Inquiry at St Matthew’s

 This term, students are undertaking a range of scientific inquiries:

• Kindergarten students are finding out how we can preserve and protect creation by understanding how living things grow and change.
• Year 1 are applying their understanding of forces and energy to invent and create.
• Year 2 are discovering that earth’s resources are finite and need to be used responsibly and preserved for the future.
• Year 3 are using scientific understandings to explain everyday observations to make decisions.
• Year 4 are hypothesising, investigating and describing patterns and relationships.
• Year 5 are investigating how our understanding of the universe has been shaped by technological and scientific advancements.
• Year 6 are using their understanding of science to invent, create and innovate.

Students are challenged to find applications for--and act on--their scientific knowledge and understanding. They often find links to stewardship of God’s creation and our responsible use of resources. Our classroom displays provide excellent evidence of our teaching and learning. Congratulations to our teachers and students for your work on some remarkable units of inquiry!

Tell Them From Me Survey

118 students in Years 4, 5 and 6 completed the Tell Them From Me survey. We discovered that 90% of participating students have friends at school they can trust and who encourage them to make positive choices. 92% of participating students believe that schooling is useful in their everyday life and will have a strong bearing on their future. 84% said that they try hard to succeed in their learning.

The responses told us that students find classroom instruction relevant to their everyday lives. Students feel classroom instruction is well-organised, with a clear purpose, and with immediate feedback that helps them learn. Our students feel teachers are responsive to their needs and encourage independence with a democratic approach. School staff emphasise academic skills and hold high expectations for all students to succeed.

Areas that we continue to work on include developing positive homework behaviours, participation in extracurricular activities, and motivating students for learning.

An open-ended question was posed: Tell us something you really like about the school or something that would make it better. Here is a selection of responses:

• I like to play footy with my friends and sport, and right now I am really enjoying our maths work.
• The school is pretty great with teachers treating me well, and the infrastructure of this school is great, equipment is (usually) not a rare resource. Lessons with the school are often interesting. Maybe some things like school play equipment may need improvement, but all in all, it's a great school.
• I really like that our school comes up with cool ideas for learning.
• I would like to wear a summer uniform all year round and do school camp twice a year.
• I think the school would be great if we had a canteen.
• I’d really like it if we didn’t have to wait outside before the school gates open.
• I think the school is really accepting of all cultures and religions. I find that good because you are easily accepted by teachers and students. I also like how teachers will always help you no matter what - you just have to ask. I feel like if the school had a canteen, it would be really good because If you forget your lunch you can always go to the canteen or if you don't have enough time in the morning to make your lunch and recess you just bring $5 and you can buy lunch. 
• I really like that the teachers let you work with others, but they also make you work alone enough to work yourself up to be independent and strong. I like this school a lot and I feel like everyone that came here would be accepted!