So what does Maths look like in Room 8?

So how can we find out what Room 8's most popular activity was in the holidays? on PhotoPeach

Self Portraits

Room 8 Self Portraits on PhotoPeach

We spent a lot of time looking at our facial features and noticing shapes and colours.  We used a lot of measurement to help us balance our features.  It was fun blending colours together to create our hair, eye and skin colouring.  We are so proud of our efforts.

Room 8 News-week 1 Welcome!

4/2/2013

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Room 8 and the 2013 learning year.  Here’s hoping you and your family have had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday and are ready for the exciting challenges that lie ahead! 

There are always adjustments needed at the beginning of a new school year - be it getting back into morning organisation and routines at home, adjusting to a new class and teacher, different expectations of a new year-level or meeting and making new friends.  I believe it is especially important in the first few weeks to allay any fears or concerns children have and gradually increase the learning “momentum” so that children’s confidence is preserved and that everyone can get into the “groove” of being back at school again.

Here are some gentle reminders to ease you all back into the routine of school life.

The bell goes at 8.55.  Children settle better in the mornings if they are at school early enough to unpack themselves and have a little play.  They need to be seated, ready on the mat when the second bell rings at 9 o’clock. This is an important time for checking that all children are present and accounted for.  If your child is going to be absent please phone the school office in the morning to let us know.   The day finishes at 3 o’clock.  Please ensure that children know where to meet you.  If you are picking children up at the classroom we ask that you wait outside the classroom until they are dismissed as this keeps the child more focused on the end of day routine.

In the morning or after school you are very welcome to view and talk with your child about the work they have been doing.  It makes them feel important and their efforts valued.  

Our room is a NUT FREE ZONE.  Tilda has a severe allergic reaction to nuts and nut products.  This is a timely reminder to only give children fruit or vegetables for brain food. 

A class newsletter will be sent home each Monday outlining any special events and homework expectations that occur through the coming week.  The newsletter will be sent via email, as soon as I can load your email addresses onto my files.  A hard copy will be glued into homework books as soon as stationery is purchased and sorted.    Our class wiki and blog is up and running.  This is where we share our learning with you.  It can also be used to consolidate classroom learning, at home.

http://hnpsjarvis.blogspot.co.nz/

For this week and next, reading, readers and poems will be whole class, shared stories.  These stories/poems will not be independent readers for many children.   Please take time to read to them.  Listen to a small portion of the story if your child is able read it without too much difficulty.   Getting your child to tell you about the story, the characters, or their favourite part is just as valuable.  Children will be focussed on getting back into school routine and it is important to make this a “happy” reading experience.

I would appreciate stationery being purchased as soon as possible so that we can start children working in books.  Purchasing through the school ensures that children have the correct stationery right from the start.  When the children receive their stationery it will be sent home with a separate notice explaining how they need to be labelled.  Covering books is optional.  This year the children will be responsible for their own pencils, rubber, vivid, white board marker and glue stick.  They will need a pencil case to help them be organised and independent.

Our Rich Theme is “Learning Excellence” and the Key Competency is “Managing Ourselves and our Learning”.  More about this later!

Year 1/2 teachers have a busy and exciting year planned and I’ll forward a Term 1 overview in the next couple of weeks.

 I look forward to a long and happy association with you and your family.  Please feel free to speak to me about any concerns or successes you have had.  Please be aware that the mornings are a busy time for settling children and setting up for the day.  As I don’t have meetings on Monday and Thursday afternoons this is a good time to make an appointment.   You can also contact me through my email address which is- sjarvis@hnps.school.nz  

I’m looking forward to working with you and your children this year. 

Please remember chair bags and sunhat, if you forgot today.

Regards,    

Sue Jarvis