. For younger children, a book that is read aloud by an adult, counts towards their total.

Use the QR code or the link below to register your child/ren.
https://education.nt.gov.au/education-events-and-awards/chief-ministers-reading-challenge/individual-student-registration-form

Students can collect the reading record sheet from the front office.

Once students have finished their reading record sheet, please hand it in to the front office.

At the end of the year, students who participated in the challenge will receive a certificate from the Chief Minister.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Manchester United

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

Dubai, for sure. It's a city of endless adventure, from beaches to theme parks. I feel like you can never really see it all and I'd love another chance to try.

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

A classic Manchester United Jersey. This piece of clothing is very close to my heart as it reminds me of the time, I started following the team.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

Sir Alex Ferguson. I would love to dive into his wisdom and learn from his experience of managing the greatest team on Earth, Manchester United.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho. It's about chasing dreams and listening to your heart and everyone in the world should at least read this book once.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Unfortunately, I do not have one within Australia.

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

I am eager to visit Japan (especially Shikoku) again as I am familiar with Japanese culture and history. Enormous historical constructions demonstrate the stories from ancient years. I love connecting the real world into what I’ve learnt and saw.

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

My two large size (probably 100cm long each) brown and white fluffy dog dolls. They are my birthday presents from my parents when I was 9-10 years old.

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

I would love to have dinner with my dad again as he is back to heaven already. I miss him a lot and I’ve got a lot of adventures I would like to share with him.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

The Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I am a big fan of the Ghibli Studio. When I first read the story, I was impressed by the creativity and the depth of it. It has multiple morals behind the story.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

I don’t follow sport anymore but once upon a time I went for the Rabbitohs (NRL).

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

Kuta Lombok, Indonesia! Awesome snorkelling and surfing spots!

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

I still have my Cabbage Patch Doll (her name is Lylah) and some of my favourite childhood Teddy Bears.

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

Audrey Hepburn because she was/still is a style icon!

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why? ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle because it is full of ideas, thoughts, and lessons that are practical and can be easily applied in everyday life.