Parents+news

Welcome to your page on our wiki News update August

This term we have been focusing o9n learning our times tables, As parents you can support your child with this by quizzing them regularly and helping them to learn them. There is no easy way but I suggest copying them out, going on the Maths websites on our wiki pages and trying some of the tables activities there, good old-fashioned rote learning by repetition but make it more fun by singing them or chanting them to a beat. A little and often usually works best
 * To all Room 3 Parents/Caregivers **
 * Target **


 * Topic **
 * The students are enjoying learning about the Olympics and recently shared their learning with the school at our assembly when we acted out the sports and traditions of the Ancient Olympic Games. **


 * We have also been studying and learning to write newspaper reports. We have writing these on the computers, collaborating with partners. **


 * Sport **
 * In week 7, next week, we will be holding our school cross country. Weather permitting it will be held on the afternoon of Thursday 30th August. Parents are welcome to come along to support and encourage their children. **
 * In PE on Fridays the children rotate through 3 sports codes- touch, netball and jump rope while also training for cross-country most days. I have been impressed by their positive attitude and motivation in doing this. **


 * Homework **
 * From this week I have reduced homework expectations to the basics as increasingly children should be spending time on their animals, gardens and projects for Calf Club. Gardens should be well planted by now and children should already have their animals. It is advisable to plan the project carefully and it should be regularly worked on. Spreading the work load and completing it before the end of the term will mean a stress-less and carefree holiday time! Please support your child with their project but do not do it for them. This rather defeats the purpose of the task and makes it unfair. **


 * Special events **
 * Our Jump Jam team has sent in its video for the competition and are hoping to be selected. They have been a really dedicated bunch of kids who have given up lunch times regularly to practise and perfect their routines. We wish them the best of luck. **
 * Some of our children are also practising for the upcoming Kids for Kids concert with Suzanne Prentice. This is a wonderful opportunity to perform to a crowded Town Hall and the children get a real buzz from **** singing with this renowned NZ singer while at the same time helping to raise money for a worthy cause- World Vision. **


 * Art workshop **
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Look out for notices about an upcoming art workshop. We have been holding these each year for about 6 years now and they are very popular with the children and each one comes away with an artwork they are really proud of. There is $3 cost involved and it is well-worth the money. **


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are lots of winter bugs and viruses going around at this time of year. Please make sure the office is informed if your child is off school with illness. It is preferable to keep them at home if they suffering from colds, flu or fevers as this reduces the risk of spreading the bugs. **


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking forward to warmer weather **


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks again for your support **
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wendy **

News update July
 * To all Room 3 Parents/Caregivers **

Welcome to the third term of 2012

I hope you have all enjoyed the midwinter break and managed to spend some quality time with your families. It was a bonus having the fine days we had as these provided idel opportunities to get out and about. Last term we worked hard on achieving our target - to be prepared for each school day. We finally made it and the children greatly enjoyed the shared lunch treat that was thier reward. I'm hoping they will continue with striving to be prepared as it can be such an inconvenience when they are not. I would appreciate your support with this though the responsibility ultimately rests with the students. . This term we will be focusing on the Olympics and comparing the past with the present. If possible allow your children to watci the opening ceremony and some of the following events- ( not sure what times these will be broadcast).
 * Target **
 * Topic **

This term the students will be rotating through netball, touch rugby and Jump Rope. They must have a change of clothes for PE on Fridays. It would help hugely if children could bring their own jump ropes from home for this if theyn have them. We will also be training for our school cross country in week 7. We will be sending two teams to compete in the Franklin Schools netball tournament in week 3- with so little time to practise and bond as a team( due to weather restrictions) we have chosen to send only the more experienced players.
 * Sports **

Our RICH focus this term is on Caring and our Powerful Learner focus will be on Making Connections. Check out the wiki pages for more about these.
 * RICH and Powerful Learner traits **

This term we will be concentrating on multiplication and division in Numeracy. Learning times tables has long been part of homeowrk and nmore so this term. Any support you can give your child inn learning their times tables would greatly help. it could be 10 quick questions at the breakfast table or quizzing on tables on a car trip. Having a times tables chart prominenly displayed and flash cards are other suggestions. It does not have to be arduous or time consuming but a little and often keeps it fresh and fun.
 * Maths **

Homework will be muchthe same as usual with the basics of spelling, reading and basic facts plu activities that relate to our topic or current learning. Please check your child's homework requirements and support them with doing these. Also check that it has all been completed for Friday or the following Monday. Half way through the term homeowrk will reduce to just the basics as your child's time will be increasingly taken up with thier Calf Club animal, garden or project.
 * Homework **

Please read the Calf Club booklet carefully to keep abreast with what is required there. It has been great communicating with parents from time to time by email- it is so quick and convenient-and I hope this will continue. Please feel free to email me if there are any concerns or things I need to know- turnerwright.wendy@waiaupa.school.nz If, however, you require an appointment to discuss things more fully, this can also be arranged by email too.
 * Contact **

