Kia ora whanau,

November already...and the weeks are whipping by! We are aware of the fact that this time of year is terribly busy for families, so if you are finding that you are suffering from (digital) information overload, we are going to have a tray outside Rooms 10 and 11, in which we shall place hard copies of our team news and events. Please feel free to pick one up if you would prefer.

Please note the following:

• Whanau hui from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10th;
• Athletics starts on Wednesday afternoon (RJT), so please send your child in sensible shoes fo running, jumping and throwing activities!
• Keeping Ourselves Safe activities will continue through to the end of this week, Week 4. (Home books will keep coming home throughout this week - please work through the marked pages with your child)
Other important dates to note this term are:
• Thursday, 26th November - team outing to Willowbank leaving 11:30 a.m. and arriving back at school between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. (teachers will be seeking parent help for this outing over the next few weeks);
• Wednesday, 2nd December - Te Whanau Koru will be teaming up with Te Whanau Pohutukawa to go into town to visit the Transitional Cathedral followed by a picnic and time to explore in the Botannic Gardens, leaving school at 9:30 and arriving back at school early-mid afternoon;
• Thursday, 3rd December - Te Whanau Koru and Te Whanau Kahikatea celebration, starting at 1:45 and finishing at 2:45 p.m.
Best wishes to all,
Gail, Rowe, Jo, Cath, Andrea and Amanda 

Cupcake extravaganza:
Our grateful thanks to you all for your generosity and willingness to help and support our SPCA Cupcake fundraiser event. Not only did the children have a fantastic day (full of lots of amazing learning, and fun to boot!), but also we managed to raise well over $200 and rising! This wouldn't have been possible without your support - we do appreciate you! We are hoping to invite a representative from the SPCA to come to the whole school assembly in Week 9, which is being led by Te Whanau Koru children, and this is when we would like to present the money we raised.

So please note:
In Week 9, 18th September, the PRIDE assembly will be led by Te Whanau Koru students. You are warmly invited to attend (10:00 - 10:30 a.m.)

Cricket training:
Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 1st), following on from the huge success of the Cricket World Cup, Christchurch Metro Cricket will be visiting us to run sessions with the children teaching basic skills prior to the start of summer cricket later this year. They will provide contact information for the children about local cricket clubs. Tomorrow's session times will be:
Hub 11: 11:30 -12
Hub 10: 12 - 12:30
Hub 12: 1:30 - 2
Hub 13: 2 - 2:30

Quaky Cat Dress up Day:
This Friday, your children are invited to dress either in orange or as a cat (or both!). We will be reading Quaky Cat Helps Out, which links to our school values of 'We care', 'We get there together' and 'We make a difference'. A gold coin donation is requested.

Our writing focus areas this week are:

• Room 12 - explanation writing (how to make a web) 
• Room 10- information report writing (All About Spiders)Room 13
• Room 13 - character descriptions
• we shall also be making thank you cards for the PTA who have recently gifted some amazing equipment to us (train set, block sets, and a great deal of wonderful outdoor equipment too

Farewell:
It is with sadness that we have said goodbye to Angela Phuyel of Hub 10/11. Angela's family have moved over to Woolston and this is to be her new school. We wish the family all the best as they move into a new neighbourhood and a new school community.