Mufti Day Tomorrow

We have a mufti day tomorrow.
Gold coin donation for Ben Whitaker's Food For Thought programme in Argentina, please.

Please be dressed in full school uniform at 5.50pm at the Church tomorrow night.
Also a food item for Offeratory would be great.

Many Thanks

Term 4 - Week 10

Hi all,

Only three days left of school for 2016.

Tomorrow is our family lunch at 12.00 before the prizegiving at 1.00.  

Rooms 1, 2 and 7 are performing two introductory kapahaka songs and presenting a song as an item. Children who are angels in this song need to bring fairy wings to school if they have them and could shepherds please bring a tea-towel or towel for their head gear.  Also if anyone has a  plastic crown or spare fairy wings at home please send these along to school.  Don't stress about these items, it is quite low-key and we will just make do with what we have.

Also Tuesday night is the school Mass and farewell to our Year 8 pupils.  It starts at 6.00pm and all students are expected to attend in their school uniform.  Some Year 1 children will be presented with Bibles.  The Mass and farewell should be finished by 7.30.

Wednesday is just a general tidy-up day.  If there are any tired children that you would like to keep at home this day, that's fine as long as you have sent a note along previously letting us know. (All books and Art work will be sent home on the Tuesday.)

Finally, a big thank you to those parents who helped us with our very successful outdoor education week last week and thank you to all of you for your continuing support this year.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and a happy and safe holiday.

Thanks
Neroli

Shared Lunch Tomorrow !!!!

Please remember to bring a plate for our shared lunch at the Wharenui tomorrow. Bring it to school in the morning and we will take it all along in the car.
Children will only need their morning tea and water bottle in their bags.
Thank you

Term 4 - Week 9

Outdoor Education Week

Monday 5 December (Sport's uniform to be worn)

We are walking along the river track and up to the clock, leaving school at 11.40am.  We will have lunch at the old pool site at approximately 12.45.  After lunch we will go to the playground at Pioneer Park and be back at school by 2.50. We will need parents to accompany us. Thank you (Postponement day -Tuesday)

Tuesday- Water Afternoon

Wednesday - Marae

Thursday - Eisteddfod Speech Assembly

Friday - Bike to Pool for a swim

Term 4- Week 8

A couple of extra things.....

The PTA would like a copy of a favourite recipe for their cookbook. Please send these in this week.

Items for the Christmas raffle, we are to contribute a christmas item. Classroom boxes are in the office. Each family received a raffle ticket to sell over the next week please.

We are having a MUFTI DAY on Thursday and a DISCO this Friday night!!

Rudolph Writing Competetion

Rudolph Writing Competition

Hi Everyone,

In the traditional tale of Rudolph, he is left out and excluded by the other reindeer until Santa needs his special talent!

Sticks ’n Stones think that young people across the country can create their own Christmas stories that celebrate ACCEPTANCE, DIVERSITY and BEING YOU and encourage us all to spread joy.

The stories do not need to be about Rudolph, or even be about Reindeer!

We know it is late in the year but think this could be a great session for students to engage with :)

We have an INCREDIBLE judging panel including Louise Dempsey from ‘The Writing Book’, Kyle Mewburn (Old Hu Hu), Bruce Potter (Doodlebug, Penny the Prolific Pooing Cow) and Ross Kinnaird (I need a new bum)

Open to all ages (There is even an Open Category teachers could enter…)

For the Aged 5-7 year old category, classes or groups of students can enter collaboratively

Prizes for each category ($50 vouchers)

More information available at:  http://www.sticksnstones.co.nz/rudolph-needs-a-rewrite-competition/

Carla Sanders.

Term 4 - Week 8 and 9

Week 8 - Christmas Art activities

Rooms 1, 2, 7 and 3 will be rotating around Christmas art activities after play from next Monday to Thursday.  This is a cross-grouped learning activity. Parents are welcome if they would like to help. Please send plastic drink bottles and shoeboxes to school before Monday.

Week 9 - Outdoor Education Week 

Monday 5 December (Sport's uniform to be worn)

We are walking along the river track and up to the clock, leaving school at 11.40am.  We will have lunch at the old pool site at approximately 12.45.  After lunch we will go to the playground at Pioneer Park and be back at school by 2.50. We will need parents to accompany us. (Postponement day -Tuesday)

Tuesday 6 December

We are having a water afternoon, weather permitting.  Please brings togs and a towel, plus water guns. If anyone has a waterslide or paddling pool they would be able to lend, this would be great and please let your classroom teacher know.

Wednesday 7 December

This is our trip to the wharenui at Dunstan High School.  We will be walking to Dunstan at 11.30am, and having the powhiri at 12.00.  Some Room 7 boys will be sharing their Mihi. After this, we will have a shared lunch with some Dunstan students, and rotate around some activities. It would be helpful to have some parents with us on this trip.

