Week 10, Term 2

Wow, we are at the end of the Term!

I have loved teaching the children in Room 4 for the last two terms and I look forward to my last week with them before going on maternity leave. I have heard wonderful things about Ms Anne Earland who will be starting in Room 4 at the start of Term 3.  I will definitely be back to show the class the newest Baby Dwyer when he/she arrives! I am also going to still be helping with the Young Vinnies group so will be at school for these meetings.

We have another busy week:

Ice Skating
Tuesday and Thursday - If anyone can come down and tie shoelaces, I would really appreciate this! We arrive at the ice skating rink at 10.20.
Children need to remember to bring warm jacket, gloves, pants, and helmet.

First Aid Session
On Thursday, Room 4 will have a First Aid session with an instructor from St John's.  We will be doing our session at 9am.

Eisteddfod
The children selected will present their Poem in an Eisteddfod assembly on Thursday afternoon at 1.30pm. The names of these children will be put into the newsletter.

Mufti Mania
Thursday is also Mufti Mania, this is a Caritas fundraiser. This year the money being raised is for a school in Papua New Guinea, They are in need of a new toilet block,  water tanks, classrooms and resources.

No Spelling this week. There has been a lot of children sick, and children are tired, so we will keep the homework at a minimum this week.

God Bless and Thank you!

Claire Dwyer :D

Week 9, Term 2

Kia ora,

This week we will be listening to the Poetry Eisteddfods.  The Year 2's will present their Poems on Thursday Afternoon.
The Year 3's will start presenting their Poems in class tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday morning the top 8 will then say their poem to Room 6 and then Mrs Laidlaw and I will select the children to go to the Assembly which is on Thursday afternoon, Week 10.

Ice Skating starts this week- Tuesday and Thursday. Room 4's session is 10.40-11.20, the bus will leave school at 10.15am and will return at 11.35am.

Children need to bring a warm jacket, socks, beanie and gloves to school and their Sports uniform on these days.
If there is anyone around who is available to come down to the ice skating rink to help children put on their ice skating shoes, I would really appreciate the extra helping hands. (Bending over to tie my own shoes is getting difficult!)



Room 4 are on Assembly this week - 9.10am on Friday!

Thanks,

Hope you all have a great week!

Week 8, Term 2

Welcome to Week 8!

This week we have Wig Wednesday, to raise money for the child cancer society, children can wear mufti with a hat or wig, this is a gold coin donation. There will also be a bake sale at playtime, so bring along your spare change.

There is also a School Mass on Wednesday - co-ordinated by Room 7 and 3, older children who are new to Altar serving this year will receive their badges at this Mass.

Eisteddfod will be assessed at the start of Week 9, I'll let you know in the next blog what days in Week 9.
Here is the Year 2/3 marking schedule:
Children can pick a poem from their poetry book from this year or if they have a favourite poem from somewhere else, that is fine too!

Poetry Eisteddfod

WALTs:

• Present a poem to an audience
• Use a clear voice
• Listen attentively to the presentations

Introduction  5
Presentation 10
Preparation    5
Voice              5
Total                  /25	General Comment:

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

God Bless 

Claire Dwyer 

Week 7 - Term 2

Hello,

Welcome to Week 7 of the Term!

If your Year 3 child has brought their permission slip back to school for tackle rugby this will be on Tuesday this week. They need to bring old clothes along to school to get changed into.

I will be away on a course on Friday so a reliever will be in Room 4.

Please remind your child to bring a jacket to school, to keep warm during Action Stations if they choose to be outside but also if it is cold during Morning Tea and Lunch Time. Thank You!

Hope you all have a lovely week,

God Bless
Claire Dwyer

Week 5, Term 2

Hello,

Thank you to all those families who came to Mass this morning, it was wonderful to see some of our Young Vinnies being Commissioned to the Young Vinnies Society and to see our newest children to St Gerard's being presented with their bibles.  I am very aware some children could not attend due to Sport Commitments and that is fine. 😊

This week is our last week of Swimming, so if children can please bring their togs and towel on Tuesday and Thursday.  Some children are extra hungry on these days so some extra food in their lunch box would be fabulous!

Wednesday is a Teacher Strike Day and the school is closed. More information about this Strike will be sent home tomorrow (Monday).

On Thursday afternoon, the Playhouse theatre are coming to school to perform.

Assembly is at 9.10 on Friday morning.

The days are getting colder so please remind your child to bring a jacket along to school to keep warm if they wish to do an Action Station outside and at break times.

