Library Books & Track Suits

These were all meant to be back by last Friday at the latest.  Please check those shelves, under the bed or in another school bag.  We have four pages of books out still.  It would be fantastic to be down to less than one page.

We are still chasing tracksuits.  Several people have brought back just a jacket or just pants, this is not fair to Kath or the PTA who have purchased these tracksuits, which we have had the use of for a very small cost.  These will need to be replaced.  I intend to bring this up at the PTA meeting tomorrow, as somehow replacements will need to be purchased, so that next year's year 5 - 8 students get full tracksuits.

What's Happening?

Gosh the year has really flown, I'm getting through the reports steadily - always seems a mountain to climb.  If anyone wants to view or talk about the recent assessments that have been done and that I am using to base the report on, please come in and see me.

This week everyone needs to have an empty lemonade/coke bottle for Christmas basket making, and any Christmassy bits and pieces that might add to the decoration of them.  I have my Christmas junk (recycled stuff) that comes in handy, too.

We would like to invite everyone who has volunteered this year to an afternoon tea in the library on Friday 13th at 2pm. Please RSVP for this to the school office by 12 on Thursday 12th, so that we know how many to cater for.  This is an opportunity for the staff and students to say thank you to you all. As this is my responsibility this year, and Dale & Kath were delighted with the help our girls gave them at the Touch Tournament, we will prepare the food, set the library up and serve this.

Thursday will be a day for 'food', each group will need to share the ingredients for making truffles, and there are some other ideas that the students gave me today. An extra pair of hands would be useful for this.  I haven't set an exact time for this yet- will be morning, as I'm sure that there will be a practice for the final mass that is yet to be confirmed.

Father Pat will visit our class this week for prayer and R.E.

Ms Tamati will be here on Friday at 11am to take Kapahaka - please make sure that you have your poi and that you have been practising.

Monday 16th: Petanque after church prayer - 9:30 - 11am, Final assembly and prize giving 12:00, followed by picnic lunch.

Tuesday 17th: I'm talking to Zachary about what he would like to do for the first part of the morning. Shared lunch to farewell Zachary at 12:00. Water afternoon organised by House Captains & Greg the Youth Worker.

Remember that if the weather is really hot we will cool off under the sprinklers about 2:30 each day - depends on how fast we tidy up.

Final Mass = Thursday 6pm: please be seated by 5:50 with the class - choir in the choir loft.

Thanks so much to everyone who has helped make a difference to the children's learning this year - we couldn't have managed without you.

Wishing you all safe and happy holidays with family and friends.

Chris

Shared Lunch - Tuesday 17th

Tuesday 17th is the whole school water afternoon.  As this fun will be in house groups, please wear house colours - include a sunhat!!  The water fun starts at 1:30.  More information in next week's newsletter.

We will have a shared lunch in our classroom starting at 12:00.  This will be a time when we farewell Zachary as he moves to Kaikoura next year.

Please bring some finger food that is nutritious and christmassy. Nothing with nuts though please, as we need to be aware of the school being nut free..

Goat Farm/Sara/All Things French

What a lot we all learned today.

Thank you to those who transported us to the goat farm.  Andrea was a mine of information.  For those of you who want to try goat's cheese, it is available for sale from Thrive and is made by Faith of Galloway.  As usual all the students were well mannered and asked interesting questions of Andrea.  Talk to your child and find out one new thing that your student learned today.  What was the highlight of the trip?

After lunch we were lucky enough to have Sara Hutton come to share her photos and video of her time in France last Christmas.  Thank you so much Sara.  The opportunity to spend Christmas in France is now an option for those studying French at Dunstan High School in year 12 - something to think about for the future.  Sara started her french language learning here at St Gerards and was impressed with what we can say after only a few weeks of language instruction.

Eisteddfod Assembly/Newsletter

Hi All

A small glitch, I didn't get our names for the eisteddfod performers to the office before the newsletter was published.  Oh to be perfect!

All of the eisteddfods were of a high standard and I congratulate everyone on their preparation and choice of such a wide range of songs.

