Year One is an exciting year for your child and another small step in his/her journey towards independence. If your child loves school at the end of Year One, this is an achievement in itself.
We will provide a packet of scrapbook covers to your child at the end of Pre-Primary. The packet will also be available from the office for new students.
Please help your children to be independent and self-sufficient by teaching them to:
- tie their shoelaces
- tidy up after themselves
- take care of their belongings
- carry their own bag (to school and otherwise)
- unpack their school bag
- open lunch containers themselves
- determine which is morning tea and which is lunch in the lunch bag
- have a routine of reading to him/her every day. This is one of the best ways of developing lifelong positive attitudes to reading and an understanding of print and books.
- praise every effort in reading
- be seen as a reader yourself
- take the family to the local library
- give books as presents
- encourage the routine of reading in bed before lights-out
- encourage your child to make good use of the school library. Help to remember library day and to bring the library bag.
- provide lots of experiences. Set up a writing spot with paper, writing tools, envelopes etc
- provide a good model. Let your children see you write and make them aware of the many uses of print
- don't insist on correct spelling. Accept invented spelling
- encourage children to read you their writing
- In the pack is an example of the correct letter formations. The starting point of each letter is important
Take advantage of everyday situations:
- when shopping
- when cooking
- talk about daily events and the time
- discuss days of the week and annual events
- make use of a calendar
Orana has a Restorative Practices approach in place to help students and teachers deal with conflict. The program fosters relationship building, responsibility for their own behaviour, empathy, and focuses on fixing the harm done rather than punishing.
Please be aware that Orana has an 'allergy aware' policy. We have students with allergies in our classrooms and ask that you assist us by respecting this policy.
Throughout the year, teachers are consistently evaluating and monitoring the students' skills and development in academic and social areas. This is done through observation, anecdotal records, tests, checklists and work samples. Those who need consolidation of skills will participate in small group work with the school Literacy Support Teacher, Class Teacher or Education Assistant.
One formal parent interview will be conducted at the end of Term One. Interviews may also take place when the teacher or parent/carer requires discussion. You are invited to email the teacher at any time to request an interview.
Term1: Formal Parent Interviews
Term 2: Semester 1 Report
Term 3: Open Night
Term 4: Semester 2 Report
Your child will bring home a reading book to read Please record in your child's reading log. This is not the same level at the instructional level targeted in the classroom. Reading at home is an opportunity to practise reading, accuracy and fluency so the books may seem "too easy" for your child for this reason.
When reading with your child it could be helpful to have a picture walk through the book first, discuss what it might be about and name unfamiliar vocabulary.
Some of the following strategies may be helpful:
- Look at the initial sound of the word and look at the picture
- Sound out the word
- Chunk the sounds within the word
- Read on
- Ask yourself if it makes sense
- Go back to the beginning of the sentence and try again
- Ask some appropriate questions about the story such as who was in the story?, what was the setting?, would you like to go there or do that activity?Ask your child to retell the story in their own words.
- Remember to give your child time to self correct before jumping in, around 3 seconds. Learning to read is a complex process which requires lots of time, patience and repetition from everyone.
If for any reason your child needs to be picked up early from school, you will need to go to the office before you collect your child from the classroom so that they can be signed out.
If your child arrives at school after 9am, you will need to sign them in through the office.
Assembly is held every Friday morning at 2.30pm in the school hall. Junior awards are presented fortnightly. You will be notified by email, earlier in the week, if your child is receiving an award.
Each class has a parent class representative. To find out who your class representative is please visit the P&F Class Representative Page.
If your child is going to be absent from school on any given day please email admin@orana.wa.edu.au or use the link on the school website or App before 9am on the morning of the absence.