This Week's Inquiry

Space:  Explore, Wonder, Investigate, Take Action, Reflect and Evaluate

Week 3 Term 2 Legend

This week we decided to give Mrs Butler Legend for all the hard work she has done over the past 6 weeks.

Farewells

On Friday we said farewell to Ashayah and Mrs Butler.  We hope that they both enjoyed their time with us at Carterton School.  We wish them all the best with their future learning.

 

Ms Pincent

Today Ms Pincent was teaching Room 12.  She got the students to wonder, explore and investigate optical illusions.  I saw some amazing optical illusion art when I entered the room.  Well done Room 12 you did some fantastic learning today! I can't wait to see if you have any more 'Wonderings' about optical illusions.

Learning at Carters Reserve

Today 4 students went to Carters Reserve to learn about our Native Fish, water and Fresh Water Highways.  What an amazing day!  Here is a link to find out what we did during the day...  http://photopeach.com/album/67li2p
The students will put some of their learning on the blog over the next few school days.

Beginning Term Two

We have had a great start to Term Two.
We have been thinking about...
What goes around comes around.
Patterns and Cycles

Thank you all for sending in your thoughts about Patterns and Cycles.

We have been 'Exploring' some of these and are about to begin 'Wondering'.

Sad News....
It is Ashayah's last day with us on Friday and we are having a shared lunch for her on Friday the 23rd. 
We are also saying Farewell to Mrs Butler on Friday as it is her last day with us. We wish her all the best with her study and teaching career.

This is the note that was sent home on Friday 16^th May 2014

Dear Parents and Caregivers

I am sad to let you know that Ashayah Hadfield-Wereta and her family are leaving Carterton School and are heading over the hill to live.  Ashaeya is going to go to Naenae Intermediate.

Room 12 would like to have a farewell shared lunch for Ashaeya in her classroom at 12:00 on Friday 23^rd of May to celebrate the friendships she has made and her time at Carterton School.  If possible could you please send along something to share for lunch that day?  Healthy options would be appreciated.

You are more than welcome to join us for the shared lunch if you would like. 

Thank you,

Melanie MacGregor and Julie Butler

PS from Mrs MacGregor: 

It is also Mrs Butler’s last day with Room 12 on Friday 23^rd May and we would like to thank her for her hard work, teaching and support for 6 weeks.  Room 12 would like to wish her all the best with her study and teaching career.

 

Term Two Newsletter

Team Kahikatea Room 12

Newsletter

May 2014

 

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

Kia ora and welcome back! I trust you and your families had a wonderful break and are ready for another busy term!

As we begin the term we congratulate Rosalie Bos who was awarded Room 12 Student of the Term for Term One. Throughout term one Rosalie displayed diligence, cooperation, enthusiasm and respect in every aspect of school life! We admire the     dedication, time and effort she puts into everything she does at school.  Rosalie always goes above and beyond what is     expected in every way!  Well done Rosalie!

Team Kahikatea Learning:

This term our topic of inquiry is ‘Our World—Cycles and Patterns’.  This topic has a Science, Technology and Maths focus.  Students will inquire into the cyclic processes and systems that occur in our natural and built environments.  Students will be looking at how the world works and investigating how people interact with these cycles and patterns.  The students will then develop projects that interact positively and sustainability with one or more of these systems.  At times there may be some home research tasks and your support for these will be very valuable. 

 

Other Learning:

Other topics for learning during the term =  Enviroschools, Water for Life, Leadership, Speeches, Large ball skills, Harriers, Cross Country and Matariki.

Designcraft / Technology at Makoura:

The students’ technology sessions at Makoura College continue this term.  The Technology sessions at Makoura cost $65 for the year — many student’s fee have been paid.   If you have not paid yet you can make a part payment for this at the office. Thank you.

 Library and Computer Room:

We will be using the school library and computer room on a Thursday morning at 10:40 until 12:00.  While in the library       students are encouraged to issue 2 books. They may keep these books for up to 2 weeks.  Please help your child to use and care for our library books as well as return them promptly.
 
For PE this term we are participating in harriers, cross country, large ball skills and later in the term, invasion games, so please encourage your children to wear sensible footwear to school or bring trainers/sneakers to school to put on when needed.
 
Room 4 is our buddy class.  We are calling this session Tuakana/Teina (Big kids helping little kids).  During this time we read, write, develop spelling and maths skills and build friendships with our buddies.  This happens every Friday before morning tea for 20 minutes. 

