Singers For Carols In The Park

St John the Baptist Church's turn to organise the carols in the park - this Sunday 20th.
Mrs Lyon and Mrs Flannery are keen to take a group to share some Christmas songs. Please check last week's newsletter for the exact time.  If your children would like to take part and give a gift of singing to the Alexandra community for Christmas, please email either:
Mrs Flannery julieflannery@stgerards.school.nz or
Mrs Lyon carolynlyon@stgerards.school.nz

The more the merrier, but they would like to know that they have some definite starters before committing to this.
Thanks everyone.

Week 10 Term 4

Unbelievable, the last week!
Thank you Adam for stepping up to present your eisteddfod at the last minute on Thursday, as both Sophie and Casey were sick. Congratulations too, go to those who sang - fantastic work.  I was so proud of you, Annajhay, Sully, Mason and Lars.

Library Books:
Still a few people who have 3 out under their names. Tomorrow I will post the names and book titles in case you have lost your slip of paper.  Thanks so much for your help in getting all these in.

Reading Books and Journals: Most of these are in however it's fantastic to see some still dribbling in. Loretta has put most of these away - thank you so much, Loretta. Please get these to school tomorrow.

Hi Viz Jackets: need to be returned to the plastic box in the foyer by the office. We returned many on Friday, but at least half the class had theirs at home.  Please have a good look for these.

Togs & Towel:  for Tuesday afternoon.  We'll have a last sprinkle for the year.  The weather really warmed up again this afternoon.

Graduation Mass: 6pm Tuesday 15th. Please be seated with the class by 5:50pm, this will mean that we can start on time, which is important for our families with younger children. Dress: summer uniform with sandals or uniform socks and shoes. NO runners and pink socks!

End of Year Prize Giving: 1pm Wednesday in the church. Rooms 1, 2 & 3 will welcome everyone with Kapahaka.  Rooms 3 & 4 also will be singing as will the Year 3-8 Kapahaka group. Be there to celebrate with your talented children.  I'm very proud of what they are doing. Keep working on the words for the Rooms 3 & 4 songs.

School finishes at lunch time on Thursday, so children may be collected at 12:45 or stay for lunch and leave at 1:30.

Thank you all so much for your support of your children, Mrs Lyon and myself over what has been a year full of changes for us all. I wish you all a wonderful family Christmas where memories are made and special stories shared. Check out the Parish Bulletin for the special services to celebrate this season of Christmas  because "Jesus is the reason for the season".

Singing Eisteddfod

The Eisteddfod assembly will be held in the school hall at 1:45 on Thursday.

Those presenting for Year 2 will be: Sophie, Casey, Lars and Mason.

Year 3: Sully and Annajhay.  Get well Annajhay!!

Check the newsletter tomorrow for the order of the presentations.Year 3 will be part of Year 3&4, and Year 2 with Year 1&2.

Week 9 Term 4

Eisteddfod Songs: those people who presented today showed that they had put lots of effort into choosing and practising their songs. Congratulations.  Unfortunately we did not hear all eisteddfods due to Harold and practices for the end of year functions.  Once I have completed the Year 2 presentations tomorrow, I will announce the Year 2 assembly performers and tell the children.  Some Year 3 people have expressed anxiety about performing their eisteddfod in Room 4.  It can be arranged for them to do theirs in Room 3 with Mrs Lyon assessing, please let me know if there is a problem as everyone will present something with support if necessary. The Eisteddfod assembly will be held in the hall on Thursday afternoon - will add the exact time.
Library Books: all back  by Friday please.  Thank you to those people who brought back many books last Friday - you are stars.
Reading: this week reading is learning the words to the songs that we are singing at the break up, and practising your part in the class plays.  Please have a good look around at home for any school reading books that may be under the bed or in book shelves.  As the numbers of children in the junior school has increased - fantastic!! - we are always looking for sets of books for groups and as sets were bought in groups of 6, if 2 people lose a book it makes it difficult, especially as we also have books in browsing boxes. Please check at home as it would be good to have these all back ready for next year.
Maths Buddy: great to see a number of people making the most of learning their maths.

Hard to believe only a few days of the year left.

Let's keep 'filling each other's buckets' as we move through Advent.

