Our update includes important information for this term. Please also ensure you are familiar with the Marae Trip Notice emailed out last week.

Welcome back for Term 2! The children have settled quickly back into studio routines and expectations following the term break. 

Marae Trip | Next Week

We are on the final countdown for our Marae trip next week! Please ensure you have read the Marae Trip newsletter emailed out Wednesday last week. This included important information to be aware of as we prepare for next week. This email also included all of our Parent Helper Organisation. If you have offered your assistance as a parent helper, can you please ensure you have checked which day you are required. Children have been grouped with parents so it is important you are there for the whole day you have been rostered on. Thanks in advance to everyone who has offered their support!

We have finished preparing the groups for our Art Trips on Wednesday next week. Children ranked each art trip and were then placed accordingly. Where possible, we attempted to give each child their first choice, however this was not always possible. You can find which trip your child will be going on by viewing this document.

Reporting | Linc-Ed

Please ensure you keep up to date with your child’s learning through Linc-Ed as the term progresses. We are endeavouring to update this throughout the term. By the end of this term, you can expect to see a general comment related to our school’s learner dispositions, and two comments, each relating to a different curriculum area. Comments will be pushed out to you via email as they are published. Learning goals will also be updated as appropriate.

Cross Country

Our annual school Cross Country was held on Monday. Well done to all of the children for their hard work and persistence with our Cross Country training over the last couple of weeks. It was fantastic to see the children achieve their personal goals on race day, and we extend our congratulations to the following students in our team who placed on the day:

Year 3 Girls
1st Pipiana R, 2nd Lily E, 3rd Alice M, 4th Zadie de S, 5th Meilee S

Year 3 Boys
1st George J, 2nd Billy H, 3rd Isaac R, 4th Makaera P, 5th Charlie W

Year 4 Girls
1st Lexie C, 2nd Olive W, 3rd Chloe R, 4th= Ava R and Indie W

Year 4 Boys
1st Ashton K, 2nd Sol O, 3rd Oscar D, 4th Isaac S, 5th Humzah B

Book Fair Week | Week 5

Don't forget to lock Book Fair Week into your calendar. The Book Fair is happening this term Week 5, 28th May - 1st June. We will be asking for volunteers to help sell books before and after school, 8.30 - 9.15 and 2.45 - 3.30. The school gets 35% of the total spent, to spend on books for the library. This is how we get most of our stock, so please come and support the fair!

A Book Character parade will be held to mark the end of this week, Friday 1st June, in the morning. This day is also our Grandparent's Day. Look out for an invite coming home soon where Grandparents will be invited along to visit the book fair, read to our tamariki and stay for a morning tea. More on that closer to the time, but start thinking about those costumes and mention it to the Grandparents (9:30am start time)! 

Conceptual Curriculum

The theme in the Middle School this term is, ‘We imagine. We innovate. We explore.’ Our conceptual understanding is ‘Art is a composition of ideas and interpretation,’ which we are learning through the concepts of innovation, materials and composition. We have begun to investigate the different materials artists use to create artwork.

Studio Programmes

During Mathematics, Studio 4 has begun a focus on fractions and symmetry, particularly around Māori pattern and design as we build up to our Marae trip. Studio 5 has been investigating Measurement and Geometry, exploring standard and non-standard units of measurement. Children have also been continuing to work with their Number Knowledge buddies, working towards achieving their goals.

We are integrating literacy with our art focus this term, initially basing our reading and writing on artists and artworks. Come and check out the wall display in Studio 5 with all of our great ANZAC Day writing. The children wrote a letter, diary entry or poem in response to learning about the World Wars and tried to describe the experiences of the soldiers.

Phonics and homelearning continue the same as last term.

All children have been learning about the Marae, and protocols, in preparation for our trip next week. This has been a fantastic opportunity for the children to share their own personal experiences they have had at Marae that are special to them and their whānau. Children have also been practising waiata for our Pōwhiri on Tuesday at Te Mahurehure Marae.

Year 3 & 4 Important Dates | Term 2

• Marae Trip | Tuesday 22 - Wednesday 23 May
  
• Book Fair Week | Monday 28 May - Friday 1 June
• Book Character Dress-Up Day & Grandparents Day | Friday 1 June
• Queen's Birthday | School Closed Monday 4 June
• Studio 5 Swimming Lessons | Monday 11 - Friday 15 June
• Studio 4 Swimming Lessons | Monday 18 - Friday 22 June
• Middle School Swimming Sports | Wednesday 4 July

Information about Swimming will come home after the Marae Trip.

As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please contact your child's homegroup teacher.

Ngā mihi nui,
Alice, Hannah, Jane, Ned, Nicki, Robyn & Jason