Term 4 Week 10

The production was amazing. Everyone played their part extremely well and delivered their lines clearly. I am very proud of the way Room 5 stepped up. Look out Hollywood!
Here's some snippets from our writing about the production:

On Monday we did the production. I was so good the people were clapping. We had swords and chest plates. It was so much fun. Callum

I was excited because I had a speaking part and wore a head mike. Joshua

In the production I was a guard. My line was: ‘Grab him, men. The master will reward us for catching this thief.’ I liked being a guard because I got to march and to wear a silver tunic. Zach

Then it was our turn. I was Joseph. I didn’t have that many lines. I had an amazing night. Ollie

I was a villager who was scrubbing the floor. First I was excited but then I saw all the people and I got a bit nervous. Ryan

This morning we caught up on weekend sport. Elspeth competed in a swim meet at Jellie Park. She received two ribbons, including one for getting a Personal Best. Ka pai, Elspeth.

2014 has been a busy year with lots of learning happening. Everyone has worked hard and made wonderful progress. Ka pai everyone.



Our Mathletics Stars are Isabella, Joe, George and Peter.
Well done to everyone who achieved Mathletics certificates this year. You can use Mathletics over the holidays - Live Mathletics is a great way to improve your Basic Facts knowledge.


Congratulations to Maria, Lachlan, James, Sophie, Connie and Asher. You have all worked very hard to improve your reading.

Gold Again

A big congratulations to Isabella, who has gained a second Gold Mathletics certificate. This represents dedication and diligence as Isabella has worked to gain a certificate each week for 40 weeks. Isabella also received a Principal's Award for her effort.

Asher also gained a Gold Mathletics certificate. Ka pai, Asher.

Today we caught up on Touch Rugby from Tuesday. Sophie was named 'Player of the Day' for her team. Ka pai, Sophie.

Remember that tomorrow's assembly is at 10am in the school hall.

Principal's Award

Congratulations to Sophie, who was given a Principal's Award for her story about our swimming week. Ka pai, Sophie, we are proud of you. (Sophie's story is on the previous post).

In Art we have been studying Van Gogh. come in and look at our drawings. On Wednesday we plan to finish our sunflowers.

Term 4 Week 6 Birthday and Other News

Today Hamish turned 8. We sang 'Happy Birthday' and wished Hamish all the best for the coming year.

We have finished our week of swimming. We were all very tired by the time we got back to school on Friday. Everyone has learnt new things and improved in their swimming. A big THANK YOU to all those who were able to help us with getting changed after our lessons. I was very impressed with how organised everyone was and the speed with which they dressed. Connie was our champion, being one of the first three out each day, even when she wasn't first into the changing room. Ka pai everyone.

Here's a great recount of what swimming involved:

Yay, it's swimming week. On Monday my favourite part was wriggly worm. I like how you move side to side. On Tuesday my favourite part was doing dolphin diving because my feet are like a dolphin's tail. On Wednesday my favorite was back stroke. On Thursday my favourite was diving. On Friday my favourite was breast stroke because I like how you have to put your legs straight and then bend them and then put them out. All this swimming made me feel worn out but it was great fun. By Sophie

Addison

Isabella

Elspeth

Bridie

This afternoon we celebrated Christ the King Day. The liturgy was a time of reflection and thankfulness for our school and all it means for us. After a sausage sizzle lunch, kindly provided by the Parent Council, Room 5 and our Room 12 buddies walked to the Westburn Bike Park. We had a great time cycling and scootering around the roads with our big buddies directing traffic. Thanks big buddies, and Mrs A for the lolly scramble. On our return to school we each had an ice-block, thanks to the Board of Trustees. What a great way to celebrate out feast day. Thanks, too, to the parents who walked with us.

Zach

Alex

Asher and Ashleigh

Next week we will be back into some routine. We will be having production practices each day and will fit in more traditional learning around those times.
Monday: Library - please return your library book so you can take another one home.
Thursday: We will have a big spelling test (this is the day the children voted for). For most the focus will be on Lists 4, 5 and 6. If you need another copy of the Essential Spelling List please ask me.