Room 3 & 4 Songs for Break Up

Hi All,

End of a very busy week. Glued into the poetry books this week are the words for the 2 songs that our classes will be singing at the Awards Afternoon on 16th December in the church.  Our classes got together for the first time today and we will be spectacular, especially if everyone learns the words.

A good opportunity to get those voices warmed up in preparation for the singing eisteddfod on Monday.
The "Do You See What I See?" song is on youtube if you don't know the tune.  It is a new one for me, but is lovely.  Thank you Mrs Lyon.

Yes!! All poetry books that were at school are in bags, some people still have theirs at home so have the words on papers in their bags.

Togs

With the forecast for very hot days, it would be great if children could bring togs and a towel in a plastic bag to school so that we can cool off under the sprinklers later in the afternoon.  Please have all clothing named.

Week 8 Term 4

Gosh, December this week.

This week we have Harold and Pip on the LIFE Education bus at school, and will be learning in the classroom bus on Thursday, Friday and Monday.

Tomorrow will be our last lesson with Ms Tamati. We made our pois on Friday - thank you Mrs Ryan and a group of girls from Room 5.  We really appreciated your help.  We all have a poi and made some spares for Room  1 & 2. It may be possible to make a spare poi over a lunch time to take home to practise with.

On Tuesday last week, while Year 3 were at the cricket tournament, Loretta spent time with every child working on i-pads, using Maths Buddy. It was a perfect time to have everyone individually assisted and hands on. Be sure to use this programme to maintain your maths and increase your maths knowledge.  It's free till the end of January.

Singing Eisteddfods will be next Monday 7th.  See the Eisteddfod post.

It's time to find all those library books.  For those people who handed in their homework books, the list of books at home is glued in.  I would like all books back by Friday 11the December. As I printed the list prior to issuing (silly me), books issued on Friday are not on the list.  These should be easy to locate, however some people have books going back to February or March.  Please have a good look at home.

As I will be at an appointment on Monday Mrs Robyn Cooney will be teaching in Room 3.  She loves getting back into the classroom.

Homework

1. Reading: every night - please complete your reading log.
2. Maths: Study Ladder or Maths Buddy
3. Singing Eisteddfod: practise your song.
4. Spelling: last sheet for the year this week. Those tricky ones again.  In class we are revising the long "i" spelling pattern

Have a great week.  Remember sun hats and high viz vests.  The sunglasses from the cricket coach will also make a difference to keep Sun Smart.

Singing Eisteddfod

Room 3 Singing Eisteddfods will be presented next Monday 7th December.  Everyone should have decided what they are singing by now.

The assessment sheet for Year 2 is below.  Year 3 will be the same but with marks for the introduction too. I would like Year 2 to think about why they chose their song and begin the presentation with the name of the song and a statement about why they chose it.  Year 3 could also include anything else they have found out about who wrote the lyrics, or who sings it.
Please remember that the song needs to be suitable for our age group - we have sung a variety of songs at Junior School singing, waiata and kapahaka in class, or RE songs. Choose something that you will know the words to already.

Name:  __________________                      Song:  ___________________

WALT:

·       Prepare and present a song to entertain  our class

Introduction
Pitch	/5
Diction	/5
Audience suitability	/5
Preparation	/5
Teacher comment	/20

Help for Poi Making

Anyone available to assist with poi making after play on Friday please?

St John First Aid

What an interesting session we had with Jo from St John.

 

Working with a buddy practising making the 111 call for the emergency services.
This activity had one problem for several of us as we did not know what our address was, or our home phone number, something that I had taken for granted. It would be great if you could check with your child that they know this important information.

.

Real blood to deal with on the birthday girl! How to clean then cover wounds and keep ourselves safe.

Practising putting on bandaids on ourselves correctly.

Real blood for what to do if someone has a bleeding nose.

Week 7 Term 4

What great learning experiences we had last week when meeting people who reuse or recycle books. Lots of people had an eye on some sports books at Wanderlust books, and many have been trying their hand at making Christmas decorations out of books.
Below is a photograph of 3 of these, 2 angels, (one still needing a head) and a Christmas tree with a slightly different design. David also made a lovely Christmas tree to hang on the tree.  Could be that we are into creations by recycling for gifts this year.

