Week 3 Term 1

We are certainly in to birthday week.  Nicolas 8th, Otis 9th, Quinn and Jacqui 10th and Jelena 14th.  We are learning to sing Happy Birthday in Maori and French as well as count to 6 or 7 in these languages.  Great that some of these people had stunning weather to celebrate their birthdays.
Waitangi Day Family Day: thank you Maggie for organising this get together at Pioneer Park on Friday.  What a shame that the weather was more like the middle of winter.  From what I hear this morning, those children who met up really enjoyed the opportunity to get together for fun and friendship.
This Sunday - 15th February is the opening school mass and everyone needs to be seated in church at 8:55am Correct school uniform needs to be worn. Please contact me if your child is unable to be there.  As part of our contribution to the Alexandra community, each family is asked to bring one item for the food bank.
Tuesday - Safe Walking Assessment: This was postponed from Monday until 9am.  There is one parent who has indicated that they are able to assist us with this.  Ideally we could do with 2 more so that each child gets feedback about the skills that they do well and the ones that they need to work on.
The assessment will cover:

• Stop, look, listen, decide
• where to stand - one step back from the kerb
• crossing the road safely, walk steadily checking for traffic as walking
• crossing between parked cars - check for drivers, then stand between the cars to see clearly
• walking on a footpath - choose to walk as close to the fence as possible

All children have been issued with Hi Viz jackets now, so they need to have them here to wear in the morning.

Swimming: Tuesday 1:30 - 2:30.  We will travel by bus to and from the pool.  The bus leaves the school at 1:15.  Togs please and a note if your child is not swimming.  We are practising for the swimming sports to be held on Monday 23rd February.  Any helpers to dress children at the end of their swim would be most appreciated, as the bus returns to school at 2:40pm.

Science/CRT: Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Room 3 will have Mr Hogue as their teacher while I begin assessments in preparation for report writing.  We are looking forward to learning to be scientists by asking questions, sharing ideas and observing carefully.  Mr Hogue will be sharing his science passion throughout the school this year.

Meet and Greet Evening: Thursday at 5:30 - bring your tea. Mrs Eastwood will speak to parents at 6pm, there will be an opportunity to have your say via "post its" about the school strategic plan as well as the EOTC programme.  Remember we need to hear as much as possible - what you really like and feel is going well, as well as ideas and suggestions you have.  I may or may not be at this meeting as I have an appointment in Dunedin. Information about class routines etc will however be available.

Homework:

Reading: Great to see how well everyone is going with their reading.  Please be sure to sign the reading log at the back of the homework book. Some people have word lists for you to go over with them.  Having a set of well know high frequency words gives everyone a firm scaffold to attempt harder texts, where reading strategies to solve unknown words are practised.  I am pleased to be hearing many children their favourite page before school. This week with Science, books from reading boxes will come home, or children can choose to read from a book at home.

Study Ladder: everyone is on and some people have made great use of this over the weekend. 

We have made a great start to the year - well done everyone.  Super to see so many people have picked up the routines really quickly and are self managing getting ready for the day.