Back into it...

Term 3

This term is going to be a very busy one with plenty of opportunities for students to continue to achieve. There will be a Lost Civilisations inquiry unit, speeches, ICAS Mathematics and English, Art Splash choir, gymnastics, the Wearable Arts and also netball and hockey sporting competitions. Students will need to continue to display the CARE code, making the most of these opportunities.

Wearable Arts
This years Wearable Arts is connected to our inquiry; Lost Civilisations. We have 3 different themes (The Earth, The Sea and The Heavens) that will be thoroughly introduced to the students this week. The making of the wearable arts will be a mixture of at home and school. We will have a full mask making week as well as 2 finishing off days later in the term for the wearable art pieces. The following is the current timetable for this process:

By the end of Week1
Students will have chosen a theme.

By the end of Week2
Students will have designed a Wearable Art and know what materials they need.

By the end of Week3
Have created their mask (in class).

By the end of Week5
They will have started their costume (at home).

By the end of Week6
Have finished their costume.

Inquiry
This terms inquiry is Lost Civilisations. Over the term we will be completing a number of pieces of work that will be compiled into a typed and bound finished product. Each week students will have an expectation to complete certain pieces of work that might need to be finished at home. This inquiry links to the wearable arts show and is designed to create wonderment and excitement in the mystical world around them.

Homework
The homework structure this term will be a mixture of speech homework (research, development and preparation) and also wearable arts. Students can also keep up with the basics, such as reading and mathletics.

Speeches
Our literacy focus will be on speeches. This year the students will also be doing a mihimihi/pepeha to introduce themselves before their speech. The following is the current timetable for this process:

By the end of Week1
Students will have chosen a speech topic. Students will have written an interesting and catchy introduction in class. Students will have an understanding of what goes into their pepeha.

By the end of Week3
Students need to have developed research questions and done the research that will help them in their speech. Students will have written the main part of their speech.

By the end of Week4
Students will have everything prepared and have thoroughly practiced their speech.

By the end of Week5
Students will have performed their speech in class.

Stationary
Now that we are half way through the year there are a number of students who require more stationery. The students have all done a stocktake of their current stationary and know what items they require. Please discuss with your child whether they have the required stationery to be prepared for each lesson.

Nga mihi nui

syndicate assembly week 4 term 2

Syndicate Assembly

27.05.13

Shoes and Slippers

·      Remember to put your shoes and slippers on the racks.

Corridors

·      Stay clear of the corridors at morning tea and lunchtime, especially the entrance door.

Library

·      The library is open at 1pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  You need to enter the library through the ‘outside’ door (the door by the playground).

Art Class

·      The Y6’s art session will be today instead of Friday.  The Y5’s art class begins next week.

Table Tennis

·      The competition continues…

Waterpolo

·      Practice in hall at lunchtime today.

Camp DVDs

·      These were handed out today.  If you still want a DVD, see Mr. Chadwick ASAP.  He will take some late orders.

CZ Soccer – Tuesday 28 May

·      Teams are required to assemble at Sladden Park at 9.15am for a briefing about the tournament organization. The first game will then commence at 9.30am with the last game finishing at 12.00pm. The tournament concludes at 12.30pm with a 10-minute prize giving. We will be leaving school at 8.45am. Please be at school at 8.30am on the day of the tournament, we will meet in the library. 

The postponement day for the tournament is Thursday 30^th May.

Jackets

·      We are continuing to collect jackets this week.  If you have any jackets at home that you can donate, take them to the office.  We will be donating all of the jackets to a school whose students are in need of some winter warmth.

Friday

·      Remember: This Friday is a TEACHER ONLY dayJ

syndicate assembly week 2 term 2

Syndicate Assembly

13.05.13

Camp DVD of photos

·      Order forms were given out last week and need to be returned to the office by Friday.

·      If you need another order form, see your teacher.

Peer Mediators

·      There will be a training meeting on Tuesday at morning tea.  ALL peer mediators are to attend.

Road Patrol

·      A BIG thank you to all of our road patrollers for your work in term 1.  Keep up the good work!

Y6 Art Class

·      The art class will be on this Friday and next Friday lunchtimes in Room 14.

NO shoes inside

·      Remember to take your shoes off before you come inside AND to put them on when you are back outside.

Inside play

·      There will be more days spent inside during morning tea and lunchtime because of the winter weather.  Make sure you choose your ‘inside’ activities wisely.

