22nd-26th Feb

Thanks to those of you who came to our Meet the Teacher evening on Wednesday.  I did go on a bit (sorry) but I wanted you all to be understanding of our classroom programme.  Thanks for listening and also your encouragement.  31 is a big class and I am so lucky to have keen kids and supportive parents.

CAMP MEETING THIS THURSDAY EVENING - FEBRUARY 25th - 7:30pm!!!
I have made this top of the list so you all see it first and commit to coming along on Thursday if you need to hear what's happening, put yourself forward as a parent helper or can help with any camp needs.
During the week I will be talking to the class about their dietary requirements - bare in mind I am not talking gourmet options, just whether or not we have gluten free/vegetarian/allergies etc.
The date of the camp may not suit you all but I have chosen to have the camp this term because I believe the bonding which happens on camp is beneficial to relationships between the kids throughout the year - not at the end before summer holidays.   I also know that Term 4 can sometimes be so busy that camp doesn't really get the energy it deserves.
If you cannot make the meeting but need to chat with me, feel free to drop me an email.
carolynlyon@stgerards.school.nz

Homework
Homework this week will be spelling words, 20 minutes reading each night and a maths sheet.
There are also set tasks on study ladder.  All logins for this site are in the kid's homework books.

DOJO FOCUS
The class dojo focus this week will be job responsibility and care and set up of our own things.
Encourage this as much as you like at home - ha ha - like you don't already!

I have popped a message on our whiteboard for each child to bring a box of tissues along to school. During the winter months it is handy to have a box available so that we minimise the spreading of germs.  I know it's not cold yet, but if we could be prepared for when the seasons change it would make Room 5 a healthier place to be.  No hurry for this - just as you next think about it thanks.

St Gerard's Garden
On Friday Room 5 spent an hour and a bit in the school garden.   With the help of Mr Yeoman, Sue Brydges, Regina Adams and Rachael Mackie the kids got stuck in to their new job roles and we had our first day of contributing to the upkeep of a very special area of our school.  Next time you are here do take a look and do a lap.  It is nothing but organic goodness!

Have a great week,

Mrs Lyon.

15^th-19^th February

This week is our first full week at school with no days off!  I had a word to Room 5 last week about being kind to themselves and others if they were feeling tired.  This was more of an act of kindness to oneself as opposed to a behaviour reminder.

Important dates for this week.

• Swimming – Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons - please remember swimming gear.  We'll be walking again and if you can come to walk with us, please do.
• Wednesday evening - Meet the teacher evening - 5.30-7pm at school.  Bring a picnic dinner for your family and mingle and chat with the teachers and other families from school.
• Swimming sports Thursday morning.  Please see last week's newsletter for any information regarding this - DRESS IN HOUSE COLOURS PLEASE!
• Thursday afternoon - NZ Playhouse Performance

That's all I can think of at the moment for activities this week.  I will dojo message any updates.

Homework

Study ladder usernames and passwords have been given to the children for use at school and at home.  I have set activities appropriate for the Year level your child is at.  If you want to discuss levels with me, please do so.  You may find that your child needs more of a challenge, or that they are finding the level I have set too challenging.  If this is the case, please let me know.  I encourage you to get your child active on this website as we can access bonus activities when we have kids participating.  I use study ladder for my own children at home and it’s good, relevant learning at the child’s level.

I expect every child to spend at least 20 minutes reading each night as well as learn their spelling words.  Work on spelling will happen during the week at school during reading time as I encourage a depth of word knowledge – not just rote learning of words.

Computer battery is low and charger is at school....

See y'all Wednesday evening.  It'll be a good chance for us to have a brief chat about camp too!

Mrs Lyon

FEBRUARY 9th-12th

Hi All,
I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and made the most of the stunning weather.  I took my kids camping at Glendhu Bay - what a great place to get away to and practice my relaxing skills.  I managed to prove to Olly that I could in fact do a circuit on the water skis!

This week in Room 5

Swimming:  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - please make sure your child brings their togs, goggles and towel.  We will be walking to and from the pool leaving school around 1pm.  I have had two offers from parents to accompany us on our walks.  Please come and join us if you can.

Ash Wednesday: There will be a mass on Wednesday at 11am to mark the beginning of Lent.  All parents and family are welcome.  This is a parish mass which the school will be attending.

Assembly:  Room 5 are on Assembly this week.  Not a lot has happened so far this year but we have a few art items we will be sharing.  If you would like to come along, please do.

A reminder to students to bring their drink bottles to school - keeping up with hydration in this warm weather makes it so much easier to concentrate in class.

Glue Sticks - please be sure to supply 4 glue sticks if you haven't already.  These were left off the stationery list sorry.  Please have them named.

Have a great week.


Mrs Lyon

p.s. that is not me in the pic...

Welcome to Room 5's first blog post for 2016

Only joking - no homework this week!

I am really looking forward to seeing the kids on Wednesday, and I am sure they will be looking forward to catching up with their peers! 

What to bring

1) School Hat! - Wednesday is supposed to be a scorcher so it's vital that all children bring their uniform hats with them to school.
2) Swimming Togs.  If it's a roasting hot day we may have the sprinklers on for a bit of a cool down in the afternoon.
3)  Stationery.  The pre-packed boxes of books etc are ready to be picked up in the foyer on Tuesday (tomorrow).

