Term 4, Week 9

Hi all,

I'll keep this week's blog brief with just a few notes about what not to miss!

Monday
Mufti - Dress Up Mania - Tomorrow
Come dressed as your favourite book character - make a gold coin donation

Tuesday
Graduation Mass 5pm

Thursday
Prize Giving 1pm

Have a great week.  I'll be happy for the holidays but also sad to have my gorgeous class moving on to the senior room.  I always learn so much from each class, and for that I am grateful.  What awesome kids you all have. 

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 8

Hi folks,

Last week on Friday morning our wonderful Student Volunteer Army were put to work in the gardens at Castlewood rest home to help them clear a spot for a new private garden area for residents.  Thanks to our parent volunteers Ginah and Jenny for coming along to support us - Ginah - we have photographic evidence of you doing hard physical labour!!!

Our help means that when the branches are cleared from the lower half of the big tree, there will be a clear space for the new private garden alcove being planned.

This tree needed a good clear out underneath.



Lachie hard at work on the end of a garden fork!

Everyone afterwards!

Cricket this week: There will be cricket lessons on Tuesday and Thursday after lunch.  The children may wear their sports uniforms if they wish.

Hats: please ensure your child has their school hat on this week - the sun has some heat in it and if the kids are out for a lot of the day in the heat, a hat will stop that sunburn.

Assembly: We are presenting assembly this week - please come along and join us!

That's all folks,

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon

The Seasonal Cook

‘THE SEASONAL COOK’

Together we can make this a $50,000+ fundraiser for our school!!

Two years ago conversations were happening around how we could raise a substantial amount of money for St Gerard’s. We talked about the need for a library to be reinstated, about the need for spaces for sciences, art and music so that classes could undertake exciting project based, student driven learning and about how we always felt like the school was running on a shoestring...what could we do to help? From these conversations ‘The Seasonal Cook’ was born.

For the past two years many of you have been involved in the project ‘The Seasonal Cook’. We would like to say thank you. Thank you for your recipes, your testing and tasting, your sponsorship and your time. We received over two hundred and fifty recipes for the book - and in the end we could only include just over a hundred and twenty recipes. It has been a huge effort and we are so proud of the book that has been produced.

‘The Seasonal Cook’ was launched two weeks ago with a Home Tour. Once again thank you for your support of this tour. We have received lovely feedback about the tour and it is exciting to be able to report that the home tour raised over $11,000. We also sold over 90 copies of the book on the day.

The sucess of this day and the support of our generous sponsors have enabled us to cover all the costs of printing our first run of books.

‘The Seasonal Cook’ is expected to raise over $50,000 just from this first print run. Once the books have sold then the exciting process of community consultation and planning can begin on how to best use the funds raised to benefit current and future students.

What we need for this to be a success, is for each one of us in our school community to actively promote and try and sell ‘The Seasonal Cook’. It is $40.00 and there is a sample of the book at the school office.

• Have you got yourself a copy of ‘The Seasonal Cook’?
• Do you have people to get Christmas presents for who would love ‘The Seasonal Cook’?
• Do you have family or friends, especially those who do not live in Alexandra, that would love a stylish cookbook?
• Can you help out by manning a stall at the local markets to sell the books?

Books can be purchased at:

• The School Office (cash or EFTPOS)
• www.theseasonalcook.net

To send a message direct to the committee: email recipebook@stgerards.school.nz or

pm us on our facebook page “The Seasonal Cook St Gerards School Cookbook”

Thank you for your support - what a great school community we have!

Term 4, Week 6

Hi Folks.

Here's what's on for the week.

Central Otago Sports - Tuesday, cancellation day Wednesday.

Life Ed - We'll visit the Harold bus again on Monday and Tuesday of this week. 

Speech Eisteddfod - assembly for this is next Thursday the 29th of November.
Please see below for a copy of the senior speech marking schedule.

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon.

