Newsletter – Term 2 – Thornlie Campus

Welcome to Term 2!!  Students and teachers had a grand start to the term with our wonderful Eid celebrations!

 Expressing joy, sharing and giving, these are evergreen qualities, yet Eid can look and feel different in different settings.  How we make time to grow understanding of significant cultural events and celebrations is an important way to acknowledge, understand and embed practices that promote and support diversity in our learning community.  Family traditions around these celebrations contribute to children’s sense of self, identity and belonging.  So, despite the disruptions to this year, the Year 1 teachers have wanted every child in their cohort to experience the magic of Eid, our most cherished traditional celebration.

The day started with students eagerly and excitedly exchanging their Eid presents which they had brought in for each other.  The joy witnessed on their faces when they opened their gifts was priceless!  After this, students participated in games such as egg and spoon races, jump ropes and hula hoops organised by teachers.  No celebration is complete without delicious food and we ended the festivity with a delicious feast.  Thank you to all our parents for supporting this great celebration with a plate of food, which children could share and enjoy with each other at lunch time.

As part of our STEM education and in line with our Science program, children have been engaged in exploring and experimenting with different objects that create light and sound.  For those of you who are unaware, STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics which is commonly used in education.   STEM education develops in an individual personal dispositions such as problem solving, collaboration, creativity and innovation, also known as 21^st century skills in education. 

In line with their learning, students were encouraged to plan and build their own light or sound object.  They then had the opportunity to showcase their work and present their findings to their peers in class.  We would like to take this opportunity to applaud all our budding Edisons and Galileos for their creativity and effort put into building their device.  Once again, we would also like to thank our parents for their participation and support in helping their child with their project.    

The Year 1 teachers would also like to share some parenting ideas to help your child become the best student that they can be.  Regardless of how the student has previously performed, this term and year offers a chance to set a new course. While it is tempting as a parent to make the attainment of good academic results the main priority, this is a narrow view that may be incompatible with long-term success. It is wiser to broaden your view and focus on helping your child or young person become the best student they can be. Here is how:

The rapidly changing world and workforce that your child will enter requires that they have a willingness to continually learn and adapt. The concept of a lifelong learner, previously lauded by educators with an eye to the future, has now become a reality. Learning and continual improvement should be embedded in each child’s psyche so that school life is just a starting point to a lifetime of learning, growth and development. Help your child see themselves as successful learners who achieve results through hard work and application, and that nothing is beyond them if they apply themselves.

Leadership is required in all walks of life including at school, at work, in families and in the wider community. Help your child see themselves as a leader by focusing on personal leadership capacities such as planning ahead, communicating clearly, being accountable for their behaviour, developing emotional awareness and fostering good relationships with siblings and peers. Personal leadership development provides a strong foundation for the development of leadership skills in more public forums in later life.

The school years are critical for the development of independence, which can easily be closed down by the roadblocks of impatience, overindulgence, fear and lack of time. Alternatively, independence is promoted when we show patience, provide opportunity, display confidence and teach students how

If there is one difference that modern schooling is making to the next generation it’s in the leadership they have shown in recent years to the maintenance of mental health and wellbeing practises. Parents can support their child’s long term wellbeing by embedding wellbeing habits including healthy eating, exercise, sleep, relaxation techniques, regular time in nature, gratitude and mindfulness.

If you want your child to be liked by others, it is essential to spend time and effort developing the skills and attitudes needed to succeed. Develop in them an awareness of how their behaviour impacts on others, instil manners and community-mindedness and develop a broad range of friendship skills that will assist them to relate well to others.

2019 showed us life is unpredictable, full of ups and downs, straight balls and curve balls. It is the unpredictability, the downs and the curve balls that develop children’s resilience. How parents and teachers react to the hardships, frustrations and difficulties kids face either hamper or foster resilience. Spoil, overprotect or pamper and growth opportunities are wasted. Support, encourage and teach kids to cope and you’ll be helping them develop a real sense of psychological hardiness and resilience that is essential for long term happiness and success.

Make this year a memorable one by helping your child grow and develop into the best student they can be.  Keep the focus broad and do all you can to ensure that your child sees themselves as a confident and continuous learner.

Thank you again to all our parents for your ongoing support.  Insha Allah, when we work in strong partnership between home and school, we will be looking at another successful year for our students.

For HASS, students used information they collected through their research on a famous Australian sight to write an information report. Students also used PowerPoint to present their findings to the class. We learned many fantastic facts as the students took us on a journey all around Australia taking in the stunning scenery and discovering more about our beautiful country and its rich history.

In SCIENCE students have been learning about what makes objects move. They experimented with forces, push and pull to see the effect it has on objects and how the object moves. This information learned was then used and integrated into our STEM project where students worked in teams to design, develop ideas and create catapults which were tested to see which one could project an object the furthest. Students enjoyed the opportunity to share ideas and learn how to communicate effectively in a team.

In HEALTH, students are using the PATHS program to help create a supportive classroom climate.  It is intended to help social and emotional competence, teach self-regulation, decision-making and conflict resolution skills; prevent student aggression and other behavioural problems and improve critical thinking. We are also implementing protective behaviours and learning that we can talk to someone about anything. Students are understanding what a network is and recognising who is on their helping hand network, that is, a person they can trust and talk to about anything to help protect and keep them safe. We ask Allah to protect and keep all our children safe AMEEN.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) use to seek refuge with Allah for his grandsons Hassan and Husayn, and he said “Your father (Ibrahim) use to seek refuge with these words for Isma’il and Is’haaq: A’oodhu bi kalimaat Illahi’ttaammah min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli ‘aynin laammah (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and every vermin, and from every bad eye)”. (Al Bukhari)

We have enjoyed Term 2 in Year 2, learned many things from each other and look forward to the coming terms in shaa Allah.

