Term 4, Week 6

Hi All,

It'll be a reasonably busy week in Room 5 this week as we begin the downhill slide to the summer holidays.  Spelling, reading and maths homework will be the same this week.  Please ask your child to share with you how they can solve addition and subtraction algorithm problems as well as 2 digit multiplication using the box method of problem solving.  We have been learning these strategies in class and as our place value knowledge is strong enough, the children are loving the success they have with these little maths gems.

I have signed up to the Free books in schools Kelloggs promotion for 2018.  You may start to see this promotion advertised on Kelloggs product at New World.  If you are able to support our school by purchasing these products and nominating our school online via the details on the packets, we will receive free books in our school next year - Thanks to School Kit and Kelloggs for this wonderful promotion.  Encourage your family members and friends to do the same and we receive a pile of books.  Last year we received around 30 new books!

Singing eisteddfod is coming up soon.  I will open up the opportunity for a practise run should any child want to have a warm up to their singing performance before I officially give them a mark.  The presentation to the class for singing will be held early in Week 8.  Please support your child in getting their song ready.  The more prep, the less stress and worry!

SWIMMING CATCH UP LESSON!!!  On Tuesday this week there will be a catch up swim lesson held at the pool.  The lesson will begin at 1:30pm and will run for an hour.  Please ensure your child brings their swimming gear to school on Tuesday so that we can all enjoy our last lesson for the year.  Late addition to this notice - PJ's are to be worn!

Mrs Donaldson will be in class on Monday morning and on Tuesday Kerrin Annan will be relieving as I am attending the Otago Athletics Sports in Dunedin.

Have a great week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 5

Hi all,

Here are the goings on for week 5.

Homework this week is the usual 20 minutes reading each night, spelling words and maths buddy if your child is able - 15 minutes a day makes a big difference to consolidating knowledge.  There are also some good tutorials on this site.

Pubertal Change Program - Parent information evening Wed 15th Nov

Over the second half of Term 4, Year 5-8 students will be taking part in the 'Things are Changing' pubertal change program at school. Before this program begins we are holding a parent information night to ensure all parents are aware of the content of the program  and to answer any questions you might have. We will be meeting in Room 5 this coming Wednesday 15th Nov, 7:30pm, for about half an hour.

Mrs Chamberlain will be teaching on Wednesday morning while I have my CRT.

As you know I am a passionate supporter of my brother's charity work in Argentina.  Tomorrow night there will be a quiz night to raise funds to go towards his cause.   I have space for 3 more teams (6 per team $10 entry each - $60 whole team).  Please if you can make it to Monteith's at 7pm with a team, we'd love to see you there.

Also, see below - awesome concert coming up!!!

And if you want to see some awesome acting - check out these guys...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN6rETZFxHE

Have a great week parents.   Message from me - your kids are awesome!

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 4

HI All,

Just a few brief notes about the goings on this week in Room 5.

Tomorrow most of our class will be representing St G's at the CO athletic sports at Molynuex Park . The children who aren't attending this meet will be working in other classrooms around the school. 

QUIZ NIGHT - Please help me out by gathering a quiz team together to support my brother's charity in Argentina.  The Quiz night will be held at Monteith's Bar next Monday night.  Teams of 6 are $60.  You will be supporting a worthy cause and Monteith's do a great job at making the night fun!   I am needing about 4 more teams to get the house full.   


Maths Buddy tasks have been added to so please encourage your child to spend time on this when they can.  The tasks are fun and they really do help cement the maths we learn at school.

A reminder that Friday 24th of November is PET DAY. 

Have a good week.

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 3

HI all,

We have a few things going on this week. 

There will be some athletics practices for those children attending the CO's next week.   If your child has qualified for any of the events listed below they may wear their PE uniform on the noted days.
Monday - Long jump, relays
Tuesday - Shot put, Long jump, relays, high jump
Thursday - Shot put
Friday - Relays, discuss, high jump

Skink Monitoring:  This week we will continue our skink monitoring by building some temporary skink shelters.  We hope the shelters will look like an attractive place for skinks to make a home.  We have had no skink action from our site so far which is a little disappointing, however the children still enjoy going onsite and investigating what sort of action is happening - hedgehogs, mice etc. 

Inquiry:  This term Room 5 are working with a buddy to come up with some inquiry questions under the topic of Playing our Part.  The questions will be followed up with research to either find a solution to the problem (whether it be a local, national or global issue) or to suggest to organisations who govern the said issues what they might do to improve the situation.  The children are choosing things that they find relevant in their own lives.  The topic of Playing our part guides the children to have a voice and/or opinion about how things could be improved as a member of a community. The children will work towards presenting their issue and solutions to the class.  Perhaps their research will lead them to writing a letter to the local council.
I would like some research to happen at home this week so that everyone will be completing their project by the end of November/start of December.  As Term 4 is usually a busy one we can sometimes lose quality time in class/not have access to the C.O.W. when needed for research purposes.  Please encourage your child to share what their inquiry is about.  Question them, ask them what they need to find out, and what their solutions might be.