Eisteddfod Speech Assessment

Name: _______________  Topic: ________________________   November 2016

Writing:

• Write a speech sequencing ideas logically.

Do this using the Hamburger format by:

• Having an appetising introduction – an exciting question or ‘did you know’, and tell briefly about the other things that will be in the speech.
• Layers: each layer will be about a different part of the speech topic, each layer will flow to the next layer, because it makes sense to speak about it next.
• Conclusion: will remind the audience about what the speech has been about, or leave the audience with a thought provoking question.

Presenting/Speaking:

• Speak clearly so the audience can hear all that is said.
• Maintain the interest of the audience by speaking slowly and carefully, trying to change the tone of voice, and by using pictures or other props.
• Become so familiar with the material that there is eye contact with the audience.

Content ( _/18)	Rarely (2)	Usually (4)	Almost Always (6)
Speech is well organised (opening/body/close) and has an appropriate structure
Speech ideas are appropriate to topic
Vocabulary suits purpose of speech
Delivery (_/36)
Volume and clarity is appropriate
Expression is evident
Pace is appropriate
Eye contact is made
Stance is relaxed and confident
Gestures are used appropriately
General Comments: Content:          /18 Delivery: /36                         Total:                     /54

Term 4, Week 4

Hi folks,

Here's what's happening this week at school.

Sun hats:  It's that time of year again, please ensure your child has their named sunhat at school every day. 

Athletics:  This week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we will be doing the usual practise rotations so the children are to wear their sports uniforms on these days please.
ATHLETICS Day will be this Thursday.  It will be at Molyneux Park and all children should be there by 9am.  Please keep an eye on the facebook page for updates to this information as there's potential for rain on Thursday, if this is the case, our cancellation day is Friday.  As always, the children will need sunscreen, school uniform hats, a packed lunch and a large drink bottle.

PENCILS: Please ensure your child is ready for learning by having a ready supply of pencils for them.  I have run out of my extra supply of around 100 pencils so would really appreciate help with this.  There are a number of children who rely on the kindness of others daily to supply them with pencils.  A nice way to teach organisation and being ready for learning can be as simple as ensuring your child is free to write with a pencil.

That's all folks,  have a great week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 3

Hi folks,

A HUGE well done to our wonderful kids who performed so well in Aladdin last week!  It has been a mammoth effort and I am sure you can agree with me that the kids were fantastic!

This week.

Athletics practice will be happening from Monday through to Wednesday in the afternoons so the children are free to wear their PE uniforms.   Our athletics sports will be held next Thursday - the 8th of November.

Will update the blog if any other events are happening.  We are heading to the Thyme festival around lunchtime today if any parents would like to join us.

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 1

Hi Folks,

Welcome back - I hope you've all enjoyed a break with your children.  This term is traditionally full on and packed with loads of extra curricular activities.  Coming up we have our school production, followed by athletic sports and a student volunteer army project.

This Friday we'll have a whole day of Aladdin practice in the town hall. We'll also have all day practices the following Wednesday and Thursday.  On these days it would be awesome if school pick up could happen from the hall instead of from school.  Bus students will be brought back to school in time for their buses.

ALL DAY DATES FOR COMMUNITY HALL
Friday 19th October
Wednesday 24th October
Thursday 25th October

COSTUMES:  Girls in our classroom are sorted for costumes as are some boys with parts.  For the remainder it is imperative that costumes are brought to school ASAP in a labelled bag and be left here until the final production night.

Tickets for the show can be purchased from the School Office.

Labour Day - next Monday - day off - Wahoo!

Have a great week!

Mrs Lyon

Term 3 Week 10

HI Folks,

Please remember Swimming is tomorrow - Thursday - Clothing and swimming togs must be worn in the pool.

Eisteddfod assembly will be held on Friday afternoon from 1:30pm.

Singing practice is going well for Aladdin, the kids are really working hard to learn songs, words and some of them - lines!

Have a great week and enjoy the holiday break.  I'll be in Dunedin watching my Olly play hockey.


Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 9

Hi Folks,

We're on the downhill slide to the holidays. Here's what's happening this week.

• Kaboom Performance - Monday Morning. There will be no Monday morning prayer this week as we have a performance from Kaboom happening first thing. 
• Aladdin Practice - This week we will be having Aladdin practice daily except for Friday. Please encourage your children to keep learning the songs and lyrics so that they know them by heart asap.
• Eisteddfod. We'll be having singing eisteddfod in our classroom on Thursday and Friday this week.  
• Swimming - early session - This week our swimming will happen in the morning as we have a writers workshop and show happening with Deano - a visitor to our school who is in Alexandra for The Blossom Festival.
• Touch Notices - Please ensure these are returned ASAP. No notice = no place in the team. 
• Ultimate Frisbee has finished so it will be back to school uniform on Wednesdays. 
• ICT info night is on Wednesday evening. This will begin with a picnic tea 5.30 start.
• There will be a $10 charge popped onto your school accounts for the golf sessions we had with Kelly Sports.  

Hope you've all had a nice weekend, I've had a beauty in Auckland with my sisters!

Take care and have a good week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 8

Hi Folks,

Here are the goings on for week 8.
Sports Uniform may be worn on Wednesday for Ultimate Frisbee and Thursday for swimming.  Our swimming session on Thursday will be the 2pm session which means that our trip back to school can be rather tight to make it back in times for buses and the bell.  Not only do we have a workout in the pool, the walk back to school can be rather brisk too!

School uniform reminder - There are a number of children in Room 5 who choose to wear running shoes or trainers as opposed to the actual school uniform.  It is absolutely fine for children to bring shoes to run in at playtime and lunchtime, but the uniform is the uniform and it would be great to see it being worn correctly on a regular basis.  I seem to have on average a couple of kids per day who will wear non regulation shoes and a reminder to the class about this seems to fall on deaf ears.  Please ensure your child has correct uniform or a note to explain otherwise.

Aladdin costumes - These have been ordered for the girls from Aliexpress and should be arriving shortly  The cost for these is $16 each.  This can be paid at the school office.
We are heating up in the singing department for the big event in Term 4.

Eisteddfod Singing:  Next week we will be having the presentation of songs for the eisteddfod singing competition.  Please help your child practise these at home so they are prepared for their performance at school.  The assembly for these will be held on the last Friday of term.


Mr Hogue will be teaching the class on Friday this week.

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 7

Hi All,

School Photos are happening this THURSDAY.   As this coincides with swimming, this will mean your child will NOT BE WEARING THEIR PE UNIFORM on Thursday.  Full Winter Uniform must be worn for school photos. 

Swimming gear must also be brought to school for our lesson in the afternoon.

School Mass - This Sunday.  Please let me know asap if your child will not be attending because of sporting or other reasons.  A note would be appreciated.

That's all folks

Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 6

Hi folks


Ultimate Frisbee - Sports uniform on Wednesday for this session please.  Last week we had a blast learning the throwing techniques of this game and eventually putting them in to playing a game (even I had a go and I learned that while I am completely hopeless I am also competitive).

Swimming - Thursday.  Please don't forget to pack clothing as well as swimming gear.

Aladdin song words - as we get deeper into practice for our school production it'd be great if there were extra singing practices happening at home.  The children have been shared these on the google drive so they have access to both vocals and lyrics.

Update on costumes: Girls costumes will be bulk ordered by me for Room 5.  I have found some cheap options for a costume from Aliexpress and these will cost around $10-$15.  We may get some funding for this, but it's likely this will come in the form of a refund if any money is left over.  Please contact me if you have any issues regarding this cost.
Boys costumes will really only need to be plain track pants and plain t-shirts as Room 5 boys are peasant type villagers.  Some thing like this is recommended.

