Welcome to Week 5 of Term 2.  At the end of this week we will be halfway through the term

Before I start my duty, I always visit the Mary Garden and the statue.  This place was always a place for me to reflect when my children attended St Mary's.  It was lovely to see a group from our class sitting quietly during one of my visits.

Teacher Only Day - June 7

There will be no school on this day for the children.  If you require child care you can contact Maryanne Rolling on 0211 215599. 

School Uniform

The children are wearing their winter uniform with pride and they look great but I would like to remind them of a few little things that we have noticed.  

• Polar fleeces are to be worn outside the class only.  As it is getting a little chilly, the children may need to make sure they have their red knit jersey.  They are able to put on their polar fleece when they go outside.

• Jewellery - Earrings must be studs, religious and cultural jewellery is acceptable.  No bracelets, anklets etc.

• Nail polish - Nail polish must not be worn to school.

• Shoes - This information is from our Website. 
• In winter, boys wear grey knee high socks with black lace up leather school shoes and girls wear navy blue knee high socks or navy blue tights with black lace up leather school shoes or black Mary-Jane shoes - with a strap across the top of the foot.

We have Mass this week and it is expected that all children are in the correct uniform.

Cross Country

Thank you to everyone for completing the form. I will be sending an email to the parents who have said they can help with transport today so please check your email.

Event overview:

12:45pm - Transporting children from school to the Redwoods Visitor Centre

• 1:10pm 9 yr old Girls      
• 1:20pm 9 yr old Boys
• 1:30pm 8 year old Girls/Boys      
• 1:40pm 10 Year old Girls
• 1:50pm 10 year old Boys      
• 2:00pm 11 year old Girls
• 2:10pm 11 year old Boys        

2:30pm - Transporting those children who catch a bus or require after school care back to school

Children come to school in full uniform and change into P.E. gear for the afternoon events. For the event students will need:

• Running shoes & P.E. gear
• Jersey
• Drink bottle
• Any medication required

Birthday Celebrations

We understand that many children like to celebrate their birthday by bringing in treats to share with their class.  With COVID still having a presence in our school we do not want to be sharing food in this way.   It is also a financial strain on some families who feel they must keep up with the birthday sharing tradition,
and therefore we would ask you to please not send in birthday treats to be shared at school.

Samoan Language Week

Monday

• Library (Please remember your books).
• Young Vinnie's Talent Show Auditions
• Samoan Language lunchtime activity

Tuesday

• Samoan Language lunchtime activity
• Young Vinnie's Talent Show Auditions

Wednesday

• 9.45am Visiting the Ko Hata Maria, te Matua Wahine o te Atua icon.
• 12pm - Senior School Mass
• Samoan Language lunchtime activity

Thursday

• Cross Country

Friday

• Whole School Mass 
• Pacifica
• Samoan Language lunchtime activity
• Lunchtime Roller Skating
• House Day Activities - Wear your house colours

Ko Hata Maria, te Matua Wahine o te Atua icon.

The translation is Holy Mary, Mother of God.

 Highlights

We have had a busy week with a lot of learning happening. We have been building our knowledge about Matariki, preparing ourselves for our Project Based Learning (PBL) project including a guest speaker, Mr Blackman who gave us an informative talk about the Matariki star cluster.  We hope to have him visit again to share more of his knowledge with us and answer some questions we have.

We have been working in our groups and have made a Space Analogy Map with a key.  These maps will be referred to as we work through our project.  Each item on the map is a symbol we can use to show where we are in our learning.

Mr Blackman

Our Space Analogies

Library

Every Monday, Room 3 visits the library to choose our books we read during the week.  Sustained Reading happens in our class daily.  This is where the children read quietly, usually after morning tea or lunch.  While at the library the children all take the opportunity to share a book with their friends.

Structured Literacy

Structured Literacy is part of our spelling program we complete each day.  On Wednesday, the children enjoyed playing Connect 4 and Bingo with their words.  The programme involves spelling, games, word finds and dictation using the spelling pattern we are working on.  This week we were learning the concept of the longer spelling of the "ch" sound -  "tch". This is used when the sound directly follows a short vowel.

Minecraft

There are many clubs organised by teachers and students at lunch time.  Some children have had the opportunity to join      Mr James on a Wednesday for the Minecraft Club.  They are enjoying this and I could see and hear the excitement when I visited the club this week.

Golden Time

Golden time this week, we planned to make waffles but unfortunately this was unable to happen.  Quick thinking and a little help for another teacher for something we could do, we came up with a chopsticks challenge with mini M&M's.  

This was a lot of fun, a challenge, frustrating and enjoyable all together.  Some children hadn't used chopsticks before but they soon learned how they worked.  The part that amazed me was that no-one ate any until the end and I said now you can eat them.  There was some cheering at that time too.

We ended the week with the School Assembly.  Room 12 did a fantastic job with sharing their assembly with us but the highlight was the long awaited Reading Challenge draw.  We haven't been able to have the draw from the Christmas challenge until now.  

Wow what a great collection of prizes.  Some very happy children and one teacher as well with their prizes.

Congratulations to our Room 3 winners.

Mrs Todd was pleased with her unicorn band prize.