Enjoy your weekend.

Term 4 Week 6 Swimming

We have nearly finished our swim week. It has been pretty busy and tiring, but we have learnt lots and have also enjoyed getting into the pool. Here's a few of photos:

Sophie, Joe, James, Nicholas and Ollie

Neave

Joshua

Callum

Tomorrow we celebrate Christ the King Day. Children are to wear their uniform. A liturgy will begin at 11:45am then each child will receive a sausage for lunch (thanks to the Parent Council). Room 5 will go to the Westburn Bike Park with their Room 12 buddies (and teachers!) for the afternoon. When we get back to school we will have an ice-block, thanks to the Board of Trustees. Remember to bring your bike or scooter and any safety gear.

Term 3 Week 8 News

On Tuesday Leah came to perform a dance and to lead a workshop. We all really enjoyed the session and learnt some new dance moves and terms. On Thursday we worked in threes to write a recount of the workshop. Here's a couple of pieces from the recounts (the full recounts are on the classroom wall):

Guess what happened on Tuesday! Leah came to our school to perform a dance in front of Room 5 and room 6. Then it was our turn to dance. We helped to create a dance. Leah told us to think of five things to do. Leah said to make it into a dance sentence. Then we worked with a buddy to perform to the rest of the class. 
By Ashleigh, James and Sophie

One exciting sunny morning Leah came to dance with us. Leah did a solo. Then we had to get involved. First we had to do a warm up so we wouldn’t get injured. We did the banana, the prune, the lion face and the lemon face. When Leah said banana we jumped and said banana in a loud voice. When Leah said lion we put out our claws and said roar!
By Alex, Hamish and Zach

Leah performing

Ephrem, Asher and Maria practising

Joshua, Ryan and Nicholas performing

Uriel and Zach performing

Isabella and Maria - seaweed

Alex and Callum - seaweed

On Thursday we attended a Maths Expo. We worked in groups to solve different maths challenges. Our favorite challenge was Pack It, which involved packing eight shapes into a box. Some of the other activities were:  race monkeys down a ladder, count footsteps around a map, work out how may logs the truck could carry without being overweight and build a bridge.

Maria

Sophie

Isabella

Pack Up

The week's homework certificate was awarded to James. Ka pai, James, keep up the good work.





Looking ahead to Week 9:
Tennis lessons on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - please bring sports shoes and (girls) shorts to change into.
No Assembly on Friday. Ukulele lesson on Friday.
Fair collection: toiletries 

Term 3 Week 6 'Star of the Week'

This week's 'Star of the Week' is Callum.

Ka wani kei, Callum, it's great to have you in Room 5.

Last week 21 people achieved a Mathletics certificate. This is an amazing result. Congratulations to:
Sophie for gaining her first Bronze certificate,

Hamish, Ryan and Alex (who was absent today) for being the top three Mathletes,


and Lachlan for being named Mathlete of the Week. 

This week is NZ Maths Challenge Week on Mathletics. It would be great if everyone could get a certificate.

Congratulations to Neave (hockey) and Joe (soccer) who were named 'Player of the Day' after their Saturday games; and Bridie who received numerous medals and ribbons at her dancing competition in Waimate.

Notes for Week 6:
Fair collection items - gourmet foods
Wednesday - ukulele lesson
Friday - Mufti day

Principal's Awards

Today Joe and James each received a Principal's Award for their handwriting. Ka pai, boys, we are proud of you.





Yesterday the children wrote stories about their pets. Here's a few:

Goldie is a fish. She likes to swim around her bowl. She's called Goldie because she is as gold as a golden statue in a jewellery shop. When she eats her food she looks like a puffer fish! She has light blue eyes like the bright sparkly ocean. She is always swimming around her bowl like an old man with a walking stick walking around the city. She is two years old. So she is a great pet to have. Isabella

My guinea pig's name is Jacksy. He got bitten on the ear when he was a baby. He has a two storey house. He runs very fast. He is twelve months old. He likes carrots. He is easy to hold. I love Jacksy very much. Asher

My dog loves visitors. He also licks them. My dog's name is Chip. Chip sometimes licks me once I am in bed. His colour is dark grey with some white. He can shake hands. Chip can dance. Alex

I have a pet cat. Her name is Sylvia. She is as soft as a cloud. She is sparkly as lemonade because she has got lots of fire. Sophie

Term 3 Week 1

Welcome back to school. It was great to see everyone this morning and to have a catch up on how the holidays went. Three children had birthdays over the holidays. Today we sang 'Happy Birthday' to:

Ashleigh (7); Sophie (7) and Joshua (8). We wish you all the best for the coming year.