School photos - September 6th is the date for school photos.  Please ensure your child has full winter uniform on this day and has neat and tidy hair!

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 5

Hi folks,

There's not too much to remember for this week - just swimming on Thursday.  Please ensure your child brings their swimming gear AS WELL AS clothing for swim safety in the pool.  A long sleeved top and long trousers would be perfect.

Gymnastics - Sports uniform on Wednesday please!

Central Otago Cross Country - to be held in Arrowtown this Thursday.  We wish Kimberley all the best as she competes alongside the best of Central Otago there....Go Kimmy!

Will update this post if anything else arises during the week.

Have a great week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 4

HI folks,

Here are the goings on for week 4

Swimming/Soccer: Thursday - this means PE uniform - shorts would be good - and also swimming gear - please include pool clothing as they could be needed.

Wednesday - Strike Day - Please do not send your children to school on Wednesday, there is to be a nationwide strike for all Primary Teachers.  Feel free to come and support us as we gather together with other teachers from Central Otago from 12pm at Pioneer Park.

Maths week: This week we are doing some maths week challenges in class.  There is a family section on the website you can check out together during the week.  There is a challenge for each day.
https://www.mathsweek.org.nz/.  Click on the family section.

Assembly is run by Room 5 this week - please feel free to come along and join us for this.  It starts at 2:10pm.


Have a great week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 3

Hi folks,

There's not too much happening this week apart from our zone cross country - for those who qualified, and swimming on Thursday.

Swim clothes will be needed again this week so please include them with the usual togs/goggles etc.

I'll keep you posted about other goings on if there are any. 

Some children have been working on learning a few lines for our up and coming Aladdin auditions.  It's nice to see the kids keen to perform. 

For those of you who like to keep their kids' learning up at home, here's a link which I have shared before to the nzmaths site.  It has loads of activities for the children to complete and is appropriate to level 3 of the New Zealand Curriculum which is where we aim to have children working from during Years 5 and 6 at school.  There are other levels for the kids to play around on too, so feel free to have a wee play and see what the site has to offer - I recommend it!
digital learning objects level 3

Have a great week team,

Mrs Lyon

Survey for the PTA about the Cash Calendar Fundtraiser

Hi all,

Please click on this link to complete a small survey about our recent Cash Calendar fundraiser.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HKYYTVS

Many thanks

Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 2

Hi all,

Here are the goings on for the week.

Monday: Golf and Cross Country.  Please make sure your child wears their sports uniform and has a drink bottle to hydrate themselves properly before/after their run tomorrow.
Races start at 1pm - we'd love you all to come along and support the kids.

Thursday: Swimming - please remember all swimming gear.  This week the children will need to bring some appropriate clothing to wear in the pool.  The lessons at the pool this term will include a focus on swim safety so there'll be a number of sessions this term where the children will need clothing in the pool.

Friday: Golf - This is our last session for the year, these two lessons this week are catch ups from days that didn't eventuate last term.

Thank you to the families who are making an effort to send their children to school with a wrapper free lunch.  This really does help to keep our school grounds tidier and encourages the children to think about wrapper free food alternatives.  Brain food sessions are awesome in Room 5 - there are all sorts of vege and fruits being consumed and it's great to see the kids getting the fresh stuff in their tummies!

Thanks so much for coming in to see me for interviews last week, it's a highlight of my job to have nice conversations with you all about your children.  I am very grateful to be teaching at St Gerard's and to also have such great kids to teach - not every teacher is as lucky as me!

Not much else to report.  Have a great week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 3, Week 1

Hi Folks,

Welcome back to you all.  I hope the break was good to everyone.

Matariki Celebration - There is information about this on our Facebook page.  You child will also have a notice in their bag about it. Here's what was on facebook incase you don't have an account there.

