Week 10 Notices

We have reached the end of the school year, how the time has flown by. All children in  Room 1 have worked extremely hard this year and I am very proud of them all. Thank you to all the parent helpers throughout this year, your help on trips and camps is very much appreciated.

Food Bank
Please bring in a can of food/drink etc, for the food bank. The items will be collected and taken up at mass on Wednesday night.


Here are the final events for this school year. Families are invited to all events.

Prize-giving: 9am on Wednesday 17th of December
Whole school mass: 5.30pm Wednesday 17th of December (children are to meet their teachers on the field by the swimming pool by 5.15pm at the latest. We need to get children into the church and get them seated as soon as possible)
Year 6 Missioning: 11.00am Thursday 18th of December
School finishes: Midday on Thursday 18th of December

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and holiday break.

Week 9 Notices

Welcome back from a week of camps. Everyone had a wonderful time and the weather was great. Thank you to all the parent helpers who gave up their time to come along the help with the camps.


Homework
There will be no set homework as children will be involved in two evening performances. What I do suggest, is that all children keep learning their times tables and division facts, and also keep up their reading.

Swimming
Room one is swimming this week. Bring your togs and towel every day and we will hopefully be able to swim most of the week, in between performances and practices.

Cinderella Production (Each show takes about an hour)

We have a very busy week ahead with our production. There are two evening shows and one matinee.

Matinee: Wednesday afternoon 1.00pm
Evening performances: Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7.00pm

We are aware that children will become tired after the evening shows, so on Thursday and Friday, children have an option to come to school either at 8.30am (normal time) or at 11.00am instead
(if they are very tired). Please send your child to school at either of these times.

Tickets are available at the school office. There will be no door sales.

Have a great week and enjoy the show!

Week 8 Notices

Camps:
Year 6 children leave on Tuesday. Be at school at 7.45am.
Year 5 children leave on Wednesday. Be at school by 8.30am.

Both camps return on Friday. Year 5 children can be picked up at 2.30pm and Year 6 children should be back between 4 - 4.30pm.

Children do not need to bring money.

Please check your gear list this week and make sure that you have everything you need.

Year 5 Camp Gear List 

ALL ITEMS MUST BE CLEARLY NAMED

NB: Please attach a luggage tag to the outside of your bag(s), which clearly indicates your name and class.
Baking: Please send some baking along to school on the day we leave (Please, no nuts in the baking). The baking will be shared out for morning and afternoon teas.
A backpack, or small bag, which the student will keep with them on the first day. This bag should contain:

•         Morning tea, lunch and a filled, named drink bottle for the first day of the camp.  Please make sure this is easily accessible and named (a disposable paper or plastic bag would be better than a lunchbox).

•         Raincoat – if wet weather

•         Sunhat

•         Sunblock

•         Pencil/Pen

Bag (Please no large suitcases) 

Large plastic bag for dirty or wet clothing
Sleeping bag or sheets (a lightweight duvet is provided)

 NO pillow (pillow and pillow case are already provided)

Two towels (one to use after swimming on Friday) 
Swimsuit and plastic bag
Shorts/shirts/ T-Shirts
Raincoat

 Sweatshirts or fleece jackets or jersey

Jeans, trousers or sweatpants 
Underwear    
Socks
Sports shoes or similar
Jandals or sandals
Pyjamas
Tissues
Toiletry gear - which needs to include soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, facecloth, comb/hairbrush

Optional:
Camera (bring at your own risk)
Pack of cards or small board game

Note:
NO cellphones
NO electronic games
NO knives
NO aerosol deodorant sprays or similar

Year 6 Camp Gear List 

ALL ITEMS MUST BE CLEARLY NAMED

NB: Please attach a luggage tag to the outside of your bag(s), which clearly indicates your name and class.

