Week 11, Term 1 2014

Sunday 13th April, 2014

Easter Paraliturgy

Remember that our term will finish this Thursday, 17^th April, with our Easter Paraliturgy at 2 pm in the Church. All welcome.

Congratulations

Well done to all students for presenting their Scripture Eisteddfods in class last week. It was easy to see who was well prepared, because the better the children knew the words, the more they could focus on their speaking and presentation, which is what eisteddfods are all about. Thank you to Charis and Imojen for presenting their scriptures again at the school eisteddfods on Thursday afternoon. A great job was also done by the kapa haka group and choir.

Publishing

Homework for this week and perhaps for a little part of their holidays, is to publish a draft piece of writing they have started. This is for our class booklet to go to the Solomon Islands. Most children will need some assistance with adding detail, proofreading, and of course emailing their work into me. Kids, keep it simple but accurate. The idea is that each child will be allocated one page of the booklet. In their writing they should have introduced themselves, described things they enjoy, and written about what they like about living in Central Otago. It would be great to also get a photo for each child to add to their page – something with a local flavour, eg. with a fish, camping, out on the lake, biking in the hills, etc. We want to show the children in the Solomon Islands what our lives are like in this part of the world. I read that even in their suffering after devastating floods, it is important for children in the Solomon Islands to stay in school if they can and keep as normal routines as possible. So we will proceed with our writing project, and use our money to buy pencils, erasers and notebooks.

Browsing Books Amnesty

No browsing books will come home this week. It would be great if any browsing books that have not been returned to class could come back in before Thursday please.

Recycling

Next term we will be making a musical instrument from recyclable materials. Please save any 1.5 plastic fizzy bottles you get, and send them into class after the holidays (not that I’m encouraging fizzy as I know its full of sugar… but just in case you come across some!!).

Happy holidays

Thank you for a busy and productive term in Room 4. Please continue to give me feedback on what is working well, and what isn’t. I have enjoyed the family communication, both directly and through the children. They are definitely aware when there is a link between home and school, and when we are all on the ‘same page’.

Till next term, (if I don’t see you before), have a safe and happy holidays everyone. 

Markelle :) 

Term 1 Week 10

Sunday 6th April, 2014

The end of term is rolling around very quickly. The term will finish on Thursday, 17^th April with an Easter Paraliturgy for the school at 2 pm in the Church. Each class will act out a part of the Easter story, and sing, as we reflect on this very special time in the Church’s year.                         

Important dates:

*Cricket – each Tuesday afternoon 1.30 – 2pm

*Scripture Eisteddfods: Class – 7^th- and 8^th  April, Whole school - Thursday 10^th April, 2 pm in the Church

*Holy Thursday Easter Paraliturgy – Thursday 17^th April, 2 pm

Parent interviews:

The first round of Year 3 reports have been sent out. For these families, could you please arrange a time this week between 3.30-6pm on either Tuesday 8^th April, or 3.30-6pm Thursday 10^th April. I think this would be more preferable than running into Week 11, when end-of-term commitments might get away on us all.

Science Outing:

Thank you to the parents who joined us for our walk along the Rail Trail to gather rocks and stones. It was very hot, and the children definitely earned their ice blocks. Watch this space for what we discover from our investigations.

Homework

This fortnight in class we will be looking closely at the last days and hours of Jesus’ life on earth. You can support this by helping your child with their R.E. homework page, ‘Jerusalem, Where Jesus Spent His Last Days’. We will have a quiz about it towards the end of term.

The children are also making an Easter Wreath or ‘New Life’ Wreath, which will come home to be shared with you.

Here's to a busy and productive last two weeks of term.

Markelle :)