This year our performers are:
Anna Naylor, Celia Ward, Alannah Kys, Brieanna Kelly, Jake Denniston and Zachary Wilson.  Our stand by performer is Padraig Reilly.  These performers are chosen jointly by the students in the class and myself and are not always those with the highest marks.  This assembly will start in the school hall at 1:30.  We hope to see you there.

Unfortunately there was a glitch with getting the school newsletter on line today so all students have brought home a hard copy - please check the school bags so that you have information about what is happening over these last few days.

Togs/Sprinklers
We will avail ourselves of the opportunity to have a quick cool off at the end of the day on these hot afternoons.  Please bring togs and a towel.  Everyone will need to change back into school uniform before going home.

Transport to Goat Farm

Transport is looking promising at this stage, although only 5 people returned slips today.  I hope that everyone knows this is happening. Cars will be taken by: Dale (up to 7), Cushla (up to 7), Maree (4), Lisa Reilly (5) and myself (4) - that makes 27 seats, one more car would be great in case everyone is at school. Thank you all so much. We will be back at playtime.
Zachary still has to decide whether he is going to look after the school pig or visit the farm.
Please remember sturdy shoes, school sunhat & jacket in case there is a cold wind - forecast does not indicate this at the moment.

Week 8 Term 4

I can't believe how fast this term has gone by.  Friday saw us all take a dance class with Shannon from the RNZ ballet.  We have some interesting video clips of the "hunters' dance" from Peter and the Wolf. My thigh muscles are telling me that they need some work as I made the last person in one of the lines - there was quite a bit of 'up/down'.  This was a fantastic learning opportunity taken by a dance teaching professional - well worth the $5 per person. Please be sure that you have paid your $1 to the office for this. Hannah and Brieanna went on to have a 'master class' with him on Friday afternoon. Back in class we looked at the history of ballet, King Louis X1V, as well as the french terms used.

Thank you Dale and Lisa Reilly for offering transport for Wednesday's Goat Farm visit.  I am hoping that I get a few more offers from the hard copy note that went home on Friday. If it is still this windy - be sure that you bring a warm jacket as the farm is quite exposed on the Springvale flats.

Tracksuits: thank you so much to the 16 people who handed their tracksuits into the class box on Friday, all but 3 in their green bags.  I realise that some people did not get a bag this year due to them being lost at home last year - looking good so far Room 4.  I know that other people have already handed theirs in to Kath.  If you are missing parts of your tracksuits, Kath took a huge armful away with her after the Touch Tournament - these were all left lying on the field.  Bring back what you have.

Monday: singing eisteddfods will be heard.  It looks like a wide variety of music chosen, so an entertaining morning after church prayer for us.  Simone has offered to be first up, then we will draw the names from the hat.  Thursday is the eisteddfod assembly - check the newsletter for the exact timing.

Library Books: all need to be back by Friday 6th.  Please help Ms Moeke with this as checking out the books is a huge job which she would usually do in the holidays, but as she is moving will be doing before school ends.

Final Mass to farewell our Year 8's as well as Ms Moeke and Mrs Williams is on Thursday 12th please be seated by 5:50pm with the class. Choir, I think that you are upstairs - Mrs Russell will confirm this.

Monday 16th: as part of the french connection we will be heading down to the petanque grounds (I'm not sure what you call the sandy patch - must find out!), at 9:10am returning to school about 11am.  I will need a couple of parents to accompany us on our walk. The petanque area is at the back of the District Club. Marilyn and Colin Bunce will take lessons to give us the necessary skills, then run a mini tournament.

Homework

1. Reading: the more you read the better you write and the more you know.
2. Spelling: - last list for the year, will be tested on Friday.
3. Tables: a practice sheet for the final Friday tables score. You will be asked to reflect on your tables learning this year as part of this.
4. RE: family sheet about Advent.