A reminder that the Matariki Family Breakfast is on Tuesday 24th in the school hall from 7am. Come in your pyjamas, (bring school uniform to change into). BYO breakfast. Toasters, tea, coffee and milo provided. Hopefully it will be a clear morning and we can see the stars and the planets that are in the sky. Ed Diver will be our resource person and share his passion for the skies. Thank you, Ed. This event was suggested at the whanau hui last year.
If anyone has a toaster that they could bring we would be most appreciative. Helpers needed for setting up at 6:45ish. Please let Chris know if you are available. Our PTA is extremely busy with the cookbook at the moment - let's share the load👍

This term we will have swimming on a Thursday afternoon.  On these days it is important that your child brings their swimming gear with them to school.  I'll do my best to send out a see-saw reminder, but it might be a good idea to calendar a reminder for the Thursdays in this term.

We have 2 catch up golf sessions next week - Monday and Tuesday mornings.  Please have your child wear their PE uniform on these days.   We will also be doing Gymnastics during the term and one other sporting activity yet to be concreted in.  I'll post more details regarding this as I have them.

Homework this term is the expected reading, spelling and tables practice.

A reminder to parents that Slime isn't allowed in Room 5 as it tends to be a distraction and makes a mess.  Please encourage your children to be playing with this at home rather than at school.

I'm looking forward to seeing the children tomorrow - I love to see how much growing has happened in the holidays!

Have a great week everyone,

Mrs Lyon.

Term 2, Week 10 - Yeehaa!

Hi everyone,

Last week of school until a well earned holiday break! 

Here are the goings on for this week in Room 5 and for the whole school. 
Golf - this week, golf will be on Tuesday and Thursday.  Please send your child to school with their sports uniform on this day.

School mass - Wednesday morning at 9am in the church.  Please feel free to come and join us and the parish as we celebrate mass.

Poetry eisteddfod assembly will be held this Thursday at 1:30pm.  We'll be practising and sorting finalists during Monday and Tuesday at school.  I try to get the children to feel as relaxed as possible when it comes to presenting their poem in front of the class, they can feel pretty nervous, but we're all friends and everyone does a nice job of encouraging each other.  The main reason we do this is to build confidence when speaking and sharing information in front of a group. 

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon.

Term 2, Week 9

Hello all,

Two weeks left until the holidays! I don't know about you, but this term seems to have flown by.  Over the next two weeks we have whole school mass, golf lessons, cultural assembly and an eisteddfod assembly.

Whole School Mass:  See you there on Sunday.  

Golf:  We had a clash with our first golf lesson and the rippa tournament last Thursday so we'll have a catch up one at some point.  The dates for golf are June 26th, 28th, 3rd July and 5th of July.  Sports uniform is to be worn on these days please.

Cultural assembly - Please come along to join us for our cultural assembly this Thursday at 1:30pm.  

Pat on the back to all of you for being great parents - We are having lots of laughs in Room 5 at the moment.  I feel so privileged to be teaching your lovely children - they all bring their own little spark to our room and with a small-ish number, we really get to know each other well - accepting that we're all different and celebrating this fact also!

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon

Term 2, Week 8

Hi there folks,

This week we have a mixed bag of activities happening.

Wednesday - wig day/mufti/gold coin donation.

Paid Union Meeting: If possible your child will need to be picked up from school by 1:15pm on Wednesday as staff are attending a paid union meeting at 1:30pm.   Please let us know if you are unable to pick up your child.

Thursday - Rippa Tournament: 13 of Room 5 will be playing in the inter school Rippa Tournament this week.  Please make arrangements for your child to come directly to the sports ground at the back of Molyneux Park on Thursday.  They will also need to sort how they will be getting home from here.  Myself and Mr Yeoman will both be at the event on the day.

Golf starts soon.  The dates for this again are June 26, 28, July 3, and July 5.  There will be one other catch up day as our first date clashed with the Rippa this week. Please ensure your child wears their sports uniform on these dates.