Thanks,
Claire Dwyer

Week 3, Term 2

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mums, Grandmothers,
I hope you all have a lovely day and made to feel special and valued for all you do!

Week 3

On Monday, we will be welcoming Education Review Office (ERO) to school at 11 am with the Kapa Haka Group doing a formal welcome.

Swimming 
Tuesday and Thursday are our swimming days, please remember your togs and towel. (Sports uniform can be worn on these days)

Netball Tournament 
We have been having whole class lessons on Netball and to use our new skills we have learnt we are having a Whole School Netball Tournament on Wednesday. Below are some details about the afternoon:

1. Students will come to school in their house colours. Warm clothing needed please plus lunch and water. No pie warmers.
2. Leave school at 12.15 to walk to courts and eat lunch there. please have a rubbish bag for your class. Parents welcome to walk with us 
3. Students to going home straight from courts. Bus children can be brought back to school if needed. (If you could let me know, if your child needs to be brought back to school I would appreciate this). 
4. Sharelle and Ashely will talk to students at 1pm .
5. First game is 1.10. The games are 5 mins long. No half time.  

Pink Shirt Day 

"Kōrero mai, Kōrero atu, Mauri tū, Mauri ora - Speak up, Stand together, Stop bullying!

Children can come to school wearing pink in support of this day and a gold coin. 

Religious Education 

This week I will be sending home a R.E sheet on the Fruits of the Spirit in their book. 

  

Spelling and Fridge Words

Weeks 3 and 4 will be glued into their books on Monday and also the Fridge words.  Apologies for not sending the words home last week.  

I hope you all have a fantastic week, 

Claire Dwyer 

Week 2, Term 2

Hello,

Week 2, is quite similar to Week 1, Swimming is on Tuesday and Thursday. We have Netball on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Children are allowed to come in Sports uniform on these days.

Last week, I sent home a small laminated Fridge with a magnet on the back.  If you haven't received this it will be in your child's book bag or school bag. Your child will receive new Fridge words tomorrow.  The spelling words for Week 2 are in your child's book.  The test we did on Friday is also in the back of the homework book.

Lost 
Quinn Breen has lost his Polar Fleece School Jersey, it is named so please could everyone check their school jerseys.

Have a great week!

Claire

Week 1, Term 2

Welcome back to Term 2!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, I look forward to hearing about all the adventures tomorrow.

This Term, we have Netball Coaching for the first 3 weeks, and we have Swimming on Tuesday and Thursday of the Term.

On Tuesday's and Thursday's we will be leaving school at 11.15 on the bus, for Swimming lessons, so if children can please bring a towel, togs and goggles to school on these days.

On Friday, we have Assembly at the new time of 9.15am, the first one for the Term will be run by Room 1.

Homework for this Term is Reading, Study ladder (their codes should still be in their Reading log) and spelling words.  These words will be sent home on a Monday and I will test them on Friday mornings.

There will also be 'Fridge Words' which will be in their book too.  These words will not be tested but are to extend their vocabulary. I will also send a laminated "Fridge" home with a magnet on the back so this can be put on your fridge and words each week could be written on there, and you can informally discuss these words when in the kitchen!.

I will send home the Term Planner home tomorrow too.

Thanks,

Claire Dwyer

Rippa Rugby

Central Otago Rippa Rugby Tournament

Molyneux Park

What: Central Otago Schools Rippa Rugby tournament

When: Thursday 11th April. 9am – Approx 2:30pm

Where: Molyneux Park

Who: Yr 3-8 students who have chosen to take part. We have two year 3-4 teams entered, 2 x Year 5-6 teams, and 2 x Year 7-8 teams entered.

Bring: PE uniform. School tracksuit. Warm clothes. Lunch and drink. Money if you want to buy food from the canteen.

Registration: All players are required to register with the Rugby union. Please click on the link on your class blog or Seesaw to fill out the registration form.

Parent Helpers: We will need 1-2 parent helpers per team. You don’t need to be a Rippa expert, you just need to help manage reserves & subbing, and help students to be at the right place at the right time. Please contact me asap if you are available to help.

Thanks!

Mr Yeoman

ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz

Hello and Welcome to Week 10!

One more week until the holidays, that sure did go quickly!

On Monday, we have the Eisteddfod Assembly at 1.30pm in the Church. The children representing Room 4 are Billy Cockburn, Alysha O'Connor, Gemma Anderson and Tom Lanham.

