Groupings For Camp

We have all talked about how these groupings will work over the time that we are at camp.  The most important thing for all parents to know is that each child has a designated adult who will be responsible for them.  The first duty that this parent will do is to look out for their students at the church carpark and check their day bag.
They will be checking for:

•  lunch box and drink bottle, 
• togs and a towel in a plastic or swimming bag - be sure to have a plastic bag to put wet togs in after the swim, 
• waterproof jacket (needs to be windproof and fully waterproof)
• book to read, notebook and pencil.

This day bag will go into the bus with the children.  The second bag with sleeping gear etc will be loaded underneath the bus. These bags will not be available to the children until we reach the holiday park.

Camp Groups.

Group 1: Maria Shea	Group 6: Tracey Reid
Lars, Hayvin Payton, Grace	Mason, Angus Charlotte O, Amelia
Group 2: Savio Fonseca	Group 7: Martin Jenkinson
David, Adam Ana, Sophia	Casey, Charlotte K Sully, Gabrielle
Group 3: Ben Donaldson	Group 8: Cara Stewart
Charlie, Quinn Rhianna, Annajhay	Bobbie, Jacko Jelena, Keira
Group 4: Christine Skinner	Group 9: Bernie Brown
Cait, Alia, Lily	Joshua, Jacqui Jack S
Group 5: Georgina Dacosta	Group 10: Fraser Reid
Kimberley, Dani Otis, Tadhg	Archie, Zaria Greer, Sophie

Bunk Rooms at the Lodge

All of these rooms are off a long passage and the lodge is completely separate from the general camping ground.  No children will be out and about in the general camping ground without a parent’s supervision and a teacher being advised.

112: 1 double bed & 3 singles Maria Shea: Cait, Grace, Annajhay	Passage	101: 1 double bed & 3 singles Tracey Reid: Gabrielle, Sophie, Zaria
111: 1 double bed & 3 singles Savio Fonseca: David, Adam, Lars, Sully		102: 1 double bed & 3 singles Mrs Beilby: Charlotte O, Charlotte K
110: 1 double bed & 4 singles Martin Jenkinson: Mason, Hayvin, Quinn, Bobbie		103: 4 single beds Bernie Brown: Jacqui, Casey, Jelena
109: 1 double bed & 4 singles Ben Donaldson: Charlie, Joshua, Angus, Jack S		104: 1 double bed & 3 singles Mrs Ward & Mrs Waldron: Amelia, Payton
108: 1 double bed & 3 singles Cara Stewart: Sophia, Ana, Alia		105: 1 double bed & 3 singles Georgina Dacosta: Kimberley, Keira, Dani
107: 4 single beds Christine Rhianna, Greer, Lily M		106: 1 double bed & 3 singles Fraser Reid: Archie, Jacko, Otis, Tadhg

Getting excited - keep working on your mihimihi.  This year we will have the opportunity for all to present these.

Kapa Haka

"It's now been confirmed that the Kapa Haka group will be performing at the Otago Polyfest in Dunedin on Wed 14th September. Thankyou to all those who have offered to help with costumes and transport. Mr Yeoman and Mrs Beilby are currently confirming details with these helpers and more information will be coming home with students in the next few days. Thanks!"

Week 6 Term 3

Getting in early as I have a busy weekend ahead.
Camp:
Preparations for camp are whirring along - I have several people telling me already how many sleeps until we go.  The time sure has rocketed round quickly. The 3 teachers met with the parents travelling to camp on Thursday evening and have finalised areas of responsibility.  Sadly Mr Frew and Amelia will not be attending camp as Shane and Sara have just set up a new business. Mrs Ward met with the children on Friday afternoon to discuss "food choices" and we have been working really hard on our oral component of Te Reo. Fantastic to see how we are all stepping up to introduce ourselves with a mihimihi.  For some this is a huge ask, but with support its is exciting to see confidence building, so that by camp we should all be well prepared. Our kapahaka is looking polished, and we have added a poi to this. There are several people stepping up as leaders in this kapahaka group. We have Ms Tamati working with us again this Monday, and I know she will enjoy viewing this kapahaka and giving us pointers (especially me with my vowel pronunciation!), she will also listen to mihimihi and review the protocols for the powhiri that we have taught. We are so lucky to have her continue to work with us as a resource.
The list of what to bring to camp will come home in hard copy this week.
School Photos: Monday 12th September - the Monday straight after camp.  All families have had a slip go home that needs to be returned to Alyssa in the office as soon as possible.
Little Acts of Kindness Day Thursday 1st September -Mrs Sanders who works in Room 5 one day a week and is also the "Sticks and Stones" guru, has designed a paper we can fill in for others in our school who show acts of kindness.  These nominations need to be people who are not already in our friendship group. Nomination forms are in the classroom and Mrs Sanders will collect these on Wednesday.  On Thursday 30 people will receive a cupcake from Sticks and Stones. Sounds perfect as we often stop at the end of the day and always before we start a circle time and think about who has used the "fruits of the spirit" and give examples.  Go Mrs Sanders!!  A link for more information, because this is much wider than just St Gerards School: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kQzQGfhlBA2gYfWNyJu0HRSGaf-OBDOryeePPcmpj-Y/edit?usp=sharing
Polyfest - Dunedin Wednesday 14th September. Mr Yeoman is arranging transport for those who indicated that they are attending.  We are the last school to perform in the afternoon session on Wednesday.  Thank you to those who have indicated they are able to transport children or assist with costumes. I will contact those willing to fit costumes early in the week.

Homework:

1. Spelling
2. Reading
3. Learning mihimihi - a copy will be in homework books
4. Learning the words for musical songs - the first songs are in books now. We need a small group of Room 3&4 girls to sing. We'll secure the song early in the week then will have a quick audition. This song is sung while the ballet is danced, so some people will need to choose whether they want to dance in this or sing. They will all get to dance in "Fly Little Dove".

Enjoy your weekend - boy once again it's shaping up to be a busy week.  Breathe deeply and take one day at a time is my motto.

Family Mass Sunday & Monday Morning Prayer

A reminder that this Sunday is the school mass for the term.  Looking forward to sharing the celebration of the Eucharist with you all and our parish family. Please be seated with the class by 8:55am in full school uniform.  A small plate for morning tea and an item for the combined churches food bank would be appreciated.  The items most needed at present are: 2 minute noodles, soup mix (including Kings), oatmeal, rice risotto, long life milk, spreads(no jam), sugar and flour. The food bank and those in need in our community are very appreciative, as we put into practise the catholic value of "Common Good".

Room 3 will be leading school prayer on Monday, Sophie will be reading the Gospel, with Adam and Amelia Frew the prayer leaders.  Please join us in the church at 8:55.

Camp Risk Disclosure Forms

Wow half back the very next day, thank you.  Please remember to have these in by Wednesday.

Reminder of the parent meeting for those going to camp Room 4 7pm Thursday - see you there.

Library Week

Morning All
This Friday (26th Aug) we are due to go to the Public Library (9.50-11am) as yet, I do not have any parents to walk with us.  We need 2 to be able to go.  Please let me know as soon as poss, if you would be up for a wander.
Adele 
adelewaldron@stgerards.school.nz

Term 3 Week 5

Camp:

1. 1.  There will be a meeting this Thursday 25^th August at 7 pm in Room 4 for the parents coming to camp.  This will be to discuss travel arrangements, food, and to clarify roles and responsibilities.
2. 2.  Health forms for all children and adults attending camp will come home with children on Monday. These need to be returned by Wednesday please. This week our big teaching focus will be on learning our mihimihi.  We are all pretty efficient with our mountain, river and Central Otago area.  Below is the complete mihimihi, which we aim to know so that we can introduce ourselves.  Everyone will be supported in this task, so please do not panic if your child is tentative.

Mihimihi  - Years 3 and 4 Kia ora katoa (Greetings) Ko ________________ te maunga (mountain).  Choose from Kopuwai (Old Man Range) or other. Ko _____________________ te awa (river).  Choose from Manuherikia or Matau or other. Ko Uruuruwhenua te whenua  (land – Central Otago) Ko __________________ tōku mama  (mother) Ko _______________ tōku papa  (father) Ko St Gerards taku kura  (school) E   _______________ oku tau  (age) Nō _____________________ ahau (Where I was born) Ko ________________ tōku ingoa whānau  (Last name). Ko _______________ tōku ingoa (First name). No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa (Greetings again).

On Wednesday we will be learning how to include the names of our brothers and sisters. This piece of language fits after talking about our parents, and needs to be customised for each individual. Once we have all parts of each individual's mihimihi inserted, this copy will be glued into homework books so  that they can be practised. Spelling: keep practising the conducting, tooling, listening and spelling. Reading: every night "the more you read, the more you know and the better you write".  Fill in your reading log.   Congratulations Casey and Jelena for your commitment to homework - keep this up. On Monday morning Room 3 will be working with Mrs Flannery.

This week we ramp up the practices for the school musical Noah, and will be singing as a whole school each day after lunch. At this stage we will focus our energies on the singing and learning the words for the songs.  We have 3 dances to put together, and work in earnest for these will take place after camp - we may even get a few opportunities to create & practise while we are away.

Wednesday 24th Open Afternoon - remember to invite anyone who may be thinking about sending their children to St Gerards.

Kapahaka Polyfest:

Members of the school Kapahaka group all took home a note on Friday from Mr Yeoman and myself about the opportunity to perform at the Polyfest in Dunedin (the week after camp). This will be a day trip to Dunedin.  We need to know by Wednesday who will be attending, so that we can organise costumes and transport. We understand that some families may feel that this is too much to ask of year 3 students, but the opportunity is open to all, and hopefully we will attend such an event again in the future. As "this is  a big step up from performing for the school or your parents, everyone attending must know the songs and all the actions" (Ms Tamati). To ensure that we all do, we have organised extra practices each week.

Sunday 28th August = School Mass - please be seated with Room 3 by 8:55. If you are unable to attend please email.

A very busy term that we need to work our way through in manageable chunks.