WEEK SEVEN Term 1

Hey team

Wow it's hard to believe we are on the downhill slide to Easter!!

We had a busy week last week with C.O Swimming sports and preparing our awesome assembly which was on Friday!! The kids all did a great job and I have had lots of positive comments about the Room 5 Weather report!

Coming up (these are important dates so please note them down);
Monday 16th March - School Triathlon (pm)
Friday 20th March - Teacher Only Day - School closed
Monday 23rd March - Otago Anniversary Day - School Closed
WEDNESDAY 25th March - Central Otago Triathlon (this will only be for children who qualify) 
Monday 30th & Tuesday 31st (if needed) - Presentation of eisteddfods in class
Thursday 2nd April - Eisteddfod assembly & Easter Liturgy 
Friday 3rd April - Good Friday
HOLIDAYS!

As you can see the last four weeks are crazy busy with lots needing to get jam packed into a short space. 

Homework this week:
Training for the Triathlon - please encourage your child to do as much practise this week as possible.
Spelling, reading and maths like always :)
Scripture reading Eisteddfod - it's important these are on your mind as they will be due in class before we know it.

Here is a notice about the format that is require for scripture readings;

Scripture Reading Challenge 2015

• Your scripture reading can be anything you like, eg. a parable, a psalm, a reading from the Gospels.

• Introductory speech – Years 3/4: 15-20 seconds, Y5/6: 30–45 seconds, Y7/8: 1 minute (times are approximate). This is a time to use the main ideas or theme of their scripture reading to make up a small speech explaining what the reading means to them, without retelling the reading – ie. ‘What the story of the Last Supper tells/demonstrates/means to me is ...... ‘

• Format for scripture reading on the day – students will start in the middle of the church in front of the altar using a microphone with their introductory speech, then they move to the lectern and say “This is a reading from eg. Matthew Chapter3, Verses 1 -14 ...” then start the reading. At the end, if it is a gospel reading only say, “The Gospel of the Lord”
• Timetable – Monday 30^th or Tuesday 31^st March, class Eisteddfods will be heard,

-       Whole school eisteddfods will be on Thursday 2^nd April at 2pm – one girl & one boy from each Room, names will be in the school newsletter.

• For students to remember

-       When reading from the lectern you do not have to look up at your audience all the time – don’t always look at one particular group.

-       Use good expression when you read.

-       Do not read too fast.

-       Pause correctly.

-       You do not have to learn you reading off by heart but you must learn your introduction.

-       Make sure your words and voice are very clear, so that your audience understands.

If you have any questions about any of this information please get in touch with me ASAP.

Thank you and have a great week! :)

Jo

Triathlon Information!!

School Triathlon

The school triathlon has come round very quickly. Due to us being double booked at the swimming pool we have had to change our Triathlon date from what was stated in the term planner at the beginning of the year to Monday 16^th March (pm). We will be starting the first race at approx. 12.40pm. Please check your child/ren’s bikes and that their helmets fit properly over the next few days.

Every child will be competing in the triathlon in the following age groups and in this order;

Yr 5-8 Competitive (Yr 5&6, Yr 7&8)

Yr 1&2

Yr 3&4

Yr 5-8 Non-Competitive

If you are able to help with course marshalling please return the form below, before Friday 13^th.  It is important that we have plenty of parents around the course to ensure all children are safe at all times and of course to support the children. The more helpers we have the better.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please be sure to come to school in your school sports uniform and track suit - Years 5 - 8, sports uniforms, green trackpants/warm clothe - Rooms 1 – 4.

School sunhats are compulsory, so be sure to have yours at school.

We will all be leaving school at 12.10pm.  Years 5 – 8 will bike their bikes to the pool with Mr Yeoman and Mrs Eastwood. Rooms 1 – 4 will travel by bus, their bikes will need to be dropped directly to the pool. Lunch will be at 11:30.

There will be an event briefing at approximately 12:30 with the first race starting at approx. 12.40pm.

There will be marshals at each of the Transitions, Mrs Beilby at the run/bike and Mrs Flannery inside the pool.  We ask that parents please stay out of the transition areas, there will be help available to your children if they need it, but Room 3 have demonstrated that they can complete these transitions with no assistance, so we’re sure that older competitors can as well.  It would be helpful though to have parents remove bikes as soon as possible from the area. Children only may access the pool through the rear doors.  This is the understanding that we have within our pool hire agreement. All parents must use the usual pool entrance. Thanks for helping us out with this – especially when it is so exciting!!

Children are to be picked up from the pool after the event at approx. 2.30-2.45 please. Bus children will be brought back to school by staff.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I ______________________________________________ am able to help with course marshalling at the Triathlon on Monday 16^th March.

Signed: ________________________________ Date: _____________________

Week 6

Hi guys,

Wow what a crazy start to the week. I apologise to those C.O swimmers that were supposed to have an entry form attached to their notice that went home today, it was a hectic morning and I forgot to attach it. Children will bring the list of entires home tomorrow :)

This week:
On Tuesday afternoon we will be heading down to check out the Sea Week Exhibition as it is Sea Week. This is a great opportunity for us to learn about the Sea!

