Kowhai Syndicate Newsletter Term 3

Dear Parents/Caregivers

A big welcome to all of our families, new and returning, joining us in Kowhai Syndicate this term.

We hope you have had a happy and relaxing break with your family.

We look forward to meeting and working with you and your children this term.

TOPICS TO BE STUDIED IN TERM THREE.

This term’s major learning focus is “The Arts” and in particular Visual Art. We are looking at Art through the ages.  Students will learn different styles artists use to create their artwork.  These

styles include Pointillism, Cubism, Pop Art and Maori designs.  Students will learn about the relationships between the various styles of Visual Art and the time period and culture in which it was

created.   It will also enable our children to have the opportunity to develop this year’s Woodstock Learner’s focus:

Participating & Contributing

as they continue to develop empathy and respect for other people and cultures, developing a sense of fairness, a positive self-image and looking at our ability to communicate cooperatively.

MATHS: Geometry & Measurement, Numeracy: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Co-operative games

MAORI LANGUAGE: Pronunciation, Mihimihi, Classroom Objects

MUSIC: Singing

ORAL LANGUAGE: Extending children’s vocabulary and conversational skills

ICT – Photovisi: creating Pop Art, websites related in Art styles

  (Don’t forget our Kowhai Knowledge net Login: kowhai Password: seed)

  

For your information:

PORTFOLIOS: We really enjoyed with meeting with you and sharing your child’s learning and successes at the end of last term. We hope you enjoyed sharing their portfolios with your extended family members.  We would like to  remind you to return these as soon as possible so we can continue adding to them.

HOMEWORK: Please remind your child they must bring their book bag to school everyday. For your child to be issued with a new reader they must return their book and have their book bag at school. There is a reading log for you to sign to inform the teacher that the book has been read to an adult.

Poem books will go home each Friday based on the week’s poem. Spelling is tested weekly and new words given fortnightly. New spelling words cannot be given unless your child’s yellow homework is at school on Friday, as this is when teachers have timetabled their spelling testing.

Please check your child’s book bag daily for homework and notices.

READING BOOKS: The book that your child will bring home will have been read in the class previously.  The book will be at a level below their instructional reading level i.e the level they are reading at with their classroom teacher. The purpose for this is so your child can share with you the success they have as a reader.  Reading easy (fluency) books helps to develop their reading pace, increase their recognition of sight words and builds their confidence.

ABSENCES: Just a reminder to ring the school if your child is going to absent before 8.45. The office phone number is 8556686. If your child is late for school please ensure they go to the office before going to class.

TISSUES: A box of tissues from each child donated to their classroom is always greatly appreciated.

SLIPPERS: As our policy is to remove footwear to prevent carpets becoming soiled, please name all footwear – including socks!                 Slippers are encouraged in these cooler months.

SPARE CLOTHING: Please keep a spare set of named clothes in your child‘s bag at all times. We do not have spare clothing to cope with children getting muddy or wet during lunchtime. If your child does not have spare clothing we will have to contact you to come into school and bring some.

WASTE FREE WOODSTOCK: Please remember to pack waste free lunches everyday.  We are a Waste Free School now so we are encouraging no rubbish.  Rubbish will be brought home with your child. 

We look forward to another great term. Many thanks for your support and co-operation. 

The Kowhai Syndicate Teaching Team.       

Leigh Phipps, Caitlin Wheeler, Sarah Menzies & Julia Turner