BP Challenge

·      Mr. McMillan will LAUNCH the BP Challenge this Friday. 

Cross Country

·      The school cross country is next Tuesday @ Williams Park

·      The Y5/6 cross-country race will be run in reverse this year.  This means that you will run up the ‘switchback path’ and then down the walking trail.

Table Tennis

·      The Central Zone tournament has been cancelled

·      Mr. Chadwick will set up a school competition that will run throughout the term.

CZ Football

·      The boy’s trials are on Tuesday at lunchtime.

Waterpolo

·      Practice will be in the hall each Monday lunchtime.

syndicate assembly week 8

Syndicate Assembly

25.03.13

Camp

·      Camp was AWESOME!  From all accounts it was a fantastic experience for both students and parents.

·      A BIG thank you to all of our fulltime and day parents…you were FAB!

·      An encore performance of ‘On Direction’ can be found on Room 12’s classroom blog

·      A notice will come home, later this week, asking for interest in a camp DVD of photos

·      Camp books and pencil cases need to be returned to school

·      There has been a lot of lost property left at Forest Lakes Camp:

1 pair white puma shoes size 2

Blue Pillowslip (Main Camp)

Lightweight navy blue Mountain Pass raincoat

White and blue American college style jacket/hoodie with ‘68’ logo on it

Size 6 Glassons red and white top

Size 16 axle black and white rash top

Size small green hoodie – Named Pablo on tag

Fluorescent green belt

Blue sneakers Size 44 Marcs brand

Size 7 boys swimming togs black

1 head torch

A couple of pairs of socks

*If of any of these things are yours Forest Lakes Camp are happy to return them if you send a self addressed post paid bag to return them in (Forest Lakes Rd, Otaki North 5581).

Sports

·      CENTRAL ZONE SWIMMING SPORTS 2013

DATE: Wednesday 27 March 2013

TIME: 10.30am -1.30pm (often finish early approx. 1.00pm)

10.30-10.40am Warm up time

10.45 First race

DEPART FROM SCHOOL: 9.30am                     

VENUE: Naenae Swimming Pool        

·      Touch Rugby

The finals will be held on Thursday.  Please contact Mr. Chadwick of you are unable to play on Thursday night.

·      Cricket

Training will be on Wednesday for the boy’s team and Thursday for the girl’s team.

Forest Lakes 2013

Syndicate Assembly week 6

Syndicate Assembly

11.03.12

·      Rubbish

There seems to be a lot of rubbish being left on the field.  Make sure you put YOUR rubbish in the bin and pick any rubbish you see lying around the playground/field even if it’s not YOURS.

·      Trees around the field

Please look after the trees around the field!  Be the GAURDIANS!!

·      Capital E Arts Festival

The Y5-8 students will be going to 3 performances at the Capital E Arts Festival this Friday (http://www.capitale.org.nz/whats_on/ArtsFestival2013.htm)

Fri 15 Mar 2013 10:00 AM

Sky Dancer

Fri 15 Mar 2013 11:30 AM

Down Beneath Below

Fri 15 Mar 2013 01:15 PM

The Man the Sea Saw

We will be traveling by bus to the festival.   The 3 parent helpers are Linda Monrad, Jane Woolley and Jane Humphries.

·      Peer Mediators

Peer Mediation will begin the week after camp. 

·      Touch Rugby

There will be practices this week.  Listen out for the notices informing you of your training time during the week.

·      Cricket

The girls and boys team training days and times are yet to be confirmed.

·      Camp

An email, containing the gear list, will be sent to all families this week.  It’s time to start preparations for camp.

·      Cleanest class competition

The competition will run over the school term and at the end of each week Danish and Aijita (the cleaners) will check each classroom to see which room is the tidiest.  The tidiest classroom for that week will receive a certificate and the classroom with the most certificates over the competition period will win the school award for overall best cleaned classroom.

·      NZEI Union Meeting

There is a meeting for the teachers on Wednesday afternoon.  Make sure you know whether you are going home with your parents or if you need to stay at school until 2.55pm.

·      CARE certificate

Congratulations Ben Cass!  Ben received a ‘Citizenship' award for being a great support to another student during lunchtime.

Syndicate assembly Week 5

Y5/6 Syndicate Assembly

Monday 4^th March

REMINDERS!!!

·      Inside @ morning tea and lunchtime

No one is to be inside without permission from a teacher!

·      Scooters and bikes

Scooters and bikes MUST be parked before school.  No riding around on the school grounds before OR after school.

