Winter Poetry

Maths in Room 10

We are learning about tens and ones.  Here are some great videos to explain what we are doing in maths.  We are getting pretty good at adding and subtracting tens and ones.

Adding and subtracting tens and ones

week 6

I haven't received the official weekly email from David yet but... the calendar looks pretty clear this week. Yay!  I would like to say a big 'Thanks' to all of our amazing parents.  The children almost always have everything they need for the day, they are obviously doing their reading homework AND they are all at school on time.  These simple things really do make a huge difference to the running of a very busy classroom.  Thank You - gold stars and smiley faces for you all.

Mon-Thurs - just another day at the office

Friday 
- Library.  Please, make sure the library books come back each week. 

- Concept Curriculum. We are learning about reduce, reuse, recycle. This week we are reusing an old tin can. The children will be turning these into pencil tins. They are allowed to bring any ribbon, crafty bits, googly eyes etc that they might need to bring their ideas to life. I have plenty of tins, paint and glue (and a few extra bit and pieces).

- Mufti Day. Friday is Mufti Day/Wacky Hair Day.  Children can wear their home clothes today and do something crazy with their hair.  Gold coin donation, please.

Reading and Writing
I have decided that this week we need to go back to basics.  Our reading is becoming more fluent, our writing is more creative and descriptive but we've let a few things slip along the way.  So this week we are looking at simple things like full-stops, capital letters, spelling and legibility.  You can help at home by pointing out the punctuation in reading books and discussing what the job of each mark is.  Find little words, or chunks, in bigger tricky words e.g. thousands.  



   

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Hoop Gliders

This week we are focussing on meaning.  We have to make sure we understand what we are reading and be able to answer questions about our book.  In writing it is important to make sure that other people get our meaning.  If our ideas are not clear then no-one else can share our hard work.  SOOO Mrs T set a challenge.  On Monday she showed us how to make a hoop glider. We had to take notes as she worked and then go and write some instructions.  Today we got to make our own hoop glider but we had to follow our own instructions. We had to self assess - thumbs up = my instructions were very clear and easy for anyone to follow.  Thumbs to the side = my instructions were clear enough for me but my friends might have trouble understanding them. Thumbs down = I can't figure out what I wrote.  We might be a little generous with our self assessments, but we got the message.


Hoop Gliders on PhotoPeach Hoop Gliding on PhotoPeach

Church Carpark

We have been advised that there is a large funeral at Saint Mary's Church tomorrow (Tuesday 19th May).  This will have quite an impact on after school car parking. CHAOS!!!!

If you normally use the church car park, you will probably need to make an alternative arrangement for pick up.  

Grey Street might be a good option - you can get into the school by walking down to the Ranolf Street gate OR through the short cut into Carnot Street.  If you live within walking distance, I'd suggest you put your comfortable shoes on and go for an Autumn walk.

Autumn Poetry

Click on the picture to read our online book of poems.

Week 5 Term 2

What a wonderful week of learning we have ahead.

Mon:
Tue:
Wed:
Thu: Kapa Haka
Fri:  Mass with Saint Michaels to celebrate Pentecost
        Tabloid Sports with Saint Michaels

Reading
My inquiry focus this week is about motivation and reading success.  The research I've read suggests that children need to feel successful in order to be more successful.  So, your mission this week (and mine) is to be really, really, really positive about the children's reading.  Don't let the kids struggle with a tricky word - give them really good 'hints' so that they can figure it out.  Keep reading time light, fun and positive.  Praise them for the things they did well "That was such a good try at that word.  You looked at the first sound didn't you?"  I love the way you stopped and fixed that mistake by yourself - that's what good readers do".  See if you can dig out the reading handout I sent home last term (I've noticed it crumpled in the bottom of a few reading bags).

Kapa Haka
Only children who have handed in their notices and have paid their money can continue to go to Kapa Haka.  Mrs Dunkley and Matua Koro have their hands full and can not continue to take occasional drop ins.  Thanks.

Saint Michaels
We are looking forward to sharing some fun times from our friends from Saint Michaels on Friday. They will join us for mass at 11:00am and will stay with us for a fun day.  The big kids are going bush for their cross country so we will have the run of the school - weather permitting.  You are most welcome to join us for Mass and for the chaos fun afterwards.

