We warmly welcome our new students and their families, who have just joined our Junior School, and also Mrs Ryan, back from her Science fellowship.
Reporting to Parents
At the end of the term, we gave you a written report containing your child's next learning steps, met you for a parent and teacher conference to discuss the progress your child has made, showed how your child was tracking against the National Standards and also gave you a portfolio of samples of your child's work. As teachers, we moderate across the year group to enable consistency throughout each curriculum area to show which level your child attained - a not yet, sometimes, mostly and always. Sometimes the 'not yet' means they have not yet covered that particular area or they are not developmentally at that stage. I would like some feedback about this process. e.g. did you get too much information, not enough information, have a good understanding of where your child is at in their learning and how you could help them, was the reporting in language that you understood etc. Please email me your comments.
Portfolios
Please return your child's portfolio to school, if you have not already done so, as soon as possible?
Homework
This term Year 1 children have started the Spelling Rockets and Basic Facts carriages. They do these along with daily reading of their reader and Reading Rockets. We trialed this last year and, from feedback from parents, we modified them this year to begin in term 3 for a twenty week period. The homework is designed to give your child success and to support the learning that occurs during the school day. We try to keep homework in balance - not too much, not too little.
Most importantly, we want every child to be read to aloud by their parent every day for five minutes and also for your child to read to you every day. This is the single factor that makes a marked difference in children's learning, compared with those who do not.
Most importantly, we want every child to be read to aloud by their parent every day for five minutes and also for your child to read to you every day. This is the single factor that makes a marked difference in children's learning, compared with those who do not.
The reading and spelling rockets contain two hundred and ninety words that research has shown children and adults need to master. They are the most commonly used words in reading and writing. Children learn at different rates with some children completing the rockets faster than others. Some children may take one year, some two, while others are still learning these words in years 3 and 4 but they still get there in the end.
The mathematics carriages are based on the developmental stages of basic facts learning, so begin with addition with zero and one.
We also want our children to continue with their after school activities of play dates, gymnastics, dance, sport etc so please adjust the homework to suit your family needs. You may decide that your child will work on two or three of the spelling words instead of ten or you may do the reading rocket only etc. We do realise families are busy and have more than one child to care for so we do not want families or children under any stress about homework or even staying up late to get it done. All the homework should take about ten minutes per day. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask your child's teacher.
Parent Evening about Mathematics
Last term I ran a parent's session about Mathematics and many people were unable to attend. I am running the same one again on Thursday August 12th in room 3 at 7 p.m.
This week
* All classes will be taking part in a soccer tournament on Tuesday, if it is fine, with Sportzone. These providers will involve your child in a range of ball skills. The $3 cost has been taken from the Activity fund. Please make sure that your child wears suitable clothing and footwear on Tuesday. Please note - We will be having an early lunch at 12 o-clock on that day only.
* Hotdogs are available every Wednesday of this term as usual.
* Orders for Scholastic Book club close on Wednesday.
* Days Bay Playcentre are visiting room 1 on Thursday August 5th.
Term Dates
Our 'Hooked on Books' programme continues each day for three more weeks.
School assemblies this term will be on August 13th, September 3rd and September 24th. You are all most welcome to join us for these in the hall from 1.30 p.m. Seating for you is provided across the back of the hall.
Our 'Starting School at Five' parent information evening for this term will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday September 1st in the school staffroom. If your child or someone you know in our area has a child starting school later this year or early next year could you please phone our office on 562 8409 to let me know so that I can work out the staffing that is needed.
We have a 'Duathlon' planned, which will involve your child running and biking and/or scootering around a course set out at school. Please let your child's teacher know if your child is unable to ride a bike or scooter or if they do not own a bike or scooter for this event.
Later in the term, we will be taking part in the Life Education programme and also your child will be in our school wide production, which we are currently working towards. Tickets for the production are available from our school office and my advice is to purchase them early. You will receive more details regarding the production e.g. costumes etc, shortly. If your child is allergic to face paint could you please contact me?
Best wishes for a great week.
Kind regards
Maureen Buckley
Deputy Principal
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