Homework (as well as the above) will include spelling and tables practice too.  Please encourage your child to complete at least 2 or 3 maths activities on Maths buddy daily. 

Movie showing:  The date for the showing of 'Wonder' has been confirmed for Thursday the 14th of December.  On this day we will meet at Central Stories for the movie showing to show sharp at 9am.  We have other goings on at school on this day so this is the only time we could squeeze in the much anticipated film.

Thanks so much to all the awesome kids who helped out at the fair today - I am so proud of you all.  I love the fact that I can pop some kids in charge and they successfully manage a stall, prizes, parents and children.   Well done - you are capable and organised!

HATS - Hats are compulsory now as the sun is shining down on us.  Sun block also is a good idea - it might pay to pop a tube in your child's bag so that we can be super sun smart on the hot days.

Wrapper free lunch - keep this up please, it's great that our enviro school is making a difference to how much rubbish we contribute to the planet.  Thanks to those of you who make the effort - 1 less wrapper each day counts.

Have a great week!

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 2

HI all,

Tomorrow - please meet at Molyneux Park by 9:15am.  Athletics day will run from 9:30am until 2:45pm.  Bus children will be taken from school to the park and returned at the end of the day if needed.  The timetable for the Athletics sports is on the school facebook page.  Please ensure your child has sunblock, a sunhat, a good lunch and a large drink bottle.  Tomorrow will be great fun with a dose of competitiveness.  Good luck to all the kiddies.

PAT testing is happening in Rooms 4, 5 and 6 this week.  I try to make these testing times as relaxed as possible for the children.  We have been practising answering multi-choice questions a little.   The usual pattern for these types of questions are that there will be one question that DEFINITELY isn't the answer, 2 possibles and 1 random.  I encourage each child to use a pen and paper to answer the question independently first (esp for maths) and then look for the answer in the choices.

School Fair - this weekend!  Room 5 will be involved in running a few games at the fair.  This is always a nice day for the school community to mix with the wider community - let's hope the weather is fine!

MOVIES!  Last term we read the novel 'Wonder'.  The movie is being release this month and I'd like to take Room 5 along to see it.  There is a small amount of money left over from our ski camp which could be used to cover the cost of the movie screening at Central Cinemas.  I'd like to use the funds to take the kids to see the film so if anyone has any queries regarding using the leftover money to pay for the movies, please let me know. 
Here's a link to the trailer wonder if you'd like to see what the film will be about.  We all loved reading the book and look forward to a viewing of this new film!  Not your everyday school activity, but fun for sure. 

Have a great week everyone,

Carolyn

Touch Notice!

Thursday Night Touch Teams – Term 4 2017

Beginning THIS THURSDAY

Team Name	St Gerards Touched by the Holy Spirit (Year 7 & 8)	St Gerards Saints (Year 4-6)	St Gerards Got the touch (Year 4-6)
Manager/Ref	Jono Love 021941175	George Flannery 0273559576	WE NEED A MANAGER PLEASE!!!
Team	Rafe D Olly L Charis M Charlie B Thomas O Jacob F Rafferty L Mia F Amber S Ethan C Hannah T Owen Gullick Jade C	Sully L Charlie D Dilan W Ana F Shannon K Kayla S Cody R Thomas P Harry R	Jack S Otis B Bobbie S Adam W Mason B Alia R Annajhay W Hayvin O Angus H

These are the teams entered. Contact people are the ones who will get any further information from Shelly Sanders who coordinates the evenings.  If you are unable to play for any reason please let your manager know in plenty of time if possible.

Years 4-6

Please meet the manager of your team at Pioneer Park at 5:20 pm for your 5:30pm game this Thursday 19th October

Years 7-8

Please meet the manager of your team at Pioneer Park at 5:50 pm for your 6:00pm game this Thursday 19th October

Please remember to wear your school sports uniform to all games. Also remember your best manners as we are representing the school in our community!

Good luck – enjoy your games.

Mrs Lyon

Term 4, Week 1...71 Days until Christmas!

HI folks,

Welcome back to everyone - Term 4 is here.   This term can feel super busy for the children, yourselves and also the teachers.

Athletic Practices: This week athletics practice will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  PE uniform on these days please.

Monday 23rd October -  Labour Day - YAY a holiday!
Tuesday 24th October - School Athletics Sports Day. (Wednesday Cancellation Day)

Sunday 29th October - School fair - please remember to bring along your contribution to the hamper packages if you haven't already. 

It's sunhat time again.  I suggest getting your children to write their name on the outside of the rim to easily identify their own hats...a lot tend to go walking and get picked up by others never to be seen again.

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon