This is a reminder that we are introducing a fresh fruit or vegetable snack at 9:35am tomorrow. The children will be able to grab a piece of fruit or vegetable on the way to maths. This is optional, and a trial at this stage.

Good luck to all of the swimmers representing our school on Thursday at Jellie Park in the zone swimming sports. These students have achieved amazingly well to reach this level and we hope they have a great time.

While we have always encouraged the students to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and to eat regularly, we have decided to make drinking water regularly throughout the day a focus for all students. During each transition time (when we swap from one learning activity to the next - music to maths, reading to writing), we are going to ask the students to have a drink of water. We have talked about the benefits of drinking lots of water, from hydrating our brain and muscles, to flushing out any toxins, so the students understand the importance of drinking water. Hopefully you will notice your child's water bottle returning home empty, or having been refilled during the day!

Along with encouraging drinking more water, starting from Monday we will be offering a chance for a fresh fruit or vegetable snack at 9:35am. 9:35 is the transition time from our Cool Curriculum Classes (library, music, PE, drama and coding) to maths. On the way to maths the children will be asked to have a drink of water, and then they have the option of grabbing a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable. When they get to maths there may be a maths picture book to listen to, a puzzle to be worked out on the teaching station screen or a maths video clip to watch, while they are munching. Ideally the fruit should be able to be eaten within five minutes. We think that having a healthy snack at this time will revitalise the students, and will promote further focus. This healthy snack will be optional, and restricted to only fresh fruit or vegetables.

Examples of fresh fruit and vegetables - carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, a mandarin, grapes, a kiwifruit, a banana, an apple, pear, celery sticks or any fruit cut up and in a container, such as melon, pineapple, orange etc.

On Friday afternoons, we have been providing activities and opportunities for the students to learn through play. This type of learning is a significant part of the Year 0-4 teams' programmes, and we are dabbling in it on Friday afternoons. During this time the students have lots of choice, and choose where, with whom and what they play or play with. Usually there is lots of creativity, collaboration, problem solving and imaginative play involved, which is fabulous to see. Some of the opportunities for the students involve woodwork and water play outside. We would love to expand our equipment and tools, with these two activities particularly. If you have any spare tools, pipes to run water through, buckets, watering cans, bubble wands, a water table, or anything which could be used for creating or making - material off cuts, wool, wood, nails, screws, we would be forever grateful. If you are able to help out with any supplies, please pop them into the hub to any of the teachers.

On Monday and Wednesday afternoons we have been looking at innovation, what this means, the difference between innovation and invention, and how innovation has changed many everyday objects. We have also been looking at making innovations to an object, and eventually, this will all lead to the students coming up with their own innovative ideas. During this time there has been lots of collaboration, lots of research, looking at innovations and innovative people.

Congratulations to all of our students who entered the school swimming sports which was held at Wharenui Pool. For our Year 5 children it was the first time they have been eligible to enter a senior school event, and we were impressed with the number of students who took up the challenge.

Good luck to the swimmers who have qualified for the zones swimming sports being held on Thursday 14 March at Jellie Park.

On Friday all of those Pōhutukawa children who were interested in joining the Pōhutukawa Pitch Perfect choir were given a letter, with a slip at the bottom which needs to be signed and returned to Katie. Please speak with your child and ensure that they are aware that joining the choir requires commitment. Choir members will need to attend regular practices during school time, as well as be available for performances in and outside of school time. The Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival requires confirmation of the number of children who will be participating from Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto. The music festival is on during the week of 5th - 8th November. We will perform on one night during this week - date to be confirmed.

Last week we began our CCC programme. Each teacher is covering a different curriculum area, teaching a half hour lesson to every class once a week. Each class will have seven lessons for each curriculum area over the term. This term the coverage is:

Katie - drama 

Rae - coding

Steve - music

Gayle - physical education (touch rugby)

Tracy - library

What a fabulous start we have had to the year in Pōhutukawa. Everyone is happy to be back, catching up with friends, participating in fun activities and learning new things. Some of us love this amazing summer weather we are having! Please remind your child/ren to bring a full water bottle to school every day, and encourage them to bring it home, empty!

Our programme at the moment is still focusing on establishing routines and building relationships, through workshops, art, co-operative house games and home group time.

As mentioned at the beginning of the year learning conferences, we are trialing keeping lunchboxes in the children's bags, in their cubby holes outside, unless they would prefer to bring their lunchbox inside and pop it on the allocated shelves in the Maker space area. The majority of the students are happy to keep their lunchboxes in their bags, as they are more accessible to them throughout the day. We are very happy for anyone who would like to bring their lunchbox inside, to do so.

What a fantastic response we have had to the students bringing their own devices to school! We now have three lockable cabinets for the children to safely store their devices. We have spoken to the children about the care of their devices at school, and it would be great for this to be reinforced at home. The children should

- always return their device to a lockable cabinet when they are no longer using it.

- return their device to the same spot in the same cabinet during the school day.

- always take home their device at the end of the school day.

- charge their device at home.

- use only their school account at school.

- naming your child's device would also be very helpful.

Unfortunately we have had a device go missing last week. It is a Samsung tablet, in a black cover. If there is any information known about this device, please let us know. 

We are offering a slip and slide activity tomorrow afternoon; fun in the sun to finish off the first week of school! Students may bring in their togs and a towel if they would lie to join in!

We are seeking bits and pieces to stock up our woodwork table and implements. If you have any unwanted tools (hammers, pliers, drill bits, planes, screwdrivers etc) or spare nails or screws, we would love to take them off your hands, to make good use of them at school. Please drop any donations into our hub.

What a wonderful first week we have had in the Pōhutukawa team. The students have completed workshops on goal setting, cybersafety, the Treaty of Waitangi, Google Docs and have made their tote tray labels. We have collaborated and cooperated in art, sport and other home group activities. The teachers have been incredibly impressed with the focus and fabulous behaviour displayed by our whole team, and are looking forward to another great week next week!