Te Ngahere Newsletter #7 - Term 2 2024
Mike Crawford - April 21, 2024
We hope everyone has had a great break with their family. Here are some notes on what we have coming up and what we have been up to.
Edit: Apologies for erroneous message regarding 'online portals' Disregard this message/email. This was an old newsletter which was mistakenly sent.
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:
Fidgets
We are experiencing a lot of students bringing in items like fidgets, and toy animals to play with during class which is becoming a distraction to their own and others learning. We understand that some students have stress balls and small fidgets as part of a plan, however if something has not been arranged for your child to bring to class via contacting your child's teacher, we would like these to stay at home. Please email your child's teacher if you need to arrange something.
Maths
Multiplication & Division Unit
These coming weeks at school we are learning to solve multiplication and division problems. The problems are all about eggs with a little bacon.
Here is an example:
Henrietta has 72 eggs that she wants to put into six-packs.
How many packs can she make?
We encourage children to use multiplication knowledge rather than adding on because multiplication is more efficient. For example, it is more efficient to work out how many sixes are in 72 than to keep adding six until 72 is found.
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, There is a new kid in town! With Rolejio Volkman and Zavier Price in a constant battle for 1st place, a new contender Southside Connolly has hit the top three with an impressive sub 1 second one time.
ANZAC
In the last week of school we spent a couple of days immersing ourselves in reading, listening, and viewing various elements of ANZAC day. We learned some Morse code, did some collaborative research, and made some collaborative art.
Science Writing
For our big idea, and writing, we are taking a look at Science in and out of the classroom this term. We will be learning the scientific method, carrying out experiments, and exploring the living world at Woodend. We look forward to sharing some learning with you in the coming weeks.
Cross Country
On Wednesday 8th of May Te Ngahere and Te Maunga students will compete in our senior cross-country. This is an event for everyone except those who are injured to participate and challenge themselves. Running, jogging, or walking we can’t wait to see all students giving their best effort! If you wish to come and support students or help us on the course please be at school at 10:30am. The first race will begin at 10:40am (yr 5 boys) - the next races will start every 5–10 minutes.
If you are able to help with marshalling and supporting students along the course please email c.loose@woodend.school.nz
Please make sure students have appropriate footwear, a good packed lunch, and a water bottle.
Hangi
This message was sent earlier this week to all families via Andrew Retallick, here it is again.
The Woodend Community Association will be running a Community Cultural and Hāngī day to be held at Woodend School on Friday 3rd May. This will be a community day when the invitation to attend is extended to all students and members of the wider community.
On Thursday 2nd May the school children will be involved in the vegetable preparation and assisting in digging the pit.
At Noon 12pm there will be tikanga (cultural) activities as well as kapahaka senior & junior, choir junior & senior and three jump jam performances. The hāngī will then be ready for lunch to be served between 1pm and 1.30pm.
All parents and any members of the community are welcome to join the students and staff on this day and have a meal from the hāngī. For catering purposes if you would like to attend please contact the school office – office@woodend.school.nz or 3127808 to register your name by the end of Wednesday 1st May.
After eating, there is time for all members of the community to interact with each other.
We would like to thank the following for their donations of money, produce and time to make this possible.
Paws Woodend, Ravenswood New World, Woodend Rugby Club, GMC Painters, Move Freight, Canterbury Honda, Stopforth Contracting, Woodend Landscapes, Woodend Nursery, Bruce Cosgrove, T & G Fresh, Rachel and Jane Stanley, Woodend & Sefton Community Board, Woodend Lions, Andrew Thompson and John Harris.
Special thanks to Ash Campbell and his team for their time and expertise in the hāngī.
He wake eke noa,
Mike, Caitlin, Terence, Katrina, and Rachael,
