Monday 22 July 2019

Week 1, Term 3, 2019

Hi everyone

We hope you all had a lovely holiday! I had a very busy first week in Dunedin spending time with grandchildren, then Dave and I detoured to Melbourne so he could meet our newest little granddaughter before spending the rest of the week relaxing in the sun in Fiji. 

What's happening?
Interviews: are on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you have not booked an interview and would like one, please email me at suewright@stgerards.school.nz or see me before school to arrange a time.

Book Fairfrom Ashton Scholastic (Lucky Books) is running from Monday to Thursday this week. The books are on display in the hall which is open from 8:30 - 9am and then again after school.

Friday = Dress up as your favourite book character and bring the book to share. There will be a parade starting at 11am

PMP will start on Thursday Week 2 as we are unable to use the hall this week because of the book fair. We still need parents to put their names on the list on Room 7's door to help with this programme. We need 3 parents each Thursday morning for the programme to run effectively.

Cross Country: The school competition will be held next Wednesday 31st July at 1pm. In preparation for this we will be using daily fitness time to bring our running skills up to speed. Please wear sports uniform and running shoes from now until the cross country.  Mr Yeoman is the organiser of this event and will be delighted to hear from you if you are able to help as a track marshall on the day.  ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz

Mass 28th July 9am has the sacrament of Baptism where a number of students including Indie and Micaela will be baptised. This is a special "welcome" and it would be wonderful if some of our families could attend. Our Religious Education strand at the start of this term is "Sacrament" and we are learning about Baptism. This Sunday is a perfect opportunity for children to watch and take part in a Baptismal Mass.

Family Ski Days: have been booked for Wednesday 7th August and Wednesday 4th September. Watch the newsletter for further information. Families can head for the snow for a day and pay school rates.


Have a great week,

Sue and Julie


Sunday 30 June 2019

Week 10, Term 2 2019

Hi everyone,

Hope you all had a good weekend.

What's on this week?
Ice skating on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 11.20. The children have made amazing progress already - it is great to see those children who were very anxious at the first session now skating by themselves! Thank you to those parents who have been coming along to help.

On Wednesday morning we have St John at school. They will be teaching the children what to do in an emergency.

The Eisteddfod assembly is this Thursday at 1.30pm. The children did a great job of reciting their poems to the class and Room 3. Those children from Room 7 who have been selected to recite their poem at the school Eisteddfod on Thursday are Zoe and Isabelle.

This Thursday is Mufti Mania to raise funds for Caritas. This a link showing where the money is going https://caritas.org.nz/mufti-maniato.

General Information

Thank you to those parents who have sent along items for construction. We desperately need old boxes, containers, plastic bottles and lids of any description for the construction table. Please wash old lids such as shampoo and conditioner lids, as the children especially like adding lids that open and shut to their creations. They become all sorts of things!

A big thank you to those parents who have already put their name down for helping with the Perceptual Motor programme which begins on Thursday mornings in Term 3. This is a movement-based programme that concentrates on the development of perception and language through a series of planned activities. The objective of the PMP programme is to improve a number of skills such as language, concentration, concepts of print, social skills, behaviour and motor skills. PMP will include all Year 1 children as well as our Early Explorer visitors. We need 3 parents to help with this each Thursday morning from 9.00 - 10.00am.
Bernadette Gilbert will help parents set up in the school hall. There are 5 different activities that the children rotate around, and parent helpers will take one of these activities each. You are given an instruction card that explains the activity (and can always ask Bernadette or I if there is something you are unsure of). There will be a roster on the Room 7 door for you to add your name to if you are able to help.

Finally, after attending a course at St Clair on Learning through Play, I have begun to trial learning stories about the learning that is taking place at Action Stations. (These are similar to the learning stories that would come home in your child's profile book from preschool). They describe learning that is taking place and link it to the curriculum. These stories will be displayed on the foyer wall outside Room 7 but they will also be emailed to you. 

Have a happy and safe holiday everyone,

Sue and Julie

Tuesday 25 June 2019

Ice Skating and PMP

Just an extra blog as there were some things omitted from Sunday's blog.

Firstly, ice skating. Children can wear mufti on ice skating days and can come dressed in their gear or have tights on, ready to put on their waterproof pants. Also could you please write your child's shoe size on their hand as it makes it much easier when fitting skates.

Next, construction. We desperately need old boxes, containers, plastic bottles and lids of any description for the construction table. Please wash old lids such as shampoo and conditioner lids, as the children especially like adding lids that open and shut to their creations. They become all sorts of things!

Finally, the Perceptual Motor programme begins on Thursday mornings in Term 3. This is a movement-based programme that concentrates on the development of perception and language through a series of planned activities. The objective of the PMP programme is to improve a number of skills such as language, concentration, concepts of print, social skills, behaviour and motor skills. PMP will include all Year 1 children as well as our Early Explorer visitors. We need 3 parents to help with this each Thursday morning from 9.00 - 10.00am.
Bernadette Gilbert will help parents set up in the school hall. There are 5 different activities that the children rotate around, and parent helpers will take one of these activities each. You are given an instruction card that explains the activity (and can always ask Bernadette or I if there is something you are unsure of). There will be a roster on the Room 7 door for you to add your name to if you are able to help.