Pentecost
Pentecost is the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Here are some links to help you talk about this wonderful celebration with your children...
Pentecost Story - video
Pentecost - simple information

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Me and My Awesome Reading Buddy

Reading Rocks!!! on PhotoPeach

Michelangelo

Michelangelo on PhotoPeach

A bit of culture

We have been learning a little bit about Michelangelo.  Mrs T showed us this virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel.  What a clever artist.  Mrs T has planned a funny surprise for us tomorrow - make sure you check again to see what it is.

Week 4 Term 2

Happy Mother's Day to all of our 

wonderful mums and grandmas.

MONDAY 11TH MAY.

TUESDAY 12TH MAY.

WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY.

Just a reminder that there is a healthy lunch presentation for ALL parents on Wednesday at 1.30 - 2.30 in the hall.  

THURSDAY 14TH MAY.

2.00pm Kapa Haka

FRIDAY 15TH MAY.

Lunchtime. PI practice. Please encourage your children to attend.

Library Day

Golden Time

Reading

This term the junior teams are involved in an inquiry into literacy learning.  Each research report that I have read so far has highlighted the importance of the learning support you give your children at home.  So, I plan to put up 1-2 tips and tricks each week to give you a hand. This week the focus of my study has been improving fluency (i.e.  rather than lists of words pulled painfully from some corner of their poor wee heads - reading should sound like talking).  Two of the strategies for improving fluency are repeated reading and choral reading.  

Repeated Reading = reading the same books over and over again. 

If it's a book they can probably rattle off without looking ask them to run their finger under the words they are reading.  Read a page each and point to the words for each other.  

Choral Reading = reading at the same time as someone who is a good model.  

If you read each page at a manageable speed for your child they learn to read with a better pace AND they get the help they might need with a few tricky words along the way.  Seeing those high frequency words (a, and, little...) read correctly over and over again is really good for helping to build a bank of known words. The secret word this week is: fluency

Both of these strategies are easy to employ at home, speed up the reading homework AND make it a bit more fun.  You're welcome!

Healthy Lunches

I think we all know the connection between healthy food and a healthy brain.  This week Mrs Todd has organised a speaker for the Senior school, and any parent who is interested, about Healthy Lunches.  If you are interested and available just turn up to the school hall at 1:30 on Wednesday.   There is some basic information about Healthy Lunches on our Need to Know page.  The Healthy Food Guide website also has loads of links, tips and ideas to help busy parents build healthy lunches. 

Problem solvers

In room 10 we have been learning about problem solving. We are hard at work looking for clues and talking to our teams to solve problems. We are getting pretty good at finding the keywords and clues.

week 3 Term 2

Sorry, I didn't post last week.  I can only blame jet lag for the oversight.  We are back on track now.

This week:
Mon
Tue = ‘Growing Healthy Children, Growing Healthy Brains’ presentation at JPC.
WedThu = PTA Disco
Fri = Golden Time
      = Library

'Growing Healthy Children, Growing Healthy Brains'

 The workshop is presented by Nathan Mikaere Wallis and is an evidence-based neuroscience approach to ‘GROWING HEALTHY CHILDREN, GROWING HEALTHY BRAINS’. Nathan is a trustee for The Brainwave Trust and is a sought after trainer. Nathan’s presentation makes use of real-life examples and case study material, in an accessible, interactive manner. This is an invaluable opportunity for everyone raising children. It is on at 7.30pm at the Edmund Rice Centre, JPC. Entry is a gold coin donation.

WHANAU HUI :                                                                                                             Meeting Wednesday 6 May, 5.30pm in school meeting room.    All Whanau welcome.

SCHOOL DISCO : 7 May. The PTA are looking for parent helpers for the Disco. If you are able to assist please phone Heidi 021911305 / 3479106. mahakibabe@gmail.com  The disco is a Black and White theme. Gold coin donation, sweets, drinks and sausage sizzle sold - no eftpos.  Children will not be allowed to leave the hall without their parents.

Prayer for Nepal
Loving God,
We pray for all those affected by the earthquake in Nepal as we offer the words of the psalmist,
“Be strong and take heart, all who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:25).
May those who are paralyzed by fear … Be strong and take heart
May those who have lost or are still searching for loved ones … Be strong and take heart
May those who remain trapped under rubble … Be strong and take heart
May those rescue workers who provide relief and recovery … Be strong and take heart
May those who are moved with compassion to help … Be strong and take heart
God, whose love knows no bounds, fill all those who suffer with your comfort and peace.
We ask all this through Christ, our Lord. Amen

The magic word is: Nepal

Come and whisper it to Mrs T before Wednesday morning tea time. Shhhhh!