Dear families, whanau and students,
Kia ora and welcome back! I hope you and your families had an awesome Easter break and holiday, and I hope you are ready for a busy term ahead!
As we begin the term we congratulate Shelby who was awarded Room 12 Student of the Term for Term One. Throughout Term One Shelby displayed diligence, cooperation, enthusiasm and respect in every aspect of school life! We admire the dedication, time and effort she puts into everything she does at school. Well done Shelby!
It is wonderful to see the students back at school and enthusiastic about our upcoming learning and events. They are looking smart and tidy in their uniforms! Please support us by ensuring that your child wears the correct uniform everyday, with pride! As we begin the new term please ensure that all of your child’s school items are named clearly to avoid any loss of items, e.g. uniform, stationery, lunch boxes, drink bottles etc… Remember school wide brimmed sunhats are not compulsory for all of Term 2 and Term 3.
INQUIRY—TERM TWO
This term our topic for inquiry is ‘Environmental Science—Being Connected to our World’
This inquiry topic is about how we are connected to our world—exploring, investigating and making discoveries in and about our environment as well as making connections. This inquiry topic has a Science and Social Sciences focus. At times there will be some homework tasks related to this topic and your support for completing these tasks will be very valuable.
Other learning topics during Term 2 = ANZAC Day commemorations, Carterton School Inquiry Learning Model, Water inquiry, Soil inquiry, Google Docs, Blogging, Technology, Careers, Place Value, Multiplication and Division, Algebra, Research Skills, Large ball skills, Languages, Leadership, EOTC activities and the introduction to PrEP (Primary Enterprise Programme).
HOMEWORK and COMMUNICATION
We are aiming to develop independent learners—encouraging the students to be organised and responsible for their learning. The
students will use a notebook (Communication Book) or a homework clear file to record homework tasks, spelling words, things they need to remember etc… This is can also be a place for notes to me regarding absences, concerns etc. The clear file will keep homework tasks and newsletters in. Both of these items (the notebook and the clear file) will come to and from home on daily basis. Please take time to check your child’s communication book and homework clear file daily to help them with their organisational skills.
Routine: Spelling and Homework will be set each week usually on a Monday. The students are encouraged to work on these every night. Spelling will be tested on a Friday and the Homework will be marked the following Monday. In addition, there may also be weekly homework set by the Technology teachers from Makoura.
First set homework: I have handed out a brainstorm that I would greatly appreciate your time in filling it in. Please send it back to school by the 1st May. Thank you!
TECHNOLOGY AT MAKOURA Designcraft
Year 7 and 8 students attend technology sessions at Makoura College (Masterton) every Tuesday, during the morning session. The Technology sessions cost $76 for the year. If you are unable to pay this in full you can make part payments. This can be paid to the office or by automatic payment. Thank you.
Please be aware that students are required to wear covered shoes at Technology for safety reasons. If they do not have the suitable footwear they are not permitted to attend the session and will remain at school. Mrs Kennedy and I have spoken to the students about these points and we trust they will take responsibility for themselves.
LIBRARY/ICT
We will be using the school Library and Computer Room once a week on a Thursdays at 9:10 to 10:40. While in the Library we will be working on inquiry, research and note taking skills. All students are encouraged to issue 2 books. They may keep these books for up to 2 weeks. Please help your child to use and care for our library books as well as return them promptly.
While in the Computer Room students will focus on inquiry, research, Studyladder, Google Docs and Blogging. Your child has a Google Doc’s address where their learning and classroom work will be inquired into, worked on and saved. I am experimenting with this system to make learning anytime and anyplace. I hope that we can learn, create and share our learning throughout 2015 using Google Doc’s.
OTHER INFORMATION
· We are having a camp at the end of the year and fundraising will begin soon. More information will come out in future notices.
· For PE this term we are doing Cross Country training, so please encourage your child to wear sensible footwear to school or bring trainers/sneakers to put on when needed.
· Room 12 and 14 are joining together to be buddy classes with Hub 2 and 3 (Room 2 and 3). We are calling this session Tuakana/Teina (Big kids helping little kids). We read, write and develop friendships with our buddies every Friday before lunch for about 20 minutes.
· Report Files will be sent home at the end of Term 2.
· Parent/Whanau—Teacher interviews will continue this term. Please indicate when you would like to meet. I have included a timetable for you to fill in, if I haven't seen you yet. Shorter Parent/Whanau interviews will be in Week 10 on the 24th and 25th of June
· The school day begins at 8.55. Please make sure that your child is at school before the bell rings. If your child is late to school they will need to go to the office for a Late Slip.
· The school newsletter is sent home each Tuesday to the youngest and/or only child in a family. Please read it, as there is a lot of important information and dates on it. The newsletter can be emailed to you or you can find a link on the school website. You will need to give Mrs Hutchings or Mrs Pratt your email address if you wish to receive the newsletter by email.
· During each term I am entitled to two Classroom Release Days on these days Ms Whitburn will be teaching in Room 12. The dates for these are 4th and 5th of June.
· For 4 afternoons this term Ms Taylor will be teaching from 2pm-3pm, while I work on Health Promoting Schools (HPS) and other Health Curriculum responsibilities. She will be doing science inquiry with Room 12 for those teaching and learning sessions.
· To help the school, your child and myself, please send notes to school about any sickness, absences or any other issues, as sending notes saves time and confusion.
· Head lice are an ongoing problem. If your child is itching please check them and treat them if necessary. We will have head lice checks in class if it is needed. A note will be sent home if this is about to happen.
· If your child has Asthma, please send an inhaler to school. The inhaler can be kept in my desk drawer or their school bag until it is needed. Please let me know if your child has any medical conditions that I need to be aware of.
· If you have any questions, concerns or would like additional information about your child’s learning and progress, please ring, text, email (details below) or come in and see me at school. I recommend that you come between 8.15 and 8:45am. Although on Tuesday mornings the staff have an Administration Meeting in the Staffroom from 8:00 until 8:30 so I will not be in classroom until 8:30 on Tuesday mornings. Or please come to see me between 3.00 and 4:30pm, as I will usually be in the classroom, staffroom or the Library, preparing or assessing work. Please remember Team Kahikatea meets on a Tuesday at 3:30 and on Wednesday afternoons we have Professional Learning Staff Meetings which begin at 3:30 so I will be unavailable at those times also. I am on Gate Duty every Friday so I need to be at the gate soon after the 3:00 bell. If you need to see me could you please wait until I return which should be about 3:15.
I am really looking forward to a productive term full of learning, engagement and making connections!
Please do not hesitate to contact me at school, on 379 4010, or at home, on 379 6624 (before 9:00pm), on my cell phone 0221089935 or you could email me at mmacgregor@carterton.school.nz if you have anything to discuss.
Teachers and parents working together make a powerful combination!
Learning together to achieve success.
Kind regards,
Melanie MacGregor
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