Year 2

LEGO TECHNOLOGY

In Term Three the boys were very enthusiastic about building and constructing in Lego Technology with Mr Lockett. Weekly lessons building simple machines and discovering the mechanical principles held the promise of actually building a machine that worked.

LIFE CYCLES

In Term Four the boys have enjoyed observing the growth and changes of our silkworms as part of our Science unit on “Watch it Grow”. We were revved up and excited by the Gold Coast 600 car race and they enthusiastically completed creative design projects relating to this topic. Safety at home and school was taught through visitors such as Fireman Graham and Blazer the firefighting koala.

Year 2 completed a very busy year. The boys were most fortunate in the wonderful support from the Year 2 Teacher Aide Mrs Judy Crook, whose care and encouragement have been invaluable. We would also like to thank the Specialist Teachers who have assisted in the enrichment of their learning. The Year 2 boys have thrived and matured and appear to be well prepared for the challenges ahead in Year 3.

YEAR 2J

SEATED ROW: J. HAWES, J. COLLIER, S. STEEL, L. LEWINSMITH, J. SULLIVAN, M. FLETCHER, C. ROSS, L. REINHOLD SECOND ROW: E. ARMENIS, L. DE FELICE, J. ELL, A. GLADYSHEV, M. WALFORD, A. NICKALLS, R. BRADEN, MRS S. JONES THIRD ROW: J. AMOS, J. MCPHEE, J. FOGARTY, C. BROWN, D. ELVIN, W. SPEERING ABSENT: L. KEATES

YEAR 2M

SEATED ROW: A. GILL, A. RICE, M. THILWIND, R. CLINTON, A. AL-JUMAILY, C. PHILLIPS, N. HAYES, J. GILBERTSON SECOND ROW: E. FABER, J. DUNNE, J. PATERSON, F. WILTSHIRE, J. RAY, F. REICHMAN, F. GOSS, D. MATHESON THIRD ROW: J. PELS, J. GALLIE, B. PARSONS, S. STREET, G. POOLE, J. ROBINSON, T. BROWN, MRS T. MURGATROYD

YEAR 2S

SEATED ROW: T. FRANCIS, C. STONE, H. ILLES, A. ESPIN, J. OTTOSON, A. BELLCHAMBERS, X. GANE SECOND ROW: R. ACKROYD, C. DALEY, L. ELLIOTT, C. BOS, A. TRAN, C. CUMMINGS, C. FERRIS-NATHAN, MRS RUTH STEVENS THIRD ROW: T. FARAGALLAH, J. GENNARI, C. O’CONNOR, W. BAWDEN, K. GUPTA, T. STUCKEY

3

LISA CORBETT

Year 3 Coordinator

An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don’t. This quote by Anatole France resonates so strongly with the boys from Year 3 this year. They have successfully inquired, explored, tasted, differentiated, embraced and immersed themselves in a journey of learning. Not only have they been busy with their classroom activities, they have been involved in sport, robotics, music and instruments. Term One saw a lot of firsts for the Year 3 boys. They began the year with their first opportunity to move classrooms for Numeracy Groups. This was exciting as most boys had the experience of a different teacher four mornings a week. This was also a wonderful way for the teachers to get to know boys from other rooms and for boys to mix with other friends.

As part of our History unit, Garth Dodd, an Aboriginal elder, took the boys fishing in the Nerang River near the Senior School, to the beach and to our School scrub to build whirlies and to explain about the first inhabitants’ relationship to their environment on the Gold Coast.

The boys were able to take part in their first House Swimming Carnival. They all represented their various Houses, Mitre, Musgrave, Dixon and Shepherd, proudly. The energy that wasn’t used up in the pool was used up cheering on the sidelines. There were a few hoarse voices at the end of the day!

By Term Two the boys were in full swing of their academics and experienced their first NAPLAN tests. This was the first year that boys were not told the style of writing to be tested. The boys had to be prepared for anything. They were given arguably the most difficult style, Persuasive Writing. The boys did exceptionally well, with 96% of boys achieving above the national benchmark. While this was without a doubt quite a stressful time for the boys, they did brilliantly, with 100% of boys above the national benchmark for reading, spelling, numeracy, grammar and punctuation. Term Two also saw lots of fun as well. As part of our History unit we looked at changes in transport that has occurred on the Gold Coast and one thing that stayed the same, the beach. To explore this further, we took a trip to Surf World in Currumbin and listened to some very knowledgeable volunteers who knew everything there was to know about surfing. As part of our Science unit, Fur Feathers and Leaves, we made our way to Fleays Wildlife Park in Burleigh. The boys impressed the rangers with their extensive knowledge of the wildlife.

Term Three was the much-anticipated Gold Coast Eisteddfod. This was an event not to be missed. Even our most rough and tumble boys suddenly appeared as angels when the music started. It really was a beautiful event. This was thanks to Ms Matthias and the effort she put into preparing the boys so well.

Term Three was also an exciting term for Narrative Writing. The boys learnt to follow a structured plan and write about something exciting… superheroes! They looked at what qualities make a superhero and, of course, what qualities make an arch nemesis. There was a regular Superhero Movie Club on Monday first break, where boys could bring their lunch and be inspired by old