Many thanks

Sue

Sunday 23 June 2019

Week 9, Term 2

Hi everyone,

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

What's on this week?
This Tuesday, 25 June, iceskating begins. Your child will need to bring a helmet, gloves or mittens, a warm jacket and waterproof leggings (Can be pants or overalls eg ski pants are ideal). Our session is 11.30  and we have four iceskating coaching sessions, the Tuesday and Thursday mornings of Week 9 and 10. We travel to and from the ice rink by bus at 10.55am. If you are free, please join us at the rink as many hands make it much easier getting skates on and off.

I know many children are well underway preparing poems ready for our Poetry Eisteddfod.  We will be listening to children's poems this Thursday afternoon 27 June, and selecting some children to perform their poems at the Eisteddfod in Week 10.  Room 7 may choose a nursery rhyme, a favourite poem or one from their poetry book.

The Poetry Marking Schedule

Introduction  5
Say the name of your poem
Say the name of the poet (if you know it)
Say why you chose the poem

Presentation 10
Say your poem with expression
Make eye contact with the audience
Try not to rush
Look like you are enjoying sharing your favourite poem

Preparation 5
Know your poem off by heart
Choose a poem that the audience will like

Voice 5
Use a loud voice so that we can all hear


MATARIKI This Friday 28th June 7.30 am  Once again we are celebrating this special time in the Maori calendar. Families are invited to come in the morning to the school hall and bring your breakfast. We will have toasters and hot water, tea and coffee available. We will share some stories about Matariki and then if you are able to stay for assembly that will start at 9.10 am. Our PTA will be helping out on the morning.

Please remember to send along a jacket for cold days at Action Stations as well as playtime and lunchtime.


Have a great week,

Sue and Julie


Tuesday 18 June 2019

Predator Free St Gerards

Today we went outside with Mr Yeoman and some Y7 and 8 children to lay some tracking boxes around the school. Mr Yeoman put raspberry jam inside each tracking box. We are going to check these each morning to see if any predators have walked through the tracking boxes.



Sunday 16 June 2019

Week 8, Term 2

Hi everyone

Only three weeks till the end of term!

What's Coming Up?

On Wednesday 19th June Room 3 and 7 are assisting with the school Mass. Please come along and join us if you are free.

STUDENT COUNCIL WIG DAY
Wig day will be held on Wednesday the 19th of June. You can wear a wig, decorate your hair, or wear a hat. There will be prizes for the best hair, the best wig and the best hat.
We will be having a bake sale alongside the BBQ. We would appreciate any donation of baking items for this eg lollies, cakes, biscuits. Baking will cost 50c - $2.00. Please wear mufti and bring a gold coin donation. Your child will need extra money if they wish to buy some baking. Money raised will go to the Child Cancer Foundation. 

Also next week, Tuesday 25 June, iceskating begins. Your child will need to bring a helmet, gloves or mittens, a warm jacket and waterproof leggings (Can be pants or overalls eg ski pants are ideal). Our time is around 11.30 (will confirm this next week) and we have four iceskating coaching sessions, the Tuesday and Thursday mornings of Week 9 and 10. We travel to and from the ice rink by bus. If you are free at this time, please join us at the rink as many hands make it much easier getting skates on and off.

Children need to be preparing poems ready for our Poetry Eisteddfod.  We will be listening to children's poems in Week 9 and selecting some children to perform their poems at the Eisteddfod in Week 10.  Room 7 may choose a nursery rhyme, a favourite poem or one from their poetry book.

The Poetry Marking Schedule

Introduction  5
Say the name of your poem
Say the name of the poet (if you know it)
Say why you chose the poem

Presentation 10
Say your poem with expression
Make eye contact with the audience
Try not to rush
Look like you are enjoying sharing your favourite poem

Preparation 5
Know your poem off by heart
Choose a poem that the audience will like

Voice 5
Use a loud voice so that we can all hear


MATARIKI FRIDAY 28th June 7.30 am Once again we are celebrating this special time in the Maori calendar. Families are invited to come in the morning to the school hall, bring your breakfast. We will have toasters and hot water, tea and coffee available. We will share some stories about Matariki and then if you are able to stay for assembly that will start at 9.10 am. Our PTA will be helping out on the morning.

Please remember to send along a jacket for cold days at Action Stations as well as playtime and lunchtime.


Have a great week,

Sue and Julie

Sunday 9 June 2019

Week 7, Term 2

Hi everyone

I hope you all had a relaxing weekend. I had a lovely time in Melbourne with my family and treasured the time spent with my wee granddaughter.

This week Julie is going to help at the Year 7 and 8 camp, so I will be teaching every day.

What's coming up?
We are leading Assembly at 9.00am on Friday with Room 3. Please join us if you are able.

Children need to be preparing poems ready for our Poetry Eisteddfod.  We will be listening to children's poems in Week 9 and selecting some children to perform their poems at the Eisteddfod in Week 10.  Room 7 may choose a nursery rhyme, a favourite poem or one from their poetry book.

The Poetry Marking Schedule

Introduction  5
Say the name of your poem
Say the name of the poet (if you know it)
Say why you chose the poem

Presentation 10
Say your poem with expression
Make eye contact with the audience
Try not to rush
Look like you are enjoying sharing your favourite poem

Preparation 5
Know your poem off by heart
Choose a poem that the audience will like

Voice 5
Use a loud voice so that we can all hear


Please remember to send along a jacket for cold days at Action Stations as well as playtime and lunchtime.

Have a great week,

Sue