Room 6 Newsletter Term 3 Week 8
September 12 - 16
What glorious weather. I hope you managed to get out and enjoy the sun!
Paid Union Meeting September 13
Just a reminder that usual school lessons will be finishing at 12:30 on Tuesday. Thank you to those parents who have responded to their classroom teacher, to let us know whether your child is staying at school until 3pm or will be picked up at 12:30pm. If you have not yet responded to the newsletter or email that was sent out can you please let your classroom teacher know on Monday whether or not your child needs supervision for the afternoon.
Korean Students
There will be a group of Korean students at school for the next 2 weeks. Most will be with Year 5 & 6 classes but the Year 3 & 4 classes will have 3 students each during the afternoons. Mrs Aye runs a special programme for the Korean students in the morning so our literacy and numeracy programmes will carry on as usual.
School Crossings and Parent Parking
Please set a good example to your children and use the school crossing. It has been noticed that large numbers of parents are ignoring this safety rule. Thank you to those whole set a good example to your children by using the crossing.
It is illegal to park or stop on yellow lines. They are there to give clear visibility from the school crossing and make it safe.
Please do not turn into the school carpark driveway to turn around or drop off your children. Staff may need to enter and the road then becomes blocked and unsafe for all.
There are 3 entrances to the school. The main entrance is on Willoughby Ave. There are also entrances on Juliet Ave and Freyberg Pl. You might want to investigate one of these. Once they have been at school for a while, your children can also be taught to walk from your parked car to the school by themselves.
Please use the footpaths and do not walk across the school carpark, especially when you have your children with you.
Let’s keep our children safe!
Homework
As always please encourage your child to engage in some reading and maths homework each evening.
Mathletics
Passwords remain the same as in previous terms.
Reading
Students should have 3 or 4 books from the school library. The can also access Sunshine Online and Tumblebooks from home.
User name: howick
Password: howick
User name: howick
Password: books
Week 8:
Monday
Library
Tuesday
Bake Sale
Paid union meeting - some teachers will be attending this meeting at 1.30.
Wednesday
Interschool Cross Country day
Kelly Sports at lunchtime - $2 a session - sports gear needed
Camp parent meeting for Year 4s in the School Library 6pm-7pm. Find out information about school camp that is in Week 3 of Term 1 next year.
Friday
Everyone bring sports gear for Phys Ed
Saturday
Koanga Festival - Howick Primary will be performing at Bucklands Beach Intermediate at 10:40am.
Coming Soon
Week 9
Monday September 19th - Friday 23rd
Mrs Kittson will be in Room 4 all week. Please contact her if you have any questions or messages about your children or their absences.
Tuesday September 20th
Pirate Mufti Day
Friday September 23rd
Winning whanau mufti
September anniversary National Standard certificates come home.
Last day of term 3 (2 weeks holiday)
Room 4 Newsletter Term 3 Week 7
September 5 - 9
Food Glorious Food
Just in case you missed this last time or are new to the school:
Our current concept is Change. We are looking at how temperature causes food to change -
kitchen science and cooking! As we will be eating most of the things we make, we are
checking whether there are any foods your child should avoid.
Please let us know whether any foods are a problem for your child.
August Anniversary - National Standard Judgements
Reporting files with certificates for these Year 3 children will have just come home so that you can see your child’s progress and achievement in relation to the National Standards. As always, you are most welcome to come and talk to us about this. Please return the file as soon as you have finished looking at it. If you still have a reporting file at home from earlier in the year, could you please return this too.
Star Wars Cards
I have asked Room 4 not to bring these to school. They are easily lost, taken and books can get damaged. In the next couple of weeks we will organise a trading day, when the children can bring their cards. They will be kept safe until trading time and then hometime. I will let you know when this is going to happen.
School Crossings and Parent Parking
Please set a good example to your children and use the school crossing. It has been noticed that large numbers of parents are ignoring this safety rule. Thank you to those whole set a good example to your children by using the crossing.
It is illegal to park or stop on yellow lines. They are there to give clear visibility from the school crossing and make it safe.
Please do not turn into the school carpark driveway to turn around or drop off your children. Staff may need to enter and the road then becomes blocked and unsafe for all.
There are 3 entrances to the school. The main entrance is on Willoughby Ave. There are also entrances on Juliet Ave and Freyberg Pl. You might want to investigate one of these. Once they have been at school for a while, your children can also be taught to walk from your parked car to the school by themselves.
Please use the footpaths and do not walk across the school carpark, especially when you have your children with you.
Let’s keep our children safe!
Homework
As always please encourage your child to engage in some reading and maths homework each evening.
Mathletics
Passwords remain the same as in previous terms.
Reading
Students should have 3 or 4 books from the school library. The can also access Sunshine Online and Tumblebooks from home.
User name: howick
Password: howick
User name: howick
Password: books
Spelling
At the moment we are focussing on plurals so noticing and talking about the rules when reading or writing would be helpful.
A plural means there are two or more of something or someone (nouns).
One of something or someone means it is singular.
- Add the letter s to most nouns – dogs, boys, girls
- Add es to nouns ending in ch sh o s x or z. You can hear the extra es syllable in most of these words – bunches, bushes.
- Change the y to i and add es to words that end with y (when it follows a consonant) - one baby, two babies
- Some words change their spelling – man/men goose/geese
- Some words have the same spelling for both singular (one) or plural (more than one) – squid, moose, sheep
Week 7:
Monday
Library
Tuesday
Interschool Cross Country team practice - sports gear needed
Wednesday
Interschool Cross Country team practice - sports gear needed
Kelly Sports at lunchtime - $2 a session - sports gear needed
Thursday
Mrs Kittson in Room 4
Interschool Cross Country team practice - sports gear needed
Friday
Everyone bring sports gear for Phys Ed
Coming Soon
Tuesday 14th
Paid union meeting - some teachers will be attending this meeting at 1.30. There will be more information on how this will be managed next week.
Friday 23rd
Last day of term 3 (2 weeks holiday)
Room 4 Newsletter Term 3 Week 6
Fun Run
Despite resistance from Mother Nature we held a very successful Fun Run on Friday. It was great to hear the students cheering each other on throughout the event. Well done everyone.
Please remember to collect in your sponsorship money over the next week or so.
Performing Arts Evening
In addition to the successful Fun Run on Friday we also had a very successful Performing Arts evening on Thursday night. Thanks to all the friends and family that came out in awful weather to support the students. They all felt like rock stars for the evening.
Homework
As always please encourage your child to engage in some reading and maths homework each evening.
Mathletics
Passwords remain the same as in previous terms.
Reading
Students should have 3 or 4 books from the school library. The can also access Sunshine Online and Tumblebooks from home.
User name: howick
Password: howick
User name: howick
Password: books
The coming week:
Monday
Library
Friday
PJ Mufti Day - $2 charge
Children are expected to wear pyjamas ($2) or school uniform (free).
If wearing pyjamas, they do not have to wear school uniform to and from school.
Bring sports gear for Phys Ed.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 3 Week 5
Another busy week of learning is finished. The Kapa Haka Noho was a great success and the children learnt a lot more about the Maori culture and how to be on a Marae.
Food Glorious Food
Our next concept is Change. We are looking at how temperature causes food to change -
kitchen science and cooking! As we will be eating most of the things we make, we are
checking whether there are any foods your child should avoid.
Please let us know whether any foods are a problem for your child.