Thank you David for reading so well at Monday morning prayer, Sully and Keira for leading the waiata, and Jack O and Keira for leading from the prayer table.  Very proud of everyone with the way you led the school in the waiata.
Quinn's sandals: Quinn left his size 13 sandals under his bag today, but when he went to put them on at the end of the day they were not there - but a smaller pair was.  Can you please check that you don't have these sandals on your child's feet? Might need to have a rule of keeping sandals on all day.  This is the 2nd pair in a week.
Tuesday: Good luck year 3 as you head off to the cricket tournament.  I'm sure that it will be a great day of competition.  Remember that our fitness/sport WALT is "playing fair in games" - a great opportunity to practise this and encourage each other to have a day of FUN.
Wednesday: will see us learning about 1st Aid for an hour with a tutor from St John at 9:15, then a cricket skills session for half an hour at 1:30. Please wear school sports uniform.
Mr Hogue will be in on Tuesday afternoon while I complete (hopefully) the last of the testing.
Thursday 26th 5:30 is the hui for families whose children are enrolled as Maori or from the Pacific. Personal invitations have been sent. Please RSVP to the office or myself by Tuesday afternoon.
Friday: 11:40 - 12:45 Poi Making would be great to have some extra pairs of hands.  We need to make one each and some for Room 1. Room 2 have already made theirs last term.

Homework

Reading: not many people are recording in their reading logs

Spelling: Monday to Thursday. Revision sheets - check out the hard parts of each of these words.

Eisteddfod Song: please write into your homework book the title of the song that you have chosen to sing. I have been told about quite a range of songs. Everyone will present a song. I see that some people refused to present their speech while I was away. This is not a choice and I will support each person to choose something that they are comfortable with, and will assist on the day as well. You can do it!!

Maths: great to see so many people getting on to Maths Buddy. Great lessons to help with your learning before you attempt the questions. Super part to practise speedy basic facts too.

Cricket Tournament for Year 3

Next Tuesday 24th  Year 3 will be attending a cricket tournament for all students in years 3 - 6, with Miss Passmore and either Mrs Ward or Mrs Lyon. All children will need a full lunch and will wear the school sports uniform. Be sure to have some warm clothes to wear as well - if you still have a tracksuit that would be ideal.  Everyone needs to be at school ready to leave at 9am. Children will walk to and from Molyneux Park and will be back at school by 3pm.
If you are able to accompany the group and assist with a team, could you please email Miss Passmore. jopassmore@stgerards.school.nz  
Don't forget school sun hats with wide brims and sun block.
Sounds like a great way to use those throwing, catching and batting skills that we learned last week.

Wanderlust Books Visit

What Happens To Old Books?

Thank you so much Tim, from Wanderlust Books for a fabulous learning experience in your shop this afternoon. Thanks so much Maria and Bernie for walking with us. Tim told us about the books in his shop, where he gets them from, and what happens to the ones that are broken or have missing pages.  Mrs Robinson would have been proud of us, as we have saved 2 books from the ripped up recycling bin - the ones that she especially looks for, as the paper in the pages is the perfect quality for her garlands.  We also brought another couple of books back to use for making an angel or a Christmas tree.  As we left, we all chose a new book mark from a box of bookmarks left in books that have been sold to him - we also saw a real $1 note that someone must have used as a bookmark.

Busy bees helping Tim rip pages from books for the recycling as cardboard and paper.

 

Bobbie is impressed with the smallest book in the shop. The largest was nearly as tall as we are. Annajhay is reading the tiny book in the photograph below.

Tim, thank you so much, I'm sure many of us will be back to see you. I was given a sealed envelope addressed to St Gerards School that we opened on our return to school and we discovered a $100 gift voucher. Thank you so much.

Mason's Sandals

On Monday Mason returned home without his sandals.  We have no spare sandals here at school and Tracey has checked everywhere.  Could you please check that your child has their own sandals and is not wearing a pair with another pair in the wardrobe.

School policy is that shoes/sandals must be worn when leaving school. I will be checking that this is the case each day.  I know that the sandpit is a high use area at the moment and there are always lots of shoes left there - if taking shoes off put them in your bag at the time.  It could be that we have to revert to the rule that we have had at times - shoes stay on all the time.

What Happens To Old Books?

Today Mrs  Robinson visited Room 3 and showed us what she does with old books.  She has left us a Christmas angel and a christmas tree, along with the start to make our own angel which she would love to see when we are finished. Most people are keen to make their own so we will need to source some books to use for this purpose.

