TERM 2

May 2011

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to school! We hope you were able to spend some time relaxing with your family. The teachers have lots of exciting things planned for the children this term.

FITNESS

All classes in the Junior Team will continue to have daily Fitness from 8.40am, when the first bell rings, until 8.55am. Please ensure that your child is at school on time, before the 8.40am bell each day ready to take part. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays the children will go into the hall where they will have Jump Jam. For the first five weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays students will participate in cross-country practice, which will involve warming up and then running around the field. Please make sure that they have suitable footwear for running. From Week 6 we will focus on teaching skills involving large balls.

MATHEMATICS

This term in Mathematics we will be teaching Measurement where the focus for the first six weeks will be learning about time.  In the second half of the term we will be learning about aspects of geometry including position, orientation and transformation.

The students will also be exploring addition and subtraction and numeral identification throughout the whole term. 

LITERACY

Within oral language the students will be focussing on their speaking, questioning and listening skills. This term in writing we are learning to write explanations, arguments and instructions. The children will also be learning to use punctuation correctly.

In handwriting we will be continuing to focus on correct pencil grip, letter size, shape and formation. Your child will continue to bring home a reading book on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and a poem to share on Fridays. If you have any questions about your child’s homework please email your child’s classroom teacher.

TOPIC

The title for our Inquiry this term is ‘Switch onto Science’. We will be investigating and communicating in Science. The big idea is that Energy exists in many forms. It can be observed, changed and put to a variety of uses in our daily lives. The students will be involved in hands on experiences as they learn about magnetism, electricity and sound.

SPORT

For the first part of the term the students will be doing a range of activities that involve running in an effort to increase their fitness levels for the forthcoming Cross Country run. In the second part of the term, they will be learning large ball skills and also how to do some folk dancing.

ARTS

Our visual art focus for this term is painting. Students will mix and blend colours, using different brush strokes and talk about their own and others’ art works. They will also be taking part in Performing Arts. The weekly singing lessons will continue and the students will also be audiences to three shows including an orchestra.

TE REO AND ICT

This term the students will continue to learn songs, greetings and commands in Te Reo Maori. I.C.T. (Information Communications Technology) will be integrated into the daily learning programme to further enrich your child’s learning. Each class has a classroom blog so please check these on a regular basis. Please also leave us a comment as the children appreciate receiving them.

The children will be wearing slippers inside the classrooms throughout this term. There will also be written reports, portfolios and parent conferences later in the term. Please feel free to email your child’s classroom teacher, at any time, with your queries and celebrations.