Backpack, or small bag, which the student will keep with them on the first day. This bag should contain:

• Morning tea, lunch and a filled named drink bottle for the first day of the Camp.  Please make sure this is easily accessible and named (a disposable paper or plastic bag would be better than a lunchbox).
• Raincoat
• Sunhat
• Sunblock
• Pencil/Pen and paper

 

Bag

Notebook

Large plastic bag for dirty or wet clothing

Pillow and pillowcase

Sleeping bag or sheets and duvet/blankets

Two towels

Swimsuit and plastic bag

Shorts/shirts

Sweatshirts or fleece jackets or jersey

Jeans, trousers or sweatpants  

Underwear     

Socks

Sports shoes or similar

Jandals or sandals

Pyjamas

Tissues

Toiletry gear - which needs to include soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, facecloth, comb/hairbrush

Torch

 

Optional:

Camera (bring at your own risk)

Pack of cards or small board game

 

Note:

NO cellphones

NO music or radio players

NO knives

NO aerosol deodorant sprays or similar

Week 7 Notices

Thank you to all the parents and JPC students who helped at the athletics day on Friday. Your help is always very much appreciated.

Swimming this week.

Year 6 Retreat: You have retreat on Friday the 28th of November. Please bring your own lunch and drink that day as we will be over at the church hall all day. You may wear mufti that day.

Camps: Please check your gear list this week and make sure that you have everything you need.

Year 5 Camp Gear List 

ALL ITEMS MUST BE CLEARLY NAMED

 

NB: Please attach a luggage tag to the outside of your bag(s), which clearly indicates your name and class.

Baking: Please send some baking along to school on the day we leave (Please, no nuts in the baking). The baking will be shared out for morning and afternoon teas.

A backpack, or small bag, which the student will keep with them on the first day. This bag should contain:

•         Morning tea, lunch and a filled, named drink bottle for the first day of the camp.  Please make sure this is easily accessible and named (a disposable paper or plastic bag would be better than a lunchbox).

•         Raincoat – if wet weather

•         Sunhat

•         Sunblock

•         Pencil/Pen

Bag (Please no large suitcases) 

Large plastic bag for dirty or wet clothing

Sleeping bag or sheets (a lightweight duvet is provided)

 

NO pillow (pillow and pillow case are already provided)

Two towels (one to use after swimming on Friday) 

Swimsuit and plastic bag

Shorts/shirts/ T-Shirts

Raincoat

 

Sweatshirts or fleece jackets or jersey

Jeans, trousers or sweatpants 

Underwear    

Socks

Sports shoes or similar

Jandals or sandals

Pyjamas

Tissues

Toiletry gear - which needs to include soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, facecloth, comb/hairbrush

 

Optional:

Camera (bring at your own risk)

Pack of cards or small board game

 

Note:

NO cellphones

NO electronic games

NO music or radio players

NO knives

NO aerosol deodorant sprays or similar

Year 6 Camp Gear List 

ALL ITEMS MUST BE CLEARLY NAMED

 

NB: Please attach a luggage tag to the outside of your bag(s), which clearly indicates your name and class.

 

Backpack, or small bag, which the student will keep with them on the first day. This bag should contain:

• Morning tea, lunch and a filled named drink bottle for the first day of the Camp.  Please make sure this is easily accessible and named (a disposable paper or plastic bag would be better than a lunchbox).
• Raincoat
• Sunhat
• Sunblock
• Pencil/Pen and paper

 

Bag

Notebook

Large plastic bag for dirty or wet clothing

Pillow and pillowcase

Sleeping bag or sheets and duvet/blankets

Two towels

Swimsuit and plastic bag

Shorts/shirts

Sweatshirts or fleece jackets or jersey

Jeans, trousers or sweatpants  

Underwear     

Socks

Sports shoes or similar

Jandals or sandals

Pyjamas

Tissues

Toiletry gear - which needs to include soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, facecloth, comb/hairbrush

Torch

 

Optional:

Camera (bring at your own risk)

Pack of cards or small board game

 

Note:

NO cellphones

NO music or radio players

NO knives

NO aerosol deodorant sprays or similar

 

Week 6 Notices

Athletics Day Friday 21st November
The middle and senior school children will be taking part in an athletics day this Friday from 9am onwards. It will be held on the John Paul College fields and children are to be dropped off at JPC and picked up again at the end of the day (around 2.30pm). Times and where to meet will be confirmed in this weeks newsletter.