Cross Country:
This Friday is our school cross country. Start time is 10am. Your child is to bring an old towel in a named plastic bag for after their race to for washing their feet if they choose to run in bare feet. They will also need their school Phys Ed shorts and a whanau coloured t shirt.
Performing Arts evening
A newsletter with more detail went home with your on Friday. Please fill the slip out and return it to school on Monday.
Japanese Students
This week we have some Japanese students arriving on Monday morning along with their parents and teachers. They will be in the Middle School until Thursday to learn about New Zealand culture and our school. We will also get a chance to learn about the Japanese culture.
Homework
As always please encourage your child to engage in some reading and maths homework each evening.
Mathletics
Passwords remain the same as in previous terms.
Reading
Students should have 3 or 4 books from the school library that they can bring home. The can also access Sunshine Online and Tumblebooks from home.
User name: howick
Password: howick
This is a digital literacy programme with levelled e-books and activities.
While the children have access to all levels, it is suggested they choose from the levels that relate to their classroom reading levels. If you are not sure email or speak to me about this.
This week
Monday
Japanese students arrive
Mihi Whakatau 10am to welcome Japanese students
Cross Country Practice
Tuesday
Wednesday
Performing Arts run through practice
Thursday
Japanese students leave
Performing Arts dress rehearsal
6.00: Children need to be at school for the Performing Arts Evening
Friday
Daffodil Day - no mufti or cost this year.
Daffodils are available from the office for purchase if wanted.
Adidas Fun Run (School Cross Country)
HPS Auction Night
Lots of fabulous items to bid for such as a parking space at school, a New World Grocery Grab.
$30 a ticket from the office
Coming up
Tuesday 30 August
Senior school speech finals - middle school to attend as guests
Friday 2 September
Mufti: Pyjama Day
Cost $2 for the mufti.
Funds go to: HPS PTA
Dress up: Come to school in 'appropriate' PJs
Room 4 Newsletter Term 3 Week 4
The trip to Te Tahawai marae was a wonderful experience for our students. They learnt from this experience.
Cross Country:
Kapa Haka Sleepover
If your child is in the Kapa Haka group they should have brought a notice home about the sleepover this Thursday night (August 18th). Please return these back to school as soon as possible. If you did not get one let me know and I’ll send one home.
Homework
As always please encourage your child to engage in some reading and maths homework each evening.
Mathletics
Passwords remain the same as in previous terms.
Reading
Students should have 3 or 4 books from the school library that they can bring home. The can also access Sunshine Online and Tumblebooks from home.
User name: howick
Password: howick
This is a digital literacy programme with levelled e-books and activities.
While the children have access to all levels, it is suggested they choose from the levels that relate to their classroom reading levels. If you are not sure email or speak to me about this.
This week
Monday
Library
Get Wise Financial Talk (about saving)
Cross Country Practice
Tuesday
Bake Sale
Wednesday
Cross Country Practice
Friday
Cross Country Practice
Coming Up
Week 5
Monday to Thursday
Japanese students in the Middle School
Thursday August 25
Performing Arts Evening
Thursday August 25
HPS Speech Finals
The mIddle School will be listening to the Year 5 & 6 speech finalists.
Friday August 26
HPS Cross Country & Fun Run
Don’t forget to keep looking for sponsors.
Friday August 26
HPS Auction Night
Lots of fabulous items to bid for.
$30 a ticket from the office
Room 4 Newsletter Term 3 Week 3
Sister School from China
The principal and 3 students are coming to our school for a 3 day visit this week. They will be in Room 4 Monday to Wednesday. Our programme will be slightly different from usual on those days.
Te Tahawai Marae Trip
Just a reminder than all of the Middle School will be visiting Te Tahawai marae this coming Wednesday. This links in with our concept of communities and culture.
If you are available to come along on Wednesday morning (8.50 - 12.00) your assistance would be appreciated.
Teacher Only Day
This coming Friday (12th August) is a Teacher Only Day. Please remember to keep your children home from school.
Homework
As always please encourage your child to engage in some reading and maths homework each evening.
Mathletics
Passwords remain the same as in previous terms.
Reading
Students should have 3 or 4 books from the school library that they can bring home. The can also access Sunshine Online and Tumblebooks from home.
User name: howick
Password: howick
This is a digital literacy programme with levelled e-books and activities.
While the children have access to all levels, it is suggested they choose from the levels that relate to their classroom reading levels. If you are not sure email or speak to me about this.
Kapa Haka
There is still an opportunity to join Kapa Haka. If your child is interested please tell them to talk to their teacher about it.
This week
Monday
Smoothie Bikes $1.50 for a fruit smoothie
Tuesday
The class will be going to the library on Tuesday instead of Monday this week.
Wednesday
Marae visit in morning
Friday
Teacher Only Day
School closed for children.
Room 6 Newsletter Term 3 Week 2
Thank you to all those families who came to our three-way conferences this week. We really enjoyed having the time to speak with you and for your child to share their celebrations and the goals they have set for their learning.
PB4L School Survey
Thank you to those families who have completed the school PB4L survey. If you have not can you please fill in the form you received at the three-way conferences and send it to school with your child as soon as possible.
Running Practice
The Middle and Senior school will be training for the Adidas Fun Run (school cross country) after lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As they will be running on grass, which may be muddy, they must have their school sports uniform to change into. They can either run in sports shoes or barefeet. Any child who does not have their school sports uniform will run on the courts instead.
If your child is unable to run, but is still able to attend school, can you please provide a note or email so that they may be excused. They may be asked to walk around the courts instead of running unless there is a good medical reason for not doing so.
Activity Fees
If you have not yet paid this terms activity fee please do this as soon as possible to cover the cost of our trip to the Marae as well as the Mathletics, Sunshine Online and any other activities we will be doing this term.
The coming week:
Monday
Cross Country practice
Library
Tuesday
Wednesday
Cross Country Practice
Thursday
Mandarin lesson
Friday
Soccer session
Cross Country Practice
Coming up:
Trip to Te Tahawai Marae
Week 3: Wednesday August 10th
There will be a morning and afternoon session. Room 5 will be split to balance numbers. The cost of the trip is covered by the activity fee. If you have not paid for the whole year yet, could you please do so in the next week or two (if you are not sure, I can check for you). A notice about this went home earlier in the week.
Teacher Only Day
Week 3: Friday August 12th
School will be closed for students as there is a Teacher Only Day. Please make other arrangements for the supervision of your child.
Adidas Fun Run (school cross country race)
Friday August 26th:
Your child will have bought home a notice and blue booklet in regards to this at the end of last term. Some of the funds raised will go towards a new Junior School playground. More details about the Adidas Fun Run will come closer to the date.
HPS Auction evening
Friday August 26th:
Howick Primary School Fundraising Auction: We are hosting our major fundraising event for 2016, our HPS Auction to support our plans for a new Junior School playground. Last year’s auction was a great success so we thought we would do it all again bigger and even better at the Howick Club, a local and popular venue with a strong focus on family, a perfect partner for HPS in our venture. If you fancy a great night out with lots of laughs and drinks, and the opportunity to pick up some great bargains then please come along. Book a ticket for one or two, or make it a work social event or sports club night out, and book a table. Tickets are available at the school office or phone 09 534 6082 and do circle the date on your social calendar now.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 3 Week 1
I hope the holidays went well for you and your family.
Three-way conferences
We are looking forward to having the opportunity for your child to share their learning with you at the three-way conferences. There are still some gaps if you have not made a time to see us yet.
Please bring report folders back with you or send them back to school any day this coming week.
