Year One Overview – 2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Congratulations to all the Year One students for settling into their new classes so readily. The Year One team is excited for the incredible year ahead! We have high expectations for all our students and will strive to create a safe and supportive environment for them to grow and learn. Below is an overview of what the year will involve for Year One in 2026.

Literacy

Phonics

Students are taught phonics at the beginning of each day. Phonics Plus is a comprehensive, evidence-based, Systematic Synthetic Phonics program developed by the Victorian Department of Education for Foundation to Level 2 students. It provides 25 minutes of daily, explicit instruction in phonics, phonemic awareness, handwriting, and decoding, aligned with Curriculum 2.0 to boost reading skills.

Reading

The teachers at NMPS are passionate about instilling a love of reading in their students. In Year 1, classes work together to build rich classroom libraries with a range of fiction and non-fiction texts chosen from the school library. Students will practise selecting “just right books” and build their stamina during independent reading. Our learning goals in reading focus on comprehension strategies such as making connections and predictions. Students will also learn to distinguish between fiction and non-fiction texts by identifying structural elements like headings and titles.

Reading conferences will take place at least once a week in small group settings. This enables teachers to set goals and determine next steps for each student. While conferencing occurs, other students will build their independent reading stamina or use the P-2 iPad program, Nessy, to consolidate their phonological awareness. Phonics will be embedded in literacy sessions, with students practising various decoding strategies, including segmenting and blending sounds, chunking, and increasing familiarity with high-frequency words.

Writing

In Year One, students will use the Writer’s Notebook to generate ideas and develop an understanding of different text structures. They will learn to use simple punctuation accurately, including full stops and capital letters for sentences and names. During Writer’s Workshop, students will expand their vocabulary and develop their voice as writers. They will participate in teacher-led conferences to set goals and take ownership of their work. Additionally, students will write on dotted thirds, which will be explicitly taught and modelled in each writing lesson. Mathematics

We are all mathematicians! Students begin the year by developing a Growth Mindset, helping them persevere through challenges and approach learning with confidence. Students will engage with concrete materials to build strategies and demonstrate their thinking. Key topics will be revisited throughout the year to reinforce understanding. Some of the topics covered include:

• Place value and numbers – recognizing, quantifying, and partitioning numbers up to at least 120
• Time and duration – understanding the sequence of events using years, months, weeks, days, and hours.
• Shapes – identifying and working with familiar geometric shapes.
• Data – collecting, recording, and representing categorical data about themselves.

Mathematical proficiency will be developed through mini lessons, small group explorations, and independent challenges.

Wellbeing

NMPS follows a School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) Matrix, which is displayed and reinforced in every classroom. In Year One, students regularly practise routines and develop their ability to recognize and describe emotions. Each day begins with Morning Circle, where students are welcomed into a safe and supportive environment. It is important for students to arrive on time to fully participate.

Morning Circle includes:

• Reviewing the plan for the day
• Sharing announcements
• Engaging in a Positive Primer—a quick activity designed to foster a positive mindset and readiness to learn

Year One teachers collaborate with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator to plan lessons tailored to the needs of the cohort. Students will learn to navigate social situations, understand the impact of their words and actions, and explore ethical concepts such as right and wrong. These lessons align with the Respectful Relationships program and provide opportunities for skill practice during Developmental Play sessions.

Specialist Subjects

This year, Year One students will participate in:

• Gardening
• Science
• Auslan
• Performing Arts
• Physical Education
• Art

Learning at Home

To support learning at home, we encourage families to:

• Read with their child every night and record books in their Home Readers.
• Encourage writing through diaries, greeting cards, or creative writing.
• Engage in real-life mathematical discussions (e.g., counting, addition/subtraction, money, time). Shopping and cooking are great opportunities!
• Foster a Growth Mindset and be a Bucket Filler—promoting kindness, sharing, and using manners.
• Ensure children get enough sleep (10 hours per night is recommended for ages 6-11).
• Encourage independence (e.g., carrying their own school bag, walking into the school building independently).
• Discuss school experiences together (e.g., asking about their day, checking Seesaw for updates).
• Visit the classroom to see their learning environment.
• Pack lunch boxes together.
• Share positive school memories.
• Connect with other Year One families for playdates and social interaction.

We look forward to a fantastic year of growth, learning, and fun in Year One! Thank- you for your support in making this a wonderful experience for our students.

The Year One Team