He iti marangai, tu ana te pahukahuka, He iti pioke no Rangaunu he au tona…
This refers to – Small although the pioke may be, great is its wake, as it traverses the might of the Rangaunu harbour. [Whakatauki – Ngai Takoto]
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Tēnā koutou katoa. Hello everybody.
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Warm greetings to everyone.
I am pleased to formally greet you, and welcome you to be a part of your child’s learning journey in Te Manga, 2015. Te Manga is a composite class of 2 year 3 and 17 year 4 students. Our classroom / learning environment is in the school house which we are settling into and making the most of the current facilities we have.
Upcoming events this term are –
February
Meet the Teacher Evening – Date and time to be confirmed in the next school newsletter
Friday 6th – Waitangi Day
Friday 13th – Te Manga’s school assembly presentation
Tuesday 17th – Far North World Wetlands Day Event (to be confirmed)
March
Monday 2nd – visit to Town Pool
Friday 6th – Zone Swimming Carnival
Friday 6th – Tues 10th Life Education Trust Caravan Visit
Friday 20th – Far North Swimming Carnival
April
Wednesday 1st Term 1 finishes
Thursday 2nd – Teacher Only Day
Curriculum Areas
Physical Education
Every Monday we have a 30 minute Kiwi sport session with Papa Jim. This term we are working on water confidence and building our swimming skills. Our swimming time each day is from 10.10am to 10.40am.
On Tuesday and Thursday mornings all classes are involved in fitness activities. Students need to be appropriately dressed to participate.
Senior lunch time swimming is on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Students will swim every day. Please ensure your child has their swimming gear at school each day. Swimming is part of the NZ curriculum and it is expected each child takes part in the lessons.
Mr Pirini
We welcome Mr Jonathan Pirini who has joined our teaching team at Paparore. Mr Pirini will be sharing his expertise in music and physical education with Te Manga students on Thursdays and Fridays.
Mrs Radich
Mrs Radich will work with students in Te Manga fortnightly while I attend to Senior Management duties.
Library
Wednesday is our library day. Students will have the opportunity to choose a book and bring this home. Library books will need to be returned to school on the following Wednesday so students can choose a new book.
Topic
‘The Treaty of Waitangi’ is the first inquiry topic of the year. This study is for the first 4 weeks of this term.
The whole school focus on Globalisation will steer our main inquiry based learning on ‘Electricity and its importance to us and the communities we belong to’, for the rest of the year.
School Values
Our five school values Hiranga/Excellence, Rereketanga/Diversity, Ngakau/Tapatahi/Integrity, Porihanga/Community and Partnership, and, Kaitiakitanga/Caring for our Environment will be specifically taught and be an integral part of our learning.
Mathematics
Students will focus on number knowledge and strategies when adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing [Basic facts, and numbers with 2 or more digits] and Geometry, highlighting the skills and language used to describe 2D and 3D shapes.
Home learning
In Te Manga the students will have a weekly home learning worksheet to work on from Monday to Thursday. This is to be completed and handed in on Fridays for marking. The activities on this worksheet are to practice what they are learning.
Parents please ensure your child reads every day (weekends too) and has their reading log signed by someone who has heard them read. A regular set time each night can make this exercise more manageable. ‘Home Learning Rewards’ activities are planned each month for those pupils who regularly complete home learning tasks. Thank you for making a positive start with supporting your child with their home learning.
Beginning of school day
The first half hour of every school day is a very important time for students to prepare for the day. Please make sure your child is at school before 8.30 to be settled and ready to start their learning. Children coming in late not only disrupts morning roll call and notices but also start the day unsettled and unprepared.
Absences
If your child / children are absent from school please contact the school office and let us know, or send a note in with the child when they return informing us of and the reason for their absence.
Contact Details
Please contact the office if you have changed your address and contact details. It is easier to make contact with parents / carers if the school has the correct and up to date details.
Community and Company organisations
We continue to have the Moko health team visit our school three days a week this year. The Moko team in collaboration with ‘Kids Can’ classes are supplied with tissues and sanitizer. Other organisations Kids Can, Sanitarium and Fonterra support our school by supplying food goods for the students.
Reminders for parents
Name all of your child’s belongings including clothing, lunch box and school bag.
Ensure your child has their book bag and contents at school every day.
Have your child at school at least ten minutes before the bell to give them plenty of time to organise themselves for the day.
I look forward to meeting with you at the Parent / Carer ‘Meet the teacher evening on Wednesday 18th February’. If you would like to meet with me before this time please contact the front office to make an appointment to meet with me either before school [8.30am] or after school [2.30pm].
Nga Mihi
Edwina Stevenson
This class is so cool!