Week One Term One

Welcome to Room 3 and to a new block in the school for those joining us from Room 2. A big welcome to Mrs Waldron who is going to be sharing the teaching this year while I retrain for Reading Recovery. Mrs Waldron will be teaching the maths and writing programme and will be in the room from 9:15 till 11:15.  She will also do a couple of full days next week as my training begins.

Room 3 Blog: I usually put up a weekly blog on a Monday night after staff or syndicate meetings.  If other things come up in between, I will put up an extra post. Once the term calendar is confirmed this will also be there for easy reference to the dates that involve this class. Mrs Waldron will also post information here.

This week we will doing activities to help us get to know each other, get along together and take responsibility for our own learning. We have already made a great start to setting up our books.

Brain Food/School Milk: Please ensure that your child has a piece of unprocessed fruit or vegetable each day for brain food.  Please let me know if your child will not be having school milk.
Drink Bottles: Each child needs to have a drink bottle in the classroom each day - especially at the moment when it is so hot and surprisingly many still seem to race round at each break. Please make sure that these are clearly named as often several people have the same. Ideally these need to be taken home daily and washed.

Swimming: Years 1 – 4 will be preparing for the swimming sports with afternoon swim sessions Tuesday 9, Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 February.  We will leave the school at 1:45 and return 2:45.  If there are parents willing to help with dressing or supervising groups please let me know. The swimming sports will be held at the pool on Thursday 18th February beginning at 9:00. Junior swimmers will have races in the therapeutic pool between 10 – 11am. Transport to and from the pool will be by bus. I would appreciate parent help for the sports – timing and judging please.

Sunhats: need to be worn this term and in term 4. No hat = no play.  Children may choose something to do under the classroom verandah.

Your child will have a nightly reading log (Monday to Thursday) in the back of their homework book, which I would ask you to please sign as this helps your child to take some responsibility for their learning as they read and tell you about the story. Their poetry book will come home on a Friday. This year we have smaller books for homework and poetry, I hope this will help with fitting them into bags more easily. There will be spelling to learn and study ladder maths, as the term goes on. This will be individualised.

Scooters etc: during school time these need to be stored in the stands in the playground near Rooms 1 & 2. After school scooters & wheels can be left in the corridor to be locked up over night. Remember that ‘wheels’ are for term 1 and 4 only. 

Email addresses: chrisbeilby@stgerards.school.nz

I am really excited about what is planned for this year, and am looking forward to working with you and your children as they continue on their learning journey.

Chris