Hi All 

Just a reminder that we have a library visit this Friday so was after two parents who might be able to walk there and back with us.  We leave just after 9 and will be leaving the library to return to school at 9:45.

I am happy to keep children's library cards with me at school if that suits best.

Emma

emmastratford@stgerards.school.nz

Hi All 

We've had a great start to 2018!

We are all enjoying getting to know each other.

Below I am attaching a timetable for Morning Programme.  This is part of our Friday morning Oral Language programme.

For parents new to Room 3 there is an explanation of what Morning Programme is and it's purpose. 

This year we are trialling letting the students choose which topic they would like to present.  

Each child will present once a term so over the course of the year they will present on four different topics.

In the table below it lets you know when your child is presenting.

Our Year 4's are going to go first which will give our Year 3's a chance to watch and learn.

I don't want this to be an extra burden so please come and see me if you are having one of those weeks and don't know how to fit it in or if you are unsure of what to do.

The last two weeks of term are busy enough with Eistefolds and end of term happenings so there is no Morning Programme for these weeks.

Any questions or concerns please come and see me or contact me at

emmastratford@stgerards.school.nz

Room 3 Morning Programme Term 1

Morning programme will be part of our Oral Language programme each Friday.  The children will present once a term and can choose from the below topics.  Each term they can choose a different topic.  On the Friday I will make a record on what topic they have presented.  There is a table below showing when your child is presenting.  As part of our Diary use this year I will also get the children to record in their diary if they are on Morning Programme that week.

The purpose is to practise speaking and listening skills and to question others to gain more information, or to clarify information.

Morning programme topics will need to be prepared at home prior to the presentation date.  They can be prepared on a piece of A4 paper, so that once they have been presented they can be glued in a class book as a record.  As this is oral language and not simply a reading task, it is a good idea to practise speaking clearly with a suitable volume and making the presentation interesting (this may include showing items, photos/pictures, or demonstrating).

Topic	Description
About Me	Prepare a short talk about yourself.  This may include your full name, where and when you were born, places you have lived, information about you and your family, pets, likes, dislikes, hobbies . . .
Book Review	Choose a favourite book. Tell the class the title, author, illustrator, suitable age level, what the story is about and why you enjoyed it.  Show a favourite picture or read a favourite paragraph.
How to . . .	Choose something you know how to do and describe it to the class in a logical order or numbered steps e.g. a favourite recipe, an experiment, instructions to make or do something . . .
Our Place	Select a place in New Zealand.  Be able to pinpoint it on a map of NZ.  Find at least 5 facts about it.  This might include where it is, (which island) population, attractions etc . . .
Current Events	Present news in your own words from the newspaper, television, internet or radio.  You need to be able to understand what the news is about so that you can keep the audience interested.
Famous Person	Choose someone who is famous either in NZ or in another country.  Find out what they are famous for and some interesting facts about them.

Week Two	Quinn	Taine	Jedi Findlay
Week Three	Eden	Bella	Tamai Aurelia
Week Four	Tane	Jack Mck	Claire
Week Five	Louisa	Bella	Arn
Week Six	James	Varna	Mark-Allan
Week Seven	Tane	Michaela	Boston
Week Eight	Olivia	Mckenzie	Lilli
Week Nine	Milla	Charlie	Johnny

Diaries & Meet the Teacher Night

Check out Page 33. I hope that we have entered Thursday 5:30 till 7pm. Had an awful thought that I may have put 5 - 7:30 on the board. Our session in Room 3 is at 6:40. See you there.
All year 3 will have these for next week.

Week 2 Term 1

A busy week for us this week.

Monday: Kapahaka at 11am
Tuesday: Waitangi Day  - family picnic and games at Pioneer Park 11am - 1pm. All welcome.
Wednesday: Ukelele - We will have our first ukelele lesson with Bella's grandad Mr Benrose from 10:40 till playtime. How exciting is this? Ukeleles provided.
Swimming 1 - 1:30 - hopefully the therapeutic pool is all sorted this week. Swimmers will be sorted into ability groupings and some of Room 3 will be swimming in the main pool with Mrs Dwyer, while those less confident swimmers from Room 4 will work in the therapeutic pool to improve their skills before the swimming sports. To make sure that we can monitor the class in the water I would appreciate a couple of parents each swimming day. Parents would supervise a group while I taught the other group. This means that everyone can be in the water all the time.
Thursday: Meet the Teacher 5:30 - 7pm. Room 3 is in the second group of classes to meet.
Friday: Assembly 2:10 run by Room 3. We will have to get our skates on to have something to share.

