Week 9 Term 1

Wow, where has the term gone?
Room 6 will be leading the Wednesday mass this week - please join the school in the church at 9am.
Most of us have completed our family kowhaiwhai art work and it is on the wall. We shared this work  at assembly on Friday, and some people explained the parts of their designs.
Today it was exciting to have a few people share their KWL research about their families.  We will take time each day this week to listen to each person's findings.  I learned today that lots of people in my room are related to each other as 2nd or 3rd cousins. "We Are Family" has a whole new meaning.
Next Monday we are moving on to looking at our Manuherikia River, and Room 6 are going to take us to see what they are doing with monitoring the health of our local river. This is part of our inquiry "Belonging" - we belong to the Alexanrda community and need to take care of community assets.  This river is a real asset to us as long as it is healthy. Please wear clothes suitable for fossicking along the river bank and also in the water. Clothing needs to be warm and a pair of gumboots needs to be worn.
To allow us to take part in this EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) learning activity I need 3 or 4 parents available to come with us.  Please email me if you are able to help. We will leave the school after 10:30 - I will post the exact time once this is confirmed with Room 6 and some special helpers.
I will be at Reading  Recovery Training on Wednesday afternoon and Ms Bennett will be with the class.  On Thursday and Friday mornings Ms Bennett will be at a training course so Mrs Eastwood will be the teacher.  I know she will really enjoy the Morning Programme on Friday.
Friday sees us finally make our ice cream machines (after we have tested our spelling and tooled our new lists). Make sure that you bring what is on your list.  I have some 'junk' in the back cupboard, but not enough for a whole class.  I love making days!! These creations will come home on Friday afternoon.
Looking ahead: Friday 7th = Teacher's Only Day. teachers will also be working on Saturday 8th.
Sunday 9th = Uruuruwhenua Kapahaka Festival at Molyneux Park

Homework

1. Reading: Wow many people have read more than 25 nights.  The more you read, the more you know and the better you write. We look carefully at how authors use language to make their writing come alive, and some people are using 'wow words' that we find in our reading to make our writing even more impressive. Don't forget that reading books with inspiring language to children, is of real benefit to young readers and writers.
2. Spelling: keep working on listening to the order of the sounds in the words you are practising. Lots of people scored 5/5 or 8/8 last week.  Well done. Some people also work with Loretta on their tooling and spelling.  Please note that this is not instead of practising spelling at home, but to help then gain confidence and be independent at the task.
3. Scripture Reading Eisteddfod: a hard copy of the blog information is in homework books.  Please complete the part at the bottom of the sheet so that I know you have chosen your reading.  If nothing is written there at the end of the week I will help people choose and send something home to be worked on.  Please ask if you need assistance.  Being prepared early is the key.    

Have a great week. We have really stepped up with our organisation and considerate work habits.  Way to go, Room 3.