Add your email

Hi everyone,

There is now a box at the very bottom of the page for you to add your email, so you get alerts as soon as I make a post.

Thank you
Neroli

Term 1 Week 4

Hi Everyone,

We had a big week implementing new programmes and routines last week. 

Each child now has a Mathletics account to practise number knowledge and strategies. This is used as part of our maths rotation in class and for practice at home. The children have been assigned tasks specific to the maths stage they are at.

On Friday we also joined 10,000 other children in NZ on Twitter Chapter Chat. Over the term, we are reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle and during reading time we answer questions and work on tasks related to each chapter. On Fridays, we are learning to tweet to share our work and respond to other children's work. I have attached a letter below which explains it all. I am new to Twitter so am learning along with the children. Chapter Chat aligns itself perfectly with the learning objectives of the new Digital Technologies Curriculum, a requirement for all schools to implement by 2020. 

We have also been talking about the 'Learning Pit' and how we can feel when learning new things. Often we can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, think it's too hard and feel like giving up when faced with something new. We are learning to identify these feelings so we change our mindset and find ways to get out of the pit. Solutions like try again, change your strategy, ask a friend and ask the teacher are some ways that we have talked about. One excited child came into class the other morning to tell me that he had been in the learning pit last night when working on his mathletics. When he got stuck he asked his mum to explain the question for him and he went on to earn hundreds of points!!

SeeSaw  is a platform that we will be exploring later in the term. We will use this as a tool to reflect on our learning.

This week:

Homework: We start Spelling Alive this week. Children are expected to record their words each night, Monday to Friday, on the sheet in their Homework book. These words will be tested on Friday morning. Please help your child identify the tricky part. They may also find it helpful to spell the words aloud or make with playdoh or make with magnetic letters. We often talk about taking a photo with our eyes.

Swimming Sports - Thursday 28th

All students are to be dropped at the pool by 9 am in their house colours. Brightly coloured clothing is great, but please no crepe paper – this marks the pool surroundings when it gets wet. Please make sure that your child has two towels – one for sitting on and using after races and the other to dry down with at the end of the sports. As it is very hot inside the pool, plenty of water should be packed along with a good sized morning tea. Children will be sitting with their houses.

Timetable: championship and non-championship races will begin as soon after 9 am as possible.

9:00 – 10:00 (approximately) championship & non-championship full length races.

10:15 – 10:30ish break for morning tea – Is there someone willing to arrange cuppas for the workers?

10:15 – 11 Junior school sports in the therapeutic pool.

11 – 12 Completion of the championship and non-championship full-length races. House relays – plus a lane for teachers and staff. Do you want to swim a leg of the parent relay? Is there anyone who can arrange a team of 4? This is a highlight for the kids – come on community!

Note: Parents of Junior school students wishing to watch their children we suggest you come 10 – 11.

Children will travel back to school after 12 by bus.

Chapter Chat Information

Dear Parents/Caregivers,
This year your child’s teacher has chosen to take part in the Chapter Chat: Making Reading Social’ Literacy programme.

This programme is run by two New Zealand teachers, who are passionate about sharing quality literature with students. Your child will be listening to a chapter book that is read by their teacher and will respond to the text via Twitter.
Since 2016 thousands of classes across New Zealand from Year 3-8 have signed up to take part in the Chapter Chat innovation.
So how does Chapter Chat work? Well, each week, your child will listen to a set number of chapters or pages. A typical novel takes about 5-8 weeks to read.
Your child will get to respond to the text in a variety of ways. Each week there are 10 different tasks that allow the students to make, write, research, draw, video and respond to the text in ways that have them critically evaluating the text.
Each Friday a set of ten questions is shared via the Chapter Chat Twitter account for your child’s year level. Your child will tweet their reply to each question as they are posted.
Each week, your child will see many tasks from all the other classes taking part in the novel. They are able to collaborate with other students and see examples of quality work from around New Zealand.
Your child’s class Twitter account only follows a selection of other classes that are participating in the same book study. Your child will only use Twitter with teacher permission and its use only occurs in a highly structured classroom environment.
The following Digital Citizenship Guidelines have been fully discussed, understood and explained with all students taking part in the Chapter Chat programme:

• ●  I know how to keep my personal information private online. I must not share my phone number or address;
  
• ●  I know my digital footprint is information that can be copied and passed on. I understand I have control over this by only posting appropriate things;
  
• ●  I know to tell an adult if I notice something inappropriate online or see someone tweeting inappropriate words;
  
• ●  I know only to go on the Twitter website, or app when there is a teacher present. I do not send tweets unless my teacher has given me permission;
  