·      Hats

A BIG thank you to all those who are their wearing hats in the playground.  Keep those ‘full brimmed hats” on!

·      Tidy classrooms and cloak bay

It is our responsibility to keep our classroom clean and tidy as well as our class cloak bay area.  Make sure you hang up your bags and things in the cloak bay AND pick up any rubbish on the floor.

·      Stealing

Some food has been going missing from people’s lunchboxes recently.  Make sure you respect other people’s property.

·      Trees around the edge of the field

There have been some issues with students who spend their time hanging out in the trees around the edges of the field.  If this persists we will have to ban certain students from these areas.

SPORT

·      Milo Cricket

Cricket practice this week:

Y5/6 Girls @ lunchtime on Wednesday

Y5/6 Boys @ lunchtime on Friday

*Mr. McMillan has asked that you bring any cricket gear you have at home to the training

·      Touch Rugby

Touch trainings for the Y5/6 teams will be on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Art

·      Art club

Ms. Berry said that there has been some stunning art work from our Y5/6 students this term.

School Magazine

·      This term there will be an opportunity for students to be involved in the creation of a school magazine.  Mr. Chadwick and Ms. Berry will lead the project.  There will be a variety of roles for students to engage in as well as an chance for our writers to shine.  Watch this space!

Syndicate Assembly Week 4

Y5/6 Syndicate Assembly

Monday 25^th February

Peer Mediators

·      Peer mediator application forms have been handed out and these need to be returned to Mr. McKay by Friday

Road Patrol

·      Road Patrollers: Remember to put out the road patrol flags each time you are on duty.

Camp

·      There are still some forms to be returned.  Please return to your teacher ASAP.

Sport

·      Swimming: Y5/6 swim team for the zone champs on Wednesday 27^th March

Year 6's

Lincoln Moffat
Tom Flynn
Ella Burton-Wood
Helena Cvitanovich
Callan Hughes
Matthew Jones
Grace Olsen
Neve McKay
Phoebe Evans
Emma Beevers

Year 5's

Amy Juriss
Hamish Dalziel
Tom Griffiths
Georgie Allan
Abigail Brownsword
Bennett Parker
Samantha Woolley
Jake Inskeep
Rachel Vass

*There is a meeting at lunchtime on Monday to discuss individual and team events.

EXCITING NEWS:  We have been able to secure another date for our school swimming sports.  This will be on the last day of term 1, April 19^th.

·      Sport Stacking: The Wanganui Sport Stacking Champs is on Saturday 23^rd March in Wanganui.  If you are interested in registering see Mr. McKay for an entry form

·      Cricket: The Y5/6 Girls (Milo Shield) team will have training on Wednesday at lunchtime.  The Y5/6 Boys (Milo Shield) team will have a training on Thursday at lunchtime

·      Touch Rugby:  A strong start to the season…remember to check the sports blog for any updates

General

·      Students need to ensure they are making ‘good choices’ OR there may be consequences that might not just affect them but others as well.

·      Inside corridors and classrooms:  All students need to be outside during morning tea and lunchtimes

·      Hats MUST be worn when outside during morning tea and lunchtime…No Caps!

Syndicate Assembly Week 2

Syndicate Assembly 

Monday 11th February 2013

• Notices
There will be a lot of notices sent home over the next few weeks e.g. sports and camp notices. It will be important for the students to return any slips as soon as possible.

• Homework
The Y5/6 syndicate homework has been sent out today.

• Hats
 It’s term 1 and each child needs a hat to wear everyday outside. It needs to be a wide brimmed hat, not a cap and ideally should be left at school in their desk for easy access. Thank you to those students who have remembered. Students not wearing hats have to stay in the shade area by the junior rooms.

• PE Shed
The PE shed will be open every lunchtime (weather permitting). The PE shed door will be open and the PE shed monitors will work from inside the shed. The equipment needs to be returned by those who took it out, which has been an issue in the past. Students who don't return their gear will be given a chance BUT after they have used it up they will not be able to take PE gear out for a period of time (TBC).

• Sport
Milo Cricket: Mr McMillan will have a meeting tomorrow for all those who are interested in playing cricket, boys and girls.
Touch Rugby: Mr Chadwick has asked that all touch rugby notices and money be returned to the office by Thursday this week.

• Art club
Ms Berry will run Art Club every Friday lunchtime in Room 14. The Year 6’s are invited to attend for the first five weeks and then the Year 5’s in the second five weeks of the term.

