Hero photograph
Enjoying the new playground
 
Photo by Beth Downie

Senior News

Beth Downie —

Keeping ourselves safe, PBL, fundamental skills, swimming, camp, and a new playground!

We have really enjoyed having the team from Otago Polytech taking all classes for the fundamental skills sessions. They have been learning and refining the basics of run - jump - throw. The team from OP has been really enthusiastic and encouraging and the seniors have especially enjoyed the lunchtime games they have involved themselves in. 

Our PBL unit has come together really well - a huge thank you to our parent community who came into classes to provide some expertise with the hospital rebuild project. Your insights into how the hospital works have been invaluable in widening our children's' knowledge and understanding and it has brought their learning to life! Ngā mihi nui kia koutou.  We will be having an expo early in Term 4 to celebrate our learning where you all will have the opportunity to come into classes, hear the children speak about their hospital rebuild projects, and share our learning. More details will come out in due course. 

We have had Constable Emily Plew in the Senior classes delivering the Keeping Ourselves Safe programme. All classes had 4 x 45-minute sessions. A reminder you can find details of the lessons by clicking on this ---> Link. I encourage you to have conversations with your child about the lessons and what they have been learning, especially why app-based social media platforms have age restrictions. 

We are all enjoying the new playground and especially enjoyed the official opening. Classes have enjoyed being able to have some dedicated time on the new play structure and it is great to see it so well utilised in playtime also.

Camp and year 5 activity week is all set to proceed now we are at Alert Level one. The dates for camp are week 7, 24-27th November. Further details sent home soon.

Swimming begins for the seniors on the first Monday of term and happens every Monday. You will receive an email from your child's teacher soon with more details.

Lastly, our two final year University of Otago / College of Education students, India (Room 2) and Fraser (Room 2A) finish their final placement soon. We thank them for their contributions to our school and acknowledge it hasn't been an easy year with the interruptions due to COVID. We wish them both well in their careers as teachers.

I hope you all have a restful time in the upcoming holidays, enjoy some family time and recharge ready for an exciting Term 4.

Beth Downie and the Senior Syndicate team.