Dear Parents/Caregivers,

As we come to the end of week 3, it is important to celebrate the amazing work and effort being completed across Year 7-9 connected classes.

Below is an update on what topics are being covered across your son's connected classes and when his assessments are due in this term.

Year 7:

Kinesiology: The theme for Term 2 is interpersonal skills and relationships. This will have a strong focus on game sense learning, fair play and sportsmanship and overall physical activity leading to good decision making. The focus for health and will be based on the theme of Tūrangawaewae where students will be learning about the importance of mental health and mindfulness. The term's work will be assessed with a real assessment task focused on students creating a gratitude journal.

STEM: The theme for Term 2 in Year 7&8 STEM is "The STC Scientist". This theme will focus on connecting areas of Mathematics, Technology and Science. Our focus in mathematics is measurement and developing our skills of using metric units in real-world situations. Our science focus is connecting mathematical knowledge learnt and connecting it to the Chemical World. This is developing our skills on health and safety and how this influences fair testing. These topics in Science and Mathematics will connect to the technology focus of planning for practice. In these topics, students will complete many practical tasks and spend time in our science lab. Students applying knowledge and skills learnt in Mathematics, Science and Technology to complete the Real Assessment Task (RAT) in Week 7.

Humanities: Year 7 Humanities will be focusing on our world and our history under the theme of identity. This will involve tasks around Aotearoa's identity and linking to the identity of a St Thomas' man. This will link in the Religious Education curriculum on our identity of the church and the teachings of Jesus. There will be a heavy focus on reading and writing with regular library visits and writing workshops. The real assessment task for the term will be focused on creating a static image of their identity and explaining it.

Year 8:

Kinesiology: Year 8 Kinesiology's Term 2 has a focus theme on participating and contributing. This will involve learning and activities with a keen focus on fair play and sportsmanship, new sports and games and building relationships through sports and games. The health focus will be on the theme of Mahi Tahi where students will be learning about interpersonal work and teenage decision making. The health work will directly relate to the end of term real assessment task which will involve students participating and reporting on their mind muscle program.

STEM: The theme for Term 2 in Year 7&8 STEM is "The STC Scientist". This theme will focus on connecting areas of Mathematics, Technology and Science. Our focus in mathematics is measurement and developing our skills of using metric units in real-world situations. Our science focus is connecting mathematical knowledge learnt and connect it to Chemical World. This is developing our skills on health and safety and how this influences fair testing. These topics in Science and Mathematics will connect to the technology focus of planning for practice. In these topics students will complete many practical tasks and spend time in our Science Lab. Students applying knowledge and skills learnt in Mathematics, Science and Technology to complete the Real Assessment Task (RAT) in Week 7.

Humanities: Year 8 humanities for term 2 will have a focus on events that shaped us, where students will be looking at topics of significance towards shaping our country of Aotearoa. This will include celebrations, disasters and other moments that have defined us. There will be regular reading and writing opportunities. The real assessment task will include an assessment focused on character diary writing.

Year 9:

Humanities: Humanities for Year 9 in Term 2 will involve students focusing on the theme of influencers and interactions. More specifically students will be learning about what has influenced society and people throughout time - both good and bad. There will be a huge emphasis on regular reading and writing and the real assessment task will involve a reading challenge with reflective writing.

STEM:The theme for Term 2 inYear 9 STEM is "The shape of things to come" . This theme will focus on connecting areas of Mathematics, Technology and Science. Our focus in mathematics is interacting and developing our geometric skills. Our science focus is connecting mathematical knowledge learnt and connect it to Planet Earth & Beyond. These topics in Science and Mathematics will connect to technological products which is our focus in Technology. Students applying knowledge and skills learnt in Mathematics, Science and Technology to complete the Real Assessment Task (RAT) in Week 7 & 8.

Kinesiology: Term 2 for Year 9 Kinesiology will have a direct link to the theme of participating and contributing. The main focuses will include roles and responsibilities in sport, officiating, volunteers, and competitions that sports involve. Students will also be focused on physical activity content that works on evasion skills and striking sports but also health concepts of body image, stereotypes and online behaviour. This will be under the theme of whanaungatanga. The real assessment task will involve demonstrating understanding of these health concepts.
Please have a conversation with your son and encourage him to look on Teams at the start of each week, to check up on any tasks that are coming up during the week. If you have any questions, queries, or concerns around this please contact your son's STEM, Humanities or Kinesiology teacher.

Regards,

Dean Smith

Head of Learning Support (Year 7-10)

Head of STEM (Year 7-9)

Physio at STC