Week 7

Week 7 was a great week with everyone at school and lots of wonderful experiences like our trip to the museum, Science expo and skipping with our buddy class!
A huge thanks for all of our parents who came on Monday . I think we all learnt something new and felt very proud of the class and we couldn't do it without you!. Attaching some photos of our morning there.
Couldn't resist including the latest class photo. Bernie is an absolute godsend as the 3rd person in the room when getting an idea across  smoothing over an unsettled child in the morning.Here they set him up for the photo...

Class of 2015,Term 3.

On the bus and on our way!

Mrs Liley shared about the special volcanoes in Rotorua.

We even had time to look around the museum

Tony's group found a hole in the floor!!!!

There was lots of discussions.

Apart from the Taniwha and where he lives now ,there was lots of talk about "Calderas"

as explained below.

Yes we do live in a pretty unique place.

You will also have heard we have been skipping at school. Not a natural thing to do as a five year old. However it has been amazing seeing the progress your child has made here. we have been lucky with our buddy class helping us....as the photos show.

The photos say it all! Lots of fun and reminding me of how fit I need to be to be a teacher!

Look forward to seeing you at our jump off September 17 2.30 - 3.00pm.

Week 6

Hi everyone week 6 over and a full class all week Yay! maybe we've got rid of those bugs at last.
A huge thanks to everyone for a prompt return of all the folders this week too...100% return incredible.
As a work in progress the folders are incomplete, but still nice for you to see and discuss with your child.Remember their story boards on the back class wall are also always there to view.
Reading.
Many of the children are now becoming independent readers as they move through the levels. Some of you will have seen that I have occasionally enclosed work to be completed for homework. This is generally not because your child is behind, but a chance for you to see the work being covered at school...and the children do like the challenge of these activities which we cover the following day as a group.
Many are now ready to read mini chapter books from the Library so another opportunity to use our public library.We still have weekend poems to read but some groups have a book also which they can read if they wish . These books are at their level and "extra" ones. I still see weekends as family time so it's a voluntary activity.
We had our Fire Drill this week at school. So no doubt you have heard some of the discussion at home. Just to put you in the picture I have encouraged them all to come home and ask what the family escape plan is? They have made some really enlightened comments about the whole safety thing...and Josh's comment "stay calm" I thought was priceless!
We are all looking forward to our class trip to the Museum on Monday. I'm sure I'll have some more photos and plenty of related writing from the experience to share.

So watch this space...Nadine

Week 4

A week where we were lucky enough to get some new wet weather toys for our class. A huge thanks to the OSSG who have given this money to the classes for these activities. Here we are using them already this week because of the Winter weather!

Destiny making patterns with our new pegboards.

Georgia and Julia creating critters!

Liam working with the Bucking Bronco....very tricky!

Here are the games Mrs McLaughlin got for us with the money from the OSSG. A huge thanks to you, it really does make a wet lunchtime easier to handle! 

Week 3

Week 3 has been one of focusing on Science, with all the year 1 classes interchanging for different strands of the science curriculum. I took a mini-unit on Magnets in room 9 with the class really getting to grips through hands on activities about the idea of Magnets and their "magical" powers.
Shadows, growing seeds and chemical change was also covered in other rooms.
Its a fun way to open your childs mind to questions and ideas about the world around them.One morning (after a particularly blustery night) someone asked how you measured wind? So we trotted off down to Jackson Park with a balloon each. Soon they were measuring just how strong the wind was with their Balloons. Noah came up with the statement "we can't see the wind to measure it....But we can see what it does to other things so we can measure that!" Science Inquiry in a nutshell.
 Our class conclusion the wind was faster than we could run that day as we couldn't keep up and catch our balloons when we let them go.
When working with Magnets Liam noted that the North Pole was special because of the Magnetic North Pole not because Santa lived there. Who are we to argue with such logic? and no doubt they will all remember that.
Below are some snippets of work covered in the unit with room 9.

A group work out magnets worked through layers of plastic and card.

Using magnets the group find out what objects are magnetic.

Using the compass and new knowledge about the magnetic Pole they found out which way was North!

Not all magnets looked the same and not all things are magnetic!

Creating pictures with iron sand. They found out magnets even work through card!

We used the compass on our map to work out which way was North . Using the Magnetic North pole to guide us.
This really fascinated them as they recognised the compass and North arrow from our Pirate study earlier in the year.

