Important Information

Hi everyone

Just some last minute details.

Could everyone please bring a teatowel tomorrow to wear as shepherds for our prizegiving class item.

Also please remember to send your child along with one or two bags as there is heaps of stuff to come home tomorrow.

Several children have indicated to me that they still have reading books at home so please have a big hunt tonight and return these tomorrow as we really need them, especially when there is a reading group of four or five children.

LAST DAY
Monday 17th December-
We are open until 1pm. Due to the shift for 2019, this day will primarily be used to move final aspects of classes and to clean up spaces for the next teacher moving in. If you do not wish your child to come for this activity we are happy for them to stay home.
Friday 14th - all classroom student furniture will be moved into their new spaces.

Thanks

Sue and Kate

Week 9 Term 4

Hi everyone

Well, this is the last blog for the year. The time has just flown by!

What's on this week?
Junior School Christmas Crafts: Monday 10th & Wednesday 12th
The children will rotate in mixed age groups, completing two Christmas activities each. In Room 7 we will be making nativity scenes.

Monday 10th: Mufti Mania Day
The cultural leaders are raising funds for a school in Fiji that was devastated by the latest cyclone. Dress up as your favourite book character - bring the book too if you have it, and a coin as your donation.

Tuesday 11th: Graduation Mass beginning at 5pm
All children are expected to attend in school uniform. This is the moment when we farewell our Year 8 students as they begin their high school years. An item for the Community Foodbank would be really appreciated.

Thursday 13th: Prizegiving in the church at 1pm.

Student Council have boxes of batteries for sale, individual packets $5 - could be useful for those Christmas presents. See Chrissy in the office - the more we sell, the closer we are to having that swing.

Last Day of School
School finishes at 1pm Monday 17 December.  Many teachers are shifting classes and resources for next year, and this Friday 14th is the big shifting day. Please bring an extra bag to school on Thursday 13th, as exercise books and art work will be coming home.

Thank you all so much for your support this year. Have a happy and safe Christmas and enjoy the holidays.

Sue and Kate

MUFTI MANIA ON MONDAY

Hi Everyone

On Monday the children are to wear mufti. The student council would like them to dress as their favourite book character if they like. If they come just in mufti maybe they could bring their favourite book to school to share.

The gold coin donation is going to support a school in Fiji that was devastated by the latest cyclone.

Have a lovely weekend - summer is finally here!

Kate

FRIDAY

Room 2 and 7 Wharenui visit tomorrow

We are now leaving at 9.30am, not 9am.

Please bring a plate of food to share.

Have a great Thursday

BIKE TRIP

Trip today- room 2 and 7
Bikes will not be needed.
Children can wear sports gear or walking gear. Togs will be needed. We will go to the pool at 1pm. If it is fine we will walk, if not we will get a bus. Children will be picked up from school.
Parents who are able to help, please come to school at 1pm and feel free to bring your togs.
Thanks
Good day if you are a duck.

Tomorrow- Bike trip

Hi


Tomorrow is our biking and pool day.
The bike park is closed so we will do a bike track in the pines. Some children who cannot ride bikes will walk on the rail trail, this is no problem.
We will start to get sorted with our bikes at 10am- all parents helping please be here at 10.15am.
All children to be picked up from the pool at 2.45pm.
Many thanks

Julie, Neroli, Sue, Kate

Here is our Christmas Tree in our foyer.

It is made up of all the things we have in our lives - we are all so lucky!

Week Eight - Getting Ready Santa is Almost Here!

Week Eight


It has been lovely being in Room 7 for the past few days. 

The children have enjoyed some different things with action stations. I have brought in a teepee and a big blanket. The creative play with these has been exciting!

Please read the EOTC notice for next week. This is coming home in hard copy as well.

If you are able to join us on Monday, Wednesday or Friday please let me know.

What does my child need to wear:

Monday - PE Gear

Tuesday - PE Gear (Cricket Coaching) and Togs

Wednesday - Mufti and Togs

Thursday - PE Gear (Cricket Coaching) and we are also walking to the Alexandra Primary Production. 

Friday - Normal Uniform

We have started looking at Christmas and have been talking about the quote, "This Christmas be thankful for what you have. You can always have more but you can also have less" Have a look at our Christmas tree in our foyer. It is filled with things we are thankful for.

We have a busy week with lots happening so the children will be bringing home browsing books. 

Kate is teaching Monday, Tuesday and Friday and Sue is back for Wednesday, Thursday.

Have a wonderful week
Kate and Sue

EOTC week

Room 2 and 7 EOTC activities

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Next week our Outdoor Education programme begins.

