Kauri Week Two Update

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Ski trip: 

Our soup fundraising is going well, with $400 raised so far. We hope to sell soup for another two Wednesdays, and with similar profits, we will be able to reduce the cost of the ski trip to $40 per child. So far half of our hub families have completed the form providing details needed about each child for this trip. If you have yet to complete this form, please click on the link below.
Ski form


Keeping up to date with learning commitments:


  • Maths home learning, which for many children is a Cantamath project, is due tomorrow, Friday.
  • Many children are making good progress with their storytelling speeches. The writing of these should be completed by next Thursday, allowing for time to practise presentation before sharing in week 5. Please ask your child to share their speech with you.

It's only week two and already we have lots to celebrate...

Our Sir Peter Blake Young Leader for 2016.

Our first Gold Leaders for 2016.


And the Blazers basketball team celebrated their first win of the season!

Distinction, Distinction, High Distinction, Distinction. Wow, what awesome scientists.

Harvey, from World Vision, came to thank those of us who did the Famine, for raising over $1500 for the refugees of Syria.


Winter Tournament: 

True to its name, the winter weather arrived in time for our South Zone Winter Tournament, which was played on Monday 1 August. With 15 teams participating, we were very grateful to all of the coaches who were able to help out on the day.
Passing and shooting, the netball players battled and pivoted, scoring and defending on the netball courts. Well done to all four teams, with three teams placing third and one team placing sixth.

With six football teams, playing 5-a-side, there were plenty of fast paced games to enjoy. Adjusting to the small pitches and different way of playing took some doing, however teams soon found their stride and went on to score goals and corners. Well done to the year 7 and 8 teams who placed first and two fourths (in different grades) and great work to the year 5 and 6 teams who placed first and second (in different grades).

Bobbly rugby fields, set a challenge for the hockey players,

particularly those used to the smooth surface of astroturf. Swift passing and controlled dribbling ensured goals were scored, along with solid defending to prevent goals at the other end. Great work all four hockey teams, with placings of second, fourth and two sixth placings.

Special congratulations to the year 7 and 8 Football Red team and to the year 7 and 8 Hockey Red team. They have both qualified to compete in the Canterbury Winter Tournament being held on Thursday 25 August, representing our south zone.




Special thanks to all of our coaches who made it possible for us to take so many teams to the tournament: Jarred Skelton, Caitlyn Downing, Sonja Sintmaartensdyk, George York, Katie Chapman, Sarah Freeman, Jenni Adams, Nicky Dunlop, Leone Scott, Jacky Sargent, Fred Simpson, Kate Inwood, Ashley Tough, Jonny Inwood, Tyler Logan and Rod Gray.



Koru Term 3 week 2

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Welcome back to Beckenham for term 3!
We have an action-packed term ahead, and we can't wait to see where the children will take us with their learning!

A huge welcome to our new students!
Welcome to our new students in room 12. We can see you are already busy with learning and working together.
  

Spellathon lists
These have been sent home this week. Thank you for practising at home with the children. You can encourage them to read and write the words, spell the words verbally, or trace them.

Tissues
Winter is upon us and our tissue supply is dwindling. If you can donate an extra box, we would be grateful.

Our Inquiry topic this term is Cultural Celebrations, with a focus on Asia.  Talk about your family celebrations at home e.g. Christmas, birthdays, cultural events. What do you do to celebrate?
Would you like to share a celebration or event from your culture? If so, please see Amanda, Rowe, Andrea or Charlotte.

Wonderful writing


Writing letters


Write around the room

This term, we are trialling some new independent writing activities. These are helping students engage in writing, and write for a real purpose.
Examples include: writing around the room (copying labels, signs), book making, letter writing, list writing (e.g. birthday wish list, shopping list). We also enjoy 'fast words' writing as many words as we can in 5 minutes, and writing rhyming words e.g.
mat, sat, pat, cat....
run, sun, fun, bun...
Why not try some of these at home?

Oral language
Teachers were inspired at an Oral Language workshop this week!
Oral language is essential for navigating life and the curriculum.
Activities for you to try at home:

  • Say and act out a word e.g. shivering; round
  • Draw a picture to show a word meaning
  • Have a word jar for new 'wow' words you discover in your reading books
  • Encourage talk and thinking in your children by using open ended questions e.g. how would...., why...., who...., when....., where.... 


Gymnastics
We have started our gym unit, and are learning to create key movements: hop, skip, run and poses: stretch, tuck and straddle.











Maths 
We are continuing to learn about addition and subtraction. Here are some children solving a problem with penguin toys: 
' There are 5 penguins and some went missing. How many went missing? How many left? Can you write this with a buddy using maths symbols?'



Have a lovely weekend, 
Rowe, Andrea, Charlotte & Amanda

We love Challenge

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Today, during Discovery Stations, we talked about why it is important to challenge yourself. The children had some great ideas:

"If you do something and think it is challenging, but keep trying and then eventually do it, you will be so proud of yourself."

"It's important to challenge yourself because otherwise you wont try new things."

"If you are doing the same thing everyday, and it's not challenging, then you wont learn."





