The Last Post - 2013

Room 5 on our last day of the 2013 school year

Another year has flown by! A big thank you to everyone for your support this year. These children have all worked really hard and have made great progress across the curriculum as well as socially. It has been wonderful to see the confidence in their ability grow as well. Thank you for allowing me to teach your children this year. A special thank you, too, for all the lovely gifts I received this week - I have been spoilt.

Have a relaxing and safe holiday - keep up the reading and Mathletics.



Today Sienna received a certificate in recognition of her beautiful handwriting. Ka pai, Sienna.

Year 3 Graduation

This morning we held a Graduation Ceremony for the 2013 Year 3 children. They have all been great role models, with a positive attitude towards their learning. 

Here are our Year 3s with their certificates:

Congratulations to: 

(Back) Rheubyn, Jonathan, Xavier, Daniel, Conor, Ruaridh and Erin

(Front) Eve, Libby, Rebecca, Won Jeong, Amelia K and Harriet

Term 4 Week 9

On Friday we presented the last of our plays for 2013. I am very impressed with what the children have learnt through preparing for and presenting plays. The enthusiasm, creativity and energy that has gone into this part of the curriculum is amazing. The highlight has been the growth in their confidence in being in front of an audience.
Ka pai, Room 5! You are all awesome.

Rebecca, Won Jeong, Eve and Erin

Thea, Poppy, Daniel and Liam

Rheubyn, Xavier, Elspeth, Harry, Jack, Conor and Asher

Jonathan, George, Rata, Sienna, Amelia K, Amelia M, Libby and Ruaridh

We now look forward to the last week of the 2013 school year. It will be a busy week with assembly, Year 3 Graduation, prize giving, school mass and farewells. Please note the following dates and times:

Tuesday 17 December 9:15am for Year 3 parents only - Year 3 graduation in the school hall (please bring a small plate of food to share for morning tea)

Wednesday 18 December 6:30pm for all - final school mass in the church - children wear uniform and sit with their parents

Thursday 19 December 12:30pm School finishes - reports (for some), 2014 class placements and stationery lists are handed out

Classroom News

On Tuesday four boys were named 'Player of the Day' for their respective Touch Rugby teams.
Ka pai to Harry, George, Lachlan and Jonathan.

Elspeth was presented with a certificate of Excellence for her dance performance. Ka pai, Elspeth.








This afternoon Makahni, Chris, Lachlan and Harriet presented their play 'Maui and The Sun'. They put on a superb performance.

Asher sharing his story with Poppy

Sammy Seal Pays Us a Visit

This afternoon Sammy Seal, the star of the school production, came to see us. We were able to ask Sammy lots of questions and he made us laugh. Thanks, Charles, for bringing Sammy to visit us.

Term 4 Week 9

At today's school assembly Libby received a certificate.

Ka pai, Libby, we are proud of you.

Xavier was named 'Player of the day' for his cricket team. Well done, Xavier.

Remember to keep learning your spelling words for Friday's test. 

Please have a hunt around home for any school readers you may have (even if you have had them for over a year) and return them to school this week - no questions asked.

Term 4 Week 8 'Stars of the Week'

Today we had two 'Stars of the Week' - Xavier and Harriet.

Ka pai, Xavier and Harriet, it's great to have you in our room.

It has been nice to get back into some sort of routine this week. We have been working on plays and will present them next week. We are now in the season of Advent where we wait for the coming of Jesus as a baby on Christmas Day. We are creating a Jesse Tree, to remind us of the relationship of Jesus to Jesse and other biblical personages. Check out this link for details of what we are doing in class.

Next Friday we will be having a big spelling test - on Lists 3 - 7. If you cannot find your copy of these lists, please ask for one on Monday. Normal spelling lists will not be sent home.

Next week we start the count down to the end of the year - where has 2013 gone?! There are a few dates for your calendar: 

*Monday 16 December - final school assembly when we farewell staff who are leaving.

*Tuesday 17 December - Year 3 graduation - for Year 3 parents (more info will be sent home next week)

*Wednesday 18 December - final school mass 6:30pm in the church (children are to wear uniform and sit with their class)

*Thursday 19 December - school finishes at 12:30pm; reports (for those who received reports at the end of Term 2), 2014 class teacher and stationery lists will be sent home

Touch Rugby

After Tuesday's Touch Rugby games four Room 5 people were named 'Player of the Day' for their respective teams. Congratulations to:
Rheubyn, Makahni, Harry and Lachlan.

