Junior Jottings Number 21

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Amazing, awesome, spectacular, superb, fantastic, colourful, wonderful, etc - I could go on and on but there really are no words that can explain how fabulous the students were in the Production performances last week. Over the past few weeks they have learned the different parts of their items and they certainly looked very confident and happy up on stage. The New Zealand Curriculum identifies five key competencies - they are thinking, using language, symbols and text, managing self, relating to others and participating and contributing. I think every student showed achievement in each of these areas throughout the production and the lead up to it. I hope all parents, extended families and friends also enjoyed the show and were as proud of the efforts of the children as we were.

Thank you so much to our adult face painters who did a fantastic job. You managed to get through 70 faces in less than fifteen minutes each time, so well done! Thank you also to our costume makers. You also whizzed through felt shapes, tails and head gear so quickly. The children really looked gorgeous! Thanks to everyone who helped throughout the week. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Junior Playground

Last week we had new blue safety matting put down under the Junior School playground.

THIS WEEK

Clean up New Zealand

Junior classes are joining their buddy classes, either during last week or this week, to clean up litter around our beach area as part of the annual Clean up New Zealand week.

Whacky Hair Day

This Friday we are having a whacky hair day with proceeds going to the Special Needs School in Christchurch, who were not only affected by damage in the earthquake but also by thieves who stole much used equipment necessary for working with children with special needs. Your child can decorate their hair and bring along a donation for this privilege. If we raise $1,000 or more Mr Chadwick, a teacher in Year 7 and 8, will cut off his dreadlocks.

Full School Assembly

There will be an assembly this Friday at 1.30 p.m. in the hall. All welcome.

Reading Books

If you have any reading books at home could you please send them back to school. We will be doing an inventory and as a result no reading books will be coming home with your child after Wednesday this week. Children can of course still practise the daily habit of reading by getting books out from the Eastbourne library or perhaps reread some books that they already have.

Yummy Apples

The collection of stickers for this competition isnow closed. We now eagerly await the arrival of new P.E. gear that we have earned through collecting the stickers.

LOOKING AHEAD TO TERM 4

We have already planned another great term of exciting learning experiences for your child. We will be having Jumpjam again in the mornings, going to the Ballet, experiencing Education outside the Classroom, swimming, athletics, using technology in our inquiry as well as learning in all the other curriculum areas.

SunSmart

In term 4 all children need to wear a wide brimmed sunhat at school (not cap) so please send your child along to school on the first day of next term with a named hat. Our 'no hat no play' policy starts from the first day. If your child is not wearing a hat, they will be playing under the sunshade area.

Room 16

Mrs Mills-Smith will be starting a new Year 0 class in room 16 straight after the holidays. Room 1 is now full.

Thank you for all your support this term. Have a relaxing holiday break with your children. We look forward to seeing them all again on Monday October 11th at 8.40 a.m. ready for another term of learning.

Kind regards

Maureen Buckley

Deputy Principal

Junior Jottings Number 20

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Yay! It's Production Week! The children have looked forward to this and are very excited. For many it will be their first time on stage. The costumes are all complete  -thank you so much to parents and teachers for the effort these have involved.  The extra staging is up, the music and lighting are ready and now it is time for the big event.  Many of our children have been away with sickness and holidays so it has been hard for them to quickly learn their parts but they have managed.  I know you are going to be so proud when you see your child up on stage under the bright lights.  Being on stage is not easy for everyone so they are doing well, especially our newest five year olds who have just started school. The children will be involved in both a technical walk through and a dress rehearsal before opening night on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Pre-schoolers from the Learning Centre, Playcentre and Kindergarten are very welcome to come to the dress rehearsal on Tuesday.

Production Update

Please bring your child to room 1 (if they are year 0 or 1 - children from rooms 1, 2, 3 and 4) or room 2 (if they are in rooms 2, 5 and 6) at 6.30 p.m on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Children will get dressed into their costumes in these rooms. Every item of clothing that your child takes off is to be placed in the plastic bag that has their name on it. Please help them to get their costume on.

The year 0 and 1 children, who are rats, will then go to room 3 to have their faces painted before returning to room 1 to be lined up ready for their performance. At the end of their performance they will be returning to rooms 1 or 2 and getting changed back into their clothes. Costumes are to remain at school till the end of the week.

Parents are very welcome to wait in room 1 or 2 while children are on stage. The show starts at 7 p.m. and the Juniors are at the beginning so we envisage that they should be finished by 7.20 p.m. at the latest.  We can confirm this after the dress rehearsal on Tuesday.  If you have any queries or worries at all please do not hesitate to contact me.

Normal classroom programmes will continue throughout the week.  We are sending home browsing books with your children this week so that they keep up the daily habit of reading.  We realise that time is at a premium so are not worried if your child does not get the chance to do their homework.  Browsing books are ones that your child has chosen and are at a level much lower than they have in class. They are designed to be easy and quick but provide practice of their reading skills.

