Cross Country

The Junior cross country was also a great day with the weather magical in the afternoon for the Juniors. The class gave it their very best effort and we had 6 people in the finals with Yenuka and Leyah coming first in their race! I thought my heart would burst I was so proud of them. 

Shea and Connor really giving it their best.

Our cross country Junior year 1 champs!

The greatest support team ever!

REDWOODS VISIT!!!!!

Redwoods:

Our Redwoods trip was a great success. Despite the cooler morning the mist inside the forest really was spectacular and as the sun came out it gave a whole new dimension to the forest. The bus trip, tree hugging and art really went down well and hopefully this generated some great conversations at home with you about how important our forests and trees are in New Zealand.
We will visit TeTihi reserve to compare different forest types in week 5.

Redwood Photos May 2014.

Morning mist in the Redwoods slowly lifted!

Some of the many photos taken during our day visit. Very enjoyable and a huge thanks to all the parents who helped make the day such a success!

Term 2 (and out of plaster!)

Our room 10 buddies reading session.

Our Friday reading buddies have really helped us in our reading time 

TERM 2

A big hi to everyone. The term has started well with everyone returning refreshed and ready for school. At this point Amin hasn't returned yet but I am sure he will be here sometime this term.

• We have a full on term with visits to the Redwoods, Te Tihi reserve and our local Marae. Also  Cross Country is on this term with training and this  build up will be  part of our P.E. programme.
• Remember your childs' folder will be coming home too. This is prior to our 3 way interviews in week 3.
• School photos are also in week 2 these will be memorable (especially with all the tooth fairy visits over the holidays)
• PMP is also on again this term with Friday 11.20-11.40 am our time..remember if you can help us please let us know.
• E.R.O. will also be visiting our school in week 6. More about that from Mrs Woon closer to the time.
• A shorter term at 9 weeks it will be busy and I'm hoping for a quick recovery Re; the arm.

Looking forward to seeing you all during the term 

Nadine 

Many Thanks.

Easter is here and the holidays have begun. I haven't been on the class blog for some weeks due to my injury but would like to thank everyone for all their support and well wishes, especially during that initial week. While I am still in a cast , my face has healed well enough for my daughter to recognise me when I see her these holidays. (I'm going with  my mum and husband Tony to see her in Seoul) We haven't seen each other for two years so really looking forward to some quality family time to recharge my batteries.Hopefully yours will recharge too with your child at home.
The first term unbelievably is over with the next much shorter at 9 weeks . Our topic next term is centered around our environment and how we use and sustain it. As a Junior team we are visiting the Redwoods (thankyou for those parents who have already offered to help) and our local reserve. Looking at how we use our land and how important nature is to our wellbeing. We will look at recreational as well as commercial use. We are  always open to anyone who has expertise in any of these areas if they can share with the class.
Well I look forward to catching up after the break. Until then Happy Easter.
Nadine Mclaughlin

Aquatics in room 9
Kiera and Erinn ready to use a noodle to float with.

Jayden shows how to use the noodle to tow someone

We practised putting on our life jackets

We were lucky enough to get free bags and drink bottles  from Unison .......so lucky

 

 

We had a wonderful 2 days at the Aquatics centre learning how to be safe around water and our lakes. Thanks to our wonderful parents who gave extra pairs of hands and eyes to ensure we were all safe.

EVERYONE HAD A GO! AWESOME!!!

Maths in our room.

Hi everyone. 
Week 8 and I have  just  completed all the maths assessment for our class for term 1. You will appreciate this is an ongoing process especially at this age where your child will literally soak up new ideas through all their school and friendship interactions, play, work, games and family activities etc. we aim to address gaps , but time often isn't there for everything in quantity at school.
At this age the language and modelling of essential life skills like measurement, counting, patterns can be so easily reinforced by everyday things at home. As parents your input is invaluable here and really reinforces what we cover at school I have pasted into their homework books a little explanation about how we are covering simple fractions at the moment.

The idea of 1/2 and 1/4 (fractions) can be quite abstract and some children are struggling with this. Making a game of cutting cakes, pies, mashed potatoes in half and equally will help visualise this in their minds so when we come to make 2 equal amounts in number or measured amounts we have strong references to hang the idea on. Setting the table with pairs in cutlery. folding pairs of socks for example helps your child understand the idea of pairs, even numbers, counting in twos.

Counting items out like coins, buttons, lollies (backwards and forwards) helps their ability for sharing equally or fairly and  1;1 counting skills and consequently their addition and ultimately their subtraction skills.(who has been to a shop and been shortchanged because the person doesn't understand the idea of counting backwards or subtraction?) Yes it begins at this age.

Recognising shapes around them in their environment or art helps them with labels and spatial manipulation eg: puzzles (engineering!) problem solving and design skills. Their future ability to measure and plan projects for themselves gives them the ability to make sense of their world and put their own creative stamp on it.

Yes I agree number or (arithmetic) is important and the foundation of mathematical knowledge, however so much of our maths at this age has practical everyday implications and I am aware that many of the children today are technically savvy with I pads and P.C maths games and programmes.
 However they aren't exposed to the everyday practical skills which you and I may have been and these can only be truly understood by DOING! eg: Writing numerals is our present focus. We try to do these things at school... time is the key ingredient we constantly run out of though,  so to give your child the edge and understanding of the mathematical strands mentioned above can you encourage them to do a few of these things. They may make mistakes that's great its part of the learning process....just encourage the I can attitude and give it another go. Look at how they set up the room now and write and read with greater and greater precision. 
I do hope you get some insight or benefit from these suggestions above and a better idea of what we are doing.
P.S. Come and check out their Pizza fractions. 

Nadine McLaughlin