Grandparents Day

Week 8 and highlights from our Grandparents day.

The photos you have been waiting for!

All our wonderful grandparents.....

Grandparents day

What a wonderful day Friday was, seeing all the grandparents there and how the classes responded to their special audience. It's been a funny yet frenetic week with the class learning an entire new dance in a week and I couldn't have been prouder of the whole class.
A huge thanks to all the parents who have helped especially Kerri and Kirstin for supervising the pikelet making and of course Whaea Jenny. She is an absolute gem and has worked so hard helping us in the class and preparation for the move to room 9. I am enclosing the photos taken on the afternoon. They speak for themselves and are a wonderful momento of the day! Enjoy.......

Just before we went down to the hall. Captain McLaughlin and the amazing Pirate crew!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself too which is an added bonus of my job, plus I  even got a chance to be surrogate Grandma for the day for the children whose grandparents couldn't come on the day!

I admit I'm  looking forward to the Easter break as I 'm sure the children are. They are very tired after such a full on and hot summer term, but they  have handled all the changes this term so well and really gelled as a class now. So I'm looking forward to seeing you all day 1 next term in ROOM 9. My best wishes for a safe and peaceful time with family and friends over the break.

Nadine McLaughlin.

Week 5

Half way through the term now and the class have had a great week creating. Enjoying art with shapes and completing a class Waka display in the hall. This mural was designed to show how we work together to make things happen. (as part of our key competency of Relating to Others)
The children now arrive in the morning and set up their room, sort out their own bookbags and offer help for all the little jobs in setting up. Something we encourage to support their independence and initiative.Its a valuable time to socially set themselves up for their learning day with friends and also share their work on display with you as their parents. 

Year 1 is traditionally a year of huge change both physically and emotionally as your child meets new people, challenges and learning in their first year at school. We will have ongoing displays to reflect these progressions and achievements. Check out the new  displays in the school hall anytime you are in school.Plus photos in our photo album on the sharing table.

Our very own Waka Aroha where everyone cares and helps each other to make things happen.!


In our room we have have personal sticker charts where the stickers  are gained for giving their best in learning, behaviour,  attitude and personal effort. Should your child bring one of these home its to show they have completed their chart and chosen a prize from our prize bag!

Our Trophies are also awarded each week on Friday. They are specifically for "Helper of the week" and "Worker of the week'.You will see the photos on our Heroes gallery up on the wall. This week  we have 

Callum and Mahkylah are our heroes this week!

Swimming:

Next week we begin with our Aquatics Programme. Many thanks for the parent support for this . We have enough parents now but I will get photos to share with those who can't be there.

 Please help us by sending your child with easy clothes to put on and off. Plus can you please tie the girls long hair up. (It is easier to dry a plait or ponytail rather than their backs getting wet once dressed.) So now all we have to ask for is some warm weather for the kayakers outside!

Keep up the great job with the home reading too. We are really seeing the difference in those children who remember their bookbags and read each night. 

P.S. should any of you have some clean Half egg shells for our seedling project we would love them. Also any empty gladwrap rolls for our upcoming Art projects. 

PPS: Thankyou for those families who have sent tissues to school. With the cooler weather beginning we are using these already for sneezes and noses. So if you have a spare box to donate we would love them. 

 

Enjoy the weekend 

Nadine McLaughlin.

Week 3

Week 3:                                                                               
Well week 3 has come and gone very quickly with everyone enjoying the Tihi Reserve trip on Tuesday. Some children were absent with sickness, however everyone who went really enjoyed themselves and thoroughly enjoyed the scavenger hunt. Check out the photos on Galleries or in our classroom display. Mrs Matthews was so proud of everyone on the day and the stories they shared with me on my return afte losing my voice were great!

Your child will now be bringing home a home reader in their book bags to read each night with an adult in the house. If you can fill in the smiley face or sign the reading log,it would really help Mrs Matthews and I ( just so we know that the book has been home and seen)
Their word lists or keyrings in their bags also can be practised to reinforce these basic words for confidence.

You will have received also a notice concerning swimming coming up in a few weeks. Thankyou for those who have replied so far. At this stage we still need more parents to help. You don't necessarily have to get in the pool although it does help, especially with our 5 year olds. 

Here are our latest achievers who won the Trophies this week (their smiles say it all)

Hemish and Peyton

Happy Valentines

Hi Everyone especially the mums or grandmas who are receiving your very special Valentines pictur
e from your child. Have a great day with them all.

They were so proud of them all!

Week 2 under our belt!

Hi Everyone

Well week 2 is now nearly over with your child settling into the new routines. Many are still tired and the hot afternoons do make it hard for then. At this time of the year with the cooler mornings, layers of clothes are a must. Suzanne and I will do our best to ensure all clothing is returned at the end of the day. (We use our washing basket in the back shared area to hold the bulkier items, smaller items are in their tote trays.)
We choose 2 recipients every Friday to receive a trophy. One is awarded for the Best worker of the week., the second is for the best Helper of the week.Please praise your child should they get one of these as they are given out on merit! Plus please return them the following week to give out again. You will see the photos in our room on our "Wall of Fame" 
We also met our buddy class today (Room 10) very lucky here and below is a photo of us all meeting Friday afternoon. This is something we advocate at Otonga School where your child as a year 1 has a chance to establish a positive relationship with a senior and know they are there for them in the playground. We share work, special days and sports days with them.

Buddy Class (Room 10)

Mrs Suzanne Matthews

Here is our  Teacher Mrs Suzanne Matthews sharing our toy with Isileli in our sharing mat time.

Isileli with Bobo

Our Class Toy Family!

Here is our class Toy Family which your child will have a chance to bring home. 
This gives them an opportunity to share a new friend within the safety of their family environment and practise our new skills in Friendship.
Please feel free to help your child when it is their turn. We share the stories with the rest of the class when they return them the next day. A real highlight if their name comes out of the pot that day.

Our Room 6 Toy Family!