Start of Year Newsletter

Dear parents/caregivers,

Welcome to Room 20! There will be lots of fun, interactive learning this year and we look forward to working alongside you to help your child on their learning journey.

Topic—This year the overall school theme is “#extra/ordinary” This topic is about being the change we want to see in the world (Gandhi), to live an extraordinary life. Our syndicate topic for Term 1 is called “extra/ordinary me—hóuzi.” Hóuzi is Chinese for monkey. Chinese New Year falls on February 8.  It is Year of the Monkey. Monkeys have many characteristics that make them extraordinary. They are curious, cheeky, playful, skillful and inventive. Our learning experiences are based around discovering the  extraordinary talents of the children of Room 20.

Swimming—Swimming is Monday 2:00 (after afternoon tea.) Please send named togs (swimming costume), towel and a plastic bag or swimming bag for wet things to school. Children are expected to change their clothes by themselves so your support in ensuring your child can change in and out of their togs independently would be greatly appreciated.

Library—Library day is on Wednesday. Please return books to the return slot of the library before school on Wednesday morning 

Dropping off children—At 8:30am the class is open and teachers will be available to talk to you. Please encourage your child to put all their things away independently. Schoolbags on their hooks, book bags in tote trays. If you are able to stay before the bell rings, it would be wonderful if you could read with your child quietly in the classroom. This will be a great start to the learning day for them.

Absences—If your child is unable to attend school please phone or email the school office before 9:00am.

Medical Concerns– We are aware of several medical conditions in the classroom from information  on enrolment forms. Feel free to speak to us if your child has medical concerns we are not aware of.

Sunblock and hats—Children must wear their hats everyday at school. They must wear their hat during breaks and when leaving school. Please apply sunscreen before your child arrives at school. There is sunscreen in class to apply later in the day.

Spare Clothes—Occasionally accidents happen. Please bring a named bag of spare clothes to school (top, bottoms, jumper and underwear).

Toys—Toys are not to be brought to school.

News—Occasionally  children will be invited to bring items to school to share for news. We will let you know when this will be.

Food and Drink—Please send healthy food in your child’s lunchbox. Bring only a water bottle for your child to sip on through the day, not sweet drinks. Juice or flavoured milk is fine in the lunchbox to be drunk at lunchtime. Your child will bring home all lunch scraps in their lunchbox

School Website—The school website is full of information. Check the website and       newsletter to keep regularly informed about what is happening. Make yourself and your child familiar with the Ara Teina links that provide educational activities to do at home.

Go to: arahoe.school.nz

School App—Arahoe School has an iPhone app. that you may download from the App store. Type ‘Arahoe Skoolbag’ into the search box and download onto your phone.

Class blog and email– Our class website is a blog full of photos and current work. There are links and learning tips for your child to use at school and at home. We update the class blog every week.

Go to: http://arahoereception.blogspot.co.nz/ or follow the links from the school blog: www.arahoe.school.nz

My email is katherinew@arahoe.school.nz

Homework—Homework will be written in to homework notebooks daily.

Reading: There will be 2 books that come home each will have been read with a teacher that day and the other will be a familiar text from their bookbox. It is important to maintain reading mileage by reading every night. Sometimes there may be a poem that will be your child’s reading.

Maths: Look on the blog for games and websites and YouTube clips to support the learning we are doing in class.

Writing: We will send home some information about learning Casey Shapes to help your child’s writing. These shapes come from the Magic Caterpillar Building Blocks to Literacy Programme which is also known as the Barbara Brann Programme.

Book bag—Please check your child’s book bag daily for notices and to help them keep their book bag tidy and organised.

Lost Property—Keep a permanent marker or label maker handy to name all your child’s clothes and property. Items lost can be claimed from the lost property by the hall entrance on the carpark side.

How to help us

· We always need art and craft supplies. We welcome donations of newspapers, magazines, string, wool, fabric, pipe cleaners, coloured paper, cardboard, stickers, labels etc.

· A box of tissues is always handy in class and would be gratefully accepted.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to talk to us.

Kind Regards,

Katherine Watson

Classroom Teacher