Kia Ora families and welcome to Term 4 and beyond! We have been busy on Williamson 2. Please pop up and see our amazing art on the walls, some wacky bugs in the Maker Space and our path to Inquiry in the Retreat Space.

The students enjoyed our STEAM learning sessions in Week 3 and created some toys and contributed to a group technology challenge. They had a chance to put their determination into practice as the planned, assembled and trialed their creations while working in a group.

Students also have the opportunity to take a brain break, gaze into nature while they enjoy a movement break while riding one of the two stationary bikes.

Maths

We are now working on fractions. Your child is now into their 4th week with their new group based on their fraction pre-test done in Term 3. On Fridays, we work on algebra.

You can view your child’s maths slides online via their digital learning book.

You can support your child by exploring the information in the links below.

■ Khan Academy Fractions.

■ Sticky Moments - Algebra example

Literacy

In writing, the students are using their writing sample and the writing progressions to self evaluate and identify their strengths and areas of improvement. From this, the teachers will run workshops to support the areas for improvement. The students will sign up for the workshops and schedule them into their literacy learning time.

Reading groups have met and all the students will see one of the Totara teachers for guided reading lessons and activities to support the use and understanding of the skills of reading and comprehension.

Inquiry

Legacy. They cracked it! The students are exploring the inquiry process and how they can link one of their areas of passion to legacy at Grey Lynn.

Fitness and PE 

The students have been training for Athletics Day on November the 8th. They have been practicing aspects of run, throw and jump. Once the weather warms up we will begin swimming.

Health and Wellbeing

The students get the opportunity to do a wellbeing check in every week with their teacher. They record how they’re feeling and the teacher checks in with them if they indicate a need to do so. We have found that this has helped increase the awareness and positive building of whanaungatanga.

Seesaw 

Your child shares a Friday weekly reflection on their work with you via an app/website called Seesaw. Ask your child to help get you set up ASAP!

Te Reo Māori and Pasifika Language and Culture

We will be working on learning our school Patere in preparation for our end of year celebration. The students are also learning the skills of performance through the learning of different haka and waiata. They are also exploring siva and singing Pasifika songs.

Our Grey Lynn Way

The Totara team teachers and students are working on all the values of P.R.I.D.E. We have been focussing on respect and empathy.

On Fridays, the boys take part in sport and health lessons with Kerry and Shane where they play games and then unpack and discuss aspects of hauora and sportsmanship.

The girls will participate in social skills lessons focussed on friendship and hauora using the programme, Friendship and other Weapons. The girls bring home a parent letter and discuss the lessons with you. They also reflect in a journal during the following week. These lessons are taken by Andrea and Nicola.

You can reinforce this at home through discussion about the Friday sessions.

The Rugby World Cup has resulted in some deep conversations about values and what really matters in life. Try discussing this quote and relate it to our P.R.I.D.E.

"It's easy to have character when you're winning all the time because it's not tested; our character's been tested this week,'' he said.

"The most important thing we can do now is show that if your character's tested, you can stand up to it. That's the greatest success we can take out of this tournament. It's the greatest success we can show young people in New Zealand who want to be aspiring All Blacks or aspiring anything. You've got to have character.'' Steve Hansen