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakatuh,

At the beginning of Term 2, we had a school-wide Eid celebration. The students participated in an Eid gift exchange where they bought a gift for someone else in the class. Once all the gifts were collected, the students exchanged them with each other and were very happy with what they had received. Everyone had a wonderful Eid celebration alhamdulillah!

In science, the students have been learning about heat and its effects on solids and liquids and begin to develop an understanding of how energy flows through simple systems. In the last experiment we conducted, students observed which material was the best at insulating. Students had to predict what type of material best insulates a cup of warm water. The materials included paper, aluminium foil, cottonwool, foam and fabric. We recorded the initial temperature of each cup and then the temperature every 5 minutes. We had a discussion and formed a consensus of which material was the best insulator. The students absolutely loved learning through experience.

Additionally, we have been focusing on drama, specifically reader’s theatre. The students were divided into groups and had to perform their reader’s theatre in front of the class. They focused on using expressive voices, gestures and movements as well as props. Some scripts that were preformed included Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Chicken Little. It was wonderful to see each groups’ performance mashaAllah, they’re absolute stars!

In sha Allah, we look forward to another exciting and productive semester

Mrs Vijay, Sr Rahnuma & Miss Edwards
Year 3 Teachers

Assalamu alaikum,

Alhamdulillah we were able to witness another month of Ramadan this term. May Allah SWT accept our deeds and shower His blessings upon us. We would also like to give a big Masha Allah to many of the year 4 students who chose to fast for the whole month. To celebrate the end of Ramadan, the students participated in an Eid gift exchange whereby they had to buy a small gift for another student in the class. Once all the gifts had been collected the students exchanged them with each other and were very excited at what they had received. Everyone had a great time Alhamdulillah!

This term the year 4’s have been busy learning about many things. For STEM, the students were required to create a pulley system that would be able to go up 2 levels. There was a lot of trial and error that had to be done but Alhamdulillah all students put a lot of effort and detail into their projects and were successfully able to create amazing and unique buildings and structures. You can see some of their creations in the photos below.

In HASS, the students have been learning about different explorers and the things they ‘discovered’. We learnt that Christopher Columbus was the first person to prove that the world was in fact round and not flat and that Vasco da Gama’s voyage allowed Europeans an alternative spice route. To put these voyages in a better perspective, students were also able to use google maps to look at each route taken by these explorers.

Additionally in art we have been focusing on drama, specifically reader’s theatre. The students were divided into groups and were required to perform their reader’s theatre in front of the class making sure that they used expressive voices, gestures and movements as well as props. Some scripts that were preformed included Hansel and Gretel, The Three Billy Goats Gruff and the Hare and the Tortoise. It was great seeing what each group had prepared for their performance. 

We look forward to all the new and wonderful things that the second half of the year will bring InshaAllah.

Jazak Allah Khair

Year 4 Teachers
Mrs Abrahams and Sr Aisyah

Assalamu alaikum,

Alhamdullilah, we have had a productive and enjoyable Term Two in Year 5. NAPLAN has come and gone, and we thank all of the students and parents for the preparation and completion of all activities. A special thank you goes out to Ms Kay Abrahams who helped facilitate the catch up of all those students who were absent on the days of the test.

In Science, the students have been learning about light and it’s sources. This unit provided opportunities for students to explore the properties of light and how it enables us to see. In conjunction with this unit, the students constructed their own periscopes which was a thoroughly enjoyable for both teachers and students alike.

In what was great timing in regards to occurring simultaneously with the federal election, HASS focused on Civics and Citizenship in particular democracy and government. This unit was a great insight for the students in terms of how Australia is run at a local, state and federal level.

Health has focused on the benefits of physical activity, of which there are many, mental and emotional wellbeing as well as physical.

Jazak Allah to all Year 5 families for their dedication, support, and assistance in ensuring the best possible outcomes for their child’s education at AIC Thornlie.

Year 5- Educators

Mrs Meyer & Mr McCloskey

To celebrate this wonderful event our class had a fantastic Eid party! We decorated our room and made Eid cards to send. To embrace the spirit of giving we exchanged ‘secret’ gifts to everyone in our class. Each gift cost no more than $20 but we still managed to receive some fantastic and thoughtful gifts. We had an awesome time unwrapping our gift and then tried to decide who our gift was from. It required some serious detective work and was so much fun!!

We also had a delicious Eid lunch, which included scrumptious samosas, curry puffs, pizza, spring rolls, cupcakes and lots of other tasty treats for us to enjoy.

We are really sad that Eid is over for another year, but let’s hope that next year Eid is even BIGGER and BETTER, Inshallah.

The year 6 leaver t-shirts have arrived and I’m sure you would agree that the students’ look very smart in their maroon and white. Well done to those students who purchased the t-shirt, we are sure you will wear it proudly and it will be a lasting memory of your final year of primary school.

Well done to the sport capitals’ who were recently appointed from year 6. These students’ are fantastic role models and great sporting ambassadors for our school.

Red Captains – Salma and Sami

Yellow Captains – Tehreem and Samara

Green Captains – Abdullah and Ilyas

Blue Captains – Safiullah and Noor Kayda

In science, the year 6 students learnt about earthquakes and volcanoes. They had a great time making their own volcanoes out of paper mache. Students’ had the opportunity to bring ingredients from home that they believed would cause the best ‘eruption’ of their volcano. This was extremely enjoyable to watch and we witnessed some fantastic explosions!