Mathletics Stars

Last week Joe gained the first Room 5 Gold Mathletics certificate and Isabella gained the second Gold Mathletics certificate. A big congratulations to Joe and Isabella. This is an amazing achievement as it involves working on Mathletics regularly and gaining  at least 1000 points a week for 20 weeks.



During the holidays Bridie attended two dancing competitions. She competed against girls several years older than her and received certificates, ribbons and medals at each competition. Ka pai, Bridie.




Important notes for this week:
Homework: Reading, Mathletics and Spelling. Spelling homework this week is to learn as many list words as possible as we will be having another big spelling test either at the end of this week or early next week. (If you need another copy of the Essential Lists, please ask me).
Friday: Room 5 will attend 9am Mass. Please be at school before 8:45am so we can complete the roll and be seated in church before mass starts. 
Friday: The Year 3 children will be having hockey lessons on the next four Fridays (weather permitting). Please bring sports shoes and (girls) shorts to change into. The Year 2 children will join Room 6 during this time.

Looking at Term 3: This is a 10 week term.
Topic 1: Growing Plants - we will use the Inquiry Process to help us discover new things about plants and their importance in our lives. We will also attempt to grow some things. If you have spare egg cartons please send them to school.
Topic 2: The Commonwealth Games - we will follow this event over the next two weeks.
Music: the children will be learning the ukulele. The school has a class set so you will not have to purchase one of these.
Art: Monet study

We are all set for another busy term. Your support at home makes all the difference to the children's progress. If you have any questions or concerns, please come and see me.

Term 2 Week 7 'Star of the Week'

This week's 'Star of the Week' is Sophie.

Ka pai, Sophie, it's great to have you in Room 5.

Today we presented Mathletics certificates to the top three for Week 6. Congratulations to: Joe, Nicholas and Connie. 

Nicholas was also named 'Mathlete of the Week'. Ka pai to everyone who achieved a certificate. Keep up the good work.

On Saturday Bridie went to Ashburton to compete in a dancing competition. She won two medals and three ribbons. Well done, Bridie.

With the weather being cold and unpredictable it is important for children to wear or bring their polar fleeces to school. Some children have not been bringing their polar fleeces and as a consequence have been feeling the cold at morning tea and lunch times. Unless it is raining the children play outside during breaks so need to put their fleeces on to keep warm. Thank you for your support with this matter. If your child wishes to wear a beanie you can purchase a CtK one at the office.

Today a Basic Facts (addition and subtraction) list went home in the back of the spelling book. These are to be learnt for a test next Monday. You can help by calling out the problem and having your child write the answer, as this is how they will be tested. If you have any questions, please ask. Spelling continues as usual.

The FIFA World Cup is underway. Room 5 has been assigned Columbia and France to support. On the last day of the term (Friday 4 July) the children may wear our countries' colours (yellow, red and blue or blue, white and red). More details will follow in Week 9. Meanwhile we were delighted by Columbia's win over Greece this morning.

Our Fairy Tales theme continues. Come in to view our Story Book Title pages - they are amazing.

Swimming

Everything is going well with our swimming so far. The cold weather and the few flakes of snow yesterday gave way to sunshine today. The bus ride is a highlight of swim week for most children, though a few did say they would like to walk to the pool! A big thank you to all our parents who have been helping in the changing rooms after swimming, we do so appreciate it.
Here's a few photos from today's session:

Sophie

Maria

Lachlan and Ephrem

Ollie

James

Alex