Week 4

Kia ora Nikau Whanau!

Did you know you can subscribe to this blog? There is a place to enter your email address on the right (Marked - Follow by email). Once you are subscribed you will receive notice of the blog being updated and not miss out on any posts.

125th CELEBRATIONS:

This week we have been getting together with the whole school to practise Kapa haka for the 125th celebrations next week. We are improving every day. There were even reports that we could be heard several blocks away.

If you haven't yet registered for the reunion please click here: http://www.clydequayschoolreunion.com/

STAR STUDENT:

This week Theo is our Star Student. Theo also has a birthday tomorrow so he has much to celebrate. Congratulations, Theo, on your excellent attitude to learning, your persistence in working through problems and for being a considerate classmate that uses kind words.

Theo the star!

 BUDDY CLASS:
Wan Wan and the children of Totara came for their first visit as our buddy class for 2015. We spent some time getting to know each other and sharing picture books together.

INQUIRY:

This week we started into our Maths inquiry. We read a great picture book called 365 Penguins.

We looked out for maths ideas and found a surprising amount in this book!

It had:
counting
addition
subtraction
multiplication
division
days of the week, month, year
patterns
2D and 3D shapes
probability
measurement
... and more!



Isn't it amazing the way that maths is all around us?

WRITING

This week we also had a close look at some examples of writing and reflected on what made them good writing. Children made observations and made links to their own writing. This proved to be a valuable exercise when we met to conference their writing and make some goals. Try asking your child to see if they can tell you what their goal is in writing.


STUDENT COUNCILLORS

After calling for volunteers and listening to campaign speeches, the children of Nikau selected their class councillors.

This term they are: Zen & Annabelle with Toby & Eleanor acting as deputies.

Week 3

新年快樂 Happy Chinese New Year (for yesterday)

It has been another great week in Nikau. We have been busy editing and publishing our poems and they are up on the wall for you to have a look at next time you're in class. 

Iris is dyeing to finish her poem.

PARENT HELP: Thanks to Melissa and Xanthe who came in to help at Maths time (9:30 - 10:30am Mon - Thur) this week. If you'd like to come along and help out by playing maths games with the children please feel welcome. Also a big thank you to those who have been able to help out at swimming time.

Eyes on the prize! This group are practicing basic facts bingo.

 Children are now organised into their swimming groups and can hopefully tell you which one they are in. I would just like to say I have been impressed with the children's speediness in the changing rooms and the amazing effort to in the 'silence game' on the bus to the pool! It would be helpful if the children could bring (or wear) jandals on swimming day as this makes getting changed much easier.

STAR OF THE WEEK: This week  I am pleased to announce that Zen is our Star Student.

Zen looking rightfully pleased with himself!

Great job, Zen! You are a good example of an active learner. Keen to ask questions,
follow instructions, ready to learn and includes his fellow classmates.

SNEAKY UPDATE: Sneaky Snake has had a great week and enjoyed being read to. Here he is paying close attention to a picture book. He was excited and sad to finish off our first novel of the year; Circus Berzerkus.

WATER BOTTLES: Children are allowed to have water bottles at their desk so they can drink in class and not need to leave if they are thirsty. This is strictly a water only policy (for the sake of avoiding sticky spills). Children may still have other drinks at morning tea and lunchtime, of course.

Week 2

Well, this week has surely flown by! Today is Friday the 13th - lucky for some. It turned out to be lucky for Carly and Ted who were awarded Principal's awards today for being great role models in Nikau when it comes to being organised. Well done to you both and thank you for being ready to learn, being quick to come to the mat and listen, knowing where all the equipment you need is and looking after it and keeping your tote tray tidy so you can find things!

It was also a memorable day for Amelie, who became the first Nikau class member to be named "Star Student".

Come and look at the display on the wall if you want to know what a Star Student does.

Congratulations Amelie! You will be the go-to person for the week, line leader, messenger and all-round first to get to do things as a reward for your hard work.

Those among you who are excellent proof readers may spot a rushed mistake or two made by me (Anne)! The children and I made observations about Amelie and why she deserved this honour. I was struggling to keep up as the ideas came thick and fast. We have a saying in our class: "We all make missnakes!"

Speaking of snakes who make mistakes - you may have heard about Sneaky Snake. He is a green snake who loves to read and the students of Nikau like to read him stories. Sometimes in his sneakiness he hides and the first person in class often finds him in an odd spot. Today Ted managed to catch Sneaky attempting to be a trapeze artist! He must have been thinking about joining the circus like Marvin, the main character in the book we are reading "Circus Berzerkus".

Have a great weekend and see you Monday!

Anne

After 2 years at school

Here is a link to the info about what to expect from your child after 2 years at school. There are also helpful hints as to how you can help at home to support learning in Maths, Reading and Writing.

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/Parents/YourChild/ProgressAndAchievement/NationalStandards/Introduction/SupportingYourChildsLearning/After2YearsAtSchool.aspx

To all the sunbeams in Nikau

Nikau timetable

Thanks to all those who came last night to the curriculum evening. If you were unable to make it - or if you want another copy of the class timetable I have (fingers crossed) made a link to it below.


https://drive.google.com/a/clydequay.school.nz/file/d/0B4BoYsDpAeHkQ2U1Yi11WDFpUnM/view?usp=sharing

Week One Getting to know each other

End of Week 1

It has been so good to get to know the children in Nikau this week. We have been working on lots of "Getting to know you" activities and establishing our class routines. One of the activities we completed was Ten things you need to know about me. Here is a sample of one of the students work:

Can you guess who this is?

1    I am really good at writing
2    I am quite good at neat printing
3    I love school
4    My favourite thing at school is maths
5    I like to go to the top of the monkey bars
6    I like playing tag with my friends
7    My favourite fruit is mango
8    My favourite song is Happy by Pharell
9    I love doing art
10  I love to draw spaceships

Clue: His name begins with T and has four letters in it ...


Next week we will start on more formal guided reading sessions and targeted numeracy work.