The week that was - week 3.

Kia ora,
Welcome to week 4 - 23rd-27th February.

Fun Swimming showcase - This Tuesday 10.50am - at our school swimming pool. Rooms 6 & 7 will show you what we have been doing during our lessons. Picnic at 12 noon on the south field. 

SELFIES - the iPads are back in town. Above are some of our end results. The children had to work in pairs and take a photo of their friend. The photo had to have their whole body - and not a lot of background. Most could do this. 

 SHARP STUDENT - Well done Evie on being a good helper & friend to our new Daisy & Abbey.
Our SHARP lesson focus last week was having PRIDE when eating our lunch both in the playground and in the classroom: Eating over our lunchbox, sitting down, sitting in the right places - in the shade.

 ORAL LANGUAGE: These photos show some of the children sharing either Cuddles diary or leading the class in the Karakia. Below is Phoebe telling the class what Cuddles did at her house. =)

Angus leading the class in the school karakia.

 Our W.O.W (word of the week) was THANKFULNESS - the children talked in pairs about how this means using their manners and saying thank you to people for things they do. We talked about being grateful for our homes, families, food on the table, a good school, friends etc....
Some good discussions comes out of our W.O.W

Week 4's W.O.W is purposefulness - which ties in nicely with the children seeing their goals.

We have started writing goals - the children are setting goals for: In class, friend, SHARP and a home goal. 

Talk to your child about what they want to get better at at home.

The class goal is broken up into maths, reading, writing - we talked about that goals are things you set when you want to focus on getting better at something.

To achieve the goal you take it STEP BY STEP.

Focus: Where am I now? (eg. basic facts) ----- Where do I want to be? ----- How am I going to do this?

Below: These are not our words - but in our discussion and brainstorming these words are very similar to what Room 7 came up with.

Goal Setting will be held in week 5 - more information to come about these. 

On that note: Most children are achieving these goals of a) filling in their reading log & b) completing homework. 

Only about 60% of children completed their SHARP homework - this is the fun part - draw/write how you are SHARP at home. 

WELL DONE TO THE CHILDREN WHO DID COMPLETE.

Certificates will be presented tomorrow. 

Sickness - We have had a few children away with coughs, colds, temperatures - we talked in class about washing our hands, blowing our nose, catching a cough in our elbow etc....

Now that we're all back together in close encounters there are bugs around.

WHEELS DAY - WAS HUGELY successful.

I have taken lots of photos - which I will download into a slideshow and post on here during the week.

For maths we are doing statistics - so wheels day fitted in nicely with this.

We did a survey graph on Thursday - HOW WE CAME TO SCHOOL. And then did another graph on Friday - the difference in the bar graph showing HOW WE CAME TO SCHOOL was a good talking point. 

The children are learning to read a graph and analyse it. 

(pics to come).

On that note: Have a great week! I'll see some of you on Tuesday for the fun swimming. Picnic on the south field afterwards. 

Good reading article....

Encouraging boys to read..
http://theconversation.com/fathers-can-make-a-difference-in-getting-sons-to-read-35260

Diary note....

Room 6 & 7 Swim Fun Meet

TUESDAY 24TH February - Week 4

10.50am start

School Pool

Paper copy notice going home tomorrow

Kid President - we love him!!

The children are enjoying watching Kid President's short video clips - here is one of our favourites:

Thank you!

Kia ora, this question came up tonight about when is goal setting? Paper notices for times will be being sent out to you prior to these.
March 3rd and 4th (week 5).

Also I've just found this site which is great for basic facts...
http://basicfactslinks.blogspot.co.nz/

Welcome to Week 3.

Kia ora all, we had a busy week 2 in Room 7- the children have been very busy with testing. Well done to all of them for all their hard work. Time to play!
(lots to read this week)
Reminder - Important dates: 
Meet the Totara Syndicate teacher night - Picnic.
Monday 16th Feb at 5.30pm for picnic (if nice weather).
If the weather doesn't come to the party - then we will start at 6pm in the staffroom.

LIBRARY DAY: Thursdays - please remind your child to bring the book/s back to change.

Friday 20th February - Huri Huri (Wairarapa Bike Festival). We will be having a wheels day this Friday. Each class will have a turn on a cycle course.
A notice will be going home about this - your child can bring a bike or scooter or skateboard. All must wear a bike helmet please.

Homework:
98% of children brought their homework book, reading log and 'I am'poster. Well done!

Spelling - each week 5 words. Please fill in the spelling part of the homework sheet - if you can please test each night - tick/cross and sign.

Well done Olivia (below).....look at how many nights filled in all ready!! =) yay!

Well done to the children in the photo below - all filled out the 1st week of reading log. YOu will have noticed the reading log went home over the weekend - the children are really keen to get their nights filled in. To see who can be the 1st to reach 25 nights!

PLEASE SEND THE BOOK BAG to school each day - for any notices etc..to go home in (and be protected). Homework books/journal reading books can stay at home to be completed).

Your child will have their basic facts ladder in the front of their homework book from tomorrow.
I have written an example of the step they are on.
NB: Yes your child may have dropped a few steps - but that's ok and common after the long Summer break. Please read the basic facts notice in their homework book which explains this in more detail.

AUCTION $$$: Thank you to the children who have brought in toys etc...for auction $ items.
Please get your child to check their previous week's homework sheet where I write in how much $$ they earnt.

CERTIFICATE TIME....The below photos show the children with certificates for a mixture of fab spelling, maths, friendship awards. And Sam with his birthday certificate =)

Below is Phoebe and her friendship circle - please see the display in the class. I like doing this as it gives me an insight into who your child's friends are.

Below - PESTO MAKING. Nicole Heard is a wonderful parent who helps out in the school garden. On Friday Sam, Abbey & Amber had the chance to help Nicole to pick basil from the school garden and then make pesto with it (very yummy it was!!).

 SYNDICATE SINGING under the trees...Every 2nd Friday we do singing with Mrs Stewart. Friday was a perfect time to sing under the trees.

 Sadie & Cuddle's adventure at Sadie's house - here is Sadie sharing Cuddle's diary and what he got up to at the Preston house. This gives the children an opportunity to read and share with the class. We may not do daily news as such - but the children do get opportunities to have that sharing time via Cuddles and the pass on the kindness tickets. They talk about what their ticket was and what they did. We do this daily (sometimes twice a day).

SHARP - for week 2 I told the children I was looking for someone that was showing helpfulness and caring to our new students. Tomorrow I will announce who that person is. A lot of the children have been really good to both Abbey and Daisy. As a class we talk a lot about helping each other out.

W.O.W (word of the week)...
THANKFULNESS..I'm sure we all need a bit of this word and to share it!

Please discuss with your child what this word means, how we show thankfulness and express it.
We have a little discussion on Monday morning - and during the week we talk about how we have been showing this word.

- To be grateful for what you have. An attitude of gratitude for learning, loving, and being.
Grateful for the little things which happen around you and within you every day.

- I can show thankfulness by appreciating my own abilities.
- Showing thanks for gifts.
- Showing thanks for things people do for me
- Counting my blessings, how lucky we are to be living in a safe country
- For having good health
- I can say thank you without being reminded.

Have a great week - and see most of you tomorrow.

Good luck to the children who are in the Masterton triathlon - great event!