Here is a timetable of what we are doing and when. This also has information about what to bring.

Week 8
Monday 3 December	Tuesday 4 December	Wednesday 5 December	Thursday 6 December	Friday 7 December
11am walk to clock and lunch at playground Wear sports gear and school hat and bring a big drink, and a packed lunch. We need parents for this, please.	Cricket coaching Water day 1.30pm. Togs, towels sunscreen. Slide, water guns, sprinklers, Pools  - If anyone has paddling pools they could bring, that would be great. All children welcome to bring any form of water gun.(Please name these.)	Bike park day and pool Leaving school at 10am Wear mufti and bring bike, helmet, togs, packed lunch, hat and a drink. Cost for this $3 We need parents for this, please. (If you have any concerns about your child’s ability to ride a bike to the park, please let us know.) Children are to be picked up from the pool between 2.40-2.55pm	Cricket coaching. Water day- (if cancelled Tuesday)	Visit to wharenui at Dunstan High School.   Walking to Dunstan at 9am, and having the powhiri.  Some Room 7 boys will be sharing their Mihi., Rotate around some activities. After this, we will have a shared food Everyone needs to provide a small plate of finger food for lunch. (The food is our koha). Please bring this to school on Friday morning. Also remember a jacket if wet.

We need parents for the walk, the bike trip/swim and the visit to the wharenui.  If you are able to help please let your child’s teacher know via email.

The only cost for our EOTC activities is the pool, which is $3. Please pay this by Monday 3  December.

Julie, Neroli, Sue and  Kate,

Week 7, Term 4

Hi everyone

Only three weeks of school left! Where has the year gone/

What's On This Week?
Tomorrow and Tuesday the children will be saying their Eisteddfod speech for our class and Rooms 1 and 2. All children have a speech: either one they wrote at home or the one they wrote in class which has been typed out for them to practise.

The school Eisteddfod is on Thursday 29 November at 1.30 and if your child is chosen to give their speech at this Eisteddfod, names should be in the newsletter or you will be notified.

Swimming continues for the Year Ones on Tuesday and Thursday. Please remember togs and sports uniforms on these days.

I am going to Melbourne on Wednesday to spend a few days with one of my daughters. Kate will be teaching and I will be back at school the next Wednesday.

Next week (Week 8) is Outdoor Education week, and we have many exciting activities planned - weather permitting! A notice will be coming home in the next day or two with a timetable of activities. We will need parent help for some of these activities.

In Week 9,  Rooms 1, 2, 7 and 3 are having two Christmas Craft rotation days, where the children will choose two crafts they would like to do.

Dates to Keep Free
GRADUATION MASS Tuesday 11th December 5.00pm 


PRIZE GIVING Thursday 13th December 1.00pm

Have a great week,

Sue and Kate

Focus children from Action Stations

Week 6, term 4

Hi everyone

Hope you all had a great weekend.

What's On This Week?

Life Education
On Monday we have our last lesson in the Life Education bus and the topic is kindness and being a good friend. 

Prayer
Our class is leading school prayer tomorrow morning at 9.00 and you are welcome to join us.

Swimming
Sorry, we forgot to mention last week that there is still swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the seven children who joined us from Room 2.
Eisteddfod Speeches
This term for Eisteddfod, we are doing speeches.  The children are having a go at writing a speech this week in class, but if they have already prepared one at home or are going to this week, then that's fine and they can use that. (We are just doing it as a writing exercise and also to help those children who don't get help from home.) We will be listening to speeches in class next week on Monday 26 or Tuesday 27 November. The assembly will be on Thursday 29th of November. Speeches will be marked on choice of topic, clarity, volume, expression and audience appeal.

HEAD LICE

We know this is ongoing, but please check your children’s hair as we have had about ten children from our class with headlice in the past two weeks. Please keep children home till they are treated initially. Children need to have a headlice treatment put through their hair and the eggs have to be individually removed. A lice comb will remove dead headlice but not the eggs, and these have to be actually pulled down each individual hair.  The whole process needs to be performed a week later in case any eggs have been missed and have hatched in the meantime.

Have a good week,

Sue and Kate

Week 5, Term 3

Hi everyone,

Well, what a shame our Athletic's Day had to be cancelled because of the weather. We had some very disappointed children. Tomorrow morning the senior school will hold some qualifying events at school so that children can be entered into the Zone Sports, but this does not affect us.

Teacher Strike Thursday 15th November is the Teacher Strike day, so the school is closed for the day.
 