We have a really busy term with many different sporting and other events.   There are also a few holidays peppered through Term 1 and we finish week 10 with the bi-annual Rail Trail camp.  As I get more information regarding the above events I will be sure to keep you all posted.

If you would like to come in and say Hi on Wednesday morning before school, please do.  I am sure there will be a few anxious feelings about a new teacher/new room and sometimes having a parent come along for support can help ease first day nerves a little.

That's all I can think of for now.  We have had a very busy day at school today and will probably have a repeat tomorrow.

See you all Wednesday,

Mrs Lyon

Ha Ha ! It is late and I laughed out loud at this. 

P.S.  Definitely not a crazy cat lady, just enjoyed these two memes today.

Term 4 ~ Week 6

Hi everyone,

I hope you've all had an enjoyable weekend and are ready to take on another week. Hopefully you all enjoyed a delicious meal made by your Room 5 child this week. I've enjoyed hearing all about them!!

As you all have probably heard, I am off overseas as of April next year. I won't be teaching at school but may be lucky enough to get some relieving from time to time. 

This week is a relatively normal week for us which is nice :) We are visiting the dam on Wednesday at 10.15. We will be busing there and back (Thanks to the PTA). At this stage we have 1 parent helper who will be travelling with us to the dam. If you are interested in coming please let me know ASAP.
DAM VISIT - Children need to wear their sports uniforms with long pants and a long sleeved top (if you still have a tracksuit this is perfect). Children and adults also need to wear covered in shoes. These are requirements from the dam so please ensure these are met.

On Friday Room 5 are leading mass at 12.00, please join us if you are able to. Room 2 are leading the school in assembly on Friday at 2.10pm.

Sunday is our First Communion Mass. It would be great to see you all there supporting the children from our school who are making their First Communion.

HOMEWORK:
This week there will be spelling, maths and reading homework as usual. It's also time for you to help your child to get ready for the final eisteddfod of the year - a song. The children will get more information about this during the week, but they will need to choose a song that is appropriate to present to the class (and potentially the school) and say a quick introduction about the song and why they chose it. Eisteddfods will be presented in class around the 3rd, 4th and 7th December. Eisteddfod assembly is on Thursday 10th December.

Next week - Festival of Cricket
All Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 children will be attending an 8-aside cricket tournament in Alexandra on Tuesday 24th November. Children will need to be at school like normal by 9am so we can walk up to Molyneux Park for a 9.30 start. Children will need to ensure they have their full sports uniforms on and warm clothes as well as their hat and sunblock. 

If your child has a trophy/trophies at home for sports or eisteddfods, these need to be polished and returned to school ASAP as the prize giving assembly is coming around quickly. 

I Hope you all have a great week. 

Thanks

Jo :)

Important

IMPORTANT

Central Otago Athletics are postponed until THURSDAY!!!

TONIGHT AT 5.45 at Central Cinema Wattie's Can's Film Festival.

You can attend The Minnon movie for a donation of a can of food.

The cans will be collected by the Salvation Army and Watties will match every can. These are handed out at Christmas time.

Thyme Festival

On Wednesday we will be leaving for lunch at the park at 11.40am. If you are able to walk down with us that would be great. The concert starts at 12pm. We are singing!!!

Week 4

Hey team,

What a crazy few weeks we've had. This week continues on with the busy, full on theme that this term seems to b full of. I hope you've all had a fantastic weekend and were all up at 5am this morning watching the All Blacks make history with a fantastic win! 

Monday:
Remember tomorrow (Monday 2 Nov) we are going to hold a School Fair Mufti day where instead of bringing along a cold coin donation, each child needs to bring 1 item for the fair.  Please select from the following list.
- Mystery Bottle, or
- Grocery Item for Raffle, or
- Kitchen or Household Item for the White Elephant

We are heading to the cemetery at lunchtime for our 'All Souls' celebration at 1.30pm. If children could please bring along any flowers they would like to lay up at the cemetery that would be great!! They will have a chance to have a look around and find family members or people they may know.

Tuesday: I will be away with Mr Yeoman at the Central Athletics with most of Room 5 and 6. Mrs Lyon will be in with the children left at school. Central Otago competitor will need to be up at Molyneux Park by 9am please.

Wednesday: Thyme Festival performance down at the Thyme Festival (Pioneer Park) We will be going down as a whole school and having lunch down there. Please come and join us and watch the performances we have worked hard to perfect.

Thursday: Inquiry afternoon - this is the last session for us to produce products to sell at the fair. Please help your child to remember to bring in items they need.

Friday: Mass led by Room 6 and assembly led by Room 1. Please join us if you're able. Fridays assembly will be a chance for us to farewell Wayne Soper as he retires during the week.

Sunday: School fair. We will be working to complete our class project for the fair during the week when we get some spare time.

Homework: There will be maths (basic facts), spelling and a project (master chef) this week. Master chef projects will be presented in class on Friday 13th November.

That's all for this week!! I hope you have a great week and have a chance to come and join us for one of our many exciting things this week.

Thanks

Jo :)