A reminder that there will be no normal classes on Thursday afternoon as we have conference meetings. If you have not let us know what arrangements you have made for the supervision of your child, they will stay at school, unless you collect them through the office.
Cross Country Practice
The Middle and Senior school will be training for the school cross country after lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Training will start this Wednesday. As they will be running on grass, which may be muddy, they must have their school sports uniform to change into. They can either run in sports shoes or barefeet. Any child who does not have their school sports uniform will run on the courts instead.
If your child is unable to run, but is still able to attend school, can you please provide a note or email so that they may be excused. They may be asked to walk around the courts instead of running unless there is a good medical reason for not doing so.
The coming week:
Monday
Library
Tuesday
3.20: Three-way conferences
Wednesday
Cross Country Practice
3.20: Three-way conferences
Thursday
Mandarin lesson
1.00: Three-way conferences
Friday
11.00: Mihi Whakatau for the international students coming to the Senior School
Cross Country Practice
Coming up:
Trip to Te Tahawai Marae
Week 3: Wednesday August 10th
There will be a morning and afternoon session. One of the classes will be split to balance numbers. The cost of the trip is covered by the activity fee. If you have not paid for the whole year yet, could you please do so in the next week or two (if you are not sure, I can check for you). A notice will come home shortly with more details about the trip.
Week 3: Friday August 12th
School will be closed for students as there is a Teacher Only Day. Please make other arrangements for the supervision of your child.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 2 Week 10
We are almost at the end of the term. With all the illness, it can’t come soon enough. Hopefully everyone will be fit and well again after the holidays.
Swimming
The classes have had their last lesson at Lloyd Elsmore. It was great to see improvement in the children’s confidence and skills with instructors working with smaller groups, in the pool with the children. They also learnt some water safety skills.
Parent Conferences
These are being held in the first week back after the holidays.
If you haven’t done so yet, please return the slip at the bottom of the newsletter to let us know whether or not your child requires supervision for the afternoon of Thursday the 28th of July and if not how are they going to be getting home that day. I have attached a copy of this letter and put a copy on the Notices page of the class blog. You can also email me the relevant details for supervision if that’s easier.
Also please go online and select a time to meet with me so we can discuss your child’s celebrations and goals for learning. It’s great to see many of you have booked already and I look forward to meeting with everyone again.
The link is https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/
The school code is rgg6w
Book for Judy Coker and Katherine Kittson
The school newsletter comes out fortnightly and is available on the school website:
Pizza Reading
There is also an incentive to help with their reading mileage, the library has a pizza challenge happening at the moment. If the students would like to take part, they are to ask Susie for a pizza wheel. They need to read 7 books and with each book they read fill out a small book review sheet. With each book review handed in Susie will hole punch the wheel and sign it and when all seven are done, they can take their pizza wheel into any Hells pizza store and receive a free child’s pizza of their choice. More information on the pizza challenge is on the Week 7 school newsletter.
Fitness
Each day the Middle and Senior school spend ten minutes after the roll with some warm up fitness activities.
If your child is unable to run, but still able to attend school, can you please provide a note or email so that they may be excused. A new note is needed after a weekend as it is expected that most have improved enough to start fitness again.
Child Cancer Fundraising
One of our parents, Jana Wade, will be running the Auckland Marathon to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation. If you are able to support Jana and donate to this great cause the link is https://aucklandmarathon2016.everydayhero.com/nz/RunForSmile#/?_k=3cr8sc
The coming week:
Monday
Library
Thursday
Mandarin lesson
School Assembly (winning whanau for the term announced)
School Disco
Times: 6pm -7pm Year 0-2 (Junior students must be accompanied by an adult)
7pm - 8pm Year 3-6
Cost: $2 per child or $5 for a family
Venue: HPS Hall for Disco, Parent Zone in Staffroom
Theme: Under The Sea
For Sale: hot dogs, snack bar, slushies, nail art, face paint
Entry rules: All children dropped off to be signed in and picked up inside the hall by 8pm.
Junior students must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday
Winning whanau free mufti
Last day of Term 2
Reporting Files will come home with Year 4 certificates (working towards the end of Year 4) and Year 3s who have June anniversaries of starting school.
If you still have reporting files at home, could these please be returned.
Coming up
Two weeks holiday
Monday July 25th
School starts again for Term 3
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (July 26, 27, 28)
Three-way Conferences
Thursday July 28
Three-way conferences start at 1pm. Children will either go home at 12.30 or be supervised at school for the afternoon.
Change of Date
The Teacher Only Day planned for October has now been changed to Friday 12th August. This is a day when the teachers meet for professional development. The children do not come to school that day. You will need to make your own supervision arrangements for your children that day.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 2 Week 8
This week we had a great cultural themed mufti day. It was great to see both students and teachers wearing traditional dress throughout the school. Thanks to the parents who helped their children get themselves organised for this. We know it is not as easy as it seems sometimes. Photos have been posted to the class blog. Check them out! http://2016hpsrm4.blogspot.co.nz/
Spelling
This week’s spelling focus is the ‘oy’ ending sound as in the words boy, decoy.
Fitness
Each day the Middle and Senior school spend ten minutes after roll with some warm up fitness activities. If your child is unable to do fitness, but still able to attend school, can you please provide a note so that they may be excused.
Uniforms
As we approach the mid part of the year it is timely to discuss the school uniform. Details pertaining to the uniform expectations can be found here: http://www.howickprimary.school.nz/Enrolment/Uniform
The upcoming holidays present the opportunity to give the uniform a once over to ensure not only that it is the correct uniform, but it is also in good condition and of an appropriate size for your growing child. Please check that the names on all items are still clearly marked.
Please note the address listed for the uniform shop will be changing from June 24th. The new address is:
16 Bishop Dunn Place, Flat Bush
The coming week:
Monday
Library
Lloyd Elsmore Swimming
Tuesday
Bake Sale - Please note this has moved from Wednesday
Please only send one to two dollars.
Thursday
Mandarin
School Assembly
Coming up
Week 10:
Thursday 7th July
School Disco
Juniors 6 - 7pm (Junior students must be accompanied by an adult)
Middles and Seniors 7- 8pm
All children are welcome to stay the 2 hours but the music will be aimed at each age group.
Cost: $2 per child or $5 for a family
Room 4 Newsletter Term 2 Week 7
The children loved the Science Roadshow and got to experience science that we don’t have the equipment for at school - a wonderful opportunity.
Thanks to the parents and grandparents who walked with us in the wind and rain. Your help is much appreciated.
Cultural Mufti
A mufti day is a day when the children do not have to wear their school uniform.
Dress up: Wear clothing that represents a different culture from anywhere in the world, perhaps where their parents or grandparents were born or a country that they are interested in. They can wear their mufti clothing to school for the day.
Cost: $2 for the mufti
Funds go to: the school’s World Vision child sponsorship
Parade: At 1.30 the children will parade outside if fine or in the hall if wet
Communities Concept Study
We have started this concept with a study of another country. The children have chosen a country that has significance for them. They are finding out about a festival that is celebrated, food, symbols of that country, its flag and its geographical location. They will be working on this at school over the next couple of weeks and are welcome to do research at home as well. If you have chosen to allow your child to bring a device to school, it would be helpful if they had it at school every day.
Class Blog
Over the last couple of weeks, some children have been writing on the blog rather than in their writing books. They are also giving each other feedback based on criteria for that writing. It has been ‘published’ in its raw form as they have written it. They are encouraged to check their ‘finished’ draft and make changes to improve their writing. Please view it as an example of their work in progress, not as the end-point as a teacher checked and corrected piece of work.
