Other Information

Other Information -  Team Kahikatea

Senior Learning Studio  - Room 13 and 14

Term 2   May 2016

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

Kia ora and welcome back!   We hope you and your families had an awesome break, and we hope you are ready for a busy term ahead!

We are just about settled into our newly refurbished classroom.  There are just a couple of finishing touches to be completed over the next week.  You are more than welcome to come and have a look at our new learning space.  We have decided to call our space the Senior Learning Studio. Mrs Kennedy and myself are looking forward to teaching in these new spaces for the rest of the year.

We have put together this newsletter to provide you with some key information about what’s happening in Room 13 and 14 this term and across Team Kahikatea.

Mrs Kennedy and myself will be working together with Room 13 and 14 students. There will be times when we will both be doing whole class, large or small group and 1 to 1 teaching.  We both have high expectations for our students so they can be the best they can be.

We will be combining both of our expertise to provide your child with a fantastic year of engagement and learning.  

It is wonderful to see the students back at school and enthusiastic about our learning space and the upcoming learning and events. They are looking smart and tidy in their uniforms.  Please support us by ensuring that your child wears the correct uniform every day, with pride!  As we begin the new term please ensure that all of your child’s school items are named clearly to avoid any loss of items, e.g. uniform, stationery, lunch boxes, drink bottles etc… Remember school sunhats are not compulsory for all of Term 2 and Term 3.

INQUIRY—TERM ONE

This term our topic for inquiry is ‘Change’.

This inquiry topic is about past, present and future, people, places and things.  How can and/or might our participation shape and/or change society?

This inquiry topic has a Social Sciences focus.  This topic will be integrated into all curriculum areas and include an inquiry into ANZAC Day.  

Other learning topics during Term 2 = ANZAC Day, Matariki, Enviro, Carterton School Inquiry Learning Model, Google Docs, Blogging, Technology, Place Value, Multiplication and Division, Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, Research Skills, Large ball skills, Cross Country,  Languages, Careers and EOTC activities.

HOMEWORK and COMMUNICATION

We are aiming to develop independent learners—encouraging the students to be organised and responsible for their learning.  The  students will use a workbook (Communication Book) to record homework tasks, things they need to remember etc… This is also the best place for notes to us regarding absences, concerns etc.  They will also have a clear file to keep homework tasks and newsletters in.  Both of these items (the notebook and the clear file) will come to and from home on daily basis.  Please take time to check your child’s notebook daily to help them with their organisational skills.

Routine:  Homework will be set each week usually on a Monday.  The students are encouraged to work on these every night.  The homework will be collected in on Monday but marked on Tuesday morning.  In addition, there may also be weekly homework set by the Technology teachers from Makoura.

TECHNOLOGY AT MAKOURA  Designcraft

Year 7 and 8 students attend technology sessions at Makoura College (Masterton) every Tuesday, during the morning session.  The Technology sessions cost $80 for the year.  This covers the cost of the equipment, resources and ingredients.  This cost is already added onto your stationery list.  If you are unable to pay this in full you can make part payments throughout the year.  This can be paid to the office or by automatic payment.  Thank you.

Please be aware that students are required to wear covered shoes at Technology for safety reasons. If they do not have the suitable footwear they are not permitted to attend the session and will remain at school.   We have spoken to the students about these points and we trust they will take responsibility for themselves.

This term the Year 6’s students will be working with Mrs MacGregor while the Year 7 and 8’s are at Technology with Matua James and Mrs Kennedy.

LIBRARY/ICT

We will be using the school Library once a week.   While in the Library we will be working on inquiry, literacy, research and note taking skills.  All students are encouraged to issue 2 books. They may keep these books for up to 2 weeks.  Please help your child to use and care for our library books as well as return them promptly.

OTHER INFORMATION

· We are having a camp at the end of the year to Camp Anderson at Riversdale and fundraising begins this term with our sausage sizzle.  Please support this fundraiser every Friday.  More information will come out in future notices about other fundraising opportunities.

· During each term we are entitled to two Classroom Release Days on these days Ms Whitburn or Ms Taylor will be teaching in either room.  The dates for these are yet to be confirmed.

· For PE this term we are doing cross country training and large ball skills so please encourage your child to wear sensible footwear to school or bring trainers/sneakers to put on when needed.  

· Room 13 and 14 are joining together to be buddy classes with Room 9 and 10.  We are calling this session Tuakana/Teina (Big kids helping little kids).  We support their learning and develop friendships with our buddies every Friday before lunch for about 20 minutes.  

· Reports will be sent home during Term 2 and Term 4.  They will look different to the usual report files.   Parent/Teacher/Student meetings can be arranged for any time throughout the year.

· The school day begins at 8.55.  Please make sure that your child is at school before the bell rings.   If your child is late to school they will need to go to the office for a Late Slip.

· The school newsletter is sent home each Tuesday to the youngest and/or only child in a family.  Please read it, as there is a lot of important information and dates on it. The newsletter can be emailed to you or you can find a link on the school website or we have a school app.  You will need to give Mrs Hutchings or Mrs Pratt your email address if you wish to receive the newsletter by email.  

· To help the school, your child and myself, please send notes to school about any sickness, absences or any other issues, as sending notes saves time and confusion.

· Head lice are an ongoing problem.  If your child is itching please check them and treat them if necessary.  We will have head lice checks in class if it is needed.  A note will be sent home if this is about to happen.

· If your child has Asthma, please send an inhaler to school.  The inhaler can be kept in my desk drawer or their school bag until it is needed.  Please let me know if your child has any medical conditions that I need to be aware of.

· If you have any questions, concerns or would like additional information about your child’s learning and progress, please come and see me at school.  We recommend that you come between 8.15 and 8:45am.  Although on Tuesday mornings the staff have an Administration Meeting in the Staffroom from 8:00 until 8:30 so we will not be in classroom until 8:30 on Tuesday mornings.  Or please come to see us between 3.00 and 4:30pm, as we will usually be in the classroom, staffroom or the Library, preparing or assessing work.  Please remember we have a meeting every Tuesday at 3:30 so we will be unavailable at that time also.  We are on Gate Duty every Friday so we need to be at the gate soon after the 3:00 bell.  If you need to see either of us,  could you please wait until we return which should be about 3:15.

We are really looking forward to a productive term full of learning and engagement!  Please do not hesitate to contact either of us at school, on 379 4010, or on our cellphones Melanie 0221089935

Lesley 0276178751

or you could email us at mmacgregor@carterton.school.nz  or lkennedy@carterton.school.nz if you have anything to discuss.

Teachers and parents working together make a powerful combination!

Learning together to achieve success.

If you have any questions please ask.  Feel free to pop in at any time -  we would love to see you all.

Nga mihi,

Melanie MacGregor and Lesley Kennedy