Trip to Goat Farm - Wednesday 4th December

As part of our "all things French" learning this term, I would like to take the class to visit a goat farm that is being established at Springvale, for the production of goat cheese - a real french delicacy.  I have organised for this to take place next Wednesday 4th December as long as I can get sufficient transport at this busy time of the year.  We would leave school at 9:50am and the visit would be for about an hour. I would appreciate knowing who could help with this as soon as possible so that I can confirm this with Angela McKeen (you may have read about her in the ODT magazine section a couple of weeks ago).  Finding transport for 31 is not always that easy and ferrying the class is not an option on this occasion.
Sturdy shoes will be needed and sunhat.
Good news, my cellphone has suddenly come to life again tonight and I am receiving texts.  I won't have to wait for Santa after all.  Long may this last.
I will send this information home in hard copy tomorrow as well.

Dance Workshop - Friday

This Friday we have a dance workshop taught in the school hall by the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company as part of their "Tutus On Tour".
Room 4 will take part in this on Friday morning from 9 - 10:30.  To be able to really enjoy this, girls please bring your sports shorts & teeshirts to change in to.
The PTA has kindly subsidised this learning opportunity, so the cost per person is only $1.  Could you please make sure that this is paid to the school office by Friday.
Mrs Ward has done some preparation for this dance learning experience based around the story of Peter and the Wolf.  Check out what else you can find out about this story on the internet, so that you can really understand the teaching and relate to the story.

Final Touch Information

We are hoping that the weather will smile on us tomorrow although the forecast could be better.  Ms Moeke will decide at 8:30 whether to cancel the day - we are very hopeful that this will not be the case.

Thank you to Mr Healey, Mrs/Mrs Lord and Mr Martin for coming to coach/manage teams and to Mrs Hutton who has offered to look after the food & drinks for the parents.  Your support is much appreciated as days like this do need some parent assistance as well.

Uniform: school sports uniform - black shorts/school teeshirt worn under your school track suit.  Remember to have plenty of sunblock with you and be sunsmart by wearing your school sunhat.

Tracksuits in their green bags need to be back at school on Friday please. Room 4 were fantastic last year at getting this done for Kath, so that she only has to come in once to sort through them all.  Sadly Kath has spent lots of time this year picking up stray tops and pants and getting them back to their owners - let's help her out by having everything together for the end of the year.

Food: a plate of food per family is to be taken to the library in the morning.  This is for the visitors, referees and parents.

PTA BBQ: thanks to those people who read the newsletter and ordered their food today. As a number of people (about 15) still wanted to order sausages, I emailed Michelle and she will organise to have extra.  Your order and money must be in the office before school in the morning. This is a real favour that she is doing you.

Only 1 rule for tomorrow = Play hard, play fair and have great fun.

Touch Tournament Teams

Thank you for the one high school student who has offered to help with a team next Wednesday.  As there are no other offers of help I will select teams so that those who know the game can assist learners and can organise the substitutions and game play. I encouraged Angela to still hold this event as there are so many year 5 students who have watched on the sideline since they were in the junior school, but perhaps this tournament has run its course as happens from time to time.

Friday 22nd - thank you Vaughn Healey for agreeing to coach/manage a team, and I am hoping that I may have one more parent.  Unfortunately Jono Martin is a ref so is not able look after a team.  We have 4 teams entered.

The job is not huge - just making sure that:

• everyone has plenty to drink/eat and is sunsmart
• the team is at the right field at the right time
• organising the substitutions - not difficult as it's 6 a-side & teams have 7 or 8 students

Hard copy note about the tournament went home today - please check the school bag if you re unsure about anything.

Mufti Day

Wednesday 20th is mufti day to raise funds towards the disaster relief in the Philippines.  A gold coin donation please.

Singing Eisteddfods - 2nd December

Our Singing Eisteddfods will be held on Monday 2nd December.

When choosing your song think about the audience - Room 4, the words, (lyrics) - are they suitable for a year 5 & 6 class?, and especially the tune/pitch of the song - will it show off the range of your singing voice?  You also need to think about the style of song that you think you could really perform.


WALTs:

·     Prepare and present a song using performance skills and techniques

·     Reflect on the live performances of the eisteddfod songs

  

What Will I Be Marked On? 

Introduction /5	Find out a little about who wrote the lyrics, who performed the song or whether it is from a musical or  has a story attached to it.  This needs to be short.
Pitch /5	Are you singing in tune?
Diction /5	Can we understand the words? Are the words finished? Words like stop have the "p" at the end of them
Audience suitability /5	Is this song suitable for Room 4?  The words and ideas are suitable for 9 - 11 year olds. Is there a bit of humour?
Preparation /5	The words are well known - no paper required. The song is performed as an entertaining item.  Perhaps some props are used, but these do not interfere with the singing, but enhance the item.

