Notices

12 October 2015

Dear Parents / Caregivers

Welcome to Term 4. Hope you all have had a relaxing break and the students are recharged for another exciting term of learning. We have a very busy term ahead with our first event this Tuesday.

Flower Show: Tuesday 13th October.

Tomorrow the Year 3 and 4 students will be making:

• a miniature garden in a shoebox lid (lined with tinfoil, no plastic or toys. Any structures must be made by the student from card, match or iceblock sticks or modelling clay).
• flowers in a unusual container (1, 3 ,5 or 7 flowers plus greenery.)

This is also the day to bring any entries they have for the open section i.e. baking, wild flower arrangement, nature’s creatures. The flower show is being judged on Tuesday afternoon and parents can view the flowers in the hall on Wednesday from 8am to 2.30pm.

Swimming -  Year 3 only every Tuesday commencing 13th October until 17th November 2015.

Remember to bring togs, towel, goggles and long hair needs to tied back.

A second swimming letter has gone home today to those who have not returned their swimming permission slip. Please have it back to school in the morning.

No permission - no swimming this week.

Students without permission will stay at school in Room 4 with Mrs McLocklan. If you are a parent who would like to join us you will need to meet us in the Kowhai Block at 11.30am or you can meet us at St Peter’s School in Cambridge. Swimming lessons start at 12.15pm.

The Year 4’s from Room 4 will be with Mrs McLocklan.

Learner Agency

In Term 3 Room 4 created a more flexible working environment, to promote learner agency. The students will continue to use their own personal plans to monitor and reflect on their ‘must do’s’ and ‘can do’ activities. Student agency encourages the students to become independent learners, who are actively involved in their learning, using the learning progressions to focus on what they are learning and what the students need to learn next. To support this learning the students will be learning with the teacher either in guided, class activities or one to one. From week 6 Room 4 will be introducing Genius Hour where they will be able to fuel their ‘curiosity’ in learning, by studying topics of their choice.

Students who complete their must do’s will be able to achieve marbles in the jar, or when they follow the golden rules and values of the school will also achieve marbles. Once the jar is filled the class will enjoy a Golden Time for 30 minutes where they can choose what they would like to do.

CRT - Every Wednesday starting Week 2 I will be released on Curriculum Release Time so that I can test students who need testing for their 6 months check and report. During this time I also will be writing end of year reports for the Year 4’s and following up on any professional development that I need to do. Mrs McRobbie will be teaching Room 4 at this time.

Learning for Term 4

Besides the learning following the progressions in reading, writing and maths, learning will also include:

Agricultural Day and Flower show focus week 1

Inquiry  - Keeping Ourselves Safe and Capacity, Volume with the maths inquiry continued from Term 3.

LIfe Education- van arrives on the 18th November until the 24th November.  We will participate in this health programme in our home room classes. Topic for Room 4 is: How can our feelings influence the way we act. This will support the programme Room 4 is going to do with Gail from RTLB based on friendships.

Physical Education - swimming every Tuesday 11.30 to 3 Week 1 - 6, athletics from Week 1 - 4, ball skills Week 6 - 10. Our school athletics day is on the 2nd of November.  All parents, friends, grandparents are welcome to come along and support the students on athletics day.

Music- recorders will continue throughout Term 4.

Blogs

This term Room 4 will be updating the Blog together where they will be sharing their learning, adding games they might find useful, sharing photos and experiences and most importantly their learning. During this term Room 4 invite you to check out our blog on the school website - ohaupo.ultranet.school.nz.

Shared learning will start in Week 2 due to Flower Show and Agricultural Day commitments in Week 1. Shared learning will be given on the first Monday in week 2 to be returned Friday where the next week’s homework will be given. The shared learning is to support your child in their learning revising and practicing skills they have learnt in class. They should be able to do this independently.

Hats  Term 4 is our sun-safe awareness time.  All students must have a hat with a brim to wear every day to protect their face, ears and neck. No hat means restricted play in shaded areas. There is a school hat available to purchase.  Please contact the office if you would like to buy one of these.  Students also need to have their shoulders covered i.e. no singlet style tops.  

If your child is absent please ring the school in the morning before 8.50am and leave a message on the answer phone.  Please state the child’s name, room number and reason for their absence.  

Sip and Crunch

After every lunch time we have Sip and Crunch except for Thursday’s where it will be after morning tea. Please remember to pack a piece of fruit, vegetable, nuts or seeds every day. If the fruit is an orange or apple please cut it up into manageable pieces.  

 Morning Tea / Lunch

There are 3 opportunities for students to eat during the day 10.30, 12.30 and 1.20.  At each of these times we expect the students to sit for at least 10 minutes to eat .  Students are expected to have eaten their sandwich, bun, crackers, wrap at either the 10.30 or 12.30 sitting. We do not allow children to share lunches. Each child has to show their lunchbox to their teacher so we can check that they are eating enough to fuel their brain.  

Library day  will continue on Wednesday. Please return your library books to the library return slot before or on library day.

Clothing  -   Please name your child’s clothes.  Named clothing can find it’s way back to the owner!  Unclaimed clothing is given to a Clothing Recycling group eg Salvation Army twice a term Week 5 and Week 10.  Please check regularly if you choose not to name your child’s items.  

If you have any queries call in and see me in Room 4  between 8.30 and 8.50am or organise an appointment for after school.   You can also contact me by email - jgray@ohaupo.school.nz

Looking forward to a positive and exciting term.

Thanks

Julie Gray