Welcome to our first blog post for 2024. Read to find out what is happening in hub 6.

Meet the Teacher

kylee.wood@oaklands.school.nz

My name is Kylee Wood and I have been teaching all around the world in Japan, England, The United Arab Emirates, Australia, Chile and now back in New Zealand. My first degree was a Bachelor of Performing Arts and I love to immerse myself in all things Dance and Drama. I have a passion for Sports and Education Outside the Classroom in particular hiking, cycling, skiing and canyoning. I am excited to be joining the Oaklands Community next year and to make the move back to my hometown of Christchurch.

grant.forman@oaklands.school.nz

I am really looking forward to working alongside you and your child in 2024. We have some exciting learning and leadership opportunities organised.  have taught in the year 5 & 6 area for the past few years, and thoroughly enjoy working with this year level. I love everything sport and co-lead sport at Oaklands School. I have a strong interest in languages having lived overseas for a number of years, particularly in Japan. I still run around the rugby and cricket field during the weekend albeit at a slower pace than when I was at school.

grant.forman@oaklands.school.nz

thomas.martin@oaklands.school.nz

Kia ora Oaklands families. I'm Mr. Martin and I have the pleasure of being the kaiako of H6C for 2024. I was born in the UK and have made New Zealand my home since I was three. It has always been my dream to be a teacher. I enjoy long walks on the beach with my puppy Dua, painting miniatures in my spare time alongside Dungeons and Dragons. You will find in my class I have a love for directness, honesty and always giving things a go. Everyone of us is learning everyday so we're all in this together. I'm sure that by being in this together we can make this year a fun time!

Swimming

It is great to have so many hot days for our students to enjoy the swimming pool. All students are required to participate in our swimming programme as swimming is part of our PE (Physical Education Curriculum). If your child is unable to swim due to a medical issue please email your child’s Hub teachers to enable us to update our records.

H6A kylee.wood@oaklands.school.nz (Team Leader)

H6B grant.forman@oaklands.school.nz

H6C thomas.martin@oaklands.school.nz

The pool is open at break times each day so your child can swim every day if they choose. The Year 6’s can go swimming at lunch.

This term we are swimming in our pastoral care classes on Tuesday and Thursday.

Our swimming instructors will be supporting our swimming programme during the term. 

Matific:

Years 2-6 Mathematics and Statistics Programme

Matific is an online programme which we are using as an in class and Mathematics and Statistics home learning programme. It is used to further develop and support in class learning goals.

Students will be able to complete activities on Matific which will align with their current level in Mathematics. Students will be able to do this at home 4 nights of the week. The expectation is that students will work on Mathematics questions for at least 15 minutes each night so at least an hour a week.

StepsWeb

StepsWeb is an online literacy programme which caters for all learners. It develops the core skills needed for reading and spelling in a way which is research-based and comprehensive - but also effective and enjoyable!

All students will be participating in this programme in 2024. StepsWeb analyses each learner’s literacy level and puts them on the right level of a structured literacy course. It will continually analyse each learner’s errors and create individualised reinforcement.

Students will be assigned learning activities each week from mid Term 1, and they will take about 90 minutes to complete. Students will have the opportunity to work on these each day at school although they will most likely need to work on this at home as well to complete their weekly tasks.

HERO

HERO is our School Management System that enables us to communicate with you. All teachers will use Hero to send emails to you. Your Blog and Newsletter links will be sent through the Hero Community Feed link. Hero also enables you to:

• read posts relating to your child’s learning

• view information on your child’s progress and goals

• view school term dates

• notify the school if your child is absent or late

• select how you wish to receive notifications

Year 6 Trips for Term one: 

Halswell Swimming:

On Friday February 23rd, the Year 4-8 hubs are going to Halswell Pool. Students participate in width or length races to earn house points, and take part in house challenges, kicking off the 2024 House points challenge. This is from 9:00 - 1:00pm. Whilst the majority of students will then return to school, students in year 5-8 who can swim 50m and wish to trial for the school swim team will remain at the pool for the afternoon.

Parents are welcome to attend this event.

What to bring: Swimwear, house mufti, towel, enough food/water for an energy intensive day, sun cream and school hat. Please note that students need to wear a top and their hat when not swimming as part of our SunSmart school responsibilities. 

LEARNING TERM 1

Mathematics

Currently we are being data detectives as we undertake a statistical inquiry of our fitness data which we gathered this week. We continue with statistics and probability to the end of week 4 when we turn our focus to problem solving.

Literacy 

We are currently developing our reading and writing skills through our learning of Waitangi Day and the Treaty of Waitangi.

Integrated Topic

Our focus this term is on Structures: What are the structures that support us as a community? This will include visual art, cyber safety and Navigating the Journey.

Te Reo Māori

Students have completed their visual mihi, and will now develop their confidence with saying their mihi, as well as answering questions about themselves.

A friendly reminder about….

Please remember to send your child in with their stationery, this needs to be named. If you are having any problems with arranging this, please email your child’s pastoral care teacher and we can do our best to help you out. Also please make sure that your child’s other belongings are named.

As it is Term 1 and still very warm, students need to be bringing their hat everyday.

Students are also encouraged to bring their own drink bottles.

Contact:

If you need to get in contact with someone from the Year 6 team please email:

hub6@oaklands.school.nz

H6A kylee.wood@oaklands.school.nz (Team Leader)

H6B grant.forman@oaklands.school.nz

H6C thomas.martin@oaklands.school.nz