Week 6 Term 4

I hope to have all the testing finished at the end of this week.  Last week we completed our end of year writing assessments which have been moderated against the Room 6 writing. We did our Spelling Alive final assessment, where most people maintained or improved on their midyear results.  There are still some very simple basic words like 'they' that trip some of us up.  Finally we completed the Star Reading Test from which we can measure our results against the rest of New Zealand - these results showed us to be right up there. Well done everyone. This week I am completing the maths and Probe Reading testing which are individual interviews.  Once these are done I will have the necessary information to write the end of year reports. You are welcome to visit to look at your child's results.

Mrs Ward will be taking a unit on dance while I am out of the classroom.

Good news is that Molly's tonsil operation went well last week and she is now recovering at home.  We look forward to seeing you back at school soon, Molly.

Congratulations to the wonderful performances at the Thyme Festival last Thursday - lots of positive comments from members of the community.

Unfortunately my cellphone inwards texts are no loner getting through!!  Time for a new phone.  In the meantime I can text you, you can phone me or email me at chrisbeilby@stgerards.school.nz

Touch Tournament:
The only other school attending this year is St John's Ranfurly who only have one years 5 & 6 team, which is a bit disappointing.  We will enter 4 teams which I will select when I know who is available to help us as manager/coaches on the day.  I do need 4 people able to help - it does not need to be a parent, a high school student would be fine.  At this stage I have not had any offers of help.
Please remember that each family is asked to provide a plate of food to feed the referees and visiting adults.  Is there someone willing to lay out the food in the library and keep the kettle hot?
The PTA will have a sausage sizzle with a few extras for sale.  Please order what you want on the form that will be in the newsletter.

Friday Mass:
This week Rooms 3 & 4 will be participating in the mass at 12:00, please join us to celebrate St Cecelia's Feast Day - the patron saint of music.

Dyslexia Film "The Big Picture":
Yes, the film has arrived at last and will be screened in Room 2 at 7:30 on Wednesday 20th. This is a fantastic movie and there will be an opportunity for discussion following the viewing.

LIFE Education:
We will be working with Pip and Harold looking at "Friends" on Thursday and Friday this week. Workbooks will come home as part of the homework for this week and next week.

This Sunday a number of Year 4 students will be celebrating their First Holy Communion.  It would be great to see people attend mass to celebrate this milestone with them and their families.

Homework

• Pleasure Reading - complete your log
• Spelling - ready for the test on Friday
• Eisteddfod Song - have your lyrics in your homework book by Friday
• Maths - keep working on knowing your facts really quickly - last test for the year coming up.

Tuesday 19th November

Today notes went home with all students regarding arrangements for classes tomorrow afternoon as many staff who have a long connection with the O'Neill family and some students and families wish to attend Reuben's grandfather's funeral which is at the church at 1pm.
We will not be taking students to attend this mass as a school, however, if you are attending with your child could you please ring the school office first thing in the morning, or return the slip at the bottom of the notice so that it can be determined how many students will still be at school.
There is an option for all parents to pick their students up at 12:30 to either attend the funeral or take them home for the afternoon.

Maori/Pasifika Consultation Meeting which was to be held in Room 4 at 7pm has been postponed until next Wednesday 27th at the same time.

Thyme Festival Concert

The school will be walking to Pioneer Park to take part in the Primary School's Concert on Thursday 14th, leaving school at 11:40am. We will be taking our lunches to eat there, so no lunch orders please.
The Kapahaka group will sing, the choir, Rooms 2 & 5 and Rooms 3 & 4.
Be sure that you have your sunhat, high visibility vest and a jacket in case the weather is cooler.
It would be great if there were some parents who could accompany us please.  After the concert we will take the opportunity to view the exhibits, the working artists and the art exhibition where both Simone and Brieanna have canvases.