This week for Reading, you will find your child's poetry book in their bag each afternoon.  We are going to have a different Poem each day for the last week, please continue to sign this off in their Reading Log each night.

On Wednesday morning, Room 4 will be doing a St John's Course called 'Emergency Responder'.

Rippa Rugby is on Thursday for those Year 3's participating.

There will be an Assembly on Friday at 2.30pm.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week and a fantastic holiday.

God Bless

Claire Dwyer

Rippa Tournament Y3 Only

Hi everyone. Today those students who have opted to participate in the Rippa tournament next week, will be bringing home a notice. Here is the info:

Central Otago Rippa Rugby Tournament

Molyneux Park

What: Central Otago Schools Rippa Rugby tournament

When: Thursday 11^th April. 9am – Aprox 2:30pm

Where: Molyneux Park

Who: Yr 3-8 students who have chosen to take part. We have two year 3-4 teams entered, 2 x Year 5-6 teams, and 2 x Year 7-8 teams entered.

Bring: PE uniform. School tracksuit. Warm clothes. Lunch and drink. Money if you want to buy food from the canteen.

Registration: All players are required to register with the Rugby union. Please click on the link on your class blog or Seesaw to fill out the registration form.

Parent Helpers: We will need 1-2 parent helpers per team. You don’t need to be a Rippa expert, you just need to help manage reserves & subbing, and help students to be at the right place at the right time. Please contact me asap if you are available to help.

Thanks!

Mr Yeoman

ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz

  

Here is the link where everyone must register with the rugby union before the tournament:

Rugby Union Registration

Week 9

Hi everyone,

Scripture Eisteddfod will be presented by all Year 2 and 3's on Thursday afternoon.

The Year 2's will be heard by Mrs Wright and Mrs Beilby and the Year 3 and 4's will be hear by Mrs Laidlaw and myself.
We have decided to do it this way as there is a Yr1/2 and Yr3/4 Eisteddfod Cup at the end of the year so the children have consistent markers throughout the year in all Eisteddfod areas.

The Eisteddfod Assembly, will be on Monday 8th of April at 1.30pm in the Church. All parents will be notified if their child is presenting at this.

Stations of the Cross will be held at 9.15 on Friday, for the whole school in the Church.  Everyone is most welcome.

Assembly is also on, Friday afternoon this week.

Hope you all have a great week.  Only 2 weeks until the holidays!!

Claire Dwyer

Week 8

Good Afternoon,

On Monday of Week 10, we will be having our Scripture Eisteddfod Assembly.

The Year 2's can choose either a prayer or a simple bible reading.

The Year 3's need to choose a simple bible reading. 

The marking schedule for each Year are below so you are aware of what we are looking for...

Year 2 

Introduction:         /3

Speak clearly:       /4

Use expression:       /3

Total:                                 /10

Year 3 

Introduction	/10
Preparation	/10
Diction	/10
Audience suitability	/10
Presentation	/10
Teacher comment	/50

School photos have been postponed to later on in the year. 

Thanks, 

Claire

Week 7

Good Afternoon,

Tonight there will be a prayer vigil held at St John the Baptist Church at 7pm, to pray for the people who lost their lives and are injured from the attack in Christchurch. Everyone is most welcome to come along.

Monday morning prayer will be a little different this week with a prayer liturgy in the Church.  All welcome to attend.

Wednesday - School Mass - Room 1

Details for:
SCHOOL TRIATHLON 2019

The school triathlon is happening on Thursday 21st March from 12:30-2:30pm. We will be starting the first race at approx. 12.40pm. Please check your children’s bikes and that their helmets fit properly over the next few days.

VOLUNTEER HELP: If you are able to help with course marshalling please email Mr Yeoman (ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz) asap . It is important that we have plenty of parents around the course to ensure all children are safe at all times and of course to support the children. The more helpers we have the better and safer the race is for everyone.

CLOTHING: -Please be sure to come to school in the correct clothing:
-Years 5 – 8: School sports uniform and track suit
-Years 1 – 4. School sports uniform and green trackpants/warm clothes. -
School sunhats are compulsory, so be sure to have yours at school.

TIMETABLE: -Lunch will be at 11:30.
-We will all be leaving school at 12.10pm.
-Years 5 – 8 will ride their bikes to the pool with Mrs Lyon and Mrs Wright
-Years 1-4 will travel by bus, their bikes will need to be dropped directly to the pool at 12:15.
NOTE this is year groups not room numbers.