We require additional adult helpers for the athletic day. If you are able to help, please contact the school and leave a message for Lizzy.

Camps - only two weeks away!
Next week we will have the gear lists available again. They will also be able to be viewed on the blog.

Year 5 Camp - parents of Year 5 children going to camp, just a reminder that children are required to bring a cake or biscuits to share for morning and afternoon teas.

No swimming this week.

Library - all books are to be returned this week.

Year 6 children going to JPC in 2015
Placement testing will take place this Wednesday from 9am. Children will be travelling to JPC by bus around 11.30am to participate in an orientation activities. They will return to school at 2.30pm.

Have a great week.

Week 5 Notices

Swimming this week. Bring your togs and towel.

Camps: Start organising your gear for camp. Find your gear list and make sure that you have everything you need.

Grandparents Mass: This Friday the 14th at 9am in the church. All welcome. For those parents who are coming along to mass and morning tea, can you please bring a plate to help with the morning tea for our visitors.

Homework: New homework has been set for the next two weeks.

Home Reading: Please ensure that your books come back to school on Fridays so that you can get new ones.

Week 4 Notices

 

MONDAY 3^RD NOVEMBER

10.00am All Saints/All Souls liturgy in Church. Families welcome.

No swimming this week.

Library: Monday at 11.45am. Bring your library books tomorrow.

Speech Finals: These will be held on Wednesday at 11am in the hall.

Camp Meetings: For parent helpers on Year 5 and 6 camps. Tuesday 5.15 - 5.45pm.

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Faithfulness

 

VALUES. Prayerfulness, Justice

 

MANNERS. Put your hand up

 

MAORI WORD OF THE WEEK. Mary-Maria- mar-ree-a

 

   

Homework and Notices for Week 3

Choose any TWO of the activities from the grid below to complete.

Have you been practicing your speech?

Choose 6 words from your spelling from last week and use each one in a new sentence.

Don't forget - swimming all this week.

Remembering Retell a well known Fairy Tale (not Cinderella) in your own words	Create an A-Z list of things you know about Maori legends and myths. Create an A-Z list of everything you can think of about Fairy Stories.	Venn Diagram Use a Venn diagram to look at the similarities and differences between the Goldilocks story and The 3 little pigs story.
The Question Start with the answerWicked Stepmother and list 5 questions which could be linked with that answer only.	Creating Create a 6 framestoryboard of a Maori legend from the Rotorua region. Remember to use pictures and text.	How many different endings can you think of for the story of Jack and the Beanstalk?  Try and be creative.

Week 2 Notices

Newsletters
Newsletters will now be emailed to all families. If you did not receive an email last week, please submit your email in the space provided at the end of the newsletter on the school website. Alternatively, let the office know your email and they will submit it for you. Hard copies of the newsletter are available at the school office.

Swimming
We will be swimming odd weeks (week 3 will be the next week we swim) from Monday to Friday. Swimming is a compulsory Physical Education activity and all children are expected to participate unless they have a medical reason.

Camp Fees
Please make arrangements for camp fees at the office if you have not already done so. We are anticipating a meeting for parent helpers next week. A letter will come home indicating a date and time this week - we just need to make sure that we do not clash with other meetings first.

Home Reading
There are a number of children in Room 1 who do not regularly bring back their home reading books. Please ensure that your child reads their books, sign their notebook, and return them to school every Friday.

Pre-puberty classes for Year 6 children will take place this week. Year 5 children will be involved with leadership activities.

Speeches
Class eliminations begin in week 3. Children are writing their speeches in class now and their final copy should be ready by the end of this week. They can take their speeches home next weekend and work on the oral presentation of their speech at home as homework. Finalists will be announced at the end of week 3, and the finals will be held in week 4 (Wednesday 5th of November at 11am).

Production is 12 and 13 November

Camp Year 5 is 3 - 5 December
Camp Year 6 is 2 - 5 December

Week 1 Notices

Welcome back to Term 4. I hope that you all had a great break and enjoyed time with your families.