They have been learning to write a piece of persuasive writing with reasons for why you should agree with their viewpoint!
You are also welcome to comment. You could ask questions that might encourage them to add more detail to their writing or say whether you agree with them or not.
Spelling
For most children (once they can spell the basic words - Fast Words) research has shown that learning a list of weekly words is not retained. Focussing on a spelling sound, blend, chunk or pattern gives children the understanding of how words are spelt and can be applied when writing.
Next week we are focussing on the ‘ng’ sound as in sang or anger. If you are reading with your child it would be great to see if you can spot words with this sound pattern.
Mathletics Homework
It is great to hear how excited the children are about how many points they are earning on Mathletics each night. We also run a fortnightly competition within the school for the class with the most points overall.
Term 2 Basic Facts Test
The work being done at school and at home has shown in the pleasing improvement almost all children made this term in their basic facts and times tables knowledge.
We are learning about multiplication and division in Maths class at the moment. We will also be practising times tables and division facts to help with quick recall of these. Each child has a chart in their Maths book to show their progress with this.
By the end of the year we expect the children to have quick recall of at least the following:
Year 3: 0x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x
Year 4: 0x, 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 10x
If they learn that 3 x 7 is the same answer as 7 x 3 and so on, they are well on the way to knowing all their times tables facts by the end of Year 4.
Reading Homework
Children who usually bring home a reader
If for some reason your child does not have a reader as expected, they can read from a book on Sunshine Online. You could also read to them that night and talk about any words they don’t understand, ask them questions, ask them to talk about part of the story with justification for their views or retell the story in their own words.
Username: howick
Password: howick
Children who are reading independently
Continue to read material of their choice from the library or other sources regularly. Remember to encourage them to record something they have read each school day, date it and write a short comment about what they read (what they liked, what they found out, something about a character, the best/funniest/saddest/scariest/happiest part of the story). For chapter books, it’s okay to write the title once and indicate in some way that it was read over more than one day.
This week
June 13 - 17:
Monday
Library
1.30 - 3.00 Lloyd Elsmore Swimming
Thursday
Cultural Mufti Day
Friday
Bring sports uniform
Bring back Reading Log notebook
Coming up
Week 8:
Wednesday 22nd June
Bake sale
Week 10:
Thursday 7th July
School Disco
Juniors 6 - 7pm (Junior students must be accompanied by an adult)
Middles and Seniors 7- 8pm
All children are welcome to stay the 2 hours but the music will be aimed at each age group.
Cost: $2 per child or $5 for a family
Room 4 Newsletter Term 2 Week 6
Another great week at HPS this week. The sun came out at the end of the week to allow the children some outside play.
Queens Birthday
Just a reminder that this a long weekend with Monday the 6th of June being a public holiday. School will be closed, and open again on Tuesday the 7th of June.
Swimming
There will be no swimming this week as it is Queens Birthday Weekend.
Science Roadshow
The middle school is walking to Howick Intermediate on Friday 10 June. Your child will have received a notice about this and on it, it will say whether they are in the morning or afternoon groups. We are needing some parent helpers for this. Please let your child’s teacher know if you are available to help with this. More information about the roadshow can be found here.
Inflatable Soccer and Kelly Sports
Just a reminder that these are on Wednesdays at lunchtimes. If your child is involved in either of these or any other sports practices, they need to make sure they have a change of clothes with them. As the weather is getting wetter the fields are getting muddier and we do not want mud in the classrooms.
Read for Pizza Challenge
Susie is running this. I will post more information on the Notices page of the class blog when I have it.
Homework
Homework is expected. It is recommended that all children read for at least 15 mins per night and spend a similar amount of time practising basic facts, number knowledge and/or times tables. Maths homework will be set through Mathletics.
Homework sheets will not be provided.
Coming Up:
No class Library time this week
Friday:
Science Roadshow - June 10th
Week 7
Cultural Mufti Day Friday 25 July as a fundraiser for World Vision.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 2 Week 3
The weather has finally turned from Summer to Autumn. The senior playground is now out of bounds before school as it is wet and slippery. The field is also out of bounds before school.
Toys, Money and Valuables Reminder
Your child should not be bringing toys, money or other things that are valuable to them to school. You will be informed when it’s okay to bring these e.g. money for bake sales. Teachers look after this money until it’s time to spend it so that it does not get lost. Special items like medals or trophies for news can be looked after by the teacher. When children have valuables at school and they go missing, are given to someone else, are taken by someone else or get broken, it takes up a lot of teaching time sorting out who did what! We would prefer not to have to do this so please discourage your children from bringing these things. Thanks
Room 4s Library Trip
This Wednesday (May 25th) Room 4 are walking to Highland Park Library for stories and activities about Matariki. We leave at 9am and will be back by 11am. Two parents have offered to walk with us but ideally I would like at least 2 more. If you are able to help please let me know as soon as possible.
The children will need to bring raincoats, rain jackets or umbrellas as we will be going whatever the weather.
Reading Homework
If for some reason your child does not have a reader as expected, they can read from a book on Sunshine Online. You could also read to them that night and talk about any words they don’t understand, ask them questions, ask them to talk about part of the story with justification for their views or retell the story in their own words.
Username: howick
Password: howick
Mathletics Homework
It is great to hear how excited the children are about how many points they are earning on Mathletics each night. We also run a fortnightly competition within the school for the class with the most points overall.
This week
May 23 - 27:
Monday
Library
1.30 - 3.00 Lloyd Elsmore Swimming
Wednesday
land Park Library
Room 4 go to High
PTA Bake Sale
Thursday
Pink Ribbon Breakfast (see Notices Page for more details)
2.15: School Assembly
Friday
Judy will be teaching as Katherine will be away
Bring sports uniform
No kapa haka this week
Coming Up
Friday June 3
May anniversary National Standards certificates come home.
If you still have a Reporting File at home, please return it.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 2 Week 2
Lloyd Elsmore Swimming
This week we had our first session swimming at the Lloyd Elsmore pools. From the side of the pool it looked like every single kid was having a great time and learning heaps.
This will continue Monday. The bus will pick the class up and take us down to Lloyd Elsmore Pools. We have a ½ an hour session with swim gym instructors. The children will then get changed back into their uniforms and back on the bus back to school. If you do not wish for your child to participate please contact me via email or in person to discuss this.
Please ensure your child brings along all their named swim gear on Monday.
Extra Curricular Activities
The extra curricular classes that happen on Fridays are still running this term. If you do not want your child to participate this term please let me know so we can let the instructors know. Kung fu and Art will now be at 10am and Dance will be at 1:30pm.
Kapa Haka
This started this week on Friday. By all accounts this went extremely well...with positive feedback from the students.
Reading Homework
The SRA Reading programme that we are using in class is going well. The children are enjoying learning and improving their understanding of what they read, increasing vocabulary and learning spelling patterns. There are books to take home in the book boxes for those who are not quite at an independent reading stage.
If for some reason your child does not have a reader as expected, they can read from a book on Sunshine Online. You could also read to them that night and talk about any words they don’t understand, ask them questions, ask them to talk about part of the story with justification for their views or retell the story in their own words.
Username: howick
Password: howick
Mathletics Homework
It is great to hear how excited the children are about how many points they are earning on Mathletics each night. We also run a fortnightly competition within the school for the class with the most points overall.