These girls found tangram patterns challenging at first, but after some perseverance, they worked out some strategies to make the task at hand easier.  



Hub 1&2 Notice

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Kia Ora Whanau

As many of you will be aware, we have tweaked our programme this term to include Discovery Stations at different times throughout our day. These stations have been very successful and the children are highly engaged with them - often starting them before school! A few of our routines have needed to change to accommodate this:

Morning Snack
  • Please ensure your child's snack (fruit or wholemeal/wholegrain bread) is in a named bag or container as they put them into the snack bowl before school. 
Reading Books
  • Your child will now be returning their reading books on Monday morning when they arrive at school. They will put them into their browsing box which is in Room 2. 
Library Folders
  • We all have our library time on a Friday now so all folders will need to be back on Friday morning. 
Book the Couch
  • If you are interested in reading a library book to children before the bell please come into Room 1, choose a book and get comfy on our couch. The children love listening to stories and a group will often form after a couple of pages into the story. If you would like to make this a permanent booking there is a list on the whiteboard in Room 1. Alternatively, if you are interested in listening to children read 1:1, please let us know and we will book you in for days that suit. The time slot for this is Mon - Thurs 8:30 - 9:20a.m. 

Resources
We have had discussions in our hub about what types of learning the children would like to do more of and we have compiled a list. If you are able to help with any of the following resources we would be very grateful:
  • Cardboard boxes, lids, old containers, masking tape, PVA glue
  • Lego
  • Old phones, typewriters, radios etc (anything that can be taken apart), screw drivers
  • Nuts and bolts
  • Water/sand tray or table 
  • Dress ups 
  • Farmyard animals/Dinosaurs etc 
  • Craft equipment 
  • Soft material, cotton, needles (and a willing adult who is interested in creating puppets with the children)
  • Skeleton resources - real bones / plastic 
  • A roll of butcher paper 
The conversations will continue to evolve as the children develop their thinking around Discovery Stations and this list will grow throughout the term. If you have an area of expertise and would like to join us, we can happily slot you into our timetable. 

Thank you for your ongoing support. 
Dorinda, Amber and Amy

Term 3 Week 2 in the Kahikatea Team

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Kia ora koutou,

Here we are into the second week of Term 3 already. We all had a wonderful first week back at school, following fantastic holidays, and what incredible weather we enjoyed throughout our two week break!

Here are some highlights and points to note from Week 1, as well as for the week to come:

Mihi
Over the next couple of weeks, our children are going to be working on developing their mihi. This is going to provide a springboard for us into our focus, Amazing Asia, this term. We are currently delving into the meaning of the word 'culture', looking at what that means for us, before looking into the cultures of various countries in Asia. It would be very helpful for us if you are able to discuss with your child, the names of the following:

  • The name of a mountain (if appropriate to your family)
  • The name of a river/lake/sea (if appropriate to your family)
  • The name of the town or city which you hail from
  • Your Christian names (father and mother)

 You or your child could write this information down so that it can be brought into school. Many thanks for your support with this.

Library
Please note that all children in the Kahikatea team will now be visiting the library on Fridays. Children will be taken to the library at times throughout the day, so if, for some reason, some children don't manage to exchange their library books on Friday, they are being encouraged to visit the library during a lunchtime instead.

Home Learning
Thank you so much for your ongoing support with your child's home learning. Regular practice of both Mad Maths Minute equations and spelling words is making a huge difference to your child's progress in each of these areas!

Water
Please ensure that your child has a water bottle each day. We are actively encouraging the children to drink water throughout the day, so that they remain hydrated. Please also remind your child to bring his or her water bottle home regularly for cleaning!

Snack Station
Learning spaces are going to have (or already have) a 'Snack Station' set up each morning. Children are encouraged to select a (wrapped and named, or in a named container) piece of fruit from their lunchboxes to put out at the Snack Station. This can then be eaten at some point between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Years 1 and 2 Kapa Haka
Congratulations to our Kapa Haka group - the group travelled into the Art Gallery last Thursday, to perform for members of the public. The children were accompanied by Sherrilee and Jenny, as well as some parents. We are all very proud of you, children! You performed beautifully and were all very well-behaved. Well done.

Writing
We are currently learning about a new genre of writing: persuasive writing! In this genre of writing, we follow a format in which we give our opinion, back it up with supportive statements, give examples and then restate our opinion. Please feel free to come into our learning spaces and have a look at some of our persuasive writing!
Last week we also wrote recounts telling about holiday events. Here are examples from two Hub 3/4 authors:

Japan

I went to Japan. At Japan, I went to Disneyland. It was awesome. I went with my Mum and sister.
I saw Tigger and Donald Duck. I saw Mickey Mouse as well.
I saw a Disney car. It was so cool. People were standing on the car. There were lights all over it.
I saw a giant castle with my Mum. It was awesome on the castle. I saw a thousand lights on the castle.
When it was night at Disneyland, it was time for the going party.
There were Disney characters zooming past my face!


Shopping

I went shopping to get some milk and bread to have some lunch.
I went with Mum and Dad and my brother.
When I went home, I ate some bread.



All best for the week ahead, everyone.

Nga mihi,
Kahikatea team teachers