Everyone needs to provide a small plate of finger food for lunch. (The food is our koha). Please bring this to school on Wednesday morning.

Also remember a jacket if wet.

Thursday 8 December

Thursday afternoon is the school Eisteddfod.

Friday 9 December (Sport's uniform to be worn)

Bike day and trip to the pool.  Please bring bikes to school on Friday morning. We will be leaving school at 10.30 and biking along the rail trail to the bike park. (If your child has trainer wheels or is not confident on a bike, please drop their bike at the bike park at 11am and they will walk along the rail trail). We will then ride bikes at the bike park and go over to the playground for lunch. From 1.00 - 2.00, we will be swimming at the pool, and children are to be picked up from the playground opposite the Stadium Tavern from 2.30 (2.55 at the latest). We will also need parent help for this trip and there will be a cost of $3.00.

If you are able to help with any of the above activities, please email or see your class teacher.

Swimming

Just a little reminder, we have a swimming lesson tomorrow, Thursday. 12.30-1pm.

POSTIE PLUS STOCKTAKING

We as a school are stocktaking at Postie Plus tomorrow night (Thursday) and are desperately short of helpers for the early shift which is from 4-8pm.

This stocktake will make us between $1500-$2000.

If you are able to help please contact Donna Ballantyne or somebody on the PTA. 

Many Thanks

Term 4 - Week 7

Hi All

Many thanks to those who provided baking for Mass this morning.

We have some fun activities this week :-

Wednesday afternoon - T-Ball skills with Vanessa

Thursday - Swimming 12.30 - 1.00pm. This is a make up lesson for one we missed out on earlier. 

Friday - Life Education with Harold. We will have 2 sessions about where our food comes from, how our bodies get energy from the food we eat and why we need to eat different kinds of food to stay healthy.

Maths Games - if you still have a maths game at home please return this week.
Spelling Alive - we have been doing this each day in class, as many find it hard to do at home.


Next week, Week 8, we will be having a junior school Christmas Art activity rotation after play each day. This will involve Room's 1, 2, 3 and 7. Mrs Beilby has asked everybody to bring one large coke/lemonade bottle for her activity please.

Week 9 is our Outdoor Education week and we have some exciting activities planned, including a trip to the marae. There will be more details coming next week.

Also the Speech Eisteddfods are in Week 9.  For this, the children need to prepare a short talk for the class about something they are interested in eg. a favourite pet, a sport, a favourite holiday place etc.

Have a good week.
Neroli

Dairy Farm Visit

A very big thank you to the Stratford family for having the Junior School visit their farm yesterday. We all had a wonderful time exploring the dairy shed and watching the calves being feed. Many thanks also to those parents who accompanied us. It was a fabulous learning experience !!!

Baking Stall - Sunday 20 November

Just to let you all know that it is our turn, room 7 families, to sell baking before Mass this Sunday. A group of children are also receiving their First Holy Communion this Sunday, so there will be a good turn out.
We would really appreciate your donation of a cake, muffins, slice, biscuits etc.
Thank you in advance
Neroli

Dairy Farm Visit

The weather is looking as if it will be okay at this stage, and we have made arrangements with Mrs Stratford for lunch eating if the weather changes.

Please be sure to bring your waterproof jacket.

Please wear gumboots or shoes that can get muddy and bring a plastic bag to put these in before we get back on the bus. Bring another pair of shoes in your back pack to wear on the bus home.


Today we identified the safety issues of a visit like this: electric fences, machinery, water, the animals and behaving responsibly.
We know that we have been shared amongst the groups, lead by teachers and parents and are expected  to self manage our behaviour by:

• staying close to the parent looking after us and doing as they say
• staying well back from electric fences
• listening carefully to the people in charge at the farm and following their instructions
• wearing our hi-viz jackets so that we are visible
• moving quietly from place to place so as not to 'spook' the cows
• asking questions and listening to other people's questions.

We are looking forward to a great learning experience as we see first hand where our milk comes from for so many of our food products.

Term 4 -Week 6

On Wednesday we are travelling to the Stratford's dairy farm to look at the milking cycle - Where Does our Food Come From?  
Thank you to the parents who have offered to accompany us. If there was anyone else, that would be fantastic as only 5 parents from the whole junior school have indicated that they are available.  
We will be meeting after school on Monday to organise supervision groups, as we need to keep all children safe in this environment.
Please remember to dress for the farm - sturdy shoes or gumboots, hi-viz jacket, sunhat but also a warm jacket and plenty to eat and drink. 
It would be appreciated if the $10 per child could be paid to the office by Wednesday.  If there is a problem with this please let us know.