Royal New Zealand Ballet

Last Wednesday we had a visit from dancers from the Royal New Zealand Ballet company. They showed us their warmup exercises at the Barre and then performed some excerpts of different ballets. The children were enthralled by their every movement. It was indeed a superb performance. We are going to attend a ballet in Wellington later in term 4.

Yummy Apples

This is the last week for Yummy Apple stickers and bag tags to be brought into school. They will be parceled up and sent away and in return we will receive some lovely sports equipment so please send along any stickers you have by this Friday.

Clean up New Zealand

In the last week of term all classes will be going to different areas of our local beach with their buddies to clean up any litter.

Earthquake in Christchurch

Many of our families have been affected by the recent earthquake so we are having a Whacky Hair day on the last day of school. Your child can wear their hair in an interesting way and bring along a gold coin. The money raised will be given to the Christchurch Mayoral Fund. It is a good opportunity for our children to think about others in their time of need. Please have a look at the poster that the Fundraising committee students have made advertising this event as you pass through our office. Take a peek at the photos of our teacher Mr Chadwick, with and without dreadlocks.  Mr Chadwick has agreed to have his dreadlocks cut off if the school can raise over $1,000.  Please help us to achieve this figure by giving generously.

Portfolios

There are still a number of portfolios that have not been returned. Could you please send them back to school this week?

Head lice

Once again some of our children have head lice. Please be vigilant and check your child's hair and treat them if necessary. They are very annoying for both the child and the parent especially as they love clean hair and keep returning. I have pamphlets available if any parent would like a copy.

Looking forward to seeing you over this week.

Kind regards

Maureen Buckley

Deputy Principal

Junior Jottings Number 19

Kia Ora Parents and Caregivers,

A huge 'Thank you' to all those fabulous parents who gave up their time to make our Production costumes. You were so amazing, very organised and so fast that everything was finished on Thursday morning. We are very grateful to each one of you. The children are certainly going to look so fantastic up on stage next week.

PRODUCTION UPDATE

For the evening performances, we need all children to be at school at 6.30 p.m. All Year 0 and 1 children will go to room 1 while all Year 2 will go to room 2. Children will be getting dressed into their costumes in these areas and then will go into room 3 to have their faces painted. They then return to rooms 1 and 2 to await their stage performance. At the end of their performance they will return to these rooms to be collected by their parents (or other adult as designated by the parent) at 7.30 p.m. If you have booked tickets for an evening show please arrange for your child to be collected by another adult, relative, friend or someone in your social network. Please inform your child's teacher on the day the name of the person who will be collecting your child if it is not you.

It is a long day at school for our youngest children and usual programmes will continue throughout the week so we need them to be picked up and taken home to bed as soon as possible. The children will also become more tired as the week progresses. Staff members need to go home to their families and also teach each day so please do not be late picking up your child. Once you are watching the show you will stay in the hall until the performance is over so you will be unable to come and collect your child and take them back into the hall. Your school age child/ren will have the opportunity to watch the entire show at the dress rehearsal.

WANTED - Can you help?

Adults to do face painting in room 3 at 6.30 p.m. each night of the production. If you can help please add your name to the roster in room 3. The face painting of year 0 and 1 involves drawing whiskers and a pink nose. It is not full face or intricate.

Thank you to the lovely pre school parents who attended our 'Starting School at five' information evening last week. I hope you now feel better informed about what lies ahead for you and your child.

If you are or know of anyone who has a four year old child who will be enrolling with us could you please phone our school office 562 8409 with details of your name, your child's name and date of birth and your contact phone numbers so that I can contact you. I am working out staffing for next year and need to know how many children will be turning five throughout 2011.

VISION AND HEARING TESTING

If your New Entrant child was tested by Jackie Jennings they will have brought home a blue pamphlet outlining their results. This test is a screening test only. If you have concerns with your child's vision or hearing please contact an optometrist, developmental optometrist or audiologist.

EMERGENCY DRILLS

In light of the recent event in Christchurch and the rapid rising of the Hutt River this weekend, please be reassured that we practise emergency drills at school. We teach the children what to do in the unlikely event of a fire, earthquake or tsunami occurring while at school so that they know how to respond in an emergency situation if required. We have plenty of the necessary supplies of food and water. It is a timely reminder that if you have changed your contact numbers both cell phones and home or changed addresses or workplaces please inform Sue at the office so that all our details on your child are correct.

BALLET

On Wednesday we will be visited by the ballet and all children throughout the school will be attending this performance. The cost of this show will be taken from your child's activity fee.

WEEK 10

During the last week of the term we will be involved in the Annual 'Clean up New Zealand Week' project again. All Junior children will be working alongside their big buddies to clean up an area of our beach. The younger child will search and point out where the rubbish is to their bigger buddy who will then pick it up and place it in a rubbish bag ready for collection by Hutt City Council. The big buddy will be wearing gloves for this.

On the last day of the term, Friday September 24th, school finishes at the usual time of 2.55 p.m.

Kind regards

Maureen Buckley

Deputy Principal