Week 1, Term 1 2015 :)

Hi Team,

I hope you've all had a great weekend. 

We have had a great start in Room 5 with our massive class of 19 children (I'm very lucky this year!!). We have started setting up a fun and safe environment for the children to enjoy and learn in during 2015. I've really enjoyed meeting all the Year 5 children and getting to know them. It's also been great to see my Year 6's take a step up and show great leadership skills. I'm really excited for a fun year ahead.

Homework will start off this week but I will gradually build up the amount over the next few weeks as it is still early in the year. There will be a basic facts sheet this week as well as reading that is expected to be completed every night. I will send some reading books home over the year but am more than happy for your child to read their own chapter books at home. As long as they are reading for at least 15-20 minutes each night and recording it in their reading logs I will be a happy teacher. :)

Over the next few weeks we will be working on our class routines and trialling a new timetable alongside Room 6 as we have Mrs Nicholson working as a Teacher Aide with us this year. This is very exciting but may take a few weeks to iron out how to best use her time effectively. 

This week kicks off the start of a busy time.

Monday: Bus safety with Mr Milford
Tuesday: Bike safety with Mr Milford and Swimming in the afternoon. Children will need their bikes, helmets and swimming gear on Tuesday please.
Wednesday: Swimming in the afternoon
Friday: Waitangi Day - School closed

Coming up in the next few weeks;
Tuesday 10th -Swimming, PTA meeting
Wednesday 11th - Swimming 
Thursday 12th - Swimming, Meet the Teacher Picnic Evening from 5.30
Sunday 15th - School Mass
Monday 23rd - Swimming Sports :)

If your child is unable to swim please ensure you email me or send a note along to school. Otherwise it is expected that your child will swim on all of the above days.

Hats are expected for all children from Monday please :)

Please feel free to come and see me before school or email me if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached on jopassmore@stgerards.school.nz 

Thanks and have a fantastic SHORT week!! 

Jo :)

Week 9

Hey guys,

Sorry better late than never :)

This week had been mad with report writing and preparing for the end of the year. So much to do and the days don't seem long enough!! Eisteddfods were amazing! Thanks

There is a lot coming up so this is the plan at this stage...... Things can change so I'll update on here as we go. :)

Friday: Our last visit to the Library - ALL books need to be returned please!! We have mass at 12 then back to school for lunch.

Monday: There is a softball breakup after school. Please bring a plate to share with everyone after a fun game of softball between the 3 teams.

Tuesday: We have buns left over from camp so Room 5 will be having American Hotdogs for lunch. They will get one american hot dog so will need to bring in other lunch if that wont be enough.

Wednesday: Picnic lunch before the Prize giving at 1pm (I think - this will be confirmed at staff meeting on Monday). The Junior school are doing a fundraiser, children can order burgers for lunch. Orders must be in on Monday morning with money please! Mass and Yr 8 Graduation at 6pm in the church. All expected to attend.

Thursday: LAST DAY! This will be a cleaning day and doing the final pack up of the classroom.

That's it for now. Please ask if you are not sure of anything.

CAMP!!! Was awesome! Can't believe how well it all went and the children and adults all had a super cool time! Thanks to everyone who helped out! You are all stars!

Enjoy the sunshine :)

Jo

CAMP WEEK -- Week 8 Term 4

Hi guys,

Well the week has finally arrived!! Let's hope the wind has worn itself out over the weekend and we have three beautiful calm days for biking the Rail Trail.

The Plan:
Monday -- We will be doing our final preparations in class and going over camp rules and expectations and well as getting equipment ready for camp :) If your child did not bring in their scroggin/breakfast/chips could they please have it at school on Monday. If your child has medication this also needs to be handed to Miss Passmore on Monday.

Tuesday -- It would be great if children could be dropped at the Church Carpark with all of their gear at 8.15am. This should leave us enough time to get the vans packed up and have us on our bikes by 9am. To make things easier could children please keep their day packs with their bikes and put their 'camp' gear in a pile by the trailers. That way we hopefully won't pack any day packs into the trailer.

Thursday -- We are aiming to be back at school for a normal 3pm pick up. Bikes can be left in Room 5 over night. All I ask is that the children take them outside when they arrive on Friday so we can move in the classroom. Keep an eye on the blog as I will update it if we are going to be early/late.

Friday -- We have four parents coming on Friday. Could children please be at school by 9am and we will say prayer together and be ready to go by 9.30. Parents you have time to get a coffee before we start biking, if you think you'll need one :) 

             Lunch: Depending on what is left over from camp children may only need to bring a sandwich if we have lots of chips, muesli bars and baking left over. I will let the children know on Thursday whether they need a full packed lunch or just a sandwich for Friday.

              Pick up: I had originally said pick up will be from the pool by 3pm but I think it'll be easier if we bike back to school and be here for a 3pm pick up. This means we will get out of the pool around 2.30. If you are happy for your child to bike straight home from the pool can you please let me know by text, email or note. Hopefully this hasn't mucked up too many of your plans. If you have made other arrangements let me know and we can sort something out.