-There will be an event briefing at 12:30 with the first race starting at 12.40pm.
-Every child will be competing in the triathlon in the following age groups and in this order:
Yr 5-8 Competitive (Yr 5&6 first, then Yr 7&8)
Yr 1&2 Yr 3&4 Yr 5-8 Non-Competitive

TRANSITIONS: There will be marshals at each of the Transitions, Mrs Beilby & Mrs Lyon at the run/bike and Mrs Flannery inside the pool.

We ask that parents please stay out of the transition areas, there will be help available to your children if they need it. It would be helpful though to have parents remove bikes as soon as possible from the area.

POOL ENTRY: Children may only access the pool through the rear doors. This is the understanding that we have within our pool hire agreement. All parents must use the normal pool entrance and stay clear of the rear doors. PICK UP: Children and bikes are to be picked up from the pool after the event at approx. 2.30-2.45pm please. Any bus children will be brought back to school by staff.

Assembly
Room 4 are on Assembly this week. :D

Thanks,

Claire Dwyer

Week 5!

Hello,

We've arrived at Week 5, which is of course is Junior Camp on Thursday evening and Friday.

If you have said you had a tent available, we would appreciate you bringing this to school on Thursday.

We have been busy sorting out where children will be sleeping, when we have finalised this list we will let everyone know.

So you are able to sort out your Friday, these are the parent helpers for the Day session.
We please ask, that you can sort out transport to each activity, as we do not have enough room on the bus for all parent helpers.

Room 7 Helpers

Chris Campbell	Nathan McLean
Shane Samuel

Room 3 Helpers

Kirtsy Anderson	Rebecca Cowley
Rachel Baxter	Vania Smith
Kiri Mulholland	Jen Bedford

Room 4 Helpers

Helen Ryan	Vanessa Breen
Christine Lanham	Christina Tyrell
Claire Cockburn	Heather Breen

Below are the details for the camp: 

JUNIOR CAMP TIMETABLE

Location	Activity/Times
Thursday St Gerard’s School	Children to be dropped off at 5.30pm at St Gerard’s, on Thursday 7th March. Parents to help erect the tents on school field before leaving. (Only parent helpers to stay.)
	A fish and chip tea will be provided. There will be a choice of fish,  hot dogs or donuts. Please bring baking and bread to school.
	Play in the playground. (Both to be supervised)
	Technology (boat making) in classrooms. Please bring suitable materials for making boats.
	Ice Cream
Friday	Breakfast Preparing breakfast together. Pack bags and pack up tents.
	Children and teachers will travel via bus and parent helpers will be travelling in their own vehicles. We will leave school at 9.30am and bus to Lionel Day’s train ride in Earnscleugh.   Bus to the Crayfish Farm on Dunstan Road at approximately 11.00am for tour, boat races and lunch. Leave farm at 1.00pm for Monte Christo, for play and fruit ice cream.
St Gerards	Leave Monte Christo at approximately 2.30pm and return to school by 2.45pm.

The gear list for camp Thursday evening 7th March is as follows:

• Room 4 – baking for morning tea and lunch
• Filled water bottle

• Sleeping Bag
• Stretcher or single airbed
• Pillow
• Pyjamas
• Toothbrush and toothpaste/hairbrush/facecloth
• Underwear
• Change of clothing
• Spare backpack for Friday
• Jacket
• Sunhat/Sunscreen
• Utensils – plate – cup
• Shoes – suitable for outdoor activities
• Torch

With regard to boat building - the children in Room 4 have designed a boat on paper and have thought about the materials so they can build it. Some children have brought in materials already, tomorrow (Monday) I will send home their plan so you can discuss with your child what they might need to make it.

I wonder whose boat will float and which will sink?!

Other things that are on this week:

Ash Wednesday, Room 5 and 6 will be co-ordinating Mass this week which marks the start of Lent. Lent is a time of Alms giving, and Reflection. We have all made some Lenten Promises which will be on display (from Tuesday) in the school office and some in the church foyer.

Walk n Wheel is an annual week-long event used to "kick start" Active Transport for the school year.

Walk n Wheel aims to:

• Promote and encourage Active Transport amongst Otago primary, intermediate and college school kids.
• Get kids, parents and schools thinking about Active Transport.