Life EducationOn Friday, we have two lessons in the Life Education caravan.  Our topic this year is  kindness and being a good friend. 

Eisteddfod SpeechesThis term for Eisteddfod, we are doing speeches.  We will be listening to speeches in class on Monday 26 or Tuesday 27 November. The assembly will be on Thursday 29th of November. Speeches will be marked on choice of topic, clarity, volume, expression and audience appeal.

SUNHATS
There are still some children who do not have sun hats. If your child has lost theirs, they are available from the school uniform shop. (Opening Hours: Monday - 2.45pm to 3.15pm and Friday – 8.45am to 9.15am.) We will be asking your child to sit in the shade at playtime and lunchtime if they do not have their hat.

HEAD LICE

Please check your children’s hair as our class has had an outbreak. Please keep children home till they are treated initially. Most require further treatments and removal of eggs so please be vigilant.

Have a great week, 

Sue and Kate

Week 4, Term 4

Hi everyone,

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

We have seven new children in Room 7 tomorrow: Addison, Billy, Charlie, Georgie, Mitchell and Stefan are coming to join us from Room 2 and Sophia is joining us from Queenstown. A big welcome to all those children.

We have athletics rotations on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so please send children to school in sport's uniforms.

The Athletic Sports will be held on Thursday 8th November at Molyneux Park, with postponement date being the following day, Friday 9th November.
The events will start at 9:30am and run through until approximately 2:45pm.
Students will need to wear the school sports uniform with track suits or trackpants and school jersey over the top. Sunhats, sun block, a warm jacket andplenty to eat and drink are needed.
All children are to be at the park by 9:15am and meet  behind Room 7’s cone so that the roll can be taken. If your child will be travelling to school by bus on the day, please let me know so that we know who to wait for, and your child will be walked or driven to the park – wait in the school office area once you get off the bus.
If you are able to help on this day at an event please email ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz . Thank you to those people who have already indicated that they are available to assist. These people need to meet Mr Yeoman in front of the steps at 9:15am on the day of the athletics.
The Athletic Sports timetable will be on the window in the school foyer to enable parents to
plan ahead the best time to visit if attendance can only be for a short time. Let’s hope for
great weather and a day of supported competition.

SUNHATS
There are still some children who do not have sun hats. If your child has lost theirs, they are available from the school uniform shop. (Opening Hours: Monday - 2.45pm to 3.15pm and Friday – 8.45am to 9.15am.) We will be asking your child to sit in the shade at playtime and lunchtime if they do not have their hat.

HEAD LICE
Please check your children’s hair as our class has had an outbreak. Please keep children home till they are treated initially. Most require further treatments and removal of eggs so please be vigilant.

NZ MOUNTED RIFLES - ARMISTICE DAY
We are very lucky to have the NZ Mounted rifles visiting our school.
This will happen on Friday November 9th 11.15 - 12.15.
We are asking children to bring a gold coin donation which will go to the Alexandra/Clyde RSA and the NZ MountedRifles Charity - The Long Walk Home. Parents and friendsof the school are more than welcome to attend. A great opportunity for photos so don’t forget your camera.

Kate will be back teaching in Room 7 on Friday.  Have a great week,

Sue and Kate

Week 3 Term 4

Hi everyone

Hope all the children had a chance to relax and catch up on sleep over the weekend after the production. They did a great job and I was very proud of them!

Congratulations to Angel, Freddie, George, Liberty, Lila and Molly and the children from Room 3, who made their Confirmation and First Holy Communion yesterday. They were very excited! Also thank you to those who came to support them.

What's on this week?
Tomorrow we walk down to the Thyme Festival at 11.45, with our lunch. We will be performing the finale from Aladdin Trouble. Please make sure children have a water bottle, sunhat and jacket.

Athletics rotations start tomorrow afternoon at 2.00 and we will be having athletics every afternoon in preparation for the School Athletic Sports next Thursday November 8th.

We have school Mass tomorrow morning at 9.00, assisted by Room 4, and you are welcome to join us.

I will be teaching this Friday as well.

Headlice

We have had three reported cases of headlice in our class since the term began. Please inspect your child's hair and treat as soon as possible. 

Have a great week,

Sue

Important Aladdin information and Headlice

Final details for Aladdin. 
All students are to come to the Memorial Theatre tomorrow at 9am including Room 1 & 2. Pick up from the theatre at 3pm please. There is a risk that we may go over time so we recommend that alternative arrangements are made for bus children to get home. If your child (Room 6) is wearing a mic, they need to be at the theatre by 8.45 am.