Week 4 Term 4

Wow, what a fantastic fair yesterday.  Thank you so much to Dale for helping to man our class stall during the day, to Molly who was a real salesperson for Rooms 3 & 4, Hannah an excellent ticket keeper/helmet putter-onner at the horse rides, and to everyone who stepped up to assist with entertainment.  Good stuff - we are participating and contributing to school life.

Our prayers are with Ms Moeke whose step father passed away suddenly yesterday.  Once again she is heading north to be with her mother at this time.

Thank goodness that this week we are almost having a week for the basic subjects (although Wednesday is the Central Otago Sports).  Congratulations to 20 of you who have been selected to represent the school at this event. Good luck.  I have one parent who has indicated that they are available to help at the park, it would be great to have a few more.

Tracksuits: At the beginning of the year everyone in Room 4 was issued with school tracksuits.  This has been really fantastic as we have used these regularly. Now is the time to check that you have your bag and both parts of your tracksuit.  These need to be handed in on the Friday after the Touch Competition - washed and packed into the bag - November 29th.  We were the first class to have them all back last year - I know we can do it again this year even though there are 31 of us.  Having them back on time makes Kath's job so much easier.

Touch Rugby Tournament: Wednesday 27th November. It would be great to have some parents willing to coach/manage our teams.  I will not know how the competition will be until Ms Moeke returns, whether there is one competitive competition or whether there will be a non-competitive section, so will leave selecting teams until this is clear. We will be beginning on ball handling skills for touch for P.E. next week.  The members of the two Thursday night touch teams will be great instructors for those not so skilled.

Pet Day - Friday: starts at 9:00 with prayer by the stage.  A separate information sheet will come home with the newsletter. All dogs head home at 11:15am and class as usual after play.

A reminder that the film about dyslexia, "The Big Picture", will be screened at school next Wednesday 13th.  It is well worth a watch as those who saw it in Clyde will tell you.

Homework

1. Reading logs:  Plenty of new ones in the homework tray.  I expect at least 10 minutes reading each night.
2. Maths: Monthly tables test is on Friday.  I wonder if we can top the July scores which we used for statistics today.  The mode was 100%. Way to go Room 4.
3. Spelling: the date on this sheet is 21st October.  We have had 2 very disrupted weeks, but are back on the straight and narrow again.
4. Design-a-pet. Class time as well as homework for this activity.  Needs to be ready to display at 9:00am Friday for the Pet Day.  Check the instructions on the separate post.

Design-A-Pet (Designer Pet)

Design – a – Pet

(Designer Pet)

“Put on your green thinking hat”

WALTs:

• Design a new pet to meet your needs
• Use cartooning skills to draw your pet

1) Discuss: 

• Why do people have pets?  What do they do for people?
• What sorts of pets do people have?
• What sort of pet would you like?  Why?
• What covering would your pet have? Fur, hair etc. What colour?
• What size would it be? How many legs? Special features?

2) Sketch your designer pet.  Be sure to include lots of detail and label the various parts.

3) Draft the information to include on your poster.

• Pet’s name, and animal type (can be an invented one)
• Description: age, colour, type of covering, size, sex, unusual features.
• How do you take care of it?  Food, exercise, where does it sleep?  (Be realistic)
• How do you train it?
• What are its interesting habits?
• What does it do for you?  or Why is it special to you?
• Where can you buy or get one?

4) Edit your writing – have you used interesting language to describe and explain?  Checked for capital letters and fullstops?  Used red pen?

5) Think Layout!!

• What style of lettering will you use?
• What different sized lettering will you use?
• Where will you put each piece of information on the paper so that it stands out and is clear?
• What headings will you use?  Will you use borders between each piece?  Where will your sketch be? Middle? Corner?
• What colours will you use to make it eyecatching?

6) Publish on a piece of A3 paper – check the WALTs at the top of the sheet.

Needs to be completed, ready for display and judging on Friday 8^th November.

Pet Day

Get out the dog shampoo - Pet Day is next Friday 8th November.  Full information will be in next week's newsletter.

Next week you will "Design A Pet" and draw a cartoon character of it.  Think about why people have pets and what abilities and uses your pet will have, then get sketching.  As a group you are amazingly creative, so what you come up with may well be mind boggling.