Sunhats: are required every day and it is expected that these are worn at all times outside the classroom.  We are a sunsafe school and developing this habit is essential.

Cultural Assembly: Thursday afternoon starting at 1:30 in the hall.

First Holy Communion - Sunday 20th  - 9am. Please support our Year 4 students who are taking this further step in their faith journey.

Calendar Orders

Just a wee reminder calendar/ diary orders need to be in by Next Tuesday 15 November. Thank you🌺

Farm trip

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

On Wednesday 16th November Rooms 1, 2 ,3 and 7 will be visiting the Stratford’s dairy farm at Omakau. This is part of our inquiry topic, “Where does our food come from?”

Children are to wear mufti, appropriate clothing for a farm, which will include, jacket, sunhat, covered shoes/gumboots.

Please pack a full school lunch with a drink and bring sunblock.

If your child has any medication/issues/allergies not held on the school files from your notification in February, please contact the classroom teacher, so that we are aware, and have appropriate medication on hand, if needed.

We need parents to accompany us, and 1 back-up emergency vehicle.

The cost of this trip is $10 per child - this covers the cost of the bus. Please come and see us if this cost is a problem.

This note will be in Wednesdays newsletter – if you can help please email chrisbeilby@stgerards.school.nz

Term 4- Week 5

Hello everyone. Hope you all had a nice weekend. 

Things on this week include-

Tuesday morning ICT with Mrs Flannery

Wednesday - we have started our weekly T-Ball lessons, taken by Vanessa and Maria. Many thanks to you both, the children are very enthusiastic !!

Thursday - Ronald Mc Donald Roadshow in the hall at 12.00, talking about road safety.

Mrs Cooney will be in Room 7 on Thursday and Friday as I will be away.

PS It is Speeches for the Eisteddfod's this term, so it wouldn't hurt to start preparing for this now.

Have a great week.

Calendar Art

Calendar Art

Not sure why these are upside down😬

Here is the MY FAMILY art that we have produced for our calendars. They are bright and beautiful!! Will make fabulous gifts for Nana and Grandad. Please send in your orders next week.

Term 4 - Week 4

Unfortunately I was unwell yesterday and we missed having our School Prayers. Luckily we can do it tomorrow morning, Wednesday. So for those children reading, have another practise tonight !!

We had busy day today with a visit from a firefighter teaching us how to be Firewise. There are booklets that will come home with the children. She stressed that everybody should know their address and that all families should have a pre-arranged meeting place, eg: front gate.

At lunchtime today we went down to the Thyme Festival High School Concert and this afternoon practised for our own performance which is tomorrow at 12 oclock St Enoch's Church. ( no lunch orders tomorrow please)

Thursday and Friday look pretty straight forward at this stage, with R5/6 assembly on Friday afternoon.

Attention - Athletics Day

Due to heavy rain forecast for Friday the staff have decided to bring the school athletics day forward to tomorrow, Thursday 27 October. PLEASE SEE THE NEWSLETTER FOR MORE DETAILS.

Term 4 - Week 3

Congratulations everybody on a fantastic production last week. Many thanks to all of you for helping with the costumes and to those parents who glued on all the spots !!!

Everybody worked hard and learned so much - it's one of those wonderful experiences I'm sure the children will remember for a long time.

This weeks highlight is the Athletic Sports on Friday. Please look at Room 3's blog to see the timetable for the day. Children are to be dropped off and picked up at Molyneux Park, wearing their sports uniform. Don't forget a packed lunch, sunscreen, sunhat and a water bottle !!!

Thank you

All teeball and softball forms must be back tomorrow-Wednesday please.

No Reading or Spelling

As we will be out of the classroom for much of next week there will be no spelling words given tomorrow and no formal reading next week.
Perhaps you could read to your child instead!!

School Sports Day

Our school sports will be on Friday 28 October at Molyneux Park.
If you are able to help on the day please email Julie Flannery.
Thank you

Girls Hair For Noah

This is how I would like the girls hair done please. They will need to come to school with hair done on Wednesday morning for our 
Matinee that afternnoon.
Is anybody able to help with face paint please??

Thank you












Matinee that 

MUSICAL

MUSICAL

Important information for parents/Please read

The Hall is the Memorial Theatre on Skird Street

The production is on:

• Wednesday 1pm
• Wednesday and Thursday night at 6.30pm

Tickets

• At office
• 1pm show -  all tickets $5, under 5’s free
• Evening shows - $10 adult, $5 child/student, under 5’s free

Costumes

Will be at the Memorial Theatre unless a classroom teacher says otherwise. Costumes are to be taken off at the end of the show and left at the theatre.