Showing us how to start to fold the pages for our class angel.

The Christmas tree that was made from an old book, by cutting pages.

A stunning Christmas garland made with sturdy pages from Readers Digest condensed books.

We showed that we are a really creative class by our questions and ideas.

Thank you Mrs Robinson.

Using Doubles To Solve Problems

WALT: use doubles to work out word problems greater than 10.

Which double would you use? Tell your buddy.

1.            There were 8 lollipops in a jar and James put in another 7.  How many lollipops are in the jar now? 

2.           If there were 6 horses in a field and 5 more joined them.  How many horses are there in the field now?

3.           If there were 9 soccer balls in the bag and Sully put another 8 in.  How many soccer balls are there altogether?  

1+1=2      2+2=4     3+3=6    4+4=8    5+5=10

6+6=12    7+7=14   8+8=16   9+9=18   10+10=20

Do you know all these doubles?  Learn them so you can use them to solve problems.

Learning Poi

Great to have Ms Tamati to introduce poi to us today.  We were surprised that pois were originally for the men of the tribe to strengthen their wrists so that they could be successful warriors and hunters. We practised some of the wrist exercises without pois, 50 in each direction - we had tired wrists. The men started with just a small stone in their poi and as they became stronger the stones became larger until they had small rocks inside their pois. Then the women heard the rhythm of the exercises and made their own from reeds.

We learned how to twirl our pois so that they swung towards us, and also where to hold the string of the poi.

After practising together we all had a turn in front of the class.  Look at the concentration. 

To practise the poi skills at home Ms Tamati suggested getting an old sock, stuffing some screwed up newspaper inside and securing this with a rubber band. Then start practising - remember to use just your wrist not your whole arm or hand. The trickiest part today was the twirl and catch.  Have fun.

Week 6 Term 4

Last week I tested everyone's spelling to see who was ready to move to another level. It was clear that more work needs to be done on recognising long vowels, then sampling to see which spelling pattern looks correct. For those people who handed in their homework books I have written the outcomes of this testing individually.  Amazing to have Archie and Casey reach level 5, which they will start on in 2016.  Please continue to work on the long vowel spelling patterns as we are all working through revision sheets at this stage of the year.  Listen for the sound and recognise the pattern.  We have learned all the patterns during the year.
Inquiry: One of our Inquiry questions was "What happens to old books?"  This week we have Jane Robinson visiting the classroom, on Wednesday afternoon, and we are also going to visit "Wanderlust Books" on Centennial Avenue.  I need 2 or 3 parents to accompany us there on Thursday afternoon - leaving school at 1:45 for a 20 minute or so visit - it is a small but amazing shop. Please let me know by Wednesday if you are available. Hi-viz jackets and sun hats will be worn - please be sure that yours is at school.
Tracksuits: thanks Hayvin for returning yours - Kath has left a bag of lollipops for those returning them.  Please have them in by Tuesday, so that they can be checked in, and any that need repaired sorted before the end of the year.
Friday Mass at 12:00 led by Room 5 and assembly at 2:10 led by Room 2.

Mr Hogue will be continuing with the Science learning on Tuesday morning. Thank you all so much for the yoghurt pottles.  These are all planted up and are in an old desk tray in the school garden. Our sunflower is looking good - as well as watering and feeding it we have been down encouraging it to grow - some talking others singing.

Scooters: as a class I think that we have the most scooters in the school.  A reminder that they need to be placed neatly in the scooter stand before school and after every time you have finished riding, as well as either ridden home or put in the corridor afar school, - at the moment they are quite a hazard - this is the fastest way for us to be asked to keep scooters at home which would be a shame. Another reminder is that shoes must be worn when riding scooters.  We have talked about these things in class.

Homework

1. Reading: yes there has been reading every night - some groups are choosing from browse boxes until we are finished journals with several stories. There have been problems with people bringing these journals back to school each day for reading if they go home.
2. Spelling: say, conduct, listen, tool, listen, record.  Practise the skill involved.
3. Maths Buddy: everyone is registered.
4. Eisteddfod Song: these will be heard on Monday 7th December.  I will put up a separate blog with the WALTs for this.  It needs to be a song that is suitable for the year 2/3 age group.  It can be something that is sung at Junior School singing or one known from RE.  It is expected that the lyrics will be known off by heart.  If a long song is chosen, a couple of verses is fine.