Term 4 Week 8

At today's school assembly Makahni received a certificate.

Ka pai, Makahni, we are proud of you.

Chris also received a certificate - his second Gold Mathletics certificate for 2013. Congratulations, Chris, this is an amazing achievement and shows your dedication and commitment to working on Mathletics regularly.

*This week we hope to get back into our normal routines. Spelling and Basic Facts will come home tomorrow. The children are keen to perform plays again so they will have these to work on as well. A browsing box book should come home every night for home reading. If your child doesn't bring one home, please let me know. 

*There are still a few costumes to be returned. Please get your washed and ironed costumes back as soon as possible.

*The school library is closed for issuing of new books. Please return any books you may have at home so that our librarian can do a stock take.

*Next week (on Friday 13 December) we will be completing a big spelling test. Everyone will be tested in words from lists 4 - 7. If you cannot find your copy of these words, please ask for a new one.

*Thank you for your continued support of our classroom programme.

Production Recounts

Last night we all performed in the Junior Syndicate musical "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". Everyone overcame their nerves and a few behind the scenes glitches to give an amazing performance. I am very proud of the way the children stepped up.
The outstanding favourite skit was Charles and the Seal.
Here's some snippets from our recount of the production:

I was a present. In the dance we did eight gallops to the left and then eight gallops to the right and then we went in and out two times. Then we skipped across to the side of the stage, picked up the presents and put them under the Christmas tree. We went round the tree and lined up to bow and curtsey. By Amelia M

I'm in kapa haka. When the curtains were closed everybody was getting into their lines. I was in the front row. When the curtains opened it was really scary. Everybody was looking at us. The light was on us and I couldn't see anything. By Elspeth

It was really scary when we started. I was really nervous and I felt like I couldn't do it right. So I just thought to myself they're only mums, dads, brothers, sisters and grandparents and theyr're not scary. Suddenly the curtains rose, thousands of people started at me and the music started. Finally the nerves drifted away. By Thea 

Then it was the Junior production. My favourite part was when Lily said 'Where are the blankets?' By Makahni

I was a traveling child. I was nervous when it was my part because there were lots and lots of people at the Aurora Centre. By Liam

Last night was the school production. the kapa haka group were on stage first. The boys did their haka. By Rheubyn

Yesterday was Wednesday and at six fifteen my sister and I were in the green room for the production. The Year 3s had to audition for a part in the production. By Amelia K

When it was my turn I felt really nervous. I was a bit late going on but it was great. I want to do it again. I think that all the practise was worth it. By Rebecca

In the production there were lots of claps and laughter going on. By Daniel

I was so sleepy when it was my bit so I had to use my two very last loud voices for the night. By Erin

Please wash and iron your costumes before returning them to school as soon as possible. Thank you for your support with this.

Birthday

Won Jeong turned 8 on Tuesday. We sang 'Happy Birthday' to her and wished her all the best as an 8 year old.

Term 4 Week 6

Makahni and Liam waiting to get into the pool

Week 6 is now over. It has been a full-on week with swimming in the mornings and production practice in the afternoons. Thank you for your support in getting your child to school in time to catch the bus to the pool and with all their swimming gear. I have enjoyed watching the children's progress at swimming.



Here's some more of our 'All About Arthur' poems:

In Thailand Thea met a terrible tiger teaching turtles how to tiptoe.

Her name was Teddy the terrible Tiptoe Tiger.
She tends to talk too much to Tiffney the Tutu Tiger on the telephone.

In Southern Spain Sienna met a seal.
Her name was Summer. She did six somersaults in the sea.

In America Asher met an ape.
His name was Arthur.

He had amazing eyes.

On Tuesday Harry and Conor were named 'Player of the Day' for their respective Touch Rugby teams. Ka pai, boys, keep playing hard.

Next Wednesday is Production Day. We will be having a dress rehearsal on Monday. If you have not already brought your costume to school, please bring it on Monday. On Wednesday we will be going to the Aurora Centre for our final practise. Tickets are on sale at the school office - $6 each.

Enjoy your weekend - no doubt the children will sleep well.

Birthdays

Today Erin and Harriet turned 8. We sang 'Happy Birthday' to them and wished them all the best for the coming year.

We have finished our All About Arthur poems and collage letters and they are now on our wall. Come in to see them and to read our poems.

Term 4 Week 6

At today's school assembly Elspeth received a certificate.

Ka pai, Elspeth, we are proud of you.

Jack also received a certificate - his second Gold Mathletics certificate for 2013. This is an amazing achievement and represents Jack's dedication and commitment to working on Mathletics regularly. Congratulations, Jack, we are proud of you.