• ●  I understand that not all websites are trustworthy. I need to stay only on the Twitter website/app when taking part in Chapter Chat;
  
• ●  I understand copyright and fair use and will only post pictures and materials made by myself;
  
• ●  I will be polite, respectful and honest while online. I know that when I am taking part in Chapter Chat I am representing myself and my school;
  
• ●  I know that while I am taking part in Chapter Chat I need to look after my device. I need to sit down in a good spot and make sure that my device is safe;
  Remember writing on Twitter is like writing on your front fence.
  The Chapter Chat programme can be found on Facebook, should you be interested in seeing the tasks, questions and vast array of work shared. The address is https://www.facebook.com/pg/ChapterChatNZ.
  Chapter Chat aligns itself perfectly with the learning objectives of the new Digital Technologies Curriculum, a requirement for all schools to implement by 2020.
  Kind regards
  Stephen Baker and Mark Lorenzen (Chapter Chat organisers) 
  

We also managed to squeeze in some Golden Time on Friday. 

 Bella designed a chair for herself.

 Jasmine created a basketball game.

 Mark-Allan and Jedi worked together to make a big poster.

 Ted and Sam had fun with the duplo.

 Quinn and Liam made vehicles with the mobilo.

Johnny, Boston, Arn and Charlie made caves and a volcano for the dinosaurs. 

Have a great week.

Regards

Neroli

Term 1, Week 3

Hi Everyone,
I hope you all had a nice weekend.

This week we kick off with internet safety with Mrs Flannery. She has set everybody up with their own Gmail account. Login details and passwords are in their diary.

I have told the children that they may now bring their devices to school. They do need to have a QR reader App downloaded for use at reading time. 
It would also be very helpful if your child had their own headphones as we have very limited numbers available. Please ensure devices have sturdy covers and we will keep them safe by storing them in my cupboard when not in use. 

Mathletics passwords will be issued in the next few days and these will be pasted into diaries too. 

Tuesday- Please drop your child at the pool tomorrow morning at 8.55am. We will meet OUTSIDE, then our session is 9.00-9.40am. 
The idea of this session is to have a run through of events (just our class) so children can decide which races they would like to enter for the swimming sports next week.
We will then have our brainfood across at the park then walk back to school. If you are available we would like a couple of parents to walk back with us.

On Wednesday morning we will be listening to speeches prepared by the seniors who are running for House Leaders. Everybody will have the opportunity to vote at the end of the week. 

Assembly is at 2.15 on Friday and will be run by Room 1, Year 7/8. 
Have a great week.

Regards
Neroli

Term 1, Week 2

Hi Everyone,

I hope everybody enjoyed their first week back at school. I certainly enjoyed catching up with everybody again.

Well done to those who read for 20 mins each night last week, and recorded it in their diary. There were lots of Nice Ones given out !!

Thank you to all those students who have offered to be sports shed monitors for term 1. This demonstrates both commitment and responsibility.

Tomorrow the children will bring home their Homework books with a Goal Setting sheet to fill out with you and an IT agreement form to be read through together and signed. 

Tomorrow is the first day of Kapa Haka with Whaia Mary-Anne. All students from Year 3 have the opportunity to join but this is not compulsory. Practises will be fortnightly with a performance later in the year. 

Tuesday night is Meet the Teacher Evening. The schedule is as follows:

• 5.00 - 5.15- Room 7
• 5.15 - 5.30- Room 3
• 5.30 - 6.00 BYO picnic tea
• 6.00 - 6.15-  BOT chairperson/ staff
• 6.20 - 6.35- Room 4
• 6.40 - 6.55- Room 5
• 7.00 - 7.15- Room 6
• 7.15 - 7.30- Room 1&2
• 
  

If you are not able to attend please email me if you would like to meet at some other time.

Have a great week

Neroli

Welcome to Room 6

Hi everyone,

I hope you've all had a lovely break and are looking forward to an exciting year ahead.
I am so pleased to be teaching most of you again, as we all move up to the senior school !!

As you know we are a mix of year 4 and 5 students, including Jasmine Boatwright and Jordan Campbell who will be joining our class. We welcome you both and your families and hope that you will all be very happy at St Gerard's.

Hopefully, you have all been in to collect your stationery and have it all named ready for tomorrow morning. I will have boxes set out for you to put everything into.

A few dates to put on your calendar are:

12 Feb - Meet the Teacher evening
19 Feb - Whole School Swimming
24 Feb - School Mass and Picnic
28 Feb - School Swimming Sports 9-12 am
21 Mar - School Triathlon 12.00- 2.30pm

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to email me.
nerolilaidlaw@stgerards.school.nz

Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow

Regards
Neroli Laidlaw