Wednesday 17 April 2013

Winter Sneezes! Tissues Please!

Yes, the colds are back unfortunately. A box of tissues is usually on the Room 4 booklist, but when we got the quote at the end of last year from Paper Plus to supply everything, the cost of the tissues was nearly $3 per box so I removed it.
At the moment tissues are $1.59 or so a box at New World.  So that we can all use tissues over the winter it would be great if each student could bring a box for the class.  These will then be available for all to use  next term.  The healthiest way to go.  Great that we now have hot running water and soap at the classroom sink too, to help keep the germs at bay.

Monday 15 April 2013

Week 12 Term 1

Congratulations to the Kapahaka group who performed at the Kapahaka Festival yesterday.  Those extra practices meant that everyone could then enjoy their big moment without needing to worry about the actions.  Yes practice does make perfect, or almost perfect. Very proud of you all.  I hope that there will be a video of your performance on the school website shortly - thanks to the Poolburn principal for videoing and to Mrs Moors our techno whizz.

Today we enjoyed storytelling from a Maori author who also took a workshop for writers.  A great opportunity to get new ideas and helpful tips from a published author.

Rippa Rugby I am waiting to hear back from Simon Bell regarding what I put on the blog last Wednesday.  I'll update when I get any information.  There is enough interest from our class to enter at least one team.

Assembly: this Thursday at 2:15 in the hall.  Room 6 are the leaders.

"Ugly Bug Ball/Party" to help round off our Science topic for the term, Rooms 3 & 4 will be having an Ugly Bug Ball on Friday.  Please come dressed as a minibeast and bring some healthy food to share for lunch. There were many creative ideas suggested at school by your very creative children.  Come and join us for lunch at 12:45.

Alexandra Library: We will attempt to visit the library on Friday - weather forecast is not looking that great though, so please bring a jacket. We need  2 or 3 parents to walk with the "bug parade", please email me if you are available. chrisbeilby@stgerards.school.nz  I'm sure that the librarians will be pleased to have avid minibeast readers in the library.

Term 2 Sausages: Rooms 3 & 4 will continue to cook the BBQ on Thursday lunch times next term.  If you would like to be on the roster for the term please email Michelle Healey healeyclan@hotmail.com

Central Otago Triathlon Results:
Indivuduals:  Kate 8th, Celia 11th                                     Will 5th, Reuben 17th, Joe 19th
Teams: St G's Red (boys)  16th,                                       St G's Yellow (girls)  17th
            St G's Green (mixed) 11th,                                    St G's Blue (mixed) 16th
Well done to all you competitors - keep up the running, biking and swimming ready for next year - keeps you fit for your sport.

Wishing you all safe and happy holidays and thanking everyone for your help with school activities this term and for your interest in encouraging your child to do the very best they can in so many different ways.  Going For Gold!

Homework
Reading: complete your reading logs - remember to keep reading a variety of books and have a supply ready for the holidays.
Maths: those with Maths Buddy have work set by Mr Hogue - some people have worked hard to complete the activities each week as well as extra activities of their own choice - well done.  Keep working on fast recall of tables especially + and - to 20.  No worksheet this week.
Spelling: worksheet 15th April.  Tuesday 3:15 Mrs Eastwood is taking a parent workshop in Room 5.
Morning Programme: Group 5
Touch Typing: you have the website for this from the beginning of the year - a great skill to help you use technology more efficiently.  Cute instructors on this site too.

Minibeasts: Choose from one of the following to bring along and share on Friday. (R3 will do this too).
  • investigate a minibeast and prepare a talk on your findings.
  • create a model of a minibeast - this can be real or imaginery - get some ideas for body parts from the design a super bug site - see last week's newsletter for the web address.
  • make up a song about a minibeast - this should contain important facts and information. You may want to make up a dance to go with it.
  • make up a minibeast quiz or puzzle
Be sure that you  answer at least 3 of the following questions as part of your presentation.
  • Minibeasts's name
  • What type of minibeast is it? eg: insect.
  • Where does it live?  Its habitat.
  • Explain its life cycle
  • What does it eat?
  • How does it move?
  • Is it a pest or not?
  • Does it have enemies?
  • How does it protect itself?
  • Any other interesting facts.
Remember have fun while you are learning

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Ripper Rugby Update

This will not start tomorrow as initially planned.  Unfortunately Simon (the organiser) did not reply until after school today, so the information did not get to the newsletter.  The plan at this stage is for a two week competition - next week and the first week of term two, followed by the tournament which will be held in the second week of term.  The time for the two weeks of competition is under discussion so as not to affect commitment to other sports team practices.  I will update this again as soon as any further information comes to hand.

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Newsletter 8th April

Great to finally have a full week of teaching. Our minibeasts inquiry is turning up lots of new learning - many people are fascinated with spiders and the huge number of species. Reading and writing for the next two weeks is based around the inquiry - using and learning new literacy skills in context. We are also using a "contract" for the first time, where there is choice about work to be completed.  This gives everyone the opportunity to practise their self management skills, which has been the key competency we have been working on this term - a big challenge for some.  It may be that some people wish to take some things home to work on for homework.  The contract work needs to be completed by Thursday 18th.

Those in the Kapahaka group are  practising hard for the Kapahaka Festival which is at Molyneux Park starting at 1pm on Sunday 14th.  Keep working on the words and actions - the singing sounds fantastic, the group now needs to have the actions exactly in time.  A note will come home Thursday with all the required information.  Please be seated with our group at 12:30, bring a jacket to wear over your costume if the weather is cooler, as we will be sitting for a while watching the other performances.

