The school is open on the 1st and 2nd of February for children and parents to attend their Getting Connected Session. The first day of school for Years 1-6 is Thursday the 3rd of February. Please note Monday the 7th is Waitangi Day (Public Holiday).

The school is open on the 1st and 2nd of February for children and parents to attend their Getting Connected Session.

The first day of school for Years 1-6 is Thursday the 3rd of February. Please note Monday the 7th is Waitangi Day (Public Holiday).

Getting Connected

Due to new requirements under the Covid Protection Framework (Traffic Light system), Getting Connected will be a 15 minute face to face interview for you and your child or if you prefer by Zoom. See below.

You will be sent a link to an introductory video on Monday, 31 January. This will give you much of the information you need to know about the operation of the collaboration.

These interviews, and the video prior to the interview, are to connect or reconnect with you and your child as well as give and collect information.

Prior to the meeting

• discuss the footprint sheet and fill in with your child

• read over the report to think of goals to set with your child

At the meeting you will

• discuss the footprint sheet with the teacher

• set some goals with your child and the teacher

Sessions and Bookings

This session runs for 15 minutes. You can book a session through the school app by clicking the school interview icon or go to https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/. The code is wxmep

Times blocks available are below. Please book by 3pm Friday, 28 January. This allows time for teachers to see who needs to be sent a Zoom link.

Tuesday 1 February                       Wednesday 2 February

11:00am - 6:30pm                           9am -3pm

Zoom meetings

Book the normal way and the teacher will send you a Zoom link.

In Case of a Change in Settings

If the traffic light settings change prior to the interviews we will still carry on with googlemeets and will provide information to enable this to happen.

Health and Safety Requirements Under the Orange Traffic Light of the COVID Protection Framework

• Only two people can attend the interview with your child. No preschoolers. A creche will operate in the library.

• You may not attend if

You and your household members have been at a location of interest in the last 14 days;

You and your household members have been in a red traffic light area or in the Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman area in the last 14 days;

You and your household members are awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test unless it is a normal surveillance test;

You and your household members have received a positive COVID-19 test;

You and your household members have been instructed to isolate or monitor for symptoms of COVID-19;

You and your household members are a close or casual contact of a known or probable COVID-19 case;

You and your household members do work at any MIQ facility or border worker role;

You and your household members are unwell with symptoms of cold, flu or COVID-19.

• Please stay home if you are unwell. You can still book on line if you wish to do on Zoom. Book the normal way, see above.

• You must wear a mask at all times.

• Please do not enter the classroom until the previous interview has finished. While waiting socially distance and scan your QR Code which will be on display in various places around the school including the classroom door.

• On entering the class, your details will be collected for contact tracing and you must sanitise your hands.

• Spaces will be ventilated

• Teachers will have their spaces organised for 1 metre spacing

Summer Slide

Children make progress in reading with regular and consistent practice. You may think it is a good idea to take a break from all school work over the summer however, reading is a lifelong skill to be nurtured. For many children, six weeks with little or no reading can be detrimental. Summer Slide refers to children sliding back in their enjoyment of and achievement in reading.

It is essential for many children that parents and caregivers support their reading by going to the library and practicing basic words and sounds during the holidays to consolidate and maintain learning.

Research shows:

• The consequences are cumulative and long lasting

• The slide can have a powerful influence on reading scores throughout high school and beyond

• Low-income children fall further behind than their classmates

• The loss is less pronounced or absent in students who have access to books and holiday learning experiences such as travel, museum visits etc

What works?

• Your child seeing you as a reader

• Students’ own choice of books – visit the local library

• Aim for variety of reading material – recipes, word finds and crosswords

• Reading a little and often each day works best

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

The best way to keep connected to your child’s learning and school events is the school app. It has a school calendar with important dates and you will receive learning snapshots throughout the year to keep up to date with your child’s progress. Alongside this you will receive an electronic, written report at the mid-year and end of year points.

If you have forgotten your ID or password, please email Kellie Englefield- k.englefield@somerfield.school.nz with your child’s name and class in 2022.