Swimming
Room 1 will be swimming during add weeks beginning this week. We will start on Tuesday afternoon. Please bring your swimming gear to school every day this week.

Uniforms
We have changed into summer uniform now. You all need to wear a blue sun hat when outdoors this term. The 'aussi' style hats are usually available at several stores including Postie Plus and the Warehouse. Caps are not allowed, please wear the correct sun hat.

Camps
We will be sending information home regarding camps soon. We do ask children to give the information to their parents. Please ask your children regularly if there is any information regarding camps. We will send home a gear list again, but will send it nearer the time.

Camp Fees: Please organise payment this term with the school office.

For parents helping on camps, there will be a meeting held in Week 2. A letter will be sent home once we have a set date and time.

Stationery
Please ensure that your child comes to school with pencils and pens this term if they have run out at school.

Speeches
Children will be writing speeches at school in the first two weeks. The topic will be 'Proud to live in New Zealand'. Children will need to give reasons why they are proud to live in New Zealand. Children will need to practise their speech at home before the class eliminations in week 3 (end of week). This will be part of their homework for week 3. On the 5th of November, the finals will be held for those who make it through from each class. The finals will be held in front of the whole senior school.

Week 10 Notices

Shared Lunch on Thursday
Joshua and his family are leaving St Mary's School and heading nearer the beach. We will be having a shared lunch on Thursday from 12.15pm. It is also a great time to celebrate the end of another fantastic term of learning. Please bring along finger food to share.

Mass
On Friday at 9am, Rooms 1 and 2 will be attending the parish mass. Families are most welcome to join us.

Home Reading
Please bring books back to school by Friday with your notebooks signed.

School Books
If you have any school books, library books, readers or journals, please send them back to school this week. Teachers will be doing a stocktake of books during the holidays.

Holiday Reading Programme
Entry forms will be sent home this week. Please put them in a safe spot and record all your reading during the holidays. Great prizes to be won including a tent as first prize.

I wish you all a wonderful two week break at the end of this week. Keep safe and we will see you back at school in Term 4.

Week 9 Notices

Year 6 Cake Stall
A huge thank you to all those families that contributed to the cake stall, and then sent money along for their children to buy cakes as well!

AIDA
We will be going to the AIDA production on Tuesday, leaving school at 9.00am. We will be walking to and from the Convention Centre. The weather forecast shows showers likely on Tuesday so children will need to bring along a rain jacket or umbrella, just in case.

Museum Trip
We will be going to the museum on Friday, travelling to and from the venue by bus. If any parents wish to come along on this trip, please let me know by emailing me.  brigit@stmarys.rotorua.school.nz

Home Reading Programme
Please ensure you child is reading every night and sign in the notebook. All books to be returned on Fridays.

Pre-Puberty Parent Information Evening (Year 6 only)
For those parents coming along, please meet in Room 5 at 5.15 - 5.45.

Week 8 Notices

Year 6 Cake Stall
Year 6 students going to camp are asked to bring along baking on Wednesday 10th of September.

Cake Stall (for whole school)
Baking will be sold for $1.00 each at morning tea time outside Room 3.

Home Reading
If you forgot to bring your books back on Friday, bring them back this Monday as the books will be exchanged on Monday morning.

Year 6 Pre-puberty Forms
Please return these forms to your class teacher by Tuesday (pink forms).

Library on Monday

Week 7 Notices

AIDA Boys' High Production
The whole senior school will be going to this on the 16th of September. Children will be walking to and from the Convention Centre. The cost of the production has been covered by the activity fee.

Year 6 Camp
Due to numbers dropping, there will be a cake stall to raise a bit of extra money for the Year 6 Camp in order to cover the costs. More information about when the cake stall will be held will be sent home soon.

Camps
Behind the scenes, a lot of work is happening around both camps. Children have selected sleeping groups and day groups have been organised. More information around meetings for camp helpers, and gear lists will happen at the beginning of Term 4.

