Team Kahikatea Room 12 Newsletter
‘Other Room 12 Information’
July 2014
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Whanau and Students,
Kia ora and welcome back! I hope you and your families had an awesome break and are ready for a busy term ahead!
As we begin this term we congratulate William Renall who was awarded Room 12 Student of the Term for Term Two. Throughout Term Two William showed diligence, cooperation, commitment, enthusiasm and respect in every aspect of school life! During Term 2 William took on new challenges and responsibilities. William strived for excellence in all areas of school life throughout Term 2. William is an amazing role model for other students! Well done William!
We look forward to finding out who Term 3 Student of the Term will be.
Term Three Team Kahikatea Learning:
This term our topic for inquiry is ‘Strong Mind, Strong Heart, Strong Body — Te Whare Tapawha’. This topic is about who we are and how we learn. Students will inquire into ways that they can contribute positively to healthy communities and environments and ways they can improve their personal well-being as they contribute to a healthy community and environment. This topic has a Health and Social Science focus. At times there will be some homework tasks and your support for completing these tasks will be very valuable for your child’s learning.
Room 12 Learning:
Other learning topics during Term 3 = Graphica (this is a reading and writing study of Graphic Novels /comic book like novels), Leadership, Technology, Year 8’s Powell Hut expedition, gymnastics, soccer and hockey. Other information
Designcraft / Technology at Makoura:
The students’ technology sessions at Makoura College continue this term. The Year 7’s and 8’s are swapping the time they go. The Year 7’s now go after lunch and return at 2:50. The Year 8’s are going at 10:20 and after technology they going for practise walks, getting ready for Powell Hut. The Technology sessions at Makoura cost $65 for the year — If you have not paid yet you can make part payments 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 gymnastics, soccer and hockey. Please encourage your child to wear sensible footwear to school or bring trainers/sneakers 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, as well as build friendships with our buddies. This happens every Friday before morning tea for 20 minutes.
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 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. In Term 2 each student was issued with raffle tickets to sell. More are available if you want them. Selling one page of tickets reduces your child’s personal camp cost by $10.
Homework and Communication:
Please continue to remind your child to use their communication books like a diary. Their communications books help them with their organisation skills and this is great preparation for college as we are continuing to develop independent learners plus 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.
· Each Monday the students are given a list of topic related and essential list spelling words to learn. These are tested on Friday.
· There will be weekly homework for our team set by a teacher. This will be issued on Friday and due the following Friday.
· There may be weekly homework by the Technology teachers. This will be issued on Tuesday and due the following Tuesday.
Report Files will be sent home at the beginning of Term 3 followed by interviews. Dates will be in our school newsletter.
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.
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.
During each term I am entitled to two Classroom Release Days and one Management Release Day On these days Mrs Tankersley or Ms Taylor will be teaching Room 12. One date is Thursday the 31st July and my other 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 engagement! Please do not hesitate to contact me at school or at home, on 379 6624 (before 9:00pm) or you could email me at mmacgregor@carterton.school.nz 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…
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