Term 3, Week 2

Sunday 27th July

Thank you to the wonderful helpers at Family Mass this morning – what a happy and colourful bunch you were: Libby, Sylvie, Imojen, Charis, Jade, Ethan, Celia, Zoe and Brieanna – great job! And well done to all those who braved the cold weather for their weekend sport… hopefully the days will warm up some time soon.

Important Dates: 

• Parent interviews – Tuesday 29^th and Wednesday 30^th July.
• School Cross Country Wednesday 6^th August (pm).
• Parent Meeting for those parent-helpers attending Year 3/4 camp: Wednesday 6^th August, 7 pm in Room 4.
• School Production – dates to be advised.

Year 3 & 4 Camp:  Each week I will include snippets of camp information in the newsletter or on the blog for your information. This week – Activity Choices.

Activity Choices:

After much discussion we have made some decisions about the activities we will be doing at each of our venues. I think we have a very well-rounded programme which the children will thoroughly enjoy.

*Moana Pool: Swim and water-slide.

*Marae:  LEOTC programme (Wednesday 9am – 2pm) including weaving, maurakau/taiaha (weaponry), and a historical tour of Huriawa - the pa site on the peninsula.

*Museum: Education Programme = “Rock Solid”. Night-time activity = “Olympic Odyssey”. Secret Visit = “Giant Escape”. Our Museum package also includes a visit to the Butterflies, Discovery Time and an Exploration Trail.

*Orokonui Ecosanctuary: Animal and plant adaptations in the area, including NZ native animals, introduced predators and traps, and native forest ecosystems.

I think you will agree this looks like an action-packed time full of fun and learning.

Parent/family visits to camp:

The programme for the Year 3/4 camp this year makes it a little difficult for those wishing to “visit” us at our various destinations. With the travel, full programme, and pre-arranged meals, visiting may not always be appropriate. The Marae in particular, with the protocols surrounding our arrival and the pōwhiri, means that once we have been welcomed on as a group, it will be difficult for visitors to then be coming and going from the Marae.

Similarly at the Museum, while visitors could join us during the times that the museum is open to the public (3 – 5 pm on Wednesday 3^rd Sept), it will be difficult to join us once the busy evening programme is underway. Please discuss these things directly with Chris or myself well in advance of the camp to ensure that any plans for visits by family members have been carefully thought through J .

Homework:  Along with their regular homework this week, the children will have their Mihimihi to practise for when we are at the Marae.

Parent Interviews and Reports:

Thank you to those who have scheduled parent interviews for Year 4 reports. I look forward to meeting with you this week. Year 3 reports will be sent out mid to late August according to your child’s birth date.

Regards, Markelle Ward.

Term 3, Week 1

Sunday 20th July

Happy 6th birthday to Adam!

Welcome back tomorrow for Term 3. I trust that you all had some special time with family and friends over the holidays. Looks like we may be in for continued hard frosts but hopefully with plenty of sunshine.

Important Dates:

Assembly: Friday 25^th July at 2 pm – Room 4 will be leading assembly this week.

    Family Mass this Sunday 27^th July, 9 am. Some Room 4 students will be doing a reading or Prayer of the Faithful.

·        School Cross Country Wednesday 6^th August (pm).

·        School Production – dates to be advised.

Year 3 & 4 Camp

Each week I will include snippets of camp information in the newsletter or on the blog for your information. This week – Museum Sleepover!

Otago Museum Timetable for Sleepover Visit: Wednesday 3^rd – Thursday 4^th September.

Wednesday

3 pm: Arrival, introduction and safety and evacuation talk.

3.15 pm - Afternoon tea: biscuits, fruit and drink.

3.30 pm - Education programme: (school choice – to be advised).

5.00 pm - Discovery World exploration time.

5.45 pm - Introduction to sleepover staff.

6.00 pm - Dinner: pizza and fresh bread.

6.30 pm - Discovery World exploration time.

7.00 pm - Night-time activity: (school choice – to be advised).

8.15 pm - Set up beds (Discovery World).

8.30 pm - Supper: biscuits, fruit and drink.

8.45 pm - Secret visit: (school choice – to be advised).

9.15 pm - Prepare for bed.
9.30 pm - Lights out.

Thursday Morning

7.00 am - Rise/Pack up belongings.

7.30 am - Breakfast: fruit, ricies, cornies for students, toast option for adults as requested.

8.00 am - Visit to Tropical Forest and/or Discovery World exploration time.

8.30 am - Trail around Museum.

9.30 am – Departure.

Parent Interviews – Year 4

Parent interviews are now being scheduled for the Year 4 reports that went home at the end of Term 2. Please make a time for this – either Tuesday or Wednesday of Week 2.

Homework

Homework routines will resume this week with regular reading, spelling, maths and RE activities coming home in folios. The focus for maths this term will move to repeated addition and multiplication, as well as other maths curriculum areas such as fractions, geometry and measurement. Please monitor this carefully so that your child is spending a balanced amount of time on homework – not too much, not too little. J

Regards, Markelle Ward.

End of term notice

Hi everyone
An important school notice regarding camp went home with all the children yesterday (4th July). If for any reason you didn't receive this, please contact me and I will email you the letter. Also, all Year 4's should receive their reports in the mail over the next few days.

Have a safe and happy holidays.
Markelle Ward:)