Library
We will be going to the library on Monday.

Tissues
We have run out of tissues. If anyone would like to donate a box, it will be most welcome.

Pens, Pencils and Rulers
Please ask your child if they have run out of any of these items. Many children do not have a pen or pencil and have to borrow from others.

Week 6 Notices

School photos
Monday 25th of August. All children are to be in correct school uniform.

Homework
Homework is due this Friday the 29th of August.

Cinderella Production
Senior children auditioned on Friday. They will hear who got the main parts in the next week or so. All children who do not get a main part will still be part of the production as they will make up the singing parts of the show.

Library
Bring your books back to school on Monday.

Week 5 Notices

Science Road Show
We will be going the Science Road Show this Thursday, the 21st of August. The show will be at Rotorua Intermediate so we will just have to walk across the road to get there. If the weather is wet, please bring a rain jacket or umbrella to school as we will still need to walk to the venue.

The actual entry fee is $8.00, but the cost will be subsidised with the activity fee parents paid at the beginning of the year. The cost will now be $4.00 per student. If you haven't done so already, please send $4.00 to school by Wednesday so that we can arrange payment with the facilitators of the show.

Homework
New homework has been set. Homework is due this Friday the 29th of August.

Cinderella Production
Senior children can audition for the production on Friday. A letter went home on Friday outlining more information about the production.

Food Competition
Congratulations to Brianna in Room 1 for coming first in the Year 6 selection.

Events coming up

School photos
Monday 25th of August. All children to be in correct school uniform.

On the 16th of September the senior school have been invited to the Rotorua Boy's High Production of AIDA at the Convention Centre. The entry fee will be subsidised by the activity fee paid at the beginning of the year so there will be no other costs involved. More information will be sent out nearer to the time.

Cinderella Production
November 12 and 13 November.

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Gentleness.

 

VALUES. Role Models. Strength.

 

MANNERS. Be Polite, Say Hello, Pay a Compliment, Please and Thank You, Hold the Door, Smile, Offer to help.

 

MAORI WORD OF THE WEEK.  PATIENCE - HONGEA.  (HAW-GNAW-EAR)

Week 4 Notices

Library
Bring your books back to school on Monday to exchange at the library

Assumption Liturgy on Friday at 10am in the Church. Room 1 and 16 children will be running this liturgy.

Science Road Show
We will be going the Science Road Show on the 21st of August. The show will be at Rotorua Intermediate so we will just have to walk across the road to get there. This show allows students to view and participate in a huge range of science experiments.

The actual entry fee is $8.00, but the cost will be subsidised with the activity fee parents paid at the beginning of the year. The cost will now be $4.00 per student. A letter will be sent home this week with all the details.

Homework
Homework is due this Friday the 15th of August.

Week 3 Notices

Marae Trip on Tuesday - Thank you to the parents who have offered to help transport children to and from the venue. Unfortunately, we are still very short on transport. If you are available to help please send a note with you child on Monday. We leave school at 9.00am and leave the marae at 12.20 to be back at school by 12.30pm.

Food for Thought Programme
This will be running in the senior school this week. We have lessons on Monday and Wednesday, and on Thursday we will be walking down to New World for a visit. Room 1 are leaving school at 10.00am and returning at 12.00pm. Our actual visit is between 10.30 and 11.30am. If any parents would like to accompany us on the walk and visit, please contact Mrs Nieuwboer this week.

Mary Mackillop Day
This Friday, the whole school will be celebrating Mary Mackillop Day. We will begin with Mass at 9.00am and there will be a variety of activities taking place throughout the day. At lunchtime, we will be having a shared lunch with Room 12. Please send along food suitable for sharing on Friday.

Golden Time
I initially said that we would be making a fruit salad (looking at where in the world the fruit comes from - link with globalisation) on Friday for Golden Time. However, since we are having a shared lunch that day, we will leave the fruit salad for another time.

On Wednesday, our Whanau hui will be combined one with our Fillipino, Pasifika and Indian families. You are all welcome for a meal in the school hall at 5.30pm.

Week 2 Notices

Steam puddings

Our whanau roopu are selling these on Thursday. They are delicious.

The next Whanau hui will be combined one with our Fillipino, Pasifika and Indian families. It is planned to happen in the school hall on the 6th August at 5.30pm.

Library on Monday - please bring your books back so that you can issue new ones.

Holiday Reading Logs - please bring these back to school by Wednesday to be in the draw for a prize at assembly this week.

JPC interviews for Year 6 students will be taking place at St Mary's on Monday and Tuesday. Year 6 students were given a notice on Friday with the date and time of their interview.

Mare Trip - This is planned for next week, Tuesday the 5th of August. A notice will be sent home tomorrow asking for help with transport.

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Gentleness..

VALUES. Role Models. Strength.

MANNERS. Be Polite, Say Hello, Pay a Compliment, Please and Thank You, Hold the Door, Smile, Offer to help.

MAORI WORD OF THE WEEK. heihei

Te Kupu o te Wiki 28 July heihei

heihei = chicken 

Sample sentence: Kei te kai heihei tātou?

Are we having chicken?

Week 1, Term 3

Welcome back everyone. I hope that you all had a great break and are ready to learn. This term we are focusing on globalisation, in particular around trade and food; where does our food come from?

There is a Teacher Only Day on Monday the 21st of July.

We have a marae trip booked in week 3, a Science Road Show trip in week 5, a museum trip in week 9 where we will learn about trade during the war, including many other aspects of the war. We will require transport for the marae trip and a notice will be sent home closer to the time.

Bring your library books back on Monday so that they can be changed for new books.

The Holiday Reading sheet is due back at school this week - a chance of a prize if you have completed the required reading over the holidays.

Father Mark School Farewell Liturgy - School Hall, Wednesday 23rd July  10am.
Followed by Shared morning tea- all Whanau invited to come along and share together.

Week 9 Notices

We are in our final week of school for this term. What a wonderful term it has been with fantastic learning around the human body systems, explanation writing, multiplication and division strategies, spelling, the Holy Spirit, the Church, music, science experiments, and many more areas of learning. Most assessments have been completed last week and you might have heard some of your child's results already. This week, we still have the last topic and maths assessments.

Static Electricity Science Experiment

Marae Trip
A letter went home last week explaining that our marae trip had to be cancelled for this term due to wet weather and the marae being fully booked this week. We have booked the marae for the 5th of August (third week in Term 3), with a back-up date the 7th of August if it is wet weather. We need to spend some time outside during our trip, so we do need it to be fine.

Science Road Show
On the 21st of August (Fifth week in Term 3), we will also be going to the Science Road Show with all the senior classes. Luckily, we have booked the sessions across the road at Rotorua Intermediate, so we can walk the children to the venue. More information will be sent home nearer the time.

PE
This week, our class has Hit It, a physical Education programme around badminton and tennis. Please bring PE gear.

Homework
There is homework set for this week which prepares children for the topics in Term 3. Please encourage children to continue on IXL maths and keep reading throughout the holidays.

Holiday Reading Programme
The sheets will come out this week for children to fill in over the holidays.

I wish you all a happy and safe holiday.

Week 8 Notices

Room 1 presented their work on six different human body systems at assembly this week. They did an awesome job, and they spoke clearly and confidently. Well done Room 1!

Teacher Only Day on Monday

Marae Trip on Wednesday
We are going on our Marae trip on Wednesday the 25th of June from 9 - 12.30pm. We require more transport for children in Room 1. Please send a note to school if you are able to help transport to and from school. There is a $2.00 cost per child.

Mufti Day on Thursday
Mufti day - come dressed as your favourite sports person. Gold coin donation - all money goes to help the poor.

Mass is on Friday morning at 9am.

Student Led Conferences - Letters
Thank you to all those parents who sent their letters back to school. There are a number of children who have not yet brought back their letters. Please send them in this week so that we can organise a sharing time soon.

Year 5 and 6 Camps
Year 5 and 6 camp booklets went home this week. Please fill in the forms and return them to school by Friday 27th. The first 3 pages can be kept as they have all the information your require, plus the gear list. The Year 5 children were given an extra page for the payments as in the booklet, it was backed onto a page you needed to keep at home for personal fundraising.

Week 7 Notices

Student Led Conferences
Thank you to all families who came to share their child's learning. Everyone in Room 1 came to the conferences. Children spoke very well and it was lovely to hear the positive feedback from parents and families.

Please return the letter addressed to your child next week. All letters will go in the individual portfolios for children to keep.

Homework
New homework has been set for the next two weeks.

JPC Enrolment Packs
Please fill these in and return them to St Mary's Office by the 27th of June.

Marae Trip
We will be going on a trip to Ohinemutu Marae on Wednesday the 25th of June. We will be leaving school at 9.00am and returning by 12,30pm. We require transport to and from the venue and some parental help when there. A notice will be coming home on Monday with all the details.

Year 5 and Year 6 Camps
Year 5 children will be going to Lake Taupo Christian Camp for three days.
Year 6 children will be going to Auckland for four days.

Booklets with information and lots of forms to fill in will be sent home next week.

Week 6 Notices

Student Led Conferences
Thank you to all those who have booked a conference with their child. If you are unable to come, an older sibling, aunt, uncle or grandparents can also come to a conference.

After the conference, you will be asked to choose from a range of letter templates, and at home, write a letter to your child about their conference and learning progress. Letters can be sent along to school and I will keep them safe until the sharing time. Within a week after the conference, time will be set aside at school for children to read their letters and share them with others if they wish.

If you have not yet made time for a conference, please go on the www.schoolinterviews website and type in the code VBXWT, and choose a time from the available conference times.

Wednesday June 11th, school closes at 12.30pm.
Thursday June 12th is a normal school day. Conferences begin at 4pm.

Home Reading
Please make sure books are returned on Fridays.

Library
Monday at 11.45am.

Lego Competition
On Monday, children will be given a poster advertising this competition. They can participate individually or with a partner. Children need to bring certain materials themselves. Some lego blocks are available for children to use.

Week 5 Notices

 Children sharing information about the digestive system.

 Yes, that is a cow skull on the table. Thanks to Callum for bringing it in.

Room 1 students hard at work, learning all about the digestive system. Parents and whanau, you might like to ask your child what they know about the systems in the human body. You might be surprised to hear what they know.

Mass
On Friday at 11.00am, there will be Pentecost Mass at St Mary's Church. We will be celebrating this mass with students from St Michael's School.

Cross-country
Children did really well at cross-country on Thursday. All the training paid off and there were no reported injuries. We are so lucky to have the Redwoods so close, and to be able to run in such a wonderful environment.

Homework
Homework has been set for the next two weeks. IXL is up and running again and more information is on the Homework page. Please note that children will have new usernames and passwords which will be sent home in a letter on Tuesday.

Lost Property
This box is now situated outside Room 4. The box is overflowing with lost property. Children are encouraged to look through the box, but most of the time, they don't even realise that they have lost anything! If you are picking up your child from school and have a spare minute, wander over and take a look. You might find a lost item or three in the pile!

Student Led Conferences
In the last newsletter you will find booking information for the Student Led Conferences. This week, children will begin organising work to show you. Please make time on one of the given days to share your child's learning with them as children have put in a lot of effort into preparing for the conferences.

Week 4 Notices

RE Books
There are a number of workbooks that need to be returned to school. Please make sure that they are returned tomorrow.

Cross-country

As you will have seen from the school newsletter we will be holding our Inter-House school cross country on the afternoon of Thursday 29 May in the Redwoods Forest. This is for Yr 3-6 students.

A form detailing the day will be sent home on Monday.

To make this a successful & enjoyable event for everyone we require parental assistance both with regards to transport and marshalling on the day.

We will need the following help  at various times on the day from parents:

12:30pm - Transporting children from school to the Redwoods Visitor Centre

1pm – 2:20pm Marshalling in the forest on the day

2:30pm - Transporting 'bus' and 'After School Care' children from the Visitor Centre back to school to catch the 2.50pm and 3pm buses. 
Parents will be asked to pick up their children from the Redwoods at 2.30pm.

