Te Ngahere Newsletter #8 - Term 2 2024
Mike Crawford - May 11, 2024
Reminder about upcoming swimming
Te Ngahere is going swimming for weeks 9 and 10 this term. The price of the lessons is covered under the school donation scheme. However, families will need to cover the cost of the free swims. This is $20 per student for 9 free swims. This can be paid online to the school bank account or to your child's pakeke teacher. Any questions, please email Caitlin at:
Maths
These next 2 weeks, we will be investigating problems about area, the word to explain the amount of flat space. We will look at suitable units to measure area so that no gaps or overlaps occur. We will learn to use multiplication to count the number of units in an area efficiently and how to record measurements of area using numbers and units, like 24m2 (twenty-four square metres).
Times Table Rockstar
We love times table rockstar in Te Ngahere, it's great to see so much progress for students in solidifying their basic facts. Here are our current top 10.
In the adult category, Rolejio Volkman has set an insane time of .68 second per fact sending Zavier Price back to the woodshed to hone his skills to close that .08 of a second distance.
Games
With the cold weather and heading into winter we've been providing games for our students to play at morning teas and lunch. Board games are a natural way for kids to develop important social skills. They learn turn-taking, patience, and how to win and lose gracefully. They can also help kids make friends and build relationships.
Labyrinth, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, and Burger Balance seem to be very popular with multiple games of chess going on in the background. The rumour is that Sushi Go! is going to be introduced this week: A fast-paced mathematical game all about Japanese Cuisine.
Pink Shirt Day
Pink Shirt Day is the day Aotearoa comes together to take a stand against bullying. The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (MHFNZ) has run the campaign since 2012, inspiring tangata to Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!
If they wish, your child can come wearing pink on Friday to support the cause. Check this website out which has some great examples to explain what bullying is and isn't.
New Zealand Sign Language
Our students who aren't in Kapa Haka had a lesson on Sign language and learned to sign their names. Alex and Noah picked it up very quickly. It was great to see our year 6s retain some of their knowledge from last year, Keeley went the extra mile!
Science Writing
We've loved engaging in a few short experiments over the last two weeks, we'll be sharing some learning via hero with you in the next two weeks.
Cross Country
Te Pou had an awesome morning at the senior cross-country. We loved seeing students taking part, whether that was running, jogging, or walking. Thank you to the parents who marshalled and supported on the course. Information about North Canterbury Zones will be out on Monday.
Lucy Ford working in hub 2.
Recent New Zealand Graduate School of Education graduate Lucy Ford, who did her last placement at Woodend, will be joining to relieve Mr Langlands while he has some scheduled knee surgery and recovery time. She will be working alongside Mrs Houston in Hub 2 for the next few weeks. Lucy has worked in all classes in Te Ngahere and has been getting to know the kids since the beginning of the term. We look forward to her working with us.
Hangi
We loved catching up with the community at our hangi, and especially enjoyed the rotations our students went through, preparing for it. If you haven't seen it yet, here is a link to our Hangi photo library.
He wake eke noa,
Mike, Caitlin, Terence, Katrina, Lucy, and Rachael,
Upcoming important Dates
Senior Assembly/Pink Shirt Day - May 17th 11.00am
Teachers Only Day - May 31st
King's Birthday - June 3rd