Have a great week.

School Tracksuits

Kath Martin has delivered to me some treats for people as they return their school tracksuits that she has issued this year.  It would be great if these could be returned by next week. Please return these clean and in a plastic bag with your name on it, so that she can check them off quickly. Oh, so many end of year jobs already!!  Where has the year gone?

Hi Viz Vests

Congratulations Room 3 on the number of people who were able to wear their vests when the school walked to and from the cemetery and the Thyme Festival event last week. Every person has been issued with one of these vests which need to be returned to the school at the end of the year ready for distribution next year. Service clubs have been very generous with funds for these, so we need to wear them every day going to and from school.  Come on Room 3, lead the school by example.

Lost Property

With the days becoming warmer, most people are stripping off as the day goes on, and in the afternoons I am finding a trail of clothing outside the classroom after school.  As we are learning to self  manage,what we take off we put in our bags at the time.  This lost property can now be found in the main lost property box outside Room 6, as often the jerseys etc do not all belong to us and other people are looking for what I may have put in our class box. Thanks for encouraging your child to take home all their clothing each day.

Maths Buddy

Maths Buddy log-ins have arrived so I'll make sure that everyone has theirs to take home in their homework books tomorrow - be sure that the homework book is in the homework tray in the morning please.  I'm out of the classroom testing for the morning so will write these in at lunch time.

Week 5 Term 4

Thank you to everyone involved with the school fair yesterday.  Despite the rain everyone seemed to be having a fantastic time.  A huge thank you to Jayne Battrick who came in to Room 3 and made crafts with them - key rings, air dried Christmas decorations and snowflake gift cards. As I was also a 'farmer' on the day needing to attend to irrigation I was most appreciative of both Jayne and Markelle who manned the Room 3&4 stall.
Mihimihi booklets: some people took these home at the end of last term - they were not quite complete, so it would be great to have them back to be finished.
Wednesday: We have science in the morning with Mr Hogue and cricket from 1:30 - 2pm with a visiting cricket coach. Children may wear their school sports uniform to school. This means school sweatshirt/jersey/tracksuit if it is cold - it is not a mufti day.
Friday Shared Lunch: This is Maggie's last week and we will have a shared lunch in our classroom at 12:30 on Friday.  Please bring a plate of finger food to share.
Plastic bags: we will be making pois as part of our Te Reo learning this term, and need New World bags to recycle into these. If anyone has red, white or black wool I would appreciate some balls of these colours.
Yoghurt Pottles for science.Thank you Jenny for bringing more large tube for my box of 'making bits and pieces' - I'm always happy to store useful things that can be recycled when we get all creative.
Maths Buddy: we have been offered this site free till the end of January.  I have registered everyone and am now waiting to get log-ins and passwords. Slightly different from Study Ladder in that each activity has a lesson prior to completing the activity.

Homework

Reading, Spelling, Maths - learning doubles to 10 or 20 and enjoying some of this great outside weather.

St Gerards PTA Teatowels

Yes - after a HUGE day yesterday the PTA are busy with their next fundraiser.  What a fantastic group who do so much to make a difference for your children.

Order forms went home today in book bags - if your child's book bag was at school.  Every child took an order form home.

These are a great keepsake and make ideal Christmas presents.  A sample tea towel is on display in the office area.

Cost:

• 1 tea towel $10
• 3 teatowels $25

Orders must be in by 16th November - that is next Monday.  No late orders will be accepted.

Contact Selena on 027 355 4340 for any queries.

Science Learning with Mr Hogue

The science topic that Mr Hogue will be covering next is 'seeds'. He would like everyone to bring yoghurt pottles for planting seeds in. Please start saving these and bringing them to school.  The first session will be on Wednesday morning.

Friday Mass

Please note that the school will not be leading or attending the Friday Mass, but assembly will be at 2:15 led by Room 1.  We will also be farewelling Wayne Soper, who has been our school caretaker for about 25 years.  He has also regularly driven buses here and there for school trips, coached a variety of sports teams, prepared cricket wickets, run Thursday night touch, always been on hand to do those little jobs for us teachers - the list could go on.

Getwise Financial Literacy

Today we had an awesome Getwise Financial Literacy lesson with the teacher/trainer from the ASB in Auckland. Have a chat to your child about what they learned.