 Other information:

Our wonderful student teacher, Julie Butler, is with us for the first three weeks of this term and then she will return to her     studies.  We look forward to having her in our class for the next three weeks.

 As we begin the term please ensure that all of your child’s school items are named clearly, e.g. uniform, lunch boxes, drink bottles etc…A reminder that all students must have sturdy footwear for Technology on Tuesdays! 

Mr Ballantyne, Whaea Michelle and I have spoken to the children about these points and we trust they will take responsibility for themselves. Please support us by ensuring that your child wears to the correct uniform, with pride!  Remember sunhats are not needed again until Term 4.

Camp Fundraising:

As you are aware we have a camp planned for Term 4.  At this point we can give you a very approximate cost of $150 per  student—therefore we wish to continue with our fundraising efforts in this term so we can reduce the cost per student.  Team 4 will be organising another Disco this term to help with fundraising efforts.

Team Kahikatea will be running the Friday sausage sizzle in Term 2 and we will be needing volunteers for this as soon as  possible.  Whaea Michelle is organising and running this fundraiser.

 Homework and Communication:

Most students have been very good at remembering to bring their communications books to and from school everyday.
Please continue to remind your children to use their communication books like a diary. Their communications books help them with their organisation skills and this is a great preparation for college as we are continuing to develop independent learners and encouraging the students to be organised and responsible.
We use the communication book to record homework tasks, spelling words and things they needs to remember etc. This is also the best place for notes to me regarding absences, concerns etc.  Students also have a clear file to keep homework tasks and newsletters in.   Please take time to check and sign your child’s communication book daily to help them with their organisational skills. 
Below is a brief outline of homework tasks over the term.

· We have speeches this term and the students will soon be handed out success criteria to support them with the writing of their speech. Most of the speech writing will be worked on during class time.  Speeches are to be presented in Week 5/6.  A specific date and time will be give closer to the time.

· Each Monday the students are given a list of topic related and essential list spelling words to learn. These are tested on Friday.

· Each Monday students are given a ‘basic facts and strategy sheet’ to complete by the following Monday—these are developed by their Multiplication/Division math swap teacher.

· There may also be weekly homework set by the Technology teachers from Makoura.

 

Report Files will be sent home at the beginning of Term 3 followed by interviews.

The school day begins at 8.55.  Please make sure that your child is at school before the bell rings.   If your child is late to school they will need to go to the office for a Late Slip.

 The school newsletter is sent home each Tuesday to the youngest and/or only child in a family.  Please read it, as there is a lot of important information and dates on it. The newsletter can be emailed to you.  You need to give Mrs Hutchings or Mrs Pratt your email address if you wish to receive it this way.  

 During each term I am entitled to two Classroom Release Days and one Management Release Day  On these days Mrs Tankersley or Mrs Taylor will be teaching Room 12.  My dates are yet to be confirmed.

 To help the school, your child and myself, please send notes to school about any sickness, absences or any other issues, as sending notes saves time and confusion.

 Head lice are an ongoing problem.  If your child is itching please check them and treat them if necessary.  We will have head lice checks in class if it is needed.  A note will be sent home if this is about to happen.

 If your child has Asthma, please send an inhaler to school.  The inhaler can be kept in their school bag until it is needed.  Please let me know if your child has any medical conditions that I need to be aware of.

 If you have any questions, concerns or would like additional information about your child’s progress, please come and see me at school.  I recommend that you come between 8.15 and 8:45am.  Although on Tuesday mornings the staff have an 

Administration Meeting in the Staffroom from 8:00 until 8:30 so I will not be in the classroom until 8:30 on Tuesday mornings. Or please come to see me between 3.00 and 4:30pm, as I will usually be in the classroom, staffroom or the Library, preparing or assessing work.  Please remember Team Kahikatea meets on a Tuesday at 3:30 and on Thursday afternoons are

Professional Learning  Meetings which begin at 3:30,  so I will not be available after 3:30 on those days.

I am on Main Road Crossing Duty every Friday so I need to be at the crossing soon after the 3:00 bell.  If you need to see me could you please wait until I return which should be about 3:15.

I am really looking forward to a productive term full of learning and laughter!  Please do not hesitate to contact me at school or at home, on 379 6624 (before 9:00pm) if you have anything to discuss.

 

Teachers and parents working together make a powerful combination.

 

Kind regards,

Melanie MacGregor

 

Please encourage your children to… READ, READ, READ…