Junior Jottings Number 23

Dear Parents and Caregivers

I hope you had a lovely long weekend with your family. Last week we had visitors from the Education Review Office whowere very pleased with what they saw in the classrooms and around our school. Thanks goes to our students, who continually try to be the best that they can be, to our staff, who maintain high expectations of learning and to our families who support the students in everything that they do. ERO's report will be published later in the term.

Welcome to our Junior School Team!

We welcome Ms Annabel Capper into room 2. Annabel has been working alongside Mrs Cody and Ms Gain getting to know the children she will teaching full time from next week. We also welcome Miss Sally Ingram, who will be team teaching with Mrs Mills Smith in room 16 with our New Entrants until the end of the year.

Calendars, diaries and cards

The children have completed their art work for these and they are currently being displayed in classrooms. This is the first year we have offered diaries. Samples are on the office counter. The calendars make great gifts for Christmas, especially for grandparents and are light for posting overseas. Orders close with your child's teacher on Monday November 8th at the latest.

Carnival

This great event is just over a month away. Please put your name down to help. I am again co-ordinating the candy floss, drinks and ice creams stall and need to borrow two large chillybins and some aprons, particularly ones that have a pocket at the front, to use during the carnival weekend. If you are able to help with these please let me know as soon as possible.

Teatowels

Each of our Junior School children have drawn pictures of themselves. These pictures are currently being collated by Miss Jones to form a tea towel. Further details about orders of the completed teatowels will follow shortly.

Ballet Workshops

Today, all children in our Junior School will be taking part in workshops about the Nutcracker. Next Thursday November 4th, the children will be going by bus to Wellington to see the school show of 'The Nutcracker.' It is for an hour and not the entire ballet.

Junior School Athletics

Every week the children have been learning new athletic skills which they will have the opportunity to show you at our annual Junior School Athletics. They will be held at school during week 5 with further details to follow next week.

'Education Outside the Classroom' Week - November 29 - December 3

Planning for this week is well underway. Confirmed activities so far include a storyteller and a trip to Avalon Park. We will be having a visit from Zebong - teller of tales, who is coming to us especially from Hamilton. As part of our current inquiry about playgrounds we will be visiting Avalon Park.

This week

Tuesday - 'Ballet' workshops

Wednesday - Teachers' union meeting - This meeting is during the afternoon but all children will stay at school as usual and be collected from the hall.

Friday - We say fond farewell and best wishes to Mrs Mikaela Cody, who is taking parental leave. She has been a wonderful team leader and superb teacher of room 2. We wish her much happiness as she starts a new journey.

We also say a huge thank you to Ms Priya Gain who will also be leaving room 2 on Friday. She too has done some amazing teaching through the 'Mantle of the Expert' programme that she has been operating. Priya is not leaving our school, however and will continue to work in other areas of theschool on her fantastic programme.

Friday is also World Teachers Day.

Have a great week.

Kind regards

Maureen Buckley

Deputy Principal

Junior Jottings Number 22

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Kia ora and welcome to Term 4! It is hard to believe how quickly the year is flying by. The children have returned to school refreshed after their holiday break and have quickly settled back into the routines of school. They are certainly delighted to partake in Jumpjam again. Parents are very welcome to join in with the routines as well. Have a look at the classroom blogs and see what other learning they have been involved in already.

A warm welcome is extended to Mrs Margs Mills Smith and our newest five year old children who have just begun their school journey in Room 16. We also warmly welcome the other new children in rooms 1, 3 and 5 and their families to our Junior School.

Carnival

The countdown has begun and it will soon be here! It is a fabulous day so please put your name down for a job or two. It is a great way to meet new people and have some fun along the way!  Put it in your diary now - Sunday 28 November.

Calendars

You will have received notices about our Annual Calendar fundraising. The children have made their designs and these are currently being displayed in classrooms. They are available for parents and caregivers to come in and have a look. This year your child's artwork can also be made into cards and diary covers. They make a great Christmas present and should be back in time for overseas posting. Please send along your order to your child's class teacher with the correct money. If you have a child in another classroom you will need to send along a separate order to their class.

Clothing and Footwear

It is pleasing to see the children are wearing their wide brimmed named sunhats outside in spite of the changeable weather we have been experiencing lately. Thank you for supporting this sun safety message. Please ensure also that your child wears suitable clothing and footwear on Thursdays as they are learning different skills in athletics in preparation for our Athletics Day later in the term.

Head lice

Once again we have noticed some children have head lice. Please check your child's hair on a regular basis and treat their head immediately if you discover any eggs.

Full School Assembly

This Friday we will be having assembly for the whole school in the hall at 1.30 p.m. Please come along and join us.

Next week

On Monday, school will be closed due to the Labour Weekend holiday. On Tuesday, the children will be taking part in some ballet workshops.

Events Coming up during the term

* Disco - further details will follow shortly

* Athletics - as mentioned above

* 'Starting school at five' information evening for parents of preschoolers will be on Wednesday November 24th at 7 p.m.

* Education Outside the Classroom Week - November 29 - December 3 - more details to follow closer to the time

* Reporting to Parents - At the end of the term your child will be bringing home their portfolio of work samples showing you the progress that they have made throughout this year along with their written report and information on how they are progressing with the National Standards.

* Christmas concert - December 9th

* Last day of this term is Friday December 17th

Have an enjoyable long weekend!

Kind regards

Maureen Buckley

Deputy Principal