Ipods/ipads
I have decided to allow ipods & ipads on camp to be used as cameras only. I would appreciate sim cards to be taken out and left at home. I have spoken to the children about the use of these, and my expectations are that they won't be needed at the camp so can be put away after biking. I will take no responsibility if ipods/ipads are damaged or stolen so please talk this through with your child. It if your decision if you allow your child to bring them on camp.

Fingers and toes crossed we have nice weather and I have everything organised!! :)

Have a great (quiet) week if you're going to be childfree! If you're coming on camp, rest up, we have a busy few days ahead! :)

Thanks heaps for all of your support!

Jo

Softball/Teeball

Teeball and softball has been called off today due to the weather.

Jo

Gear List for Camp

Hey team, 

A gear list incase you have misplaced your paper copy. :)

What to bring:

There will not be a bag check so please check this list and pack carefully. Each person needs to take the following items-

Sleeping bag, 2 towels, plastic bag with tea-towel, cup/mug (suitable for a hot drink), bowl, dinner plate, knife, fork and spoon, toilet gear (toothpaste supplied), pyjamas, 2 pairs shorts (or 1 pair plus bike pants), 3 pairs socks, 2 changes of undies, 2 pairs long pants (or 1 pair plus leggings), 2 tee-shirts preferably with collars to save sunburnt necks, 2 sweat shirts (or 1 sweatshirt & 1 merino), windproof/waterproof jacket, 2 pairs shoes, sunhat or cap, torch with new batteries, handkerchiefs/tissues, camera (optional), 1 pen/pencil in a plastic bag, coloured pencils (optional), an indoor game and a book.

Curling: The rink is going to be a cool 8°C so children are encouraged to have the following items; running shoes, gloves, warm jacket, warm socks and a hat. 

Any questions, please ask!!

Jo

Week 7 Term 4

Hey team,

I'm sure you are all enjoying seeing the sunshine! Hopefully it hangs around for camp in a weeks time!

Thanks to those of you who attended mass yesterday and supported the children who made their First Communion. It was great to see so many of you there. :)

On Friday this week we are having our Maori Cultural Day. There was a slight mix up last week but it's all go for Friday :) Children need to wear their sports uniforms and something warm (if it's cold). We will be collecting flax and learning some simple weaving techniques. 

Most of this week will be finishing off testing and preparing for camp. A reminder than camp food (chips, bars, scroggin, cereal) needs to be at school by Thursday so it can be checked off.

Please ensure you have paid for camp before we head away next Tuesday. If you have any questions about camp, please get in touch with me ASAP!
Camp meeting tonight at 7pm in Room 5 to go over specific details for camp. This is mostly for parents who are attending the Tues-Thurs part of the camp but anyone is welcome to come along.

Thanks to those of you who have donated a 'tin' toward the Christmas Hamper. If you haven't done this please do so before the end of this week.

I think that's it. Chances are I've forgotten something as there is a lot going on at the moment. So if you have any questions please get in touch with me.

Have a great week.

Jo

Week 6 Term 4

Hi Team,

I hope you've had a great start to your week. 


Please ensure you have paid your camp money by Wednesday. Raffle cards for the Christmas hampers went home today. Just a reminder that a 'tin' needs to be donated to the raffle and needs to be left at the office.

This week:
I am on release tomorrow (Tuesday) and will be doing MORE testing to gather information for reports and National Standard data. Mrs Donaldson will be teaching in Room 5.

Thursday:
We may be having a Maori Cultural experience where we will be learning about flax weaving and the history behind why things are done. The plan is to go to a flax bush, bless it, cut it and bring it back to school to have fun with weaving. I am still waiting for confirmation but I will let the children know as soon as I know if it's going ahead. The children will need to wear their sports uniforms and tracksuits/something warm (if they've already handed their tracksuits in) on Thursday.

Friday: 
Dress up as a Saint/Inspiring person day. We will be having a 'Celebrate a Saint' assembly at 2.30 which will be led by Room 1&2. Children will also need to bring their sports gear to school as it's also a walk n wheels Promo day. Bikes/scooters need to be brought to school on Friday too please :)

First Holy Communion:

This weekend our school has a number of students celebrating their First Holy Communion. Father Pat has asked that we all do our best to attend Sunday Mass this week to support these children and their families. They have been preparing at Sunday liturgies, in class and at home. It would be great to see you all their supporting them on this milestone.

Homework --- Week 6 & 7     

Bikes: Please ensure bikes are checked and ready for camp over the next two week; pump up tyres, check helmets fit properly. A quick trip to the bike shop wouldn’t hurt J

Eisteddfods: These will be presented in Week 9 (the Monday and Tuesday after camp). Please pick a song that you like and that you can present to the class. Make sure you know all of the words well. You will be scored on your introduction (5), pitch (5), dictation (5), suitability for the audience (5) and your preparation (5).  

You have two weeks and camp week to get your presentation ready.

Projects: We will be working on projects in class over the next few weeks in preparation for camp. Research can be done at home for homework to gather more information.

Camp: A gear list will go home in the next few days. You need to make sure you are starting to get organised so it’s not a mad rush the night before camp. 

I think that's all for now. Have a great week!

Jo :)