If you are able to help out we’d really appreciate it.

Catholic Character Review

This week we have a Catholic Character review in the school. We will have a powhiri on Tuesday morning to welcome our guests. The review team will be visiting classrooms throughout the week.

Library

Monday morning. Bring your library books to school.

Music
Mrs Hall is taking children for music and some children wish to play their instruments to the class. Children may bring their instrument to school on Wednesday.

Homework
Homework is due this Friday. Home Reading to be handed in on Friday as well.

Week 3 Notices

Student Led Conferences
These will be held in week 6 this term. A notice went home last week giving parents an overview of the conference. This week, you will receive an invitation from your child to attend the conference. Dates and the website where you can book times will also be on the invitation.

Home Reading
Unfortunately, a number of children who are on this programme are not bringing their reading packs back to school every week. Please ensure that your child does read every night and sign the notebook. This way, your child learns that reading is very important.

Library
Every Monday. Seniors can issue two books every week.

Cross-Country
This will be on the 29th of May in the afternoon. We will require transport to get children to the Redwoods around lunchtime. More information will be sent home about this event soon. Children are training every day so they need PE gear to change into when running.

Leader Badges
Those children who are leaders are expected to wear their badges at school. If your child has a badge, can you encourage them to wear their badge.

Homework
Great posters are coming to school. Homework was due last Friday. Please encourage your child to complete their homework and bring it to school on time. New homework has been set on this blog.

Week 2 Notices

Cross-Country Training:
We will be training for cross-country every day over the next weeks. Please bring PE gear to school every day. Cross-country is on the 29th in the afternoon. More information will be in the following newsletters.

Library:
On Monday - bring your books back tomorrow.

Home Reading Programme:
If your child is on this programme, please ensure they read every night and return their bag of books on Friday.

Holiday Reading:
Bring back your forms before Wednesday 14th of May to be in the prize draw.

Week 1 Notices

Welcome back to Term 2. This is a 9 week term with a lot happening throughout the weeks. Our concept is 'Structures' and the key understanding is 'Organisation of many parts'.  We will be learning about human body systems with the skeletal system being our first learning focus. Homework will also be around finding information about the skeletal system.

There are still too many children who do not access the blog for notices or homework. I encourage children to go to the blog and find the weekly notices and ask their parents to read them. I will be setting an incentive to get all Room 1 children using the blog for notices and doing their homework this term. At the bottom of this page, there is a comment box. Children will be asked to get their parents to indicate that they have seen the blog by leaving their name or even a short message. This only needs to be done once and I will receive notification of any messages.

Student Led Conferences
These conferences will be held in week 6 this term. There is a lot of information for parents and caregivers leading up to the conferences as this will be a different way of sharing your child's learning and progress. I will strongly encourage your child to give you any correspondence from school. I will also let you know when a letter has been sent home with a message on the blog. Please regularly ask your children if there are any letters for you from school, as many times children just forget to get them out of their bags. It would be great to see every parents come to school, to share their child's learning on the dates provided.

Cross-country Training
We will be launching into cross-country training from the first week of this term. All children must bring their PE gear to school every day.

Uniforms
All children should be in winter uniform this week. Please go to the school website for information on uniforms.

Homework
Homework will continue to be set every two weeks. Please ensure your child does do their homework as it definitely helps with their learning at school. It also allows you as parents to see what your child has been learning. Often, children will be asked to do research ready for projects and learning at school. To allow children to be more aware of what is happening the world around them, a special project book will come home once this term and your child will be asked to contribute an article or information of interest about something that is happening locally, nationally or internationally. They can paste an article on a page and add a few notes that they can talk about, add pictures, maps or any information they feel is relevant. Children will be asked to share their project book with the class or a group of children. They will have one week to complete their work. As I would like each child to have at least one chance this term to take the project book home, there will be several children taking a project book home in the same week.