This week
May 16 - 20:
Monday
Lloyd Elsmore Swimming
Library
Friday
Extra Curricula Activities
Kapa Haka
Coming Up
Monday - swimming
Wednesday May 25 - Bake Sale
Friday 10 June
Science Roadshow
The roadshow (hands on science activities) is being held at Howick Intermediate School so we will be able to walk up there and back, saving on bus fares. We will be splitting Rooms 4 to 6 into 2 groups. One group will have their session from 9.30 to 10.50 (not including walking time). The other group will have their session from 1.35 to 2.55 (not including walking time). We will need a few parents to walk with the children and help during the activities. We will let you know soon, what time your child is going. We will ensure that they are grouped so that they can still do their art, dance or kung fu classes that day.
Room 4
Newsletter Term 2 Week 1
We had a great day on Thursday at the Botanical Gardens. The activities related well to our concept
learning and the children really enjoyed themselves as well. There will be some great photos on the class
blog. Thank you to those parents who
were able to help. It was much
appreciated.
Lloyd
Elsmore Swimming
This starts on Monday. The bus will pick the class up and take us
down to Lloyd Elsmore Pools. We have a ½
an hour session with swimgym instructors.
The children will then get changed back into their uniforms and back on
the bus back to school. If you do not
wish for your child to participate please contact me via email or in person to
discuss this.
Named Clothing
This is also a good time to
check that all your children’s clothing is named. If someone puts on the wrong
piece of clothing it’s much easier to return.
A brand new hat with Sarai
Brand’s name in it is missing. Please check your children’s hats. There is also
a school sports uniform top missing.
Extra Curricular Activities
The extra curricular classes
that happen on Fridays are still running this term. If you do not want your child to partcipate
this term please let the instructors know.
Kungfu and Art will now be at 10am and Dance will be at 1:30pm.
Kapa Haka
This starts next week and will
be on Fridays at 11:45am. It is optional
and the children are asked if they would like to join in. This is taught by Whaea Brenda.
Reading
Homework
If for some reason your child does not have a reader as expected,
they can read from a book on Sunshine Online. You could also read to them that
night and talk about any words they don’t understand, ask them questions, ask
them to talk about part of the story with justification for their views or
retell the story in their own words
Username: howick
Password: howick
SRA Lab Reading Programme
Most students are working on an individualised independent reading programme that focuses on comprehension and spelling patterns. Only 2 groups will continue to read to the teacher during class time. The others have books in their group reading boxes that they can choose from to bring home or are reading books of their choice.
Mathletics
Homework
It is great to hear how exicted the children are about how many
points they are earning on Mathletics each night. We also run a fortnightly competition within
the school for the class with the most points overall.
This week
May 9-13:
Monday
Library
1.30 - 3.00 Lloyd Elsmore
Swimming
Thursday
Grandparents’ Day (or any other relative,
family friend)
Starts
around 9.15 and finishes with morning tea in the hall at 10.15
2.15: School Assembly
Friday
Bring
sports uniform
Coming Up
Monday
May 16
Last
day for Scholastic orders (Lucky Books)
Room 4 Newsletter End of Term 1
It’s been a long term! The children are tired and can now enjoy their 2 weeks break.
If they are complaining about being bored they can always do some Mathletics or reading on Sunshine online!
Hats have come home today. Please keep these at home until the 4th term.
Stationery
Most children still have spare pencils and a gluestick for when they need them. They may need a blue ballpoint pen or a new ruler.
Uniforms
Just a reminder that long sleeved shirts are available at the uniform shop in Highland Park, if your child feels the cold. Undershirts must not hand down below the sleeves if wearing the short sleeved shirts or dresses.
Sports uniform is required in Term 2.
Coming Up
Term 2
Monday May 2
First day back at school after holidays
Thursday May 5
Middle School trip to Botanic Gardens
All parent help offered for supervision on the trip is accepted.
Friday May 6
Free mufti for Kowhai whanau
Monday May 9
Swimming lessons at Lloyd Elsmore pools start. A letter went home last week.
Thursday May 12
Grandparents (or other family members) Day
9.15 - 11.00
This is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents (or any other family member/family friend) to spend some time at school with the children. The morning will finish with morning tea at 10.15.
If grandparents are overseas it may be possible to Skype them. This would be easiest if your child has Skype set up on their own device. If you want to do this with a school device we will need to know right at the beginning of the term so that we have time to set it up.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1 Week 11
Notices
It’s been a busy time for notices. You should have got the Digital Citzenship and Botanic Gardens Trip notices. Both these need to be returned this week please. There was also a notice about photo ordering. There are envelopes at the office if doing this online doesn’t suit.
You will be getting a notice about BYOD (Bring your own device) early next week. This is optional and so only return the notice if you wish to take up this option.
Wheels Day
While the Seniors are at camp, the Juniors and middle School will have a wheels day. This is planned for Tuesday April 12, after lunch (the last week of the term). Flyer attached.
Parking on Tuesday and Friday
Next Tuesday (12th April) the senior school are going to camp. They will be arriving at school from 8am and should all be here by 8.30. They will be leaving at approximately 9.15. The buses will be in our car park. Consequently, we will be coning off the area outside the gates so the buses can turn around easily. Please do not park by the cones, or in the drop-off area as camp parents will be dropping their children with their bags there. If possible, can you please drop your children off in Juliet Avenue or Freyberg Place for the morning. Alternatively, bring your children to school after 8.30 and be prepared to park a little further down the road.
The campers will be coming back at approximately 3pm on Friday and the same will apply. Cones will be on the road and parents will be here to pick up their children from camp. Please try to avoid this area.
Thank you for your help with this.
Activity Fee
At least $30 of the activity fee needs to be paid by Tuesday May 3 in order for your child to attend the trip and to continue to have access to Mathletics.
Uniforms
Over the holidays can you please check your child's uniform to make sure it is all neat, tidy and correct. Please check the side seams on the shirts as often these start to tear away, check and fix hems, check buttons and replace these if they are missing. We expect the children's uniform to be neat and tidy.
Shoes must be completely black and sensible for school. Socks are white OR black - no colours please. The girls can wear black or white tights.
There must not be anything showing under the uniform so if your child feels the cold, you could visit the uniform shop in Highland Park and purchase a long sleeved HPS shirt.
They do not need hats in terms 2 and 3. Hair ties must be black, brown, white or burgundy only.
No jewellery (necklaces or bracelets) are to be worn to school unless it is culturally or of religious significance. If this is the case, please inform the class teacher in writing. Small plain gold or silver ear studs may be worn.
Jackets - any type of jacket can be worn to school but once at school, this must be left in the cloak bay. There are HPS jackets at the uniform shop too and these can be worn during the day.
All year 3 to 6 children must have the correct sports uniform for sport from now on. This is especially important in case they get muddy on the field.
Thank you for helping keep HPS a great looking school!
Sowers Trust Parent Courses
See the attached flyer
Mathletics
Room 4 were the class winners again this week. Great work!
These results are for the last 2 weeks:
Lots of Silver certificates: Shayne, Isabella, Luke, Devya, Micah, Tuia, Gianni
Top Scorers:
Year 3: James, Tuia, Gianni, Shayne
Year 4: Avijeet, Devya, Isabella, Hironari
This week
April 11 - 15:
Monday
Library
Tuesday
Wheels day
Friday
Bring back Reading Logs
Ice blocks
Last day of Term 1 - School closes for 2 weeks of holiday
Coming Up
Term 2
Monday May 2
First day back at school after holidays
Thursday May 5
Middle School trip to Botanic Gardens
Friday May 6
Free mufti for Kowhai whanau (letter attached)
Monday May 9
Swimming lessons at Lloyd Elsmore pools start. A letter went home last week.