"Designer Pets" will be on display at the Pet Show.

All Souls Day Liturgy

On Monday 4th the whole school will be taking part in a liturgy at the cemetery to recognise All Souls Day (which is 2nd November).
Please bring a jacket in case it is cooler and some flowers to place on the graves.  Many people will be able to find graves of family members or people they knew.  It would be great to have some parents walk to and from the cemetery with us.  We will be leaving the school after lunch at 1:15.

Fair Sunday 3rd November

Thank you so much to Dale, Kath, Maria and Lisa who have been in the classroom over the last couple of weeks helping with our wheat bags and Christmas decorations. Our efforts are absolutely amazing.

Setting up our stall will take place from 8:30 on Sunday, so that we are all done before mass at 9am.  We will be sharing a trestle with Room 3, but we will operate as 2 separate stalls.  Many people have indicated that they will help with the selling.  We'll sort a roster on Sunday so that everyone can do some selling & also head off round the stalls and activities.

Kapahaka Group: please meet me and your leaders outside Room 4 by 10:20.  You need to be lined up ready to walk onto the stage by 10:25.  Songs are Haere Mai, E Toru Nga Mea and the National Anthem with the haka. A great practice with Ms Tamati today - you have really stepped up into the leadership role.  Thank you.

Once again great efforts with posters, crafts and stepping up to provide entertainment - thanks Keila & Celia for organising this for Mrs Eastwood this week and to everyone who is willing to give a performance a go.

Summer Uniforms & Sunhats

This week everyone must wear their summer uniforms, this includes hats. If you do not have a hat from Wednesday you must find something to do under the verandah outside the library.
Mrs Bennie has hats for sale at the office.

Tuesday Softball/Teeball

Enjoy Teachers Only Day.

Please remember that softball/teeball is starting.

Valmai's and Michelle's teams need to meet their coaches at 3pm at the netball courts - remember to ring them if you are unable to play.

Maria's teams will have been told where to meet.

School teeshirts/black shorts are the uniform.

Have a great day.

Week 2 Term 4

What a fantastic afternoon's entertainment at the Lauren Ross Fundraising Concert yesterday.  Congratulations to those people in the school choir who entertained at this event - you were amazing - very proud of you.
A reminder that this weekend is Labour Weekend and that there is Teacher's Only Day on Tuesday 29th.
Softball/Teeball: the starting date for the competition is now not tomorrow, but next Tuesday 29th.  If you are available to play for your team could you please let Mrs Maria Williams know.  Unfortunate that the starting date has been postponed to our Teachers Only Day.
Thursday Night Touch: Thank you to the parents who have indicated their willingness to assist with this - I'm sure that where a parent is unavailable that between you, team responsibilities will be covered. A team note went home today, please check that you have seen it.  Be sure that you meet your team manager at Pioneer Park this Thursday at 5:20pm.  Team uniform is the school sports uniform - tee shirt and black shorts.  Play hard, play fair - encourage each other to improve skills.
Thank you to those people who have returned their PTA Raffle cards by the due date. Please get these into the office as soon as possible as the PTA members are working flat out at present, and chasing up raffle cards is just that one extra task.
Recycled Outfits: I know of only 1 entry from our class.  It is not too late to get with a mate or a mum/dad and do something crafty.
School Athletic Sports: starts 9:30am Thursday 31st October. I have 4 offers of help to assist at this, a few more would be most appreciated.

Wow Night

We hope to see as many of you as possible tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 6:30pm.  Bring your fish n chips or your choice of food. 

We decided up the hill that it would be great for everyone to get to share the wonderful learning that we all did at Coronet Peak.  Some people had the opportunity to share the time with us on the mountain so now is the time for you all to see and hear about our EOTC.

There will be a variety of learning shared and some wonderfully skilled "techy" students are now working on putting as much work as possible onto one powerpoint, so that work can be viewed on the whiteboard.

The students also want to present to you their findings from the statistical investigations they did as to whether this trial camp should be one confirmed onto the school two year EOTC cycle.  I'm sure that you all probably can predict what the outcome of this was.

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible - siblings are welcome.