Term 1, Week 4

Sunday 15th February

Thank you for your participation at the School Mass this morning, and to those who managed to get to the Family Meet-and-Greet evening on Thursday. If you couldn’t make it on Thursday and have questions, don’t hesitate to pop in. It was very exciting to meet Baby Molly with her Mum last week, thank you so much for sharing her with us Charlie. J J J

Swimming/Hats:

I trust everyone managed to get their own belongings back home after the three swimming days… the childrens’ self-management skills were really put to the test. In class we are working hard at looking after our hats, please remember these are compulsory and should be worn every play and lunchtime. There will be random Nice Ones awarded to those who are SunSmart.

Important dates coming up:

*Ash Wednesday Liturgy – 18^th February, 12 noon. This liturgy will take place down in the church and marks the beginning of Lent. The new ‘Wednesday Word’ booklets will be blessed, and then presented following this liturgy. They are not homework, but a fun activity-based page for kids to bring the Gospel into homes every week.

*Family Mass – Sunday 22^nd February, 9 am. A number of Room 4 children will be participating in a short role-play (about Lent) at this Mass. I have asked the children not to commit to this until they have your permission, and they need to confirm this with me by Tuesday. Please note that a Family Mass is a Parish Mass and does not require school uniform.

Homework:

It was good to clarify a few things about homework at the meeting on Thursday.

*A book or books will come home every Monday and the title(s) will be recorded in your child’s Home Reading Log in their clearfile. They are to record what they read each night. For some it will be a text, for some the chapter of a book, and for some maybe just a page or two. It would be great to have your signature on this each week. Thanks for the early feedback on how this is working for you.

*Each child’s holiday story is coming home this week. Please support them to publish a piece of their story (minimum 6-8 lines). This means having them type up the text themselves, and then getting you to email it to me. Publishing is a great way to encourage their editing and keyboarding, and it also means they are sharing their writing with a wider audience. I will display published work in Room 4 as it comes in. (markelleward@stgerards.school.nz)

*A maths and spelling sheet will also come home, as it will every week.

Science

We welcome Mr Hogue into Room 4 this week, between 9.15–11.15 am, Monday to Wednesday for teacher release (CRT) time. His focus this term will be on Science, so no doubt you will be hearing some interesting news about that. I have also begun a Term 1 focus on Sea Creatures, particularly mammals like whales, dolphins and sea lions, so there will be lots of exciting science resources to share with the class this term.

Have a great week. Regards, Markelle Ward           

Term 1, Week 3

Room 4 Newsletter:  Term 1, Week 3

Sunday 8th February, 2015

I trust you all enjoyed the long weekend.

Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day this year held even greater significance as 2015 marks 175 years since the first signing of the Treaty of Waitangi/ te Tiriti o Waitangi on 6 February 1840. In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs signed what is often considered to be New Zealand’s founding document.

Important dates coming up:

* Swimming for Room 4 - Tuesday 10^th, Wednesday 11^th, and Thursday 12^th February 1.30 – 2.30 pm. Please come prepared with swimming gear.

*Thursday 12^th February – Meet and greet evening, 5.30 pm, starting with family tea.

*Sunday 15^th February – Opening School Mass, 9 am.

*Ash Wednesday Liturgy – 18^th February, 12 noon.

* Family Mass – Sunday 22^nd February, 9 am.

Thank you to those who have logged in to Study Ladder at home. It is a great opportunity and is free this year.

Have a great week.

Regards, Markelle Ward     

Term 1, Week 2

Room 4 Newsletter:  Term 1, Week 2

Sunday 1st February, 2015

Hi everyone,

It has been a delight to meet this year’s class of 25, and we are quickly settling into new routines in Room 4. The children are already showing commitment to self-managing their belongings, completing set tasks, and being aware of how their words and actions affect others. What a good start!

Hats

It is important that every child has their own hat, and that they are worn outside at all times over these very hot weeks. Sunscreen is also required regularly to battle those UV rays.

Studyladder for Maths tasks at home

All students in the school have free access to Studyladder this year, and I encourage Room 4 children to use this at home. I have attached an individual login to your child’s newsletter for tomorrow. To take advantage of this opportunity, you need to access this login at home before Friday 6^th February please.

Reading Programme

This week Rooms 3 and 4 are beginning a combined programme to maximise our instructional reading time each morning. This cross-grouping will take place from 9.15–10.15 (Monday– Thursday), not including Monday this week. If you have any questions or would like more information about this, please let us know. Our teacher aide is Loretta Fonseca who will also work with individuals or small groups in the corridor area between Rooms 3 and 4 from 9.30–12.45 Monday to Thursday.

Bus Safety

Mr Milford will be with Room 4 for their lesson on Bus Safety tomorrow afternoon for half an hour.

Homework

Homework will come home in the children’s clear file tomorrow (Monday), and is due in by Friday each week. Please feel free to give me feedback via their homework sheets so that tasks are always realistic and reasonably independent. I would appreciate Homework Reading Logs being signed each week.

Stationery

We are working our way through naming and labelling books and pens etc. Thank you to those who have covered books. This is optional, but it does make the books look smart. Any books not finished last year can be used now, or held in reserve until their current book is finished. I have a box in Room 4 for students to keep books in if required.

Important dates coming up:

·       Friday 6^th February - Waitangi Day. School closed.

·       Swimming for Room 4 will be from Tuesday 10th – Thursday 12^th February.

·       Thursday 12^th February – Meet and greet evening, 5.30 pm

·       Sunday 15^th February – Opening School Mass, 9 am.

·       Ash Wednesday – 18^th February.

·       Swimming Sports – 23^rd February.

Hope your weekend has been full of fun and relaxation. Have a great week.

Regards, Markelle Ward           

Term 1, Week 1, 2015

Room 4 Newsletter:  Term 1, Week 1

Tuesday 27th January, 2015

A warm (and very humid) welcome to all the new and returning students and families of Room 4.  The first day of term is upon us early this year and my blog is only just going to make it in time!

Thank you to the PTA team for organising and distributing school supplies again this year. I will sort out Room 4’s books and equipment over the next few days, including naming and labelling. Keeping all the extra glue sticks and pencils in reserve (with the children’s name on them) worked really well last year as supplies lasted nicely through until the end of Term 4. We will do this again this year.

Important dates coming up:

·      Friday 6^th February - Waitangi Day. School closed.

·      Swimming for Room 4 will be from Tuesday 10th – Thursday 12^th February.

·      Thursday 12^th February – Meet and greet evening, 5.30 pm

·      Sunday 15^th February – Opening School Mass, 9 am.

·      Ash Wednesday – 18^th February.

·      Swimming Sports – 23^rd February.

Homework:

Our homework programme will kick in next week, with Monday continuing to be the day that homework tasks will come home. Homework will be due in on Fridays.

My email address is markelleward@stgerards.school.nz

My cellphone number is 0278168609.

I trust that you have all had a safe and relaxing break, and I look forward to seeing everyone bright and early tomorrow morning to begin the new school year.

Regards, Markelle Ward