• The 4 C’s
REMEMBER: Courtesy Consideration Cooperation Common Sense

Welcome to 2013

Y5 & 6 Syndicate Newsletter

Term 1 2013

Whāia te iti kahurangi
Ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei

Pursue excellence – should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Kia ora koutou and welcome back to school!  Hopefully everyone had a great holiday and enjoyed the beautiful weather this summer. The teachers have been hard at work preparing for the year and we are all excited at what 2013 will bring.

The Year 5 & 6 team this year:

Murray McMillan - Room 11, Deane McKay (Team Leader) - Room 12, Raihania Chadwick - Room 13 and Kirsten Berry – Room 14

Trish Theobald and Hayley Crawford are also valuable members of our team in 2013. Trish will be teaching on Fridays in Room 12, releasing Mr McKay for management responsibilities and Hayley will be releasing teachers for their CRT (classroom release time) throughout the year.  

Parent Interviews

Meet the teacher interviews are this week. Please ensure you book a time to meet with your childs teacher.  You can do this online (a link can be found on the latest ‘Birds  Eye View’) or you can call the office and arrange an appointment.

Camp 2013 - Forest Lakes

One of our major focuses for the beginning of the year is camp at Forest Lakes. This takes place in week 7 (Tuesday 19^th – Friday 22nd March) of this term.

There is a cost involved with coming to camp; it will cost $220 per child. This covers every eventuality that may arise. We ask that you pay before going to camp. If there are any problems with this please contact your classroom teacher. A notice is coming home this week and it would be appreciated if you completed and returned the forms as soon as possible.

We will be holding a meeting at 6.30pm on Tuesday 5^th March in the library for parents coming to camp (fulltime or part time). We will be discussing routines and also your responsibilities while at camp. It is important that you attend if you are coming to camp as a full timer. We hope it will take only about 30- 45 minutes. If your circumstances have changed please let us know.

Homework

Homework officially begins this week.  We will give the homework out each Monday and it is to be returned on Friday.  The homework has three major focuses; reading, spelling and maths (Mathletics).  There are also two other activities, one is compulsory (Thinking Key activity) and the other is an extra for experts (writing task).  The students will be given a marking guide which will help them in their efforts.

Maths

Cross grouping (this involves grouping across the four Year 5 and 6 classes) will start in week 3 for our study of addition and subtraction.  We will use the information gathered from last year as well as recent assessment results to group the students.  Until then we will start the term looking at Number Knowledge, such as exploring place value and basic facts.

  
Writing

We are beginning the year focusing on report writing, which ties in nicley with our inquiry topic ‘Heroes’.  When we get back from camp we will switch our focus to recount writing and the experiences that the students had on camp will become very valuable in supporting their learning.

Topic/Inquiry

We will start the term with an inquiry unit based upon ‘Heroes’.

Visual Art

Students will be learning about various concepts of shading and tones through sketching. 

Daily Reminders

Please help your child remember to check they have everything they need each morning and they are at school in time for the first bell at 8.40. Students should see that being organised is part of growing up and an important life skill to be developing.

They will need a water bottle (named) to keep hydrated during the day. It helps with concentration and learning. Ensure that it comes home regularly for a wash.

All students are expected to wear a wide brimmed sunhat during all outside activities, especially during morning tea and lunchtime. The hat needs to be kept at school for easy access.

Swimming

Swimming has started. Every class will be swimming everyday so please ensure that your child has their swimming gear ready. The gear should be named and in a suitable bag. We are lucky enough to have the assistance of qualified swimming instructors for the first two weeks.

Sport

This year the year 5 and 6 students will have many opportunities to be involved in a range of sporting events. These sports range from netball and soccer to cricket and hockey. There will also be zone, inter - zone and regional events such as swimming, cross-country and athletics. Parent support and transport at these events is much appreciated and it is also a wonderful opportunity to come along and see your child in action.

Class Blogs

We will be continuing the success of classroom blogging. These blogs can be accessed through the school website. It is worthwhile visiting regularly and checking out the updates. It really is a fantastic way to see the learning that is occurring in the classroom. We encourage you to leave the comments for your children or the class – they really get a buzz out of it!

If you need to contact your child’s classroom teacher please feel free to drop by the classroom before or after school or make an appointment for an interview at the office. The easiest way to touch base with us is email e.g. teacher’s surname@muritai.school.nz

Ngā mihi nui

Year 5 and 6 Team 2013