Information for supporting our senior school children as we begin a new school year!

Welcome

Tēnā koutou and a warm welcome back for 2017! We also extend a welcome to the new families who have recently joined our learning community. There is already a positive buzz as our tamariki get to know their new studio buddies and our learning programmes get underway. 

Staff

Welcome to Michael (Mike) Leijh who joins our team in Studio 6. The Year 5 and 6 liaison teachers this year are:

Studio 6

• Jason Morgan (Year Group Leader) - jmorgan@westmere.school.nz
• Di Young - dyoung@westmere.school.nz
• Mike Leijh - mleijh@westmere.school.nz

Studio 7

• Terry Robinson - trobinson@westmere.school.nz
• Sophie Johnson - sjohnson@westmere.school.nz
• Marcela Cameron - mcameron@westmere.school.nz

Communication

We have an open door policy and welcome discussion with you on matters of interest or concern related to your child. In the first instance, please contact your child's liaison teacher in a timely manner so they can proactively address any issues brought to their attention. In the event your concern is not resolved, please contact either Jason (Year Group Leader) or Julie Lynch (Deputy Principal for Year 5&6).

Digital Technologies

Google Accounts
All senior school students have been provided with a school Google Account. This provides them with access to G Suite (Google Apps for Education) to support their learning, such as Google Drive and Google Classroom. Attached is a letter providing further information about these accounts and G Suite.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
The Westmere School Board of Trustees recently approved the roll-out of BYOD across Studio 6 and 7 following the trial in Studio 6 during Term 4, 2016. BYOD at Westmere School is optional, not compulsory, and is used to supplement the school-owned devices we already have available in our studio. Attached to this newsletter is an information booklet about BYOD and a permission slip. 

Once you have returned a signed BYOD permission slip to your child's liaison teacher, your child will have the option to bring a device into school to support their learning from the beginning of Week 5 (Monday 6th March).

Please attend the Board of Trustees Community Evening on April 6th where a station will be set up to answer any questions or queries regarding BYOD.

Home Learning

Home learning enables students to practise and consolidate what they are learning in class and to establish good study habits.

Home learning sheets will be issued on Monday and home learning books are expected to be returned to school on Friday completed and signed by a parent/caregiver. Regular home learning consists of literacy and mathematics activities.

It is essential that in addition to your child's mathematics home learning that they regularly practise essential number knowledge, including basic facts.

Literacy home learning consists of spelling, reading and writing. Your child's spelling list is made up of words that are related to the week's spelling and grammar rules and patterns. Students will also find words they have spelt incorrectly in their writing to complete their lists. Students are expected to read for at least 10-15mins every night. Writing tasks are also set to support students' writing mileage and engagement.

As part of your child's development of the New Zealand Curriculum key competency of 'managing self', please support your child to make it their responsibility that their home learning is signed and returned to school each Friday. We have also set up systems in class so your child knows where to find their home learning sheets to glue into their books if they are away on a Monday.

Conceptual Curriculum - Who We Are

This term the theme across the school is “Who We Are.” In our team we are exploring how cultural practices influence rules and laws that are created. We have begun by looking at various cultural practices around the world and investigating what rules and laws exist within our own communities.

Leadership

This week we had a special guest visit from Olympian Melissa Ingram. She spoke to the children about leadership and goal setting. The ambassadors were also involved in a discussion following this talk where they asked her some questions to help them with their own leadership roles. 

Our ambassadors have also had their first meeting where they set their Term 1 goals and organised their new leadership groups. Once the leadership groups are up in running, the Year 5s will have an opportunity to join one of these teams in Term 2.

Health, Physical Education and Sports

Our Health, Physical Education and Sports calendar is already swinging into action!

It was great to see many of our senior students taking part in the Weetbix Triathlon a couple of weeks ago. It was a great day for our Westmere families and the new venue at Pt England was certainly a success.

Sport Auckland have been running introductory tennis lessons during our H&PE times each week which has been very beneficial and a lot of fun.

Teams for Interschool Cricket and Softball are being finalised in preparation for tournaments during the term. Due to the popularity of these events, priority is given to our Year 6 students when making up our competitive and social teams.

Our annual Swimming Sports are scheduled for late March and we will require lots of parental support to successfully hold this event! Detailed information will be sent home with your child very soon.

Bucket Hats

A reminder that it is essential your child has a bucket hat at school during Term 1 and Term 4. Can we please ask that all caps be left at home. Children who do not have a bucket hat at school are unable to participate in Physical Education programmes or play in the playground during morning tea and lunch.

Term 1 Calendar of Events

• School Picnic - Friday 24th February - 5:00-7:00pm
  
• Sport Auckland Tennis Lessons - Every Wednesday (Weeks 2-5)
• ICSS Cricket - Thursday 2nd March (Rain Day: Thursday 9th March)
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) begins for Year 5 & 6 - Monday 6th March
• Senior School Swimming Lessons - Every day from Monday 20th to Friday 24th March at Olympic Pool, Newmarket. Notice to come home soon.
• Senior School Swimming Sports - Tuesday 28th March at Owen Glenn National Aquatic Centre, Mairangi Bay. Notice to come home soon.
• ICSS Softball - Thursday 30th March (Rain Day: Thursday 6th April).
• End of Term 1 - Thursday 13th April.

Ngā mihi,

Di, Mike, Terry, Sophie, Marcela and Jason