Week 11 Notices

What a busy term we have had - and it is not over yet! We have a number of important events happening this week.

One maths group doing their statistical investigation by using multivariate data to look for patterns and answer mathematical questions. There are more photos of maths group work in the Shared Learning area of this blog.

Isabella holding up her kite. She later added a drawing relating to Matariki to the front. For more photos of kite making, see the Shared Learning area on this blog.

Homework
Homework has been set for next week.

PE Programme
We have Hit It this week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, so bring along your PE gear.

Marae Trip
As you will be aware, on Tuesday the 30th of June we will be going on a trip to the marae. Thank you to all the parents who have offered transport and assistance on the day. We intend to leave school at 9am and will finish the programme around 2pm. We will then pack up and return to school.

Children, if you haven't done so already, please bring along $5.00 towards the cost of the food and koha. The koha (donation) is inclued in the $5.00 so you do not need to bring any extra money.

Thank you to the parents who are helping on Monday to prepare food. Please come along to the kitchen in the hall, and we will organise groups of children to help during this time as well.

We still require extra flax and wool/string for activities at the marae. If you can donate any of these items, please send them along to school on Monday.

Bishop Visit
On Friday, Bishop Steven is visiting our school. We will welcome him at 10am in the hall, and he will visit all the classrooms right up till lunchtime.

This is my last week at school for this year. It has been an absolute pleasure teaching your children this year. I have enjoyed getting to know many parents really well these last two terms as well. Thank you for all your help in class and on trips.

Regards Brigit Nieuwboer

Week 10 Notices

WOW! What a wonderful science display we had this week. Every child worked so hard and they were so proud of their results. See more photos in the Shared Learning area.

Library: This Thursday. Remember to bring your books.

Home Reading: Due back on Friday

Homework: Due this Friday

Marae Trip: We are in the process of organising a trip in the last week of term. A notice will be sent home shortly with all the information about the trip.

The Whanau Group would like to extend an invitation to all staff and their families to a pot luck dinner on Thursday the 25th of June at 5.30pm. The dinner is to celebrate the cultural diversity we have in our school. EVERY FAMILY IS INVITED.

Come along for some fun conversation and get to know our community. Last year was great fun. 

Week 9 Notices

Science Display
Come along on Wednesday and see what your child has been learning this term. Children will all have their own display in class and they will be able to explain what they have been learning and how their models work. You are also welcome to look through the other senior classes.
Wednesday 17 June from 3 - 5.15pm

Year 6 Camp Sausage Sizzle Fundraising
In Term 3, the PTA gives parents of Year 6 children an opportunity to run the sausage sizzles on Fridays. The profit is divided between those parents who help (and how often), and it goes towards their child's camp fees. We are looking several parents to organise the parent rosters, and generally, who are the people parents contact about the sausage sizzle. If you are willing to help, please contact Brigit Nieuwboer as soon as possible so that we can get everything organised to start next term.
brigitn@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

Homework
New homework has been set on this blog. Please encourage your child to complete their homework.

This week signals the Māori New Year as the Matariki star cluster is visible in our skies. You can celebrate this occasion with a family night at the Museum on Saturday 20 June 2015, from 5pm until 9pm.

http://www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz/exhibitions/details/matariki-whanau-night/

Matariki Whānau Night @ Rotorua Museum

Saturday 20 June 2015, 5pm-9pm

Come and celebrate the Māori New Year at Rotorua Museum with Cosmodome Planetarium, Travelling Tuataras, crafts, face painting, music  for a fun family night out.

There will only be 6 sessions of the Cosmodome during the night so book tickets in advance at Rotorua Museum reception. Tickets: Adults: $5, Children (5-15 years): $3, Under 5 years: Free.

How can you celebrate Matariki with your family?

There are lots of ways you can celebrate Matariki with your family, and in doing so, start your own family traditions. Some ideas to get you started include:

A Family Feast

Make Matariki a time when the whole family gets together to feast and give thanks. It may be a nice opportunity to explore traditional Maori food like hangi and rewena (Maori bread).

A New Harvest

Use Matariki as a time to clear the winter vegetables, and prepare your vegetable garden for the new planting. It could become a family tradition to do the gardening altogether – at least for one day of the year.

Tree Planting

Contact your local Department of Conservation to find out if there are any regeneration projects happening in your area. Organise to plant a tree on Matariki, or better still, get together with a group of friends and plant several.

Sleep Under the Stars

Spend a night sleeping under the stars (or under a tent!), and tell your own family stories. You may want to talk about family memories, or create goals for the coming lunar year.

New Years Resolutions

Most of us create New Years Resolutions in January, but by the time June rolls around they are long forgotten. Why not use Matariki as a time to renew your resolutions.

Attend a Matariki Event

Up and Coming Events

The Whanau Group would like to extend an invitation to all staff and their families to a pot luck dinner on Thursday the 25th of June at 5.30pm. The dinner is to celebrate the cultural diversity we have in our school. EVERY FAMILY IS INVITED.

Come along for some fun conversation and get to know our community. Last year was great fun. 

Senior Marae Trip: Tuesday 30th of June 

Week 8 Notices

Children are working hard on their sustainability projects. This week, children will be making their structures. Please make sure that children bring materials to school before Wednesday (see homework for more information).

Next week, we will set up the projects in the classroom and families can come and have a look at what children have been working on this term. Children are only expected to be present when their family visits, as they will be showing their display and explaining all they have learned about sustainable energy. All senior classes will put on a science display and families are welcome to look through all the senior classes.

Science Display: Wednesday 17th from 3 - 5.15pm.

Marae trip (Focus geothermal energy to cook food and Matariki activities)
We will have a day trip on Tuesday the 30th of June for all senior children. A letter will be sent home this week asking for parent help to transport students to and from the marae at Ohinemutu, and also parent helpers to help with preparing lunch and helping with activities.

We require several parents who can help in the kitchen on the 30th of June. Children will be cooking their food in the steam ovens and parents need to oversee this process. If you can help, Heidi, our whanau representative, would like to meet with you at the marae on Sunday the 28th for about 15 minutes to show you how the ovens work. Heidi will also be present on the 30th. If you can help, please let me know.

A school mass (Sacred Heart) will be on Friday the 12th at 9am. All parents are welcome.

Library: Thursday

The Whanau Group would like to extend an invitation to all staff and their families to a pot

luck dinner on Thursday the 25th of June at 5.30pm. The dinner is to celebrate the cultural

diversity we have in our school.

Come along for some fun conversation and get to know our community. Last year was

great fun.

Week 7 Notices

New homework has been set for the next two weeks. Children will be given login details for IXL which is a mathematics website on Tuesday. They will bring their details home so that they can access the site from home. I will also have back-up logins at school if any child forgets their details.

For homework, children have been asked to bring along materials for their sustainability project. They will be required to make their construction at school.

Please see homework as an extension of school learning. All homework is referred to in class, and it is often the basis for spelling and mathematics tests, and is also background knowledge for topic studies. By looking at the results of these tests, I am noticing a huge academic advantage for those children who are completing their homework, and their academic results reflect this. Please encourage your child to complete all their homework.

Check the 'Shared Learning' tab to view photos of what children have been doing this week.

Library
We are going to the library every Thursday. Please make sure that your child brings their library books back on Thursdays. I am noticing many children are forgetting to bring their books every week.