Wednesday: I am away with the C.O swimmers in Cromwell. Mr Yeoman will have the remaining children from Room 5 and 6 for the day.

Friday is the International Day of Prayer.

PAT tests went really well last week! All of the children have done a great job and interviews will be in the next few weeks to go over these results and to set goals for the year. More information to follow soon.

Please make sure you child is doing their homework each night. This week there is spelling and maths. Reading needs to be happening every night please. As your child is now in a senior room I don't mind what they read at night as long as they are reading something. I will not always send a book home for them to read each night so it's important they have reading material from the school or town library at home. 

The school and Central Triathlons are coming up in the next few weeks so it might be a good idea to dust off the bikes and encourage your child to get some practice in early. More information will be given to the students in the next week or so.

Please continue to come and see me if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great week!!

Jo :)

Week 5

Hey Team,

Sorry for the extremely late post! 

We have a fantastic day at the swimming sports yesterday and it's fair to say even the teacher were tired after a big day at the pool. Thank you to all of those who were able to help yesterday and also to those of you that were able to come along and support your child/ren. It was awesome to see so many of you there!!


This week:

I am on Classroom Release on Tuesday and Wednesday morning so Mr Hogue will be in Room 5 taking science which is very exciting! 

For the rest of the morning sessions we will be getting our P.A.T tests done. There are 4 to complete; reading vocal, reading comp, math and listening. As these take time to get done our classroom programme will be very messy this week, we will be back into the swing of things next week though. :)

Homework:
Reading every night, maths, and spelling (the long 'e' sound). Please encourage your child to complete all of their homework and to come and see me if they are struggling.

Have a great week!!

Many thanks,

Jo :)

Newsletter

Sorry for the problems with being able to view the newsletter. This should now be fixed!!!
If you have problems please ring the office.
We are hoping to have the link to the newsletter link up on the Facebook page very soon. We will keep you posted.
Many thanks

Julie

Week 4 :)

Hey everyone,

Thank you to all of those who were able to come to school Mass on Sunday, it was great to see so many of you there celebrating the beginning of our school year. Thanks also to those who came to the meet and greet picnic, it was great to see so many of you there too :)

Homework: This week this is reading, spelling and maths homework, all is due in on Friday. Please encourage your child to complete all of their homework and if they are not sure about it, they can talk to me at school. The probability sheet should not be hard as we are doing very similar worksheets in class. Please talk to me if you have any concerns :)

Tuesday: There are house meetings at 1.30 for our house captains to be chosen for 2015. This is very exciting and it will be good to have the houses up and running for the year.

Wednesday: Ash Wednesday - there is a liturgy being held at 12pm at the Church, you are all welcome to join us. Room 5 children will be doing the readings, children will be chosen tomorrow.

Thursday: NZ Playhouse, this will be an awesome performance which starts at 1.30. We are extremely thankful to the PTA who are covering the cost of this show. Im sure they children will love it!!

Friday: Buddy Reading time with our new house captains organising their house for the swimming sports. Assembly will be led by Room 6 and will begin at 2.10, you are all welcome to join us.

Monday 23rd: Swimming sports - all children need to be dropped at the pool by 9am, bus children will get taken to the pool when they arrive at school. As houses have a trophy to compete for this year it would be awesome to see as many of the children get dressed up and into the house spirit. House colours should be worn to the pool. PLEASE NO CRETE paper as it makes a mess of the pool!


Softball/Teeball - games will be played at school this week as all St Gerard's teams are playing each other. Games will start slightly earlier at 3.15 so should be finished just after 4. The tee ball game will be on the bottom field and the two softball boys teams will play on the top field.

Here I was thinking that this week will be 'normal' with no swimming but as per usual there are interruptions - good ones of course! :)

Next week is going to be equally crazy as I have release for two mornings so Mr Hogue will be teaching science. It is also PAT testing week so we will be busy, busy, busy in Room 5.

Have a great week and remember to come and see me of you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks,
Jo  :)

Week 3 Term 1 2015

Hey team,

I hope you had a fantastic long weekend and managed to enjoy some sunshine.

We continue with our swimming in the afternoons this week. We are all well on our way to doing a great job at the swimming sports! If you are able to help out please ensure you get the form to me ASAP as I've only had 3 parents offer to help.

This week:
Tues: Swimming 1.30-2.00
Wed: Swimming 1.30-2.00
Thurs: Swimming 1.30-2.00, Meet & Greet Picnic Dinner Starting from 5.30pm
Sunday: School Mass 9am - All are expected to attend in full school uniform, please let me know if you can't be there.

Next week: Wednesday 18th - Ash Wednesday Mass 12 Noon

Swimming Sports Monday 23rd Feb.

Homework: There is maths and reading homework again this week,  Spelling will begin next week after we have done testing in class and once Trina has gone over home expectations for spelling at the 'Meet and Greet / Meet the Teacher' evening.

If you have any questions or concerns please note them down and you can discuss them on Thursday night :)

Have a fantastic week and I hope to see you all on Thursday.

Jo