This week the new diaries will come home. It has been decided that both Years 3 & 4 will use a diary this year. We will learn how to use these effectively so that we can increase our self management skills. Once we are bringing texts home to read, the title of the book read needs to be written into the correct date. In the meantime children can record the title of a browse box book or a book they have read at home. Thank you in anticipation for your help with learning how to use a weekly diary at home. There is such super information and also puzzles that can be done at home. As this diary is designed by a Catholic supplier, the content is perfect for us. Mrs Stratford may set some pages in here to share as a homework activity.

Please have a scout round at home for your Reading folder. To keep reading books and diaries clean and dry I expect everyone to use a reading folder. Some people used theirs on Friday to bring their poetry books home. Poetry books always come home on a Friday so that the weekly poem can be enjoyed. This is often a great place to find a poetry eisteddfod, too, as by the end of term 2 there will be a good selection which will already be partially known. I was so surprised on Friday to have 2 girls recite the whole poem, and we had only just looked at it. WOW!

Kapahaka 2018

School Kapahaka for Years 3 - 8 will have their first lesson with Ms Tamati on Monday at 11am. Unlike the Junior Kapahaka where the lessons are for everyone in the class, belonging to the Kapahaka becomes a choice, as this is the group that represents the school at various events. As a school we are very proud of our Kapahaka group, and it is exciting each year to welcome our year 3's who wish to join, and assist them with their learning. On Monday I will take all of year 3 to the lesson so that they can see what it is all about before making their decision.

It is expected that those who decide to join make the commitment to the group for the year. All practices are in school time. Kapahaka meets on Mondays - even weeks 11 - 11:40 with Ms Tamati and odd weeks 2:15 - 2:45 with Mr Yeoman and myself.

As a class there will be some Kapahaka for all, as waiata will be part of the class programme. We enjoyed our first class Kapahaka today where many of us shared what we already knew. Some very passionate performances. We were also very lucky that Tamai's mum arrived just as we were singing and willingly gave us a few tips. Thanks so much Jessica for sharing your skills with us.

Feel free to contact me if you are keen for your child to join this group, just in case some are a bit nervous about starting something new with a large group of seniors.  

The opportunity is open to all.

Week 1 Term 1 2018

Welcome back to school for 2018. What amazing summer weather we have had, so hopefully everyone will have spent plenty of time enjoying the many outdoor activities this area has on offer.

This first term is 11 weeks long, punctuated with holidays:
Week 2: Tuesday 6th Feb - Waitangi Day - remember that families are welcome to meet at Pioneer Park between 11am and 1pm for a picnic lunch and a spot of touch or maybe cricket. This initiative has been initiated by our Maori/Pasifika school community as a time to spend some fun time together. Bring your family and friends.
Week 9: Monday 26th March Otago Anniversary Day, Friday 30th Good Friday.
Week 10: Monday & Tuesday Easter.

Dates for your calendar:
Swimming: Thursday 1st February, Wednesday 7th February 1:00 - 1:30, Thursday 15th, Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st February 10:30 - 11:00. We will be travelling to and from the pool by bus. We will be honing our skills in preparation for the school swimming sports which will be held on Thursday 22nd February 9 - 12. Togs, towels and goggles.
8th February - Meet the Teacher Evening
5th - 9th March Walk & Wheel Week
6th March - school triathlon pm.

This year we have new "Diaries" for Year 4 and "Reading Journals" for Year 3. You will have seen these in the office when collecting the school stationery boxes. We will be encouraging students to record all the important happenings in these, so that they increase their independence and self management skills. Swimming dates etc need to be recorded by the students.

School stationery: please remember that we are happy for books that were unused last year to be used again this year, and that you can return books that you don't need, to Paper Plus for a refund.

Initially we will be establishing the working relationships in the classroom, putting into practice some exciting ideas that will support learning by inquiry and improving the quality of oral language. We have attended PD during the holidays. We will also look at Keeping Ourselves Safe as well as bike, road and bus safety.

Please feel free to email with any worries or make a time to pop in. Before school is often a busy time as we greet students or hear reading.

Mrs Stratford will be teaching each day from 9 - 10:30 while I am released to teach Reading Recovery. She will teach maths and Religious Education.

Looking forward to an exciting year with a great bunch of enthusiastic learners.

Hi All 

A photo of some of the placemats we have been making for the guests at the Christmas Lunch that is put on by the Churches of Alexandra.

Hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas

Mrs Bielby and Mrs Stratford