Evening Performances
All leads wearing a mic to be at the theatre by 4.30 pm. The rest of Room 6 are to be at the theatre by 5pm to have make-up applied. Other classes can add their own makeup at home- foundation and lipstick only. Rooms 3, 4 and 5 girls may add eye makeup.
Room 5 to the back stage of the theatre by 5.30 pm.
Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, & 7 to be at the theatre hall by 5.45 pm.( 2nd room to the right as you enter through the automatic front doors)
Rooms 3 & 4 will bring their costumes home after the dress rehearsal and come to the two evening shows dressed ready to perform.

Tickets still available from the school tomorrow and Friday. Cash only door sales will be available at the performances.

Headlice

We have had three reported cases of headlice in our class since the term began. Please inspect your child's hair and treat as soon as possible. (Not tomorrow though, as they need to be at the theatre!)

Thanks

Sue

Week 1, Term 4

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a lovely holiday and that the children had plenty of relaxation time and are feeling refreshed and recharged.  I will be teaching on Fridays as well for the first three weeks of this term.

The big focus for the next two weeks is our production of Aladdin Trouble. Tickets are now on sale at the office. (See the last newsletter for details).

If you haven't already, please remember to pay the $6.50 for your child's costume to the office and send along a white, black, or red named T-shirt to school.

Our first practice at the Memorial Theatre in Skird St is this Friday. Please pick children up from the theatre on the days we are there for an all day/afternoon practice.  These dates are Friday the 19th, Wednesday the 24th and Thursday the 25th of Oct. 

School Bus children will be brought back to school in time for their bus.

Have a great week

Sue

Week 10, Term 3

Hi everyone,

Hope you all had a great weekend and made the most of the beautiful weather for the Blossom Festival!

Well, just one week to go, and a very busy week too.  Tomorrow, Monday, is Mercy Day, (our school was founded by the Sisters of Mercy), and St John's Ranfurly will be joining us for Mass and games. Could children please bring a can of food to school, and this will be donated to the Alexandra Food Bank.

We also have several production practices this week. If possible, could children bring their white, red or black named T-shirt to school by Thursday.  Also if you haven't yet paid the $6.50 for the harem pants, please pay to Chrissy at the office.

We will be listening to Eisteddfod songs on Wednesday afternoon, and we will ring parents of children who will be performing in the Eidsteddfod on Friday afternoon.

Have a great week and a safe and happy holiday.

Sue and Kate

ICT Evening

ICT EVENING

Just a reminder of the ICT evening this Wednesday at 5.30pm. Please bring a picnic tea to share with your family, and then the meeting is from 6.15 - 7.15. The information is regarding your child,  ICT and the school.  It is not just for parents of senior pupils, but relevant for all parents.

Week 9, Term 3

Hi there

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and made the most of the beautiful weather.

We have an exciting week ahead of us with some performances at school:
Monday 9.00-10.00 am Kaboom
Wednesday 2.00-3.00 Ukelele show
Thursday 1.30 -2.30 Deano show

As well as these shows, rehearsals for Aladdin are in full-swing.  Please remember the $6.50 for your child's costume to be paid to Chrissy in the office, And keep in mind that the children also need a black, white or red T-shirt.

Also a reminder that some families still need to pay Chrissy for our Father's Day Lunch: $6.00 for a parent and child, or $3.00 just for a child. We are short of money to pay New World for the food.

Early next week we will be listening to songs for the Eisteddfod. The marking schedule will include marks for introduction, suitability of song, preparation, ability to hold a tune, and diction. Children can add actions if they wish.

Have a great week.

Sue and Kate

Action Station focus children Weeks 7 and 8

Week 8, Term 3, 2018

Hi everyone,
Sorry the blog is so late this week.

Thank you to coming along to our Father's Day lunch last Monday and we hope you all had fun.

What's On?
Gymnastics on Wednesday (remember sport's uniforms)

Remember $6.50 to the office for Aladdin costumes and try to source a plain black, white or red T-shirt.

Keep practising songs for the Eisteddfod, ready to sing to Rooms 2 and 7 at the start of Week 10.

Have a great week,

Sue and Kate

Week 7, Term 3

Hi everyone,

What's on this week?

FATHERS DAY LUNCH MONDAY

Hi everyone

As we have a Mother's Day cafe to celebrate Mothers Day, we also celebrate Father's Day.
This celebration will be on Monday 4th September from 12.15 pm till 1pm. You should all have received your invitations by now.
Children are all welcome to bring a dad, granddad, uncle or friend to the shared lunch and races.
The cost for the lunch is $6 for a child and adult. If your child will not have someone attending with them the cost will be $3, and we will buddy them up with another dad for the races.  Could we please have money ASAP in a named envelope to Mrs Wright or Mrs Flannery.