The photograph shows Speedy Sam (Adam),  Jogging Jeff (Jack) and Walking Wilma (Keira) about to compete in the 'Shop Around Game' with their $100 to spend.

Spinners and Weavers at Thyme Festival

After we performed at the Thyme Festival we looked through what was happening for the Thyme Festival.  We saw an amazing photograph taken by Hannah Hutton who won the Year 7 & 8 competition.  Some people were taught how to finger knit by Mrs Taylor and were given a ball of wool to bring home to keep practising.
Thanks so much to these ladies for a really hands on activity. Parents, once again I was told what a wonderful group of respectful students we had.  Makes us all proud of our school out in the community.
Check out the photographs of us enjoying the Spinners and Weavers hands on activities in the St Enochs Lounge.

Matilda's Dream

A Granny plug here!!

Cassidy's Danceworld is presenting an end of year dance show on Sunday 29th November in the Memorial Theatre.  The shows are at 1:30 and 3pm. Tickets are $10 a seat.  The principal dancer of the Australian Ballet Company will also be in the audience!! See me for tickets.

All Souls day Prayer Cards

We all made a prayer card as part of our preparation for the All Souls Day Liturgy at the cemetery.

Week 4 Term 4

Thank you all for your patience as I 'get back on the horse' so to speak. There has just been so much happening with last week being the athletic sports as well as Labour Day, and this week we have been working hard on our items to perform at the Thyme Festival.
Monday saw us having school Kapahaka, and in term 4 year 2 children who are keen to join kapahaka at the beginning of the following year are offered the opportunity to observe/take part in Kapahaka so that they can decide whether it is for them. This week we practised the action song for the Thyme Festival which fortunately for them was one that we have learned as a class and so we will have an extra row of some Year 2's in our main Kapahaka group.  It would have been great to have included all of them, however some are still working on being at performance standard for the Year 3-8 group.  Their turn will come.
Junior Kapahaka, which is our Te Reo learning for this term began on Monday with Hayvin stepping up as the group leader and Alia as the 'singing starter'. The new song is a poi and we will be making our own pois this term to use when we perform at the Sports Awards on 16th December.  I am also excited that Kevin O'Neill has agreed to share his Kapahaka skills with us as he can.
All Soul's Day Liturgy at the cemetery was very special with beautiful weather. Thank you Tracey (Mason's mum) for bringing in such beautiful flowers. The children made heart prayer cards to place on the altar as part of the liturgy. Great to see some parents and grandparents join us for this celebration.
Thyme Festival Performance is at 12:00 on Wednesday on the grass between St Enoch's and Community House. We will be leaving school at 11:40 and would appreciate having some parents to walk with us. Children will need warm jackets as well as sun hats as it is hard to know what this changeable weather will bring. After the performance I have organised with Anna Robinson for our class and Room 4 to have a look at the activities and displays associated with the festival.
Getwise Financial Literacy will be taught on Thursday morning by a visiting instructor. This is a new initiative, so it will be interesting all round to see what the children take from this session.
Father Pat visited our room today to talk about saints, which is our current Religious Education theme, and shared information with us about Mother Suzanne Aubert who came to New Zealand from France and worked initially with the Sisters of Mercy before setting up her own religious order the Sisters of Compassion.  You may want to research further about this special person at home.
Library Books/Library Day is every Friday.  Taking home a new book each week is part of the reading programme so it is important to bring back those books that are at home.  Now is a good time to check under the beds or in book shelves at home for books that have slipped under the radar.
Mass 12:00 this Friday led by Room 6.
Assembly 2:15 led by Room 1

Homework

1. Reading: every night - please complete your log - we are back into the reading programme despite a few interruptions.
2. Spelling: lists are in homework books - very exciting to see so many people score full marks last week.  Remember that these words are to practise the skills of Spelling Alive - not just to learn them off by heart.
3. Maths: check out Study Ladder - great that we have new computers in our room so people can keep practising their maths skills too.
4. Religious Education - learn the words for Thank You, God - the song Years 1-3 are performing at the Thyme Festival

Important

IMPORTANT

Central Otago Athletics are postponed until THURSDAY!!!

TONIGHT AT 5.45 at Central Cinema Wattie's Can's Film Festival.

You can attend The Minnon movie for a donation of a can of food.