Blog Update
You can now search for your child's work using the labels on the side.
Also, if you scroll to the bottom you can follow the blog by email or by Google+.
Mathletics Homework
Coming Up
Kind regards
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1 Week 10
Swimming
The school pool is now closed for the summer. There will be no more swimming this term. Swimming lessons at Lloyd Elsmore pools will start on Monday May 9 (the second week of Term 2). There will be more information on this soon.
Wheels Day
While the Seniors are at camp, the Juniors and middle School will have a wheels day. This is planned for Tuesday April 12, after lunch (the last week of the term). More information to come.
BYOD (bring your own device)
We plan to start allowing the children to bring their own devices to school, for those who wish to take up this option. This will start at the beginning of Term 2. A letter will come home on Monday, which everyone has to sign as it relates to digital citizenship when using any devices. A second letter will come home the following week. This also needs to be signed and returned to school before the children can bring and use their own devices.
Trip & Activity Fee
On Thursday May 5 (the first week back after the holidays) the Middle School are going on a trip to the Botanic Gardens. We will need parent helpers. A notice will come home on Monday. At least $30 of the activity fee needs to be paid by Tuesday May 3.
PTA Clothing Sale
Please bring your preloved clothes to the office before and after school for the PTA Clothing sale. The sale is Saturday 9th April 10.30am-4pm in the school hall. All items will be $2. There is a pre-sale on Friday 8th April 3.30-4.30pm for $10 entry where you have the chance to have first choice.
Uniforms
All Year 3s and 4s will need a sports uniform after the holidays.
If you are buying new shoes please make sure they are all black and suitable for sports.
Girls and dresses
As a modesty measure, could girls who wear dresses please wear black shorts/bike pants under their dresses. These should not show when the girls are walking or standing.
Opera
TV3’s NewsHub was at recording at the Opera Performance on Wednesday. They are planning to run an item on the news over the weekend.
Also, check out Room 4 on the front page of the Eastern Courier, as they practise a lockdown emergency.
This week
April 3-8:
Sunday
Daylight Savings ends
Monday
Library
Bake Sale
Lunchtime Chess Open Day
Tuesday
Planning Day for Middle School teachers (relievers in Rooms 4, 5 and 6)
Thursday
School Assembly (certificates from last time will be given out)
Friday
Bring back Reading Logs
Ice blocks
Coming Up
Friday April 15 - School closes for 2 weeks of holiday
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1 Week 9
It has been another busy week in Room 4 this week. We have been learning about bugs so a bug hunt in the garden would be a fun activity over Easter weekend! We will not be keeping bugs at school as it is very hard to keep them alive successfully. Better to look and let them go. Hope you all have a lovely long weekend!
Easter
Just a reminder that school is closed on Tuesday the 29th of March.
Opera
On Wednesday 30th March, the NZ Opera in Schools Tour is coming to HPS! This is a fantastic opportunity for the children to experience something new. The cost will be approximately $5 and will come out of the Activity Fee.
The show will start at 1.30 and go for 45 minutes, with a 10 minute question time at the end. The Opera is called The Elixir of Love. It is in English and has been designed especially for school children.
Bake Sale - Monday April 4
Fundraising for camp.
Most baking $1
PTA Clothing Sale
Please bring your preloved clothes to the office before and after school for the PTA Clothing sale. The sale is Saturday 9th April 10.30am-4pm in the school hall. All items will be $2. There is a pre-sale on Friday 8th April 3.30-4.30pm for $10 entry where you have the chance to have first choice.
Term 2 Uniforms
All Year 3s and 4s will need a sports uniform.
If you are buying new shoes please make sure they are all black and suitable for sports.
Reading Homework
If for some reason your child does not have a reader as expected, they can read from a book on Sunshine Online. You could also read to them that night and talk about any words they don’t understand, ask them questions, ask them to talk about part of the story with justification for their views or retell the story in their own words.
Username: howick
Password: howick
It is great to hear how exicted the children are about how many points they are earning on Mathletics each night. I will update successes next week after 2 weeks.
This week
March 21- 24:
Monday
School closed
Tuesday
School closed
Wednesday
No Class Swimming
Opera
Friday
Class Swimming
Friday April 1
March anniversary children bring home their report folders
Please return these as soon as you finished with them.
Please return any February ones now.
Sunday April 3 - Daylight Saving ends
Friday April 15 - School closes for 2 weeks of holiday
Thursday May 5 - Middle School Trip to the Botanic Gardens. We will need parent helpers. A notice will come home soon. Activity Fee payments need to be up to date.
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1 Week 8
Thank you for attending the three way conferences this week. It was great that Katherine could attend most conferences too. We really enjoyed meeting with you all and having the opportunity to share your child’s successes and learning goals.
Reading Homework
If for some reason your child does not have a reader as expected, they can read from a book on Sunshine Online. You could also read to them that night and talk about any words they don’t understand, ask them questions, ask them to talk about part of the story with justification for their views or retell the story in their own words.
Username: howick
Password: howick
If you have a tablet/iPad there are free apps for Sunshine online and Mathletics.
Easter
Just a reminder that it is Easter next week. School will be closed from Friday 25th of March until Tuesday 29th of March.
PTA Clothing Sale
Please bring your preloved clothes to the office before and after school for the PTA Clothing sale. The sale is Saturday 9th April 10.30am-4pm in the school hall. All items will be $2. There is a pre-sale on Friday 8th April 3.30-4.30pm for $10 entry where you have the chance to have first choice.
This week
March 21- 24:
Monday
World Downs Syndrome Fundraising
Mufti and Funky Socks
Gold coin
More information on the notices page of the room 4 blog.
Library
Maori and Pasifika parent consultation evening
Contact the office for more information if needed
Tuesday
Class Swimming
Library
Wednesday
No Class Swimming
Thursday
2.15: School Assembly
Friday
Good Friday - No school
Coming Up
Easter (see above)
Friday April 1
March anniversary children bring home their report folders
Please return these as soon as you finished with them.
Sunday April 3 - Daylight Saving ends
Friday April 15 - School closes for 2 weeks of holiday
Mathletics this week
What an awesome week with everyone earning some points and many certificates awarded. Great effort team!
Silver Certificates to Sarai and Vanessa - Great perseverance!
Top scorers Monday - Friday this week:
Year 3s - Joerick, James, Sarai
Year 4s - Aidan, Avijeet, Tammy
Kind regards
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1 Week 7
Conferences
Just a reminder that regular classes finish at 12.30 on Thursday.
If your supervision arrangement for Thursday changes please email me (or phone the school office if it changes on Thursday).
If you have not yet booked a time to meet me yet, there are still times available
The school code is ust2q
A copy of the letter is attached and also uploaded to the class blog.
Mathletics Homework
As part of the homework programme, we encourage students to spend approximately 3 x 20 minutes on Mathletics during the course of the week.
Tips and Pointers:
The ? button on the right-hand side will go through an activity step by step. This will help explain how to complete an activity if you’re stuck.
The speaker symbol indicates that if you click on the words, the computer will read them aloud.
Students should complete each activity twice. Each time there will be new questions. This will help develop mastery of the concept.
Points are allocated when an entire activity is completed.
1000 points are needed to gain a bronze certificate.
Mathletics is also part of the classroom programme.