How Walk n Wheel works:

• Walk n Wheel Week runs in the first school term of each year with Walk n Wheel week for 2019 taking place from 4 March to 8 March.  During the week kids are encouraged to either walk, bike or scoot to school.
• Walk n Wheel Day, which takes place in the middle of Walk n Wheel Week, is a day where extra emphasis is placed on Active Transport and schools strive to get as many students and staff as possible to choose an Active Transport option.
• Each participating school receives resources for the week, such as: posters, stickers, progress cards, classroom charts, and a school prize pack, along with a chance to win many other great prizes.  The higher the percentage of kids that walk or wheel at each school, the greater the chance to win the best prizes.

We will be surveying the children on how they arrived at school on Wednesday. 

Looking forward to a busy week! 

Please contact me if you need any more information about the events this week. 

clairedwyer@stgerards.school.nz 

God Bless 

Claire Dwyer

Week 4, Term 1

Good Afternoon,

Hope you're all keeping warm on this chilly day.

Thank you to everyone who came to Mass this Morning, hopefully next year the weather will be a bit warmer and we can have a Parish Picnic.

Happy Birthday to Rocky for today and to Rebecca on Thursday this week! 🎈

On Thursday this week, we have Swimming Sports, if children can please be dropped off at the pool at 9am. Children are encouraged to wear their house colours.  Swimming Sports will finish at around 12, and we will then head back to school, to continue our school day.

If I could please get all camp forms back tomorrow (Monday), this will help us to be able to sort out parent help etc.  Thank you to those who have returned their form already.

There are still a couple of families who have not registered for Seesaw, if you need another registration sheet, please let me know and I will send another form home.

If you need to get in contact with me, please email clairedwyer@stgerards.school.nz or message me on Seesaw.

Thanks,

Have a great week,

Claire

Week 3, Term 1

Here is the timetable for Week 3!

Tuesday - Swimming Lessons, please drop your child off at the Swimming Pool, if your child catches the bus, please let me know and I can make arrangements so they will get there.
If you could help on Tuesday, I would very much appreciate this. Please email me clairedwyer@stgerards.school.nz

There will be an Assembly on Friday.

On Friday, one of the boys in our class had his helicopter he had made at Action Stations taken at the end of the day. If anyone has taken this home by mistake he’d love for it to be returned. Thank you!!

Remember to join up to Seesaw, I’ve started uploading photos and videos.

You will receive a notice about camp this week.

Thanks,
Claire Dwyer

Swimming Next Week

Tuesday 19th Swimming Practice Day

Children in Rooms 3, 4, 6 and 7 are to be dropped at the pool by 8:55am. Please do not go into the pool, wait for your teacher. If you are coming to school by bus and need to be taken to the pool, let your classroom teacher know by Monday, so that transport can be arranged.

• Rooms 7, 3 & 4 will return to school by bus at 11:10.
• Room 6 will swim from 9:00 - 9:40 and will walk back school with Mrs Laidlaw and parents. Please let Mrs Laidlaw know if you are able to assist with supervision at the pool an/or can walk back to school with the class.
• Room 5 will walk to and from the pool. They swim from 9:40 - 10:20.
• Rooms 1/2 will walk and swim 10:20 - 11am.

As we are lucky enough to have all 6 lanes in the main pool for this 2 hour block, all classes will need extra parents to assist with supervision, so that we can make the best use of this. Rooms 7, 3 and 4 would welcome any parents willing to get into the water  with the children, and to assist with dressing afterwards.

School Swimming Sports

Thank you to the 5 people who have offered help as timekeepers on this day. We are looking for 18, so if you haven’t already made contact we look forward to your help.

chrisbeilby@stgerards.school.nz

Week 2, Term 1

Welcome to Week 2,

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.

I had a lovely week last week, getting to know the children in Room 4, all the children enjoyed creating some Super Hero artwork.

On Tuesday evening, it is "Meet the Teacher Evening", below is a Schedule for the evening.

• 5.00 - 5.15- Room 7
• 5.15 - 5.30- Room 3
• 5.30 - 6.00 BYO picnic tea
• 6.00 - 6.15-  BOT chairperson/ staff
• 6.20 - 6.35- Room 4
• 6.40 - 6.55- Room 5
• 7.00 - 7.15- Room 6
• 7.15 - 7.30- Room 1&2

I look forward to meeting everyone on Tuesday, if you can't attend, and would like to come in and talk just send me an email: clairedwyer@stgerards.school.nz and we can arrange a time that suits us both.

On Wednesday, it is Room 4's Class Mass, all are welcome to attend.

Sun Hats - if you could please ensure that your child has a St Gerard's Sun hat at school.

God Bless

Claire Dwyer