Cross Country is next week.  If you have not completed the form already, could you please do so now!

Once again Room 5 won the First Class to have all forms completed.  Well done them, I am sure they will enjoy the hot chips.

Cross Country 2022

On Thursday 2nd June we will be holding our annual Cross Country for Years 4-6 in the Redwoods. Please could all Parents and Caregivers fill in the form below?

Cross Country form

Friday seems to be the day when everything happens (or I get a chance to get the camera out. 

We started with our Pink Shirt Day and what a turnout.  The children looked great and it is a great cause to support.  Thank you for all the donations.  

The message behind the Pink Shirt Day is Anti Bullying.  Although on this day we recognise the issue of bullying, this is done throughout the year.  We do not condone bullying at any time and my stand is Zero Tolerance to Bullying.  We use the Zones of Regulation to help us and we need to remember the message that the Pink Shirt Day shared

Speak up and Stand together to stop Bullying.

Tuakana Teina

This week we started Tuakana Teina with Kakano 3.  This is something we would like to continue throughout the year.

What is Tuakana-teina?

The tuakana–teina relationship, provides a model for buddy systems. An older or more expert tuakana helps and guides a younger or less expert teina.

    The children enjoyed making Fruit Kebabs today.          I do think they enjoyed eating them more!

    We ended our day with the Leadership Commissioning.  This was a little different this year as they have already received their badges but it was an opportunity to introduce them to the school.  Max and Chloe were part of the group of Year 5 children who introduced them.

And we cannot forget 
our very own!

Monday

• Mrs Bowen has Jury Service
• Library (Please remember your books).

Tuesday

Wednesday

• Ascension Liturgy 10.15am
• Chess Club and Indoor bowls at lunch time.

Thursday

• Singing/Kapa Haka

Friday

• Pacifica
• Sausage Sizzle
• Goldentime
• Assembly
• Lunchtime Roller Skating

 

Congratulations 

Lachlan 

Principal for the Day

Winner

I wish I had got a photo of your reaction when you won.  

Congratulations.

 

Week 3

It is great having our School Assembly back.  This week we will celebrate our leaders.  Although they have their badges, we have not been able to celebrate their roles with the rest of the school.  Assembly starts at 2pm

Week 3 - Term 2

 

I would like to start off saying thank you to everyone who took the time out to come along to the Three Way Conferences.  If you were unable to make a time to see me last week, please feel free to email me to make a time.  It was so good to see parents/caregivers in person.  

There are quite a few notices. this week.

Structured Literacy 

Structured Literacy Parent Information Meeting. 

Are you curious about the new approach to spelling and reading taking place at school? You may have learnt a little about this at your parent conference this week. 

Come along and learn about the structured literacy approach, what this means for your child and how you can support their learning at home.

Our consultant, Marion Kirby from Learning Matters will give you a brief overview of how the brain learns to read - you may learn a thing or two yourself!

See you upstairs in the Staffroom at 3.15 pm Wednesday the 18th of May. 

Tea, Coffee and snacks provided. 

School Photos

School photos are tomorrow (Monday 16th May).  

Children with hair below their shoulders must have it tied up.  Correct uniform must be worn. Can you please make sure your child's jersey is named as they usually have to remove them for the photos and it is difficult to know which one belongs to wha if they are not named. 

Cross Country 2022

Cross Country information for parents of Year 4-6 children 

On Thursday 2nd June we will be holding our annual Cross Country for Year 4-6 in the Redwoods. Please could all parents and caregivers fill in the form below?

Cross Country form

All children must have the form completed, if you haven't completed the form yet could you please take a couple of minutes to do so now.

Teacher Only Day

Teacher Only Day is June 7th,  

There will be no school on this day for the children.  If you require child care you can contact Maryanne Rolling on 0211 215599. 

Tickets are on sale from tomorrow until Wednesday - $2.

Buy as many entries as you wish.  

How cool would this be for your child.  I have heard a few boys talking about how they would like the Chief's jersey.

Monday

• School Photos.
• Library (Please remember your books).
• Buy your raffle ticket.

Tuesday

• Buy your raffle ticket.

Wednesday

• Structured Literacy Meeting 3.15pm.
• Last day to buy your raffle ticket.
• Chess Club and Indoor bowls at lunch time.

Thursday

• Singing/Kapa Haka

Friday

• Pacifica
• Sausage Sizzle
• Goldentime
• Assembly

Week 2 Term 2

Week Two 

Time is flying by already.  There are a few reminders for you this week.

Cross Country 2022

On Thursday 2nd June we will be holding our annual Cross Country for Year 4-6 in the Redwoods. Please could all Parents and Caregivers fill in the form below?

Cross Country Form

Our photo day is Monday 16th May.

Notices went home today,  please read as it has the information needed especially for sibling photos.

Thank you for coming into the Three Way Conferences.  

It was so nice to meet parents face to face again. 

This week is the National Week of Sign Language.  We have been learning some sign language in our class.

Room 3 Pepeha

If. the video doesn't work, I have added the link.  Although this is a YouTube link, it can only be seen by those who have the link and cannot be found by searching on YouTube.

Thanks everyone, enjoy the rest of your week.

Delwyn Bowen