The cans will be collected by the Salvation Army and Watties will match every can. These are handed out at Christmas time.

Thyme Festival

On Wednesday we will be leaving for lunch at the park at 11.40am. If you are able to walk down with us that would be great. The concert starts at 12pm. We are singing!!!

Monday 2nd November - All Souls Day

As well as it being Mufti Day for the school fair - see the information in the last blog, we will be celebrating an All Soul's Day Liturgy at the Alexandra Cemetery, leaving the school at 1:30pm. Everyone will need to have a sunhat!!! If children wish they may bring flowers to place on special graves. Parents are welcome to join us.

MONDAY

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the school fair so far.  On Monday 2 Nov we are going to hold a School Fair Mufti day where instead  of bringing along a cold coin donation, each child brings 1 item for the fair.  Please select from the following list.
- Mystery Bottle, or
- Grocery Item for Raffle, or
- Kitchen or Household Item for the White Elephant

With Regards
School Fair Committee

Black out day FRIDAY

Tomorrow we are having a black out day to support The All Blacks as the get ready to take on Australia in the world cup rugby final.
Children are welcome to wear black to show their support.
Children are also welcome to wear their uniforms if they do not wish to wear black.
Go the All Blacks

Week 3 Term 4

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back. It seems as if I am hitting the floor running with so much happening.  I have spent tonight getting my head around the activities that are scheduled for the term.
Thanks Jo and Julie for the information about the athletic sports tomorrow. The weather forecast looks good so remember to bring your sunhat & sun block as well as something warm to pop on should that wee cool breeze blow through - I can still see snow on tops. Plenty to eat and plenty of water. Most important thing tomorrow is to go hard, have a go and encourage each other.  I know that you are all fantastic at that.  There are co-operation points available.
Athletic Sports are at the Molyneux Stadium - exciting that we all get to run on the competition track at the stadium.

I have given a few people a new homework/poetry book today from the spare book tray. For many the original books are full so we will use just the one book for both purposes till the end of the year. Please find your book if it is at home!!

Eisteddfod this term is a song. Our class sounds like a choir so we all have super voices. Eisteddfods will be heard on Monday 7th December with the Eisteddfod assembly on Thursday 10th at 1:30.

Homework:
Homework books came home tonight with this week's spelling tooled and ready to go.  Please choose a book to read as we worked on an imaginary pet today as a follow up to the Pet Day last Friday. You can expect to see some amazing pets in the poetry books when they come home on Friday.  What creative brains we have in our room.

Athletics day Bus children

Athletics day tomorrow
IMPORTANT NOTICE
BUS CHILDREN
Letts Gully and Galloway bus children will be dropped at Terrace school in the morning and will walk to  Molyneux Park.
Omakau and Clyde bus children will be dropped at Dunstan High and will walk to Molyneux Park.
All bus children will be transported back to school at the end of the day to catch buses.
Children to be dropped off between 8.30am and 9am and picked up at 2.55pm from Molyneux Park.

Athletics Rotation

Groups For Athletic Sports

Group 1:  5 year olds Group 2:  6 year olds Group 3:  7 year olds Group 4:  8 year olds (under 9) Group 5:  9 year olds (under 10) Group 6: 10 year olds (under 11) Group 7: 11 year olds (under 12) Group 8: 12 year olds (under 13)             & 13 year olds (13+)  ATHLETICS  TIMETABLE   2015 Team Number: ________ Time Shotput Mrs Beilby Discus Mr Yeoman  & Marty Hurdles Mrs Ward Sue  Brydges Relays & Shuttles Mrs Eastwood FUN!! (parachute) Mrs Fonseca Mrs Nicholson Sprints Mrs Flannery & Fr. Pat High Jump Miss Passmore Long Jump Mrs Wright Co/op Score /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 /10 9:30 Line up behind team cones in front of the steps. 9:45 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10:10 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 10:35 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 11:00 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 11:25 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 11:50 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 12:15 Lunch – 1.00 1:05 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 1:30 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1:55 Assemble for long distance races in houses under the trees .  Races start approx 2:00pm Remember to get each activity marked for co-operation and effort by the event supervisor. Distance races:    Years 1 & 2 = 1 lap (400m) Years 3 & 4 = 1.5 laps (600m) Years 5 & 6 = 2 laps (800m) Years 7 & 8 = 2 laps (800m)