If you have any questions, please email either Katherine or Judy and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Swimming
The pool should be open again next week. Let’s hope there is no more vandalism.
Room 4 will not be swimming on Wednesdays anymore, just Mondays and Fridays.
Road Patrol
Granny Mary, who very kindly gives up her time to supervise the crossing before and after school every day, is away for the next two weeks.
If you are available to supervise road patrol, even for one morning or afternoon during the next two weeks, it would be much appreciated.
Mornings: 8.25 - 8.50 approximately
Afternoons: 2.55 - 3.15 (12.25 - 12.45 on Thursday) approximately
Email me if you are able to help.
This week
March 14 - 18:
Monday
Library
Tuesday
Class Swimming
3.15: Parent, Child, Teacher Conferences
Wednesday
No Class Swimming
Thursday
12.30: Parent, Child, Teacher Conferences
Friday
Bible
Kung Fu, Art, Dance classes
Ice blocks for sale $1
Return Reading Logs (Put in the box before school)
Class Swimming
Coming Up
Monday March 21
World Downs Syndrome Day Fundraiser
Wear odd socks for gold coin donation.
Monday March 21
Maori and Pasifika Families’ consultation evening
Personal invitations have been sent out. If you didn’t get an invitation and would like to attend, please let me know.
Friday March 25 to Tuesday March 29
The school will be closed over this Easter holiday. Note that schools are also closed on the Tuesday of Easter.
Mathletics Homework
Room 4 was the school Mathletics winner again this last week.
Avijeet and James were in the top 3 students in the school.
Results (Monday to Friday)
Congratulations on having earned a silver certificate: Alyssa, Alex, Raegan, Avijeet, Luke, Kayla
Top Year 3 students: James, Tuia, Sarai
Top Year 4 students: Avijeet, Kayla, Raegan
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1 Week 6
The Swim Carnival was a great success. The sun shone and the children did themselves proud with participation and swimming their hardest. The children (and adults) were pretty exhausted after their big day. We had a quiet afternoon! Many thanks to any of you who supported the event by helping out. It is much appreciated.
Testing is over apart from catch-ups for those who missed their tests. Classroom programmes will be back to normal this week.
Jewellery
Just a reminder that jewellery is not to be worn at school. For those with pierced ears, earrings should be small plain studs. If your child wears a necklace of cultural or religious significance all the time, please let us know by letter or email. Otherwise your child will be asked to remove the item and we will hold it safely until hometime.
Now that the Swim Carnival is over we will be cutting back on our class swimming times to give us more time for the other learning areas. Check the week’s programme to see when we are swimming this week. Next term the children will take part in seven free weekly swimming lessons at Lloyd Elsmore pool. They will be taught in small groups.
Maths
We are fortunate to have Mrs Desiree Stuart to take a group of children from each class at Maths time. This will reduce the numbers in our classes to allow us all to better meet the needs of all our students at Maths time. The children concerned will get a letter next week.
Reading Homework
If for some reason your child does not have a reader as expected, they can read from a book on Sunshine Online. You could also read to them that night and talk about any words they don’t understand, ask them questions, ask them to talk about part of the story with justification for their views or retell the story in their own words.
Username: howick
Password: howick
This week
March 7 - 11:
Monday
Library
Tuesday
No Class Swimming
David Kinane (an e-learning expert) will be in Room 4 at that time to work with the children on giving useful feedback on the blog.
Wednesday
Bees Mufti ($2) and Hotdog Day ($2)
More information to come from the PTA.
No Class Swimming
Thursday
2.15: School Assembly
Room 4 are sharing their Science butterfly and balloon experiments at assembly this week.
Friday
Bible
Kung Fu, Art, Dance classes
Ice blocks for sale $1
Return Reading Logs (Put in the box before school)
Class Swimming
Coming Up
March 15 & 17
Three-way Conferences
School classes will finish at 12.30 on Thursday 17th. Children can either go home or be supervised at school for the afternoon. Think about any arrangements you need to make for this.
Booking information will be available shortly.
Friday March 25 to Tuesday March 29
The school will be closed over this Easter holiday. Note that schools are also closed on the Tuesday of Easter.
Mathletics Homework
Results (Monday to Friday)
Top Year 3 students: James and Shayne
Top Year 4 students: Andrew
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1
Week 5
What a glorious evening for the
family Picnic last night. Everyone looked like they were having fun. Leyette
Callister and Suzie were good sports and endured the ice bucket challenge with
aplomb! Thanks for those who contributed to this fundraiser.
Class Blog
Room 4 have been busy on the
blog. Most of the work is in its working state (not teacher corrected). We are
learning to give peer feedback as part of the writing process so the posts are
a work in progress.
Check out what your child has
been up to.
This week
February 29 - March 4:
Monday
Testing 9 -
10.40 for Year 4s
Library
Tuesday
Katherine
Kittson in Room 4 for the morning
Testing 9 - 10.40
for Year 3s and 4s
Class Swimming
Wednesday
Class and
Individual Photos:
Tidiest and
correct uniforms and hair ties please.
Room 4 are one
of the first classes to have photos taken.
Class Swimming
Thursday
Swim Carnival
Reminders:
two named towels
named swimming
togs
named cap
named goggles
(optional)
named whanau
coloured tee/polo shirt (or their school sports shirt or a white tee/polo shirt
if they do not have the right colour)
something warm
to put over their togs between races (named)
a named water
bottle
named sunblock
Friday
Bible starts
Ice blocks for sale $1
Return Reading Logs (Put in the
box before school)
Class Swimming
February Anniversary National
Standard Certificates home (Year 3 only)
Coming Up
Wednesday March
9:
Bee Mufti $2 (details to come)
Hotdog Lunch $2 (pre-order, more information to come)
March 15 &
17
Three-way Conferences
School classes will finish at 12.30
on Thursday 17th. Children can either go home or be supervised at
school for the afternoon. Think about any arrangements you need to make for
this.
Mathletics
Homework
Room 4 was the school Mathletics winner this last week.
Avijeet was one of the top 3 students in the school.
Results (Monday to
Friday last week)
Congratulations on having earned a silver certificate: Andrew
Top Year 3 students: Sarai, Gianni, Alex
Top Year 4 students: Avijeet, Andrew
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1
Week 4
The children will be sitting tests this coming week and the following week. It would be really helpful if you did not make appointments for the children on the days when they have tests.
Help needed:
Our Swim Carnival is coming up soon (Thursday March 3rd). We will need helpers for various jobs and activities in the morning and/or afternoon. A notice will come home early next week outlining this in more detail. We are always very appreciative of parent support as we cannot run the variety of activities without extra help.
This week
February 22 - 26:
Monday
Testing 9 - 10.40
Library
Last Day for ordering Lucky Books (Orders go in the box by the office.)
Tuesday
Testing 9 - 10.40
Swimming
Wednesday
Testing 9 - 10.40
Swimming
Thursday
Testing 9 - 10.40
School Assembly
Friday
Ice blocks for sale $1
Bake Sale
Return Reading Logs (Put in the box before school)
Swimming
5pm Family Picnic
Coming Up
Monday 29:
Testing 9 - 10.40
Tuesday 1
Testing 9 - 10.00
Thursday 3
Swim Carnival
March 15 & 17
Three-way Conferences
Room 4 Newsletter Term 1
Week 3
The children have settled into routine well. It’s our first full week coming up. Let’s hope we all survive in this heat!