That's all folks,

Have a great week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 2, Week 7

Hi there folks,

Nothing too major to report this week.  Last week we had an excellent week at school.  I love settling into terms 2 and 3 where the interruptions to class learning time are minimal and we can really get into some regular work time in class.  Our routines are well and truly set and the expectations around learning and classroom behaviour seem to come together so well at this time of year.

We've been doing some inside yoga/go noodle sessions as the weather has been fairly miserable for our fitness time.  This is great though as we are introduced to some fairly gently yoga type practice by way of a blue cartoon monkey called Maximo - get your kids to show you if you want to know more - he's great.

Rippa Tournament:  Please remember to register your children on the www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/62313 site if they are registered to play in the up and coming rippa tournament.  This will need to be done asap.   We have updated news that if your child is registered as a rugby player already, they won't need to be registered twice.

We're also after a parent to help with a team - please let me know if you are available to help on the day - June 21st.

Keep up the good work with the basic facts and times tables folks.  I've had some good feedback from parents letting me know about the efforts your kids are making to remember these facts.
Basic Facts are all addition and subtraction facts using all numbers up to 20.  For example 4+7 = 11 and 19-6=13.  They are basic but essential little facts that will take us a long way in everyday maths.  Helping your child learn these will also help them progress through school maths with much more ease than if they were still having to figure these sums out moving forward.
Doubles to 20 are also a part of your basic facts eg 2+2=4, 6+6=12, 8+8=16.

If there any updates to our timetable I'll flick you all a message on Seesaw.

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon

Term 2, Week 6

Hi there folks,

I thought i'd get in early this week with the blog post for next week.  I've been trialling using SeeSaw as a method of communication and it seems to be working for reminders about what's going on at school.  Anyway, this week I'm back on the blog.

Today we made soup to eat together for a shared lunch.  The learning involved with this included - Soup Making 101,  Recipe Following 101,  Flavour talks, Knife Safety, Food Safety - washing hands, cleaning, no sneezing, coughing etc.  We all shared a karakia before we ate and the end result was - that THE SOUP WAS DELICIOUS!

Rhianna "It was a lot of fun, because we learned how to make soup and cut veges and it tasted delicioius."
Joshua "I like it a lot - the vegetables and the flavour were yum.  I like chopping too!'
Angus "My Mum cooks as good as this, I wish soup everywhere was this good!"
Charlie "It was fun making it, it was out of the normal.  My uncle has already taught me how to use a knife like that."
Dilan "I did the chopping, but I'm not confident.  I'd like to do it again.  The soup tastes so nice."
Dani "I like it how I didn't get my fingers chopped off, the soup tasted nice and unfortunately I was trapped in onion jail - my nose was like aaagggghhhhh!"
Frans "I chop vegetables at home and can peel veges really well too."
Cait "I liked the soup, the flavour was good.  I learned the bendy finger thing when cutting with a knife."

Week 6:  Monday is Queen's Birthday - Enjoy your extra weekend day!

Not much else is on the agenda for next week. 

Golf: Lessons for Golf will begin later in June.  On the days we have golf your child will need to wear their sports uniform to school.  The dates for golf are June 21st, 26th, 28th, 3rd July and 5th of July.

Before you read the next part of the notice - you need to be aware that for your child to play in the rippa tournament they must be registered with NZ rugby asap.  Otherwise they will not be playing.  Please click on the link below and register your child.

www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/62313


Rippa Tournament: The teams for the interschool Rippa Tournament on June 21st (cancellation day being 22nd) are as follows...

Year 5-6 teams

Team Name:   St Gerard’s Warriors	Team Name: St Gerard’s Rockets
Coach/Manager:	Coach/Manager:
Tadgh	Jack O
Lachie	Jack S
Dylan	Otis
Bobbie	Sully
Hayvin	Charlie D
Mason B	Keira
Jelena	Jacqui
Sophie	Ana
Zaria	Rhianna
Annajhay	Alia

Did you click on the above link???

Good job! 

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Lyon