Year 2

MRS SUE JONES year 2 curriculum coordinator

MRS RUTH STEVENS MRS SHARON JOSS MRS JACKIE WILSON MRS CINDY HARRIS year 2 teachers

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n Year 2 we have had a busy and exciting year. The boys have enjoyed the many diverse activities and opportunities presented to them. Mrs Harris taught 2C for Semester One before taking maternity leave to welcome beautiful Frankie Jade into their family. Mrs Wilson returned from her maternity leave to take over the class in Semester Two.

There were many highlights during Term One. The boys were very enthusiastic about working with robots in Robotics with Mr Ayers. They enjoyed learning the basics of programming by giving robots commands to complete various tasks. Science experiments involved many hands on activities involving mixtures. The boys particularly enjoyed making playdough and chocolate crackles. Swimming days were very much appreciated by all during the hot months. Participation in the Strings program was keenly embraced when they took home their instrument best suited to them. ICT lessons became a little more challenging when the boys were expected to type without looking at the keyboard with the introduction of a new program, Typing Club.

In Term Two an excursion to the Light Horse Museum in Mudgeeraba was meaningful and engaging for the boys and gave them an awareness of wartime experiences. This made their recent Anzac Day service at school more relevant and significant. They proudly performed at the FOP Mother’s Day Morning Tea in the new Prep Hall. In Art the boys created two masterpieces, which raised a generous amount of money as part of the FOP fund raising activities. They also made individual cards for their mums. Paul Craft deepened the boys’ understanding of Aboriginal culture through a wonderful display of aboriginal artifacts, and Dreamtime stories, and they truly enjoyed learning about boomerangs and watching his display of throwing. Dr Joe, the science man, entertained and interacted with the boys through a series of science experiments related to our theme on water.

There was some excitement in 2H, when Buzz Aldrin called the classroom to have a chat to Lachlan Pask about his love for aeroplanes.

In Term Three, the librarian from the Gold Coast City Council gave us an informative lesson about the history of the Gold Coast through photographs, past and present. We immersed ourselves in learning about the countries of the world, through inquiry questions, research, active discussion and investigation. The boys learnt a greeting from a new country each week. The theme for Book Week was ‘find your treasure’. Boys and staff dressed as their favourite book character. Many grandparents joined us for the book parade after spending some time in their grandson’s classroom on ‘Grandparents Day’.

A history walk to the Senior School, led by Mr John Wallace, gave the boys an understanding of what school life was like as a pupil in the past at TSS. Year 2 presented themselves well, singing Tingalao and When Our Voices Join Together for the Eisteddfod at the Arts Centre. We celebrated ‘one hundred days’ in Year 2 with fun activities in Maths. The athletics carnival gave boys the opportunity to display some of the skills that they had focused on during PE and core skills sessions. Some boys in Year 2 had the opportunity to be leaders of their House teams. An interactive memorable visit from Chris Collin, author of Funky Chicken books, was a great success. A few dads joined us for real men read and read to the class.

In Term Four the boys returned to observe the growth of the silkworms. As part of our Science unit on watch it grow they observed the development and changes of the silkworms. We were revved up and excited by the Gold Coast 600 car race and they enthusiastically completed creative design projects relating to this topic.

Academically, the boys have shown pleasing progress through consistent effort and consolidation in all curriculum areas. The boys continued to extend their knowledge and understanding in all strands of maths with a variety of strategies and tasks. Reading and comprehension skills have developed further with explicit teaching and individual programs. The use and application of THRASS has improved their spelling results. The boys were thrilled to be winners of the inaugural THRASS Dress Up Day trophy. As a year group they covered the most phoneme pictures on the chart, and we made our own THRASS chart.

The boys were most fortunate for the wonderful support from the Year 2 Teacher Aide, Mrs Judy Crook, as well as the various learning support teachers, 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. Throughout the year, in their special ‘Blessing Book’, the boys compiled thoughtful and insightful reflections on many relevant topics. This book is certainly a keepsake for parents.

The Year 2 boys have thrived and matured and appear to be well prepared for the challenges ahead in Year 3.

YEAR 2C

SEATED ROW: S. MILLS, F. BROSNAN, T. NEWTON, J. KILNER, W. HARDY SECOND ROW: D. LEES, N. BIBBY, C. WHYATT, B. BEETON, S. SANCHEZ, J. MOODY THIRD ROW: L. MOORE, M. JACOBS, O. CROY, M. HUGHES, L. HEATHWOOD

YEAR 2H

SEATED ROW: C. MCKIM, F. ROCHE, L. PASK, C. PRENDERGAST-BURTENSHAW, H. LEINSTER, M. COLE SECOND ROW: R. LAVIROTTE, A. MOORE-WILTON, W. LU, J. WHITTON, J. RHO THIRD ROW: H. MCEWEN-WEBBER, P. SINGH, K. GREEN, D. COWLING, F. DREW, J. MCCARTHY

YEAR 2J

SEATED ROW: F. HOLTSBAUM, T. KLARIC, J. RIGBY, L. STENSEN-HARGRAVES, B. LESSER, R. MCKIM SECOND ROW: O. SMITH, E. SLY, T. LLOYD, I. GRIFFIN, O. DURMAN THIRD ROW: C. FRAME, A. PAREKH, S. QUINN, C. BROWN, V. ZHOU, J. POWER

GROUP 2S

SEATED ROW: H. HOGAN, K. SALAM, W. PATULLO, C. MASSEY, J. DONOVAN, A. YEH SECOND ROW: W. THOMASSON, M. WU, D. GALLIE, C. GORDON, B. PYKE THIRD ROW: E. MILLIGAN, D. JACKES, M. HAWKINS, J. PRITCHARD