This term, we have been exploring the process of Bookmaking in Year 4 and have all become authors! We have been looking at different books and naming and noticing the features that make us want to read them. We have then used these techniques to create our very own books. Within the 3 homegroups, we have a vast variety of books such as comics, fairytales, information texts and thrillers!

Using mentor texts, we have been exploring features such as onomatopoeia, font size and direction, adjectives and the use of color and size. Students have then been invited to use these techniques and features in their own texts. As such, we have created texts that not only have our fantastic words in them, but also have illustrations, blurbs and lots of creativity included inspired by other authors we have explored.

What has been your favourite part of Bookmaking?
What type of text have you been writing in your Bookmaking time?
Which author has inspired you the most?

SMCM, you are superstars! We have now raised $1131 for Caritas!

This week our Caritas Friday connects to Oliva’s story. Oliva is from the Solomon Islands and she was unable to read, write or count. Caritas Australia helped to give her a future by enrolling her in Literacy and Numeracy classes.

Help Caritas support others like Oliva by dressing up as your future self and donating a gold coin on Friday!

We have loved watching everyone growing in their swimming skills in each of our weekly sessions! It’s great seeing people make and achieve the goals they are setting for themselves.

Next week is Safety Week at swimming on Friday 5th of March!
Please bring an extra t-shirt and a pair of shorts to wear during our safety session!
Reminder please make sure that your bag is waterproof as we will have extra wet clothing for this session!

What goals have you set yourself during our swimming sessions?
How are you going to reach your goals?
What have you enjoyed most about swimming this year so far?

This week we are beginning to explore the topic ‘Capacity’ in Mathematics. We explored a variety of materials to measure what can be used to fill a container. For example: pasta, pegs, rice, dried beans, blocks, counters, sand and water. Throughout this session we discovered that some of the materials were more efficient than others. We noticed that the larger solid materials had gaps, such as blocks and pegs, did not fill the container accurately.

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What is Capacity?
How do we measure the capacity of a container?
What was the most effective material to use?

Last week we raised an amazing $541 for Caritas Project Compassion. Well done SMCM – giving to others (almsgiving) is an important part of Lent and it helps us to become closer to God.

This week’s Caritas Friday fundraiser links to Margret’s story. Margaret is a teacher at a vocational school for deaf students in the Solomon Islands. Margret and her students face water shortages and they have to walk off campus twice a day to collect safe drinking water. 

How would you feel if you were Margret?

How did Caritas help Margret and her students?

Dear Families,

Congratulations to our super swimmers for completing their first lesson in 2021. A big thank you to all students and families who were prepared for today. Students who are not attending swimming will remain at school. Just a reminder that our next lesson is on Monday 22nd February.

The updated times for our lessons are as follows:
Mindful (Gabby) and Peaceful (Louise): 11:25am-12:15pm
Grateful (Madeline): 12:15pm-1:05pm

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, parents will not be able to attend the lessons at YMCA.

We hope you all have a restful weekend and escape the heat.
Thanks
Year 4 Teachers

Tomorrow is our first Caritas Friday!

Wear your favourite piece of clothing with your uniform and bring a gold coin donation!

We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion fundraiser this week with our first Caritas Friday. This week’s theme is connected to the first Project Compassion story of Jamila, a single mother living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. With the support of Caritas Australia, Jamila learnt to sew and uses this skill as income to support her family.

‘Be More’ for others in Lent and DONATE to Caritas!

Dear Families,

Today is Ash Wednesday. This is an important day in our Church calendar as it begins a special time that we call Lent.

You might like to set up your own sacred space and get ready to participate in our school Liturgy.
We invite you to send a photo of your sacred space to us via email or post to Seesaw.

What do you know about Ash Wednesday and Lent?
How will you and your family prepare for the season of Lent?
What does Lent mean to you?
How will you ‘BE MORE’ during the season of Lent?
In what ways will you continue to develop your relationship with God?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Year 4 Teachers

Dear Families,

Being part of our wonderful Faith Community at SMCM, we begin to prepare ourselves for the season of Lent. Lent is the Christian Season of Repentance, which is sort of a spring cleaning of our lives. It is a time to renew our faith in God. Violet is the colour used in our sacred spaces and worn by the priest, as it symbolises suffering, penance and time for reflection.

You might like to listen to Anna, our very own SMCM Faith Leader, as she explains the importance of ‘Shrove Tuesday’ and ‘Ash Wednesday’. There are also slides that your family may choose to read through together.

Lent

Shrove Tuesday

Ash Wednesday

Questions:
How will you and your family prepare for our season of Lent?
What does Lent mean to you?
How will you ‘BE MORE’ during the season of Lent?
In what ways will you continue to develop your relationship with God?

We are looking forward to celebrating the beginning of Lent with you soon,
Gabby, Louise, Olivia and Madeline
Year 4 Teachers

Dear Families, 

We wish you all the best today!

Below are some suggested Learning activities for your child to complete throughout the next two days. Remember to, “do what you can, when you can, with what you have.”

If you have any questions please contact the Year 4 teachers via email or by joining the Whereby links provided in our letter via email and below.

We will be available on Whereby from 9:30am – 12:00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

We look forward to seeing you back at school on Thursday!

Year 4 Teachers