Term 4, Week 10

Room 4 Newsletter:  Term 4, Week 10                    Monday 15th December, 2014

Well here we are… the last week of term and almost Christmas! It is with sadness that I prepare to farewell the Year 4’s from Room 4…. I wish you and your families all the best and I look forward to seeing you around the senior school next year. Thank you to all those who made food for Friday’s surprise lunch for me… and what a surprise it was! I was certainly spoilt that day. Please ensure the children collect any dishes or containers that belong to you, there are still a few things there from camp as well.

Farewell to Max

We will acknowledge Max’s departure from St. Gerard’s with a ‘smoothie session’ on Monday (15^th December). I will bring all the ingredients for this. Please note that the children are just to bring their USUAL LUNCH and the smoothie will be dessert. We will sign a card for Max as well. We wish Max all the best for the future, and look forward to some cuddles with his baby brother or sister in due course :)

Belongings

Children need to double-check their belongings and start getting things home as early as possible this week. All books will come home on the last day.

Stationery

For Year 3’s, any unfinished books can be brought back after the holidays and used for their Year 4 work. Red dictionaries should definitely be used again in Room 4 next year.

Prizegiving this Wednesday

Please remember the prizegiving is a separate occasion and will take place outside the library at 1 pm on Wednesday afternoon, after the family picnic lunch. Graduation Mass and Year 8 presentations are at 6 pm on Wednesday evening in the church.

Thank you

Thank you for the opportunity to teach your child in Room 4 this year. It has been a fascinating journey, and a huge learning curve for me. To my wonderful class… congratulations on a year of fun and learning, and lots of positive experiences.

I trust you all have a good summer break with lots of family time… and a safe and healthy start to the new year.

Lots of love and God’s blessings.

Markelle Ward

Term 4, Week 9

Room 4 Newsletter:  Term 4, Week 9                     Monday 8th December, 2014

Thank you to those who got along to our assembly on Friday afternoon. The children all stood tall as they led the assembly and presented their work and iMovie. It was lovely to be able to share it with so many parents.

Eisteddfod Songs

On Monday and Tuesday (8^th-9^th Dec) I will hear all the eisteddfod song presentations, and from that a number of students will be chosen to sing their song again at the Eisteddfod Assembly on Thursday 11^th December at 2 pm.

Clothing

Among all our hats and vests and lunchboxes in the corridor there are a number of unclaimed items including one Size 10 fleece, one Size 10 jersey and one Size 6 jersey. None of these are named so you may need to come in and have a look to claim them back.

I will be away on Wednesday and Thursday this week attending Jess’s graduation in Dunedin. Mrs Donaldson will be enjoying some time in Room 4.

Have a great week.

Markelle

Room 4 Newsletter:  Term 4, Week 8                     Sunday 30th November, 2014

Welcome to Week 8. It’s very hard to believe that December is now upon us and the year is racing to an end. Last week in Room 4 we started iMovies about Advent. My question was “How do we make an iMovie about knowing and loving Jesus this Christmas time?” One student’s response was “People in the world forget about what Christmas is all about. They need to remember that it’s about God, and Jesus, and Joseph and Mary”. So true!

Girls’ Self Defence

On Tuesday 2^nd December (this week) all Year 3 and 4 GIRLS will be participating in a self-defence course here at school for the whole day. A notice about this would have gone home last week. Please let me know if there are any questions. The girls are to wear their sports uniform. The boys will remain with me as usual.

Assembly

This week Room 4 will be leading assembly (2.10 pm Friday). We will be showing an iMovie about the Year 3/4 camp, so if you can possibly get there, it will be an opportunity to see some snippets of what we got up to. Alternatively, if you can’t make it and you would like to have a copy of the iMovie, you could bring me a stick to put the iMovie onto. It will be a nice memory to have for keeps.

Books and Journals

As we get towards the end of the year I would be really grateful for a big amnesty on any library books, journals and reading books that may have found their way into your bookshelves. Books are a precious resource and it would be nice to get everything back to where it belongs. I appreciate your support with this.

Christmas Baking

We had a great time for a couple of hours on Friday getting the first stage of our Christmas cookies done. Thank you for the last-minute grab of flour, rolling pins etc. The children have prepared a whole range of cookies of all shapes and sizes, and I have frozen them. This week I will bake them and return them to school for an icing and decorating session, so the children will be wanting to bring things to decorate the cookies with. Please make sure they bring ONLY things that you can spare, eg. sprinkles, writing icing etc. There is no need to buy anything especially for this.

Reports

I have completed all Year 3 reports and I am now underway with Year 4 reports. While there is no requirement to have final parent interviews for the Year 4 students, please feel free to make an appointment to check in regarding your child’s progress before the end of the year if you wish.

Have a great week.

Markelle

Term 4, Week 7

Room 4 Newsletter:  Term 4, Week 7                     Monday 24th November, 2014

First Holy Communion

Thank you to all those who helped us celebrate First Holy Communion on Sunday. It was very special and the children were buzzing today with stories about their celebration.

Girls’ Self Defence

A notice is coming home today for all Year 3 and 4 GIRLS regarding a self-defence course coming up on Tuesday 2^nd December (next week). This will involve all the girls in Room 4, and two of the girls in Room 3. Please discuss this with your daughter during the week, as it is expected that all girls will attend during school time that day. Please let me know if you have any questions. The boys will remain in class as usual.

Have a great week.

Markelle

Term 4, Week 6

Sunday 16th November:  Term 4, Week 6

Room 6 are off on their big adventure to Stewart Island… we will be thinking of them. Lot’s of fun and challenges ahead for them all!

First Holy Communion

This weekend some of the children in Room 4, along with others, are celebrating their First Holy Communion. Father Pat has asked that we all do our best to attend Sunday Mass this week to support these children and their families. They have been preparing at Sunday liturgies, in class and at home, and we even have some lovely art work to put up at Church.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Charis, Max, Mia, Jacob, Jade, Maggie, Ryan, Bryan, Patrick, and Eamon, and their families, as they prepare for this special sacrament.

A plate of morning tea on Sunday would also be greatly appreciated. As this is a Parish occasion, everyone is invited to join the children up at the school library for a cup of tea afterwards. A separate special table will be set aside just for the First Holy Communion children.

What’s happening this week?

·      Mrs Lyon will be in Room 4 on Monday while I begin 1:1 maths testing for Year 4 students.

·      Mrs Eastwood and Mr Yeomen are away with the Room 6 camp to Stewart Island, along with some very committed parent helpers and some very excited students!

·      Assembly on Friday led by Room 1 and 2 (2.10 pm)

Interviews:

Thank you to all those who have come for parent interviews and for those scheduled this week. I am well through the Year 3 reports.

Sickness:

There are some sick-bugs doing the rounds, particularly the cold virus. I’m usually the last to get it but got hit early this time. It is really important to keep a sick child home in those first few contagious days (yes I admit I had to be sent home myself) and to wash hands regularly in hot soapy water. We’ll be working on keeping up with the hand sanitiser and tissues too.

Please don’t hesitate to remind me if I’ve forgotten to broadcast something.

Have a great week.

Markelle