Liam found out the North and South Pole don't like each other and repel each other ( they don't play well together was Emmas comment)

Discovering not all metals are magnetic.

Racing paperclip cars through the card with Magnets.

Working out which way was North.

A great week as you can see despite the cooler weather and ongoing sickness that has hit the class again.

It is well and truly winter and because of that some days children end up inside all day even through the breaks. We also have an urgent need for tissues. At least half the class have colds and many are sneezing over others so if you can help with a box I would really appreciate it. We went through 6 full boxes last week!

The trip to Tihi Reserve was postponed till later in the term, not cancelled and our scheduled Museum trip is going ahead as planned on Monday 31st August. Your child will bring a note home about this.

If you can help that would be great. We will be going along with room 7.Our Topic is looking at the mountain thermal wonderland we live in. Quite timely when you see the thermal blowout this weekend in central Rotorua.

Personal AFL folders will come home shortly for you to see a sample of your childs work and progress so far this year. So look out for these. Can I please ask for these be returned promptly once seen. I have only just got back the last 3, this week from last term. It is so easy for them to go missing with all your childs work in them and near impossible to replace. 

Many thanks Nadine 

Term 3Our Drama

Welcome back everyone to a new term. I hope everyone managed to have a break despite the weather challenges. Some stories tell me many made the most of the snow and time to travel out of town which was great. I managed, despite Jetstar and some Volcanic challenges to get to enjoy some time with my daughter so I am ready for the term ahead. 
We welcome Destiny to our room from Christchurch and Mrs Townsend who is in our room every morning till 9.45.
The term will be as busy  as others ........
We begin next week with a Winter visit to the Tihi  reserve to compare its fauna and Flaura  from the summer visit. Thankyou for the offers of help so far now fingers crossed for dry weather.
Other visits to the museum etc during the term I will notify you all closer to the time.

Homework continues this term with some more able readers now getting some follow up activities to complete at home. ( A perfect opportunity for you to see the work covered at school)
 Homestudy through Studyladder also continues with fresh activities added this term. Great effort so far on this from everyone. The reading challenge also worked well with reading progress maintained despite the break.( A big thanks to those parents who supported this it really does show in class)

Destiny our new student!

Drama activity during our discovery time today!
Such dynamic and entertaining characters!

Week 11

A week where the class have enjoyed the fruits of their hard work this term.....their latest stories about their Earthquake fundraising day really shows this. Many children have also improved in their reading levels too with many having new keyrings or groups. Really neat to see as their teacher.

I have put the July School Holiday Reading Challenge on the Reading page. Your child knows about this and already they have shown a keeness to begin. As a class we have decided if all activities are completed 3 sticker are earned for their personal sticker charts.

Enjoy the holidays with your "Angels" and have a happy, safe and restful break .
Nadine McLaughlin

Week 10 already....

Hi everyone yes it's week 10 already and I am not sure where week 9 went to? Still it was another busy one with lots of wonderful work completed by room 9!
My thanks to all of you who sent messages or gave support during my recent family bereavement in week 9. Some things just can't be predicted, however it does make you realise how lucky we are to have health and time to enjoy family and the simple things in life.The class are that for me, a wonderful tonic to balance out life and put things in perspective.....they fill me up with their honesty and innocence and very special energy.  

This week we also say goodbye to Kellie who is moving to Perth with her family. We had our shared lunch today for Kellie and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful healthy food thanks to your efforts. My special thanks.We only have a bag of apples left which we will have for morning tea tomorrow. The photos say it all!

Bernie was the chief baby sitter for all the Teddies during the lunch.( He was exhausted with all that responsibility.)
The teddies came so Bernie wasn't left out!

Our Teddy Bear picnic table was set up by the class! you would have been so proud of their table manners.

Kellie with some of her friends. 

We wish Kellie and her family all the best for their move. 

Next week your child will come home with a Holiday Reading Challenge!

This is entirely voluntary and involves a challenge that your child can use to maintain the excellent progress they have achieved in their reading so far. Studyladder is included so maths, and puzzles are included. Should you be away or travelling your child can still access this if you have internet. 

So the opportunity is there at your discretion. 

Should I not see you before the holidays have a wonderful time with your precious child and enjoy the time with them ( as I will be recharging my batteries...  with my daughter in Ubud).

Many many thanks for all the support and smiles this term.