Looking forward to another great term Thanks for your support Wendy Recently we set up an incentives programme in Room 3 to encourage the students to come to school prepared. Too often children did not have their library bags, spelling notebooks, homework etc. If we met our target there would be a special class reward. So far we haven't quite made it which is really frustrating and disappointing for those children who consistently remember and bring the right gear. It would be great if parents would help with this although the responsibility should ultimately be the child's.Please ask your child what they need for each day and check that they pack it in their bags.
 * News Update- May**
 * Being prepared**

We have just finished presenting our speeches. Phew! This was a big ask of the students. To write a persuasive argument was quite different to just talking about a subject but most children took on board what they had been taught and presented well-structured speeches using persuasive techniques. Standing up in front of and audience is a daunting task for some so I was impressed with the efforts the students made and was thrilled that were all ready on time. Thanks to you all for supporting your children with these. I hope you come along to the school final on Wed 23rd of May from 11am to hear the best from the Rimu and Kauri syndicates.
 * Speeches**

Rimu students took pat in assembly items last Friday. They performed well and we were blown away by the JumpJam team who have been practising hard at lunchtimes with coaching from Miss Hewitt- a very lively performance and they looked to have enjoyed it too. If you would like to see them perform then you will have to come along to the XFactor Show on Sat 29th May. You will also be in for a special performance from the staff!!! You will be entertained.
 * Performance**

Our winter sports programme is well underway and this week our soccer and hockey teams will be competing at Tuakau Domain and Pukekohe Turf respectively, on Thursday 24th. We are hoping that our A hockey team will be able to maintain the standard of previous years when Waiau Pa has won. I'm sure they will do their best. We have quite a few beginner players and they are progressing well learning skills and how to play the game with help from coach, Paul from Counties Hockey. It seems a bit soon throwing them into a tournament but they are sure to learn from it and enjoy the experience. Children need appropriate footwear, sports shirts(school) and shorts(own), mouthguards and shin pads(hockey), uniform polar fleece, lunch,snacks, drink bottle. Thanks to all those parents who offered to assist. Parents are welcome to come along to either of the venues to watch.
 * Sports**

On 29th Tuesday, not Thursday as on the permission form, we will be tree planting on the Walker property. Thanks to parents who have already returned permission slips( must have) for this and who have offered help- (entirely optional) We will be hoping for a fine day. Children will need a change of warm clothes and gumboots or old shoes for this.
 * Trees for Survival**

Room 3 students have again set learning goals for the term. Do ask yourchild about this and support them in actively pursuing their goal.
 * Goals**

Meanwhile please keep checking our wiki pages Thank you for your support of your son or daughter with their learning.

Remember to keep in touch.

Wendy

First of all thanks to all those parents who turned out for our Shared Learning Evening- it was great to tmeet with you all and to hear such positive feedback. I was especially pleased that parents were knowledgeable about our topic as it showed that the children were sharing their learning with you and that you were taking a keen interest too.
 * News Update April**

I hope you all enjoyed the end-of-term break and managed to spend some quality time together over Easter and treated yourselves to a few chocolate eggs as well. And the weather has been fabulous.

This will be a focused term where we expect to really push on with our learning as there will be fewer interruptions like camp, swimming, initial assessments and time spent establishing routines.

We will be getting into winter sports and children will need a change of clothes for PE on Fridays.

One of the biggest challenges will be speech writing and students will need to get started onto this almost straight away. Please refer to the wiki page **Speeches** for guidelines. Please remember this must be the child's work in their own words although parents might help to find information or make suggestions.

Our topic this term will be **Sustainability** with focus especially on Rubbish. We hope this proves to be a meaningful, authentic and relevant topic for our times.

The children will again be setting learning goals for the term and may need assistance, input and reminders from parents about focusing on these if they are to achieve them. It's so easy to put into words what you will do, but harder to put them into action. Achieving goals requires perseverance which is also our Powerful Learner focus this term.

Please continue to check out our wiki pages. Do keep in touch.

Wendy Tuner-Wright

No doubt your children arrived back home last Friday with lots of stories about the exciting activities and the fun they had at Camp Adair. They really entered into the spirit of the camp with enthusiasm, all eager to take risks in trying new things from a slippery mud slide, a gruelling and smelly confidence course to climbing on the high rope course. Some children really pushed themselves out of their comfort zones to achieve on challenging activities.
 * News Update- 12 March**

They coped extremely well with being away from home and their parents. The children were very well fed and some even went back for thirds! We had full-on days with early starts and later -than -usual bedtimes. They slept soundly on the 2nd and 3rd nights and no doubt had a quiet and restful weekend to recover.

However some children were less organised than others and so we ended up with a pile of unclaimed property. We have distributed some of it but if you are concerned we have a bag of undies, odd socks and clothing items and towels that seem to have no owners.

All in all we were very proud of our students and enjoyed seeing them in a different environment, facing challenges and coping independently. What a great experience. Please check out the photos on our Camp Adair wiki page. These will give you aninsight into the range of activities that your children took part in. Enjoy.