Gymnastics again on Wednesday - please remember sport's uniforms.

School photos on Thursday morning.

School Mass this Sunday 9th September at 9.00am.  Please let us know if your child is unable to attend.

Aladdin Costumes
We have organised part of Room 7's costume for Aladdin off Ali Express and hope that's OK with you all. We have bought each child a pair of harem pants at $6.50.
To go with this they need a plain white, black or red T-shirt. (if it had a pattern or writing on it, it could be worn inside out).  Please send the $6.50 to either Chrissy or Sue, in a named envelope.
If this is a problem or a hardship for you, please let us know. The children will just have bare feet.

Have a good week.

Sue and Kate

Action Station Focus children Week 5 and 6.

Aladdin Costumes

Hi everyone

I have organised part of Room 7's costume for Aladdin off Ali Express and hope that's OK with you all. I have bought each child a pair of harem pants at $6.50.
To go with this they need a plain white, black or red T-shirt. (if it had a pattern or writing on it, it could be worn inside out).  Please send the $6.50 to either Chrissy or myself. If this is a problem or a hardship for you, please let me know. The children will just have bare feet.
Thanks
Sue

Father's Day Lunch

FATHERS DAY LUNCH MONDAY

Hi everyone

As we have a Mother's Day cafe to celebrate Mothers Day, we also celebrate Father's Day.
This celebration will be on Monday 3rd September from 12.15 pm till 1pm.

Children are all welcome to bring a dad, granddad, uncle or friend to the shared lunch and races.

The cost for the lunch will be $6 for a child and adult. If your child will not have someone attending with them the cost will be $3. Could we please have money ASAP in a named envelope to Mrs Wright or Mrs Flannery.

Children will be bringing an invite home today.

Thanks
Julie and Sue

Week 6, Term 3 2018

Hi everyone

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and made the most of the beautiful weather.

We have gymnastics this week on Wednesday so please make sure children wear their sport's uniforms.

Thank you to those families who keep supplying us with boxes, bottles, containers and lids for our construction table at Action Stations.

Also we may need some parents or grandparents to help with sewing simple harem pants for our class for the school production. Please email me at: suewright@stgerards.school.nz  if you are able to help.

Kate will be teaching the class this Thursday as well as Friday, as Sue is in Dunedin.

Have a great week,

Sue and Kate

Week 5, Term 3

Hi everyone,

What a beautiful weekend!  This week is a bit less busy, thank goodness!

The children really enjoyed soccer skills coaching with Tessa last week.

Gymnastics on Wednesday, so please remember sports' uniforms.

We are starting to practise songs for Aladdin Trouble, our musical. 

Keep sending along those containers and lids for our construction table.

And that's about it.  Have a great week,

Sue and Kate

Action Station Focus children Week 3 and 4

Soccer Coaching

Week 4, Term 3

Hi everyone

Hope you all had a great weekend and made the most of the beautiful weather!

Remember school will be closed on Wednesday as the teachers are striking.

This Thursday we have soccer coaching so could children please wear sports' uniforms.

Also on Thursday we are visiting Father Vaughan in the church and he is talking to us about baptism. If you have any photos of your child's baptism or a baptism certificate or a christening gown, could you please send these to school this week to share. (They will be well-looked after).

A big thank you to those families who have sent along construction materials to school.  Please keep these coming, and keep saving lids of any kind.

Have a good week,

Sue and Kate

Week 3, Term 3, 2018

Hi everyone

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and made the most of the beautiful weather yesterday.

Thank you to all those parents that came along to support their child at the crosscountry on Monday.  We were very proud of the children; they all showed resilience and gave it their best!

Well done to George and Freddie for being part of the Alex Under 8 Stormers who won the Miller's Flat Tournament  this weekend. Great rugby, boys!

This Wednesday is gymnastics again so please remember sport's uniforms.

We are getting short of materials for construction. Please keep sending along boxes and containers.  Also please save any type of lid or top eg milk bottle tops, wine lids, shampoo lids etc as the children use these in their very intricate creations. 

If anyone has spare screwdrivers at home, these would be very useful for an electronics station.

The PTA have asked for you to go to this link to complete a survey about the recent cash calendar survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HKYYTVS

Have a great week,

Sue and Kate

Action Station focus children Weeks 1 and 2