Term 3 newsletter

19th July 2010

Dear Parents and Caregivers,


It’s great to be back at school again with a 10-week term ahead of us. Our team has planned some really exciting and varied learning opportunities for students this term. The first of which is a junior duathlon in Week 5.

We would like to welcome back Barbara Ryan who will be teaching Year 0 & 1’s in Room 1.


This term our major Inquiry topic is exploring ‘Changes in My World’. Our big idea for our topic this term is, food is an important part of our lives and we can change it in many different ways. We will be focussing on investigating and communicating in science.

Our focus for Writing this term is fairy tale innovations, recounts and explanations. The children will be sequencing events in a story, using adjectives, nouns and verbs to add interest to their writing, using different forms of punctuation and proof reading their work.

In Mathematics, children will be learning about Measurement. For Measurement we will be exploring length and Money. Every day the children will be exposed to number knowledge and strategies with a focus on addition and subtraction, multiplication and division.

Our Art topic this term is mixed media. We will be using a variety of media in our artwork and following a process to create layers.

Our Sports focus for this term is moving in different ways, having fun moving, challenging themselves, sharing space and equipment and reflecting on the game. Every week the students will learn new skills to take part in a game.
Our focus for fitness this term will be Jump Rope for Heart with the students learning a variety of jumping techniques using a skipping rope and large ball skills with the students learning how to confidently bounce, dribble, pass and catch a ball.
Please note we will not be having jump jam this term so please ensure your child is at school by the 8.40 bell so they can take part in the class outdoor fitness programme.

This term the children will be using laptops to achieve specific ICT skills, such as, word processing, create a new post on the class Blogs, take a digital photo and use Kidpix to create slide shows or pictures.






Throughout Term 1 & 2 students were exposed to Te Reo Maori and gained a greater understanding and confidence in using simple gestures and greetings and counting to 10. This term students will be learning to say the days of the week, ask how someone is feeling and respond in Maori how they feel.



Homework
Please help support your child by listening to them read, help them to learn their reading rocket words, spelling words and basic facts.
The students get tested once a week on both their spelling words and basic facts.
Reading rockets are tested when the child feels they can successfully read the words.

Term 3 Junior Syndicate Dates:
Junior assembly will be fortnightly on Thursdays from 1.45-2.15 in the room which is hosting the assembly. The following weeks are Junior Assemblies. Week 2, Week 4, Week 6 and Week 8 and Week 10.
Junior Sport / Fitness - Please make sure your child has appropriate footwear and clothing available daily for fitness and sport.

Week 5
Junior Duathlon (Run, Bike event) – This will be held at school.
Details will follow nearer the time.


Each class has a notice board as well as a Classroom Blog so please check these on a regular basis and post a comment on our Blogs. I know the students and teacher enjoy receiving these!

Please feel free to speak or email your child’s classroom teacher or myself with your queries and celebrations.

Yours in partnership,

Mikaela Cody cody@muritai.school.nz and Priya Gain gain@muritai.school.nz (Room 2), Barbara Ryan ryan@muritai.school.nz (Room 1), Maureen Buckley buckley@muritai.school.nz and Gabrielle Heath heath@muritai.school.nz (Room 3) Sheena Naik naik@muritai.school.nz (Room 4) Hayley Skilton hskilton@muritai.school.nz(Room 5) Karen Jones jones@muritai.school.nz and Morag Roberts roberts@muritai.school.nz (Room 6)