Ski Camp Fundraising is well under way.  The raffle seems to be selling well, remember that more cards are available from Donna. Cheese Roll order forms will go out at the end of the week.  Anyone wishing to join this fundraiser who hasn't already indicated their interest needs to contact Michelle at healeyclan@hotmail.com before Friday.  Scratchy Boards are also on the go - Angela Sidon is organising this.

Next Monday we have a visiting Maori author and storyteller coming.  He will work with a small group of keen writers from our school as well as Omakau and Poolburn Schools and then will present some storytelling after lunch for everyone. 

Homework
  • Spelling: (dated 26th March) - we have waited until the first full week where there are 4 nights to practise.
  • Reading: remember to complete your log, information about minibeasts that you have read on the internet counts too.
  • Tables - Times Trials - all about 5
  • Maths Buddy: for those who have registered
  • Morning Programme - Group 4 - Anna you are the leader who needs to remind your group to be ready, Maisie - book review, Zachary - music, Alannah - Our Country, Tyron - How to.., Padraig - poem.

Friday 5 April 2013

Minibeasts

Please remember to bring containers for Monday's playground minibeast hunt. Check out with your science group who will bring what, so that you are ready to go. If you have a magnifying glass or bug container with a magnifying panel, that would be really handy.  I wonder what minibeasts live in the school environment?  What are you expecting to find?

Have a look at this site to design your own minibeast with super powers.  "Super Bugs Mission"
http://www.mylearning.org/minibeasts  Some excellent scientific words on this site that you can add to your glossary about minibeasts. The science skill of understanding and using scientific language.  These will be words that can be used in your report writing.  View all the choices for each part of this challenge - there is heaps of information on which to base a report.

Some other sites where interesting research can be done.

www.kcc.org.nz
www.insects.org.nz
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bugs  this site has some clear descriptions of minibeasts and also an interview with Ms Frizzle.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Thursday Night Rippa Rugby

Information has come to school this week about a short Thursday night competition starting next Thursday and running for 3 weeks - 2 this term and the first week of term 2. As in past years, the teams which are entered in this competition will be the teams competing at the Alexandra Regional Rippa Rugby Tournament - the date for this is still to be advised.
A hard copy information sheet about this will come home tomorrow with children who are interested and needs to be back by Monday so that teams can be entered. Teams will be mixed and the number of teams entered will be dependent on the availablilty of coaches/managers.
This year it is great that the Thursday night competition includes all the grades that are eligible to play in the Regional Tournament.  Please put the word around everyone in Years 3 - 8, and check the backpacks as I know that giving a note on Friday to be back on Monday is not ideal.

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Newsletter & Homework 3 April

Congratulations to Michael, Zachary, Molly, Brooke and Jake who presented their Eisteddfods last Thursday, you all represented Room 4 at a very high standard.  Special mention must go to Michael who was chosen to be the first presenter at his first Eisteddfod - what a star.

Our thoughts are with Mark & Dale Hutton and Hannah whose Grandad died on Good Friday.

PTA Annual General Meeting = Wednesday 3rd April, 7:30pm in the staffroom. Come and join this energetic group of parents who are so committed to helping the school in a variety of ways.

Fundraising Raffle: Donna Ballantyne issued cards last Thursday to all families who have indicated that they wish to be involved in fundraising.  Please check that yours has come home, if not contact Donna in case she did not have your family's name or perhaps it is lurking in a tray or the bottom of the school bag.

Central Otago Triathlon: It was a pleasure to take the school team to Cromwell last Wednesday - fantastic to see everyone step up to the challenge and also support each other.  Special mention must go to two members of Room 4 - Tyron who fell and grazed his knee quite badly as he was starting on the bike leg and rode on, and Tess (& Grace) who took a wrong turn but who persisted to complete the ride. Fantastic commitment!

Alexandra Library - Friday 5th April: We will be leaving school at 9:00 and returning at 10:00.  I need 2 or 3 parents to walk with us please.  Janine has purchased some new books after suggestions from the class at our last visit, so I guess a few people will be keen to get their hands on them.  I do appreciate how the town library staff go out of their way to accommodate our reading needs.  This will be a great place to find extra information for our "Minibeasts Inquiry" for example: how do butterflies and moths hold their wings when at rest?

Assembly 2:15pm Thursday: the choir and the Kapahaka group will perform at this assembly.  It is hoped that the Kapahaka group can be in costume, so could boys please bring black rugby shorts and a black t-shirt.  I realise this is late notice, however in error I had thought there was one more week before this performance!

Homework
  • Maths: tables practice sheet - monthly tables test on Friday. Write your goal in your homework book.  Good to see a few people have taken up the Maths Buddy offer - logins and passwords are in homework books. The current maths topic is addition and subtraction - Mr Hogue has set tasks - check these out. $30 till 31 January 2014 is a great offer - name & money to the office if you wish to take up this offer.
  • Spelling: none this week - we will work further on making sure that everyone knows exactly what the expectation is each week.  Several people only completed part during the week that I was away. Each word is worked on every night - the instructions are very clear in the homework book.  There will be another information evening for parents in the near future so that you are all on board.
  • Morning Programme: Group 3 - Brieanna, it is your job as leader to check on Thursday that everyone from your group is organised, Simone = book review, Levi = music, Emma = our country, Joe = How to, Reuben = poem.
  • Reading: continue to read widely a variety of texts - this is the main goal for many of you from the goal setting meetings. Remember to fill in your reading log.
As the mornings have an autumn feel, please be sure that all uniform items are named. Many are discarded as the day goes on, and despite getting everyone to take them to their bags there are still one or two people leaving clothing everywhere.  This term our Key Competency is "self management", please encourage your child to take responsibility for their clothing. Clothing that is not named can be found in the lost property box in the foyer.