Junior Jottings Issue 5

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It is the last week of Term 1 already and the students are certainly looking forward to a well deserved holiday break. They have worked very hard and have really benefited from a wonderful array of learning experiences over the past nine weeks. These have ranged from a visiting artist, police and lifeguards to visiting the fire station, pool, beach, park and library. The inquiry process has been followed and they have learned how to be safe at school, in the playground, in and around water, in the sun, around the roads and near fire. Please ask them to share their knowledge with you. They have also been assessed in a wide range of curriculum areas and have all made progress on achieving some of their learning goals.

Over the holidays, please help keep up your child's learning by reading to them each day (five minutes makes all the difference!). Ask them questions about the story you have read, get them to read to you or practise some writing and spelling or do some counting forwards and backwards. You could also click onto some of the links on Room 6's blog - see opposite - for some further fun learning. If the weather gets cold or wet, a visit to our local library is always a great place to go.


LAST WEEK
Thank you!
A special thank you to the parents of students in room 3 who attended a meeting on Tuesday evening to find out about assessment on entry to school. Thanks too, to those parents who have also attended six week new entrant conferences. I hope you have a good understanding of what your child is currently learning, where they are heading and some ways you can help them at home.

Thanks also goes to the large number of preschool parents, who attended our recent 'Starting School at Five' information evening. I hope this evening answered all your questions regarding the next stage in your child's life.

'No Sweat' Parenting
I attended this absolutely fantastic evening on Thursday night on how to be a coach to your child. Pio and John were hilarious in their presentation and gave very practical ideas throughout. If you would like any information on parenting, please do not hesitate to contact me as I can put you in touch with the necessary people who can support you. As well as this there are also six week workshops tailored for parents of specific age groups - early years (0 - 6), middle years (6 - 12) and teenagers.

Stationery Items
Some children still do not have all of the necessary extra stationery items needed for their learning. If you are not sure what items your child needs, please see their teacher.  Could you please purchase these from the school office before Thursday? We would really appreciate this.

Visit to the Eastbourne Fire Station
A huge thank you to our local volunteer firefighters, who gave up their time last week and the previous one to ensure our children are 'FireWise'. The children had a chance to go into the fire engine and use the fire hose as well as listen to the safety message talk. They should have brought home some pamphlets to reinforce this. Please take the time to read them and discuss the 'escape plan' with your child so that in the unlikely event of a fire at your home they know where to go.

THIS WEEK
Tuesday March 30th
You will have received an invitation, via email, to come along and listen to Laughton King on Tuesday March 30th at 7.30 pm at school. He is a very entertaining speaker who tells us how dyslexia has affected him throughout his life. Come along and learn about 'reaching the reluctant learner.' Koha - $5

Thursday April 1st
This Thursday is 'Autism Mayhem Day'. This is celebrated nationally and means that on this day your child can come to school with 'Whacky Hair' and a gold coin to donate to Autism New Zealand.

School will be closing at the usual time of 2.55 p.m. on Thursday and will re open after the holidays on Monday April 19th at 8.40 a.m.

NEXT TERM 
We have already planned an exciting term of learning for your child. One thing that will be happening is the Annual School Cross Country run at Williams Park. Please ensure that your child has the correct footwear for the practices.

Clothing
Sunhats will be coming home this week and next term your child needs to bring slippers to wear inside the classrooms. Please have a look at the Lost Property this week and collect any items that belong to your child.

Later in the term, we will also be having parent conferences and sharing the children's work in their portfolios with you.

'Hooked on Books'
This fantastic reading programme is carried out each year by our wonderful parents and caregivers. If you have some time next term to take part in this then please email me or contact me as soon as possible so that I can complete the roster. I need adults who are willing to encourage and support some of our students with their daily reading during school hours, either once each week or on a two week cycle. The times can be either first thing in the morning when you drop your child off or during the afternoon when you collect them. If you know of any grandparents or other people in our community who have an hour to spare and who would be interested in this could you also let me know? I will run a quick five minute meeting after school in the first week of the term to show you what the children will be doing with you.

Staff
A big 'Thank you' to Miss Tweedie, who has been working with the students in room 3 during the past month. She leaves us to take up a position at Belmont School. We wish her well in her teaching career.

Mrs Ryan is having an amazing time on her Science Fellowship. Please have a look at her blog to see what she has been doing. 

We warmly welcome Mrs Margaret Mills-Smith to our Junior Teaching Team once again as she starts our next New Entrant room. This class will begin with six new children straight after the holidays.

Thank you for all the support you have given your child and the staff this term. We have greatly appreciated it and look forward to working with you again next term.

Best wishes for a lovely holiday with your family.

Kind regards

Maureen Buckley