Koru Newsletter, Term 1 Week 6, 2016

Posted on 11 March, 201611 March, 2016 by Amanda Gray

Circle Time

This term, we are focusing on our key kete values of:

* Showing we care and

* Getting there together

Each week we use circle time to discuss how we can show these values. Circle time involves all students, and we sit in a circle and take a turn sharing ideas. We often have a picture book or fun activity to listen to first, and this helps us with our ideas.

Recently, we have talked about what we can do if we have a problem....here are some of our thoughts:

We have also explored what great friends do:

We Get There Together During Discovery Time!

We have loved 'getting there together' during discovery time! From this week, we now begin our day with numeracy. During this time, the children are involved in numeracy activity stations as well as direct teacher instruction. Friday afternoons will be a time for self-directed discovery.

Footsteps Dance Group
We were lucky to have footsteps dance group show us a fun superhero song with actions during the week. We also had a session on feelings with the Group. During this, we discussed our feelings and made feeling faces.

Mutukaroa Learning Conferences

It has been great to catch up with all of you to discuss your child's learning and of course, to meet you! I hope you are finding the resources in the learning packs helpful, and that the children are enjoying these. I am currently meeting with parents of children who have been at school for 20 weeks. During this meeting, we review their learning goals. We love your feedback, so please return the Parent evaluation forms to my office.

Thanks, Rowe

Getting Creative in the Intermediate Hub

Posted on 8 March, 20168 March, 2016 by Nicky Dunlop

Last week was art week in our hub. Children chose whether they wanted to learn about pop art, word art or street art. Once the choices were made the learning begun. Over five afternoons the children explored, designed and created beautiful art. There are a few finishing touches to complete and then we look forward to seeing everyone’s work displayed on our walls.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, all camp forms are due in. Please get any outstanding forms back quickly. There are spare copies on top of the filing cabinet in Room 16. The second notice, which includes our programme and the gear list, will be coming home next week.

Choir gets underway this Thursday. Those who are not involved in choir will be doing an alternate music programme on Thursday afternoons.

A number of Kauri children have organised teams for the PTA Top Team event on Saturday March 19. There is still time to get your entry in. The PTA have asked some of our senior children to help with the running of the events. Children who do this will receive leadership points for their efforts.

Our school duathlon is on March 24th, the day before Easter break. Many children took entry forms home today. There are extra forms at the school office. Please return entries to the box in the office foyer by next Thursday. If your child is keen to take part, please encourage them to get underway with their training this week.

Our next writing motivation is on Monday. We will share the exemplar with you, to give you an idea of what we are looking for in the children’s writing. Please ask your child to show you their writing later in the week. We encourage the children to keep working on their writing at home.

Refugees!

Posted on 5 March, 20165 March, 2016 by Susan Walsh

In Team Pōhutukawa we are learning about refugees. We have been simulating the refugee experience in our hubs through a series of games.

The children have been sorted into families and each family has their own refugee story.

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We have had to find our family while blindfolded (simulating the experience of being in a bombed city)

In both hubs we set up a refugee camp for a day.

Not a very comfortable place to work and sleep!

Waiting for the daily allowance of rice.

The next part of our learning is for the children to work together in groups to research a group of refugees. We will encourage them to think critically and empathetically when they ask questions and research their chosen group. We would love you to talk about their research and support them in their inquiry.