This morning's swimming went well - we all got on the bus and made it to the pool in time for our lessons. Thank you for your support with this. Check out these photos:

Daniel, Eve, Rebecca, Conor, Libby,
Harriet and Xavier

Ruaridh, Erin, Won Jeong and Amelia K

A Story by Rheubyn

Rheubyn wrote this book for our classroom library:

Cows on the Hill with the Dog

The cows are hungry so they go to the hill and eat.

They get to the hill and eat. A few minutes later ...

A farmer lets his dog out! The dog goes to the hill where the cows are.

The dog tries to attack the cows. But one cow barges the dog! Arrrgh!

Then the dog fell and was never seen again. The cows lived happily ever after.

Thanks, Rheubyn, this is a great story with super illustrations. Ka pai.

Tennis Lessons and Poems

Today we had another tennis session. We loved playing crabs and having competitions to see who could bounce the ball, using the tennis racquet, for the longest. We also stood in a circle and passed two tennis balls around our racquets. We managed to do this in under a minute. Check out these photos:

 

Liam

Asher

Won Jeong

As part of our Eric Carle topic study we have been reading 'All About Arthur'. Arthur is a lonely ape who visits different places to find friends. We have written our own poems using the same formula. Here's some for you to enjoy ... (All our poems will be displayed in the classroom next week)

In Timaru I saw a toothless, ticklish, trained tiger who loved turkey on toast for tea. His name was Tim Tam Tiger. He was terrifying. Rooooar! Harriet

In Edinburgh Eslpeth saw an enormous elephant. Her name was Ella. Ella was eating an electric eel.

In Bangladesh Xavier met a buffalo. His name was Benny. He had a bear. Benny built a beautiful bunk for them. 

In Russia Rebecca ran into a rowdy rhino. Her name was Ruby. She had a rude rabbit. Ruby ate red radishes with raspberry rocky road.

Term 4 Week 5

At today's school assembly George received a certificate.

Ka pai, George, we are proud of you.

On Sunday Rata and Sienna competed in the Fun Triathalon at South Hagley. They each received a certificate. Ka pai girls.

This morning Simon from the Burnside Tennis Club taught us some fun games using a tennis racquet and a tennis ball. Check out these photos of us playing the games. We will have another tennis session tomorrow. Bring sports shoes to change into and girls might like to bring shorts to wear during tennis.

Playing 'Crabs'

Harriet

Elspeth

Makahni and Xavier

Looking ahead to Week 6 - we will be swimming every morning. A yellow notice was sent home today. This has all the swimming details you need. Please ask if you have any questions. The bottom piece of the notice only needs to be returned if you are able to help with swimming. We do need Dads/Grandads/Uncles to help the boys get dressed after their swims as the (female) teachers cannot go into the male change rooms. Of course Mums/Grandmas/Aunties are welcome as well.

There is no spelling homework this week, but there are Basic Facts to learn for a test on Thursday.

Term 4 Week 4 'Star of the Week'

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

Ka pai, Erin, it's great to have you in our room.

Yesterday the Kakapo Reading Group received certificates recognising the fantastic work they did in working together to design and create a bridge. Ka pai Lachlan, George, Daniel and Chris.

Asher has been inspired by Eric Carle's books. He has created his own Little Cloud book. Tino pai, Asher.

Today was animal theme mufti. Check out our zoo:

Makahni, Xavier, Rheubyn and George

Lachlan, Jack, Elspeth and Poppy

Rata, Amelia K and Erin

Harry, Rebecca, Thea and Conor 

Chris, Ruaridh, Daniel and Asher

Amelia M, Won Jeong, Sienna, Harriet, Eve and Libby

Sport Report

Yesterday Room 5 children played in the Touch and Summer Hockey competition. Everyone had a great game and Ruaridh (Touch) and Amelia (Hockey) were named 'Player of the Match' for their teams. Congratulations to you.

 

Bridge Making

Over the last couple of weeks the Kakapo Reading Group, Chris, Daniel, George and Lachlan, have been making a bridge. They read the book 'The Impossible Bridge' then they discussed different types of bridges. They looked at the bridges that were in the book then they decided to build a suspension bridge. This morning they presented their work to the class and to the Deputy Principal.
Ka pai, boys, you worked really well together, make an amazing bridge and did a fantastic job of presenting your learning to us.

Lachlan, George and Chris constructing their bridge

George, Chris and Daniel presenting their learning