When to be there:

Lead parts to be there by 5pm.

Everyone else must be there by 6pm. All Room 1,2,7,3,and 4 children meet at the elderly citizens room. (This is out the front by entrance door).  Room 5 and 6 only are out the back of the theatre.

Timetable for production week:

Monday 19th October: Leads to be there at 9am. The rest of the school will be walked down later.

Tuesday 20th October: Children to be dropped at the theatre by 9am - bus children and children who are at school will be walked down to the hall.

Wednesday 21st October: Children to be dropped at the theatre by 9am - bus children and children who are at school will be walked down to the hall and picked up from the theatre at 2.55pm. (Matinee at 1.00pm)

Wednesday and Thursday evening performances:

Lead parts to be there by 5pm.

Everyone else must be there by 6pm. All Room 1,2,7,3,and 4 children meet at the elderly citizens room. (This is out the front by entrance door).  Room 5 and 6 only are out the back of the theatre.

Thanks

TERM 4 - WEEK 1

Welcome back everybody. I hope the children have all had a lovely relaxing break and are all geared up for the last term !!!

This week is full with production practices most days and athletics on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Our school athletics will be in Week 3, with the day yet to be confirmed. 

The school production is Week 2, Wednesday 1pm and 6.30pm / Thursday 6.30pm. Tickets should be available this week.

We are just about set with our costumes, t-shirts are all ready, most of you have coloured tights and headbands. We will make up our balloon head piece early next week. Girls will need their hair put up in 2 twisty buns and we may have some face paint for everybody!!

Please keep up the reading each night. Over these next two weeks your child may need extra support with their book as there will not be time for me to see all groups every day. 

Spelling Alive- all children have been retested. Many will continue with the same level as they are not yet secure with all their sounds, particularly vowel sounds. Some children have moved onto the next level. 
I am going to trial a new format this term giving only the 5 words for each week and putting them in a separate booklet. Our Homework books are getting pretty full and it can be difficult to find where we are at!!!

Don't forget Labour Day Holiday, Monday 24th October, Week 3.

Looking forward to Monday!!
Regards
Neroli

Mufti Day

Just a wee reminder it's mufti day tomorrow and a gold coin donation please.

We had a busy gardening session with Sue this week planting seeds, watering and made a couple of tripod frames for our beans and sweat peas!

Term 3, Week 9

Wow, here we are at the end of another busy term. 
But it's not over yet, there are lots of things happening this week!

Class Eisteddfod presentations Monday and Tuesday with the school Eisteddfod Assembly on Thursday 1.30 in the Hall.

Athletics rotations Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Children may wear their sports uniform on those days.

School musical practises are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday morning. Thanks to those mums who are cutting out circles and are planning to get together one evening this week to glue these onto the t-shirts. Let me know if you can help out with this too. 
Most children are sorted with their tights and the only other thing needed is a plain headband each. It can be any colour. 
Thanks to those who have paid their $5.

We are hoping to have a gardening session with Sue this week too, as we missed last week.

With so much happening, we won't be having formal reading groups this week. Children will be bringing home books from their browsing box.

Many thanks for all your support this term. Have a wonderful break.
Regards Neroli

Term 3 Week 8

School Photos - Monday morning !!
Full winter uniform must be worn please. 
If your child is in a sports team they must also bring along their sports uniform for a team photo.

Tuesday afternoon, we have a gardening session with Sue Brydges. Children may wear their sports uniform if you would prefer them not to garden in their winter uniform. 
Also a pair of gardening gloves would be handy.

Eisteddfod Singing
Please help your child select a song they know and have a practise this week. We will select our class finalists early next week before the Eisteddfod Assembly next Thursday 23 Sep at 1.30pm.  

My Migration Story:

This week is Social Justice Week, and the focus is on

being aware that we all have a migration story. 

For homework, please discuss with your child where your

families originated from. 

Please write this down for them including the national/typical 

foods eaten in that country. 

We are going to make a big class poster comparing the foods

and customs of those countries of origin, with the foods and 

customs in New Zealand.

Spelling Homework

I would like everybody to revise all the spelling lists for the 

term and we will retest at the end of next week. I have 

highlighted the words your child needs to work on.

Studyladder

All children have been registered and have a password for this 

website, pasted in their Homework book. This is a fun way to 

reinforce Reading and Maths concepts.

Athletics - we will start practising this week, more details to 

come.

Friday Mass - led by rooms 5/6

Friday assembly - led by room 4

Sunday Confirmation Mass 18 September

We are also busy learning the songs and our dance for the 

school production!!!  Thank you to those of you who have sent 

along the $5, I will buy the t-shirts this week.

Kind Regards

Neroli Laidlaw