Welcome to all our new students and parents starting at Merrin School this term.  We would also like to welcome Trish McKendry our new teacher in Room 3.  Helen Abrahams and Becky Bailey are new to the Junior Stars but have taught in the Year 5/6 area of the school in 2015.

We have two planning teams within the Junior Stars:

Mrs Jeni Bargh leads the Y0/1 Team

Mrs Toni Germon will be leading the Y2/3 Team.  

We will be providing high quality teaching and learning programmes to all our students.   

Every two weeks we will have Ms DR’s assembly where she sets the next learning goals for us. 

 Week 5 (Friday 4 March) and 11 (Friday 15 April), we will have our large formal assemblies to celebrate our learning and share our new ideas. Everyone is most welcome to come and join us.

At Merrin School we do not have bells.  The students are encouraged to manage themselves and learn to read the time.  The school hours are as follows:

8.30 am teachers are available in the classrooms. Student can come into the classrooms and start working on the Action Stations. 

8.55 am teachers assemble the students and the roll is taken

9.00am Class Time begins

10.40am Morning Tea Break

11.00am Class Time

12 noon Lunch Time

12.45pm Class Time

1.45 Break

2.00pm Class Time

3.00pm School Finishes for the Day

3.15pm All students must be with their parents or a caregiver, as the teachers are engaged in meetings and professional development.

All children must wear the summer school uniform this term. Please name all uniform items, including polar fleeces, hats and shoes. If uniform items are found it is much easier to return them if they are named. Sunhats are compulsory this term. Twink pen is a great way of naming uniform items, as it does not wash off. All children must wear black shoes please.

We love having parents helping in our classrooms. If you are able to help please put your name on the roster, it does not have to be a regular time.

If your child has a food allergy please tell the classroom teacher as soon as possible.  The information is on our records but it is a good idea to just check, that the new teacher understand all the information.

Students can bring their own cut lunches or they can be ordered at school each day. All classrooms have the Lunch Order slips to be filled in. The supplier has asked that orders contain the correct money and are placed in a secure envelope with order form attached. Your child will need to post the order in the mailbox at the entrance to the hall by 9.00am.

The PTA will be organising Sausage Sizzles throughout the year. On these days children are to order their sausage and cookie outside the hall before school. Each class will be taken over to the hall at lunchtime to collect their orders.

Homework in the Junior Stars is as follows:

Year 0/1 – reading, high frequency words, alphabet sound knowledge and basic mathematics facts

Year 2/3 – reading, spelling, basic mathematics facts and Te Kotiritiri Challenges from Week 3

DatesThis Week:

School starts at 8.55am on Monday 1 February

Coffee is available for parents in the staffroom at 9.00am

Elgregoe - Power of One Performance 11.15am on Monday 1 February.  This Performance reinforces our programme of teaching children how to look after themselves and others.  The cost is $4.50 and this will be added to your Term Accounts.

Learning Information Evening Wednesday 3 February at 7.00pm

Newsletter goes home on Thursday 4 February

Mihi Whakatau (Welcome) in the hall on Friday 5 February at 9.00am.  All parents most welcome.

We are really looking forward to working with your children this term.

Regards

Jeni Bargh – jenibargh@merrin.school.nz

Susan Perring - susanperring@merrin.school.nz

Trish McKendry - trishmckendry@merrin.school.nz

Helen Abrahams - helenabrahams@merrin.school.nz

Tracey Steel – traceysteel@merrin.school.nz

Ngaire Sigmund – ngairesigmund@merrin.school.nz

Roz Archbold - rozarchbold@merrin.school.nz

Becky Bailey - beckybailey@merrin.school.nz

Toni Germon - tonigermon@merrin.school.nz

Joanne Park - Joannepark@merrin.school.nz

Mary Kearney - marykearney@merrin.school.nz