Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa – warm greetings to everyone
Reminder -Meet and Greet Family Picnic!
Building strong relationships between school and home is a crucial way to support a child’s learning, and this is a great way to start that relationship.
We will be holding this year’s ‘Meet and Greet’ on the afternoon/evening of Thursday 15 February from 4.45pm (note the change in date and time).
The ‘Meet and Greet’ is a short introduction between families and teachers. Teachers will briefly talk to families about their classroom programmes, routines, expectations and some of the learning that will occur this year. Teachers will be in their classrooms from 4:45 – 5:15.
Following this we will join together on the field for a picnic. Our wonderful Whanau group will be providing some BBQ food to add to your picnic also. BYO additional food and drink for your family.
This will be followed later in the term or early next term, by individual ‘Goal Setting Conversations’ where students, families and teachers share information.
Please be aware that if you would like to talk to the teacher specifically about your child’s learning, you will need to arrange a different time (from Meet and Greet) to do this.
Oral Language
Oral language is the foundation of reading and writing. Oral language is developed through the introduction and use of vocabulary that children do not already know or use frequently. We must think about the vocabulary we use with children and how we explain unfamiliar words. Here are some tips to help support your children’s oral language development:
Restating What Your Child Said
This is something parents should be encouraged to do whenever possible. When their child says something, the parent can restate what the child said using more sophisticated vocabulary. For example:
• The child says, “It is cold out tonight.” The parent can say, “Yes, it is cold tonight. Another word for cold is chilly.”
• The child says, “I am very, very hungry.” The parent can say, “When you are very, very hungry, that means you are famished or starving.”
Talking During Ordinary Activities
Sometimes when we are making dinner or shopping at the grocery store, we are distracted and do not talk much with our child. One of the best ways to teach new vocabulary, especially to young children, is to describe the task we are doing or the things that we are seeing. Parents can do this by describing how they are making dinner, making sure to tell children what each ingredient is called and the methods used to cook the food. Here are some things that parents could talk to their child about at the grocery store:
• The colors and shapes of the vegetables: “This is a yellow banana. It is long and skinny and curves a little. Here is a red onion. It is shaped a little like a circle.”
• Reading the text on boxes. Parents can point to a box, identify each letter, and then read the text to their child. If the child is older, the parent can ask the child to read the text out loud. Young children can be encouraged to point out symbols, print, and other things that they recognize in the environment.
Today’s downloadable take-home activities are more things that parents can do with their children at home. They make good “training wheels” to get parents in the habit of talking to their children in ways that will increase children’s oral vocabulary and the language structures to which they have access:
A Moment in Time
— Parent and child will tell each other stories about themselves, drawing on different types of experiences: embarrassing stories, interesting events, happy or sad moments, etc.
— Skills addressed: listening and speaking strategies.
Cooking with Kids
— This activity uses an everyday activity to demonstrate how rich oral language interactions can take place all the time.
— Skills addressed: reading comprehension; listening and speaking strategies
Wanted – helpers in 2018 for “STEAM”:
This year we will be running a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) programme on Friday afternoons. We will be splitting into mixed age groups and running classes for 5 weeks at a time. If you have an expertise in any of these areas and can take a small group for 5 weeks on Friday afternoons to complete a project, we would love for you to help us deliver these curriculum areas to our children! Get in touch with Richelle for more information!
Reminder: Teacher Only Day
On Friday the 9th March we will be having a combined ‘Teacher Only Day’ with the other schools in our Reporoa Community of Learning. The teachers will be joining with staff from Reporoa College, Rerewhaakaitu, Broadlands and Mihi to work on their teaching practice in oral language and writing. Staff will not be on site and school will be closed for our students on that day. Please make other arrangements for your children.
Bus Contract
If your child comes to and from school on the bus, they need to have a bus contract signed by you. They were sent home last week. Please read, sign and return to school ASAP. Alternatively, you can click on the link below for a copy in case it is lost at the bottom of a school bag!
Wanted – Breakfast Club Volunteer:
After a discussion with teachers about the number of children arriving at school hungry in the mornings, we wondered if it is time to begin a proper breakfast club. This would operate out of room 7 from 8:30-9am every morning. If this is something you think you could do, please get in contact. It would involved making weekbix and supervising the eating/cleaning up prior to classes starting.
Stars of the week:
Ka Rawe te mahi (awesome work) to Ruby Martelli for her great acrostic poem of her name.
Sports:
Swimming has started and is occurring every day for every class. Please make sure your child has their togs and towel or a note. Swimming is not an optional activity as it is part of our curriculum. Thank you.
Calendar:
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Welcome to our new students and their families:
Lucy-Ella, Ngahirata and Travis Tane
Treemendous Working Bee this Sunday:
This Sunday 18th February 9-10am start. Come along – anytime you can give the garden is really appreciated. Everyone welcome, the more the merrier. Bring your own garden equipment spades, wheel barrows etc. BYO refreshments. Check our facebook page for cancellation.
Thanks from the Team
Property:
Our lost property pile is growing every day – remember to come down and check it.
Health: We have a suspected case of Chicken Pox at our school
Nãku i runga i aku mihi ki a koe – Yours with thanks
Richelle McDonald
and our team –Jill, Phil, Susannah, Rachel, Julie, Maureen, Heather, Tina, Mary, Kim, Ross & Stevie.
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