Mathletics
Passwords remain the same for children who had access last year. All children will have their password glued into their Reading Log Notebook, which will come home next week.
Reading Log
Instructions for how to fill this in are in the notebook. Remember, your child can fill this in.
These come back to school on Fridays only.
Any reading can be recorded, including being read to and Sunshine on Line.
User name: howick
Password: howick
This is a digital literacy programme with levelled e-books and activities.
While the children have access to all levels, it is suggested they choose from the levels that relate to their classroom reading levels. If you are not sure email or speak to me about this.
Education Outside the Classroom Permission
If you have not returned this yet slip, please do so as soon as possible.
Copy of the records we keep at the office
Please check this information. Write any corrections on the sheet and return it to me. If it’s correct, make a note to that effect and return it so that we know it’s been checked.
Survey
It would help us get to know your child better if you could fill in the survey.
Thanks
This week
Monday
Library
Funky Feet Monday
Free event. To promote the Walking School Bus, children are asked to wear a colourful pair of socks to school on Monday with their shoes or sandals. They'll be in the draw to win a prize.
Tuesday
Swimming
Wednesday
Swimming
Friday
Ice blocks for sale $1
Swimming
Coming Up
Weeks 4 & 5:
Formal Testing
Monday 22:
Lucky Book orders due
Thursday 25
School Assembly
Friday 26
5pm Family Picnic
March 15 & 17
Three-way Conferences
Room 4’s Weekly
Term
1 Week 2, 2016
It’s been a busy start to the year and the
class has settled well. I hope you all enjoy your long weekend.
Room
4’s Teachers
I will be teaching in Room 4 Monday to
Thursday. Katherine will teach Room 4 on Fridays. If I need to be away, we will use Katherine to
teach Room 4 as much as possible to keep disruption to a minimum. Katherine and
I talk frequently (and I forward relevant emails to her) to ensure the class
runs smoothly, whichever one of us is teaching. We both have different
strengths so this is a bonus for the children. Please talk to either of us
about any concerns you may have.
The
following information will help you assist your child to become independent and
organised for school:
During the hot weather it is helpful for the children to
have a bottle of water on their desks to avoid dehydration. Other drinks
can be kept in their bags for break times.
A school uniform sunhat must be worn when outdoors
during terms 1 and 4. Putting on sunblock in the mornings is a useful
precaution. You may also wish to provide sunblock for your child to reapply at
lunchtime or before long periods outside e.g. sports.
Our swimming days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday weather permitting, although we will
swim in the rain if it is warm. All children are expected to participate in the
school swimming programme. However, if your child is sick or injured please
send a note or email to excuse them from that day’s swimming. Please ensure all
items of your child’s uniform are clearly
named to avoid mix-ups. All children will wear a cap in the pool. Caps are
available at the school office for $6.00.
Our library day this term is Monday. The Year 3 children are allowed three books at a time and
the Year 4s can have four books. They
can have them for two weeks.
Homework is expected. It is recommended that
all children read for at least 15 mins per night and spend a similar amount of
time practising basic facts, number knowledge and/or times tables. Maths
homework will be set through Mathletics.
Homework sheets will not
be provided.
We value all kinds of reading, whether it is a book
read at school that day, a library book or other reading material chosen by the
child. Independent readers can choose their own reading material and may not
bring home readers that have been read with the teacher.
Reading should be recorded in their reading notebook. The
children can do this themselves. The notebook should then be returned to school
on a Friday for the teacher to see what has been read.
We also feel
that being read to by a parent, member of the extended family or an older
brother or sister is important. Discussing the story is a good way of
increasing comprehension.
Each term the children’s knowledge and quick recall of basic facts and times tables will be
assessed. A more detailed and personalised sheet will be given out in the next
couple of weeks to give you an idea of what your child needs to work on.
Please make sure your child has their Junior book bag or a
sturdy plastic bag to keep books (and notices) clean and dry in their
schoolbags.
Ice block Fridays - $1 Money collected by the teacher in the morning. Children take a
token to collect their ice block after lunch eating. Only one ice block per
child.
Part way through the morning we have a fresh fruit or
vege snack time. We find the children need a top up before the morning tea
break and this is a way to encourage healthy eating. This is optional.
We would appreciate it if you could send a large box of tissues
to school ready for when the inevitable sniffles come with the change of
weather. We will look after these and put them out for the children to use as
needed.
Coming
Up:
Meet the Teacher
6.30: Thursday February 11
The Middle School will be meeting at 6.30
in Room 4, followed by a whole school meeting in the hall at 7.00. Juniors and
Seniors will meet after that so if you have other children at these levels you
can catch their meetings too.
Family Picnic
Friday February 26 (Detail to come)
Communication:
Please feel free to email Katherine and I
if you have any questions or information for us.
Tuesdays and Wednesday after school and
before school Thursdays are meeting days for me so are not the best times to
catch me.
So that we can communicate with you via
email, could you please clearly write your email address/addresses on the
attached slip.
Weekly Newsletters and most school notices
will come via email and will be posted on the class blog - much nicer than
squashed notices covered in left over lunch!
If you haven’t ‘liked’ the HPS Facebook
Page yet, this is also a well-used way of reminding you about events that are
coming up. The HPS website also has useful information and school newsletters.
During the year, as part of the programme, we may take short
walks/runs around the local streets. The utmost care will be taken to ensure
everyone’s safety. Some children may be involved with group trips during class
time for example sport, choir or chess. Please fill in the attached slip
indicating whether or not you give permission for these walks/runs or group
trips. Whole class trips will still need your permission even though the cost
will be covered by the activity fee.
Kind regards
Judy Coker & Katherine Kittson
Welcome to
Room 4
My name is Judy Coker and I am
looking forward to teaching Year 3 & 4 again in 2016. I will be teaching in
Room 4 from Monday to Thursday each week.
I am married with two grown up
children. I enjoy gardening, sewing, art and travel.
I trained in Auckland many
years ago and refreshed my qualifications more recently when I studied for a
year fulltime to complete my Bachelor of Education and 2 years part time to
complete the Honours Degree. I taught for 8 years before taking time out to
have children and to be a Playcentre Mum. I have been teaching full time at HPS
since 1995.
My name is Katherine Kittson. I will
be the teacher in Room 4 on Fridays.
I am married with three wonderful
girls.
www.2016hpsrm4.blogspot.com is our class blog address for 2016. Please check this over
the holidays or ideally click the follow button so you will receive instant
updates throughout the school year.
School opens on Tuesday, February 2nd
with classes starting 8:50am. Students benefit from arriving from 8:30am
onwards to give them time to prepare for learning and play with friends.
Please could you make sure your
child brings all their named stationery to school on the first day of term. Your child will also need to have a pencil
case to store their pencils, glue, eraser, pens etc to help keep them together.
This needs to be able to fit inside their desk so please make sure it’s not too
big. J
2016 Dates for Term 1:
Monday
February 1st
|
§ Auckland Anniversary
Day (no school)
|
Tuesday
February 2nd
|
§ School Starts
|
§ Welcome Powhiri
|
|
§ Swimming Starts for
Year 3-6
|
|
Monday
February 8th
|
§ Waitangi Day holiday
(no school)
|
Thursday
February 11th
|
§ 6.30: Meet the Teacher
|
Friday
February 26th
|
§ HPS Family Picnic
|
March
15th & 17th
|
§ HPS Conferences
|
Have a safe and happy holidays. We
look forward to an exciting learning partnership with you in the New Year.
Kind Regards,
Judy Coker and Katherine Kittson
