Kia Ora Kotou Katoa

Spring has sprung and isn't daylight saving a wonderful thing?? There were a lot of droopy bodies by 2 o'clock this afternoon. A big change from the hyper-activity this morning, as our first performance of our production the Lion King loomed. Today we performed to the lovely local kindergarten and tomorrow we will perform for the Diana Isaac Rest Home. Room 14 is the only class performing over two days and nights and I have to say they have been completely dedicated to giving each rehearsal their all. For those of you who have purchased tickets you are in for a visual feast and performance extraordinaire. 

Term 3 has been incredibly busy and this has resulted in almost ten weeks flying by. 
                       To follow a small snap shot of some learning this term. 

International Language week

We are lucky to have children from a diverse range of ethnic groups.  Laxmi teaches us the days of the week in Nepalese with support from Mrs Bastin.

Thomas Hunter had his RBAA ticket pulled out of the box during assembly and got time in another classroom as a reward. He brought his friend Matai. They joined in with a geometry lesson and the children loved having them as part of our class. Especially big sister Sophia. 

Every Wednesday afternoon the year 3/4 year team get together for singing. 

Sometimes other learning gets in the way of Discovery Time. For the last few weeks we have managed to add it back into our Friday timetable. WOW!! what a reminder that this play-based type learning where children take charge of their own learning is invaluable. They are developing skills that will serve them well in life. A big focus is on our key competencies of Thinking, Using Language, Symbols and Text, Participating and Contributing, Relating to Others and Self Management.

Mrs Layton brought in a whole lot of wooden slats. Next thing Matty has the metre rulers and vivids out. He starts measuring and the next thing Clayton joins the project. Together they start making a kennel for assembly dog. Pretty cool boys!!

Photos of these animals were studied. Mask design followed. Can you guess our character in the Production?

Lucia working on Tangram patterns. She even made some of her own to share with the class. 

Kinetic Sand. This stuff is amazing. Matty made the little people and the flag. Mt Everest perhaps?

Thanks Home and School for the money for the new resources.

Maths problem solving on a Friday. Pretty impressive diagrams.

Tuesday sessions with Tiffany from Canterbury Sport. Lots of team work. 

Our BIG book for the week was on Bears.

We made bear paw cookies. The recipe all ran together in the oven but they were still yummy. 

Bear Paw cookie recipe/http://clareslittletots.co.uk/2017/01/bear-paw-cookies/

Enjoy the holiday break. In between thinking about Term 4 learning and requirements I am heading to Brisbane to see my daughter. She is working as a personal trainer at present so guess what I'll be doing each morning at 6am. 

Safe and happy holidays.

Kind Regards

Jenny Layton

I had to finish with this photo. Two of the characters in Room 14. 

Other than production rehearsals and play breaks these call centre headpieces were worn all day. Love it!! 

Dear Parents

It is great to hear that some Room 14 children are practising their maths on Study Ladder. Following is a link to the NZ Maths website which lists some games you can play at home, including a families section. Check out the games as they will help consolidate classroom learning. Could be good holiday activity   .https://nzmaths.co.nz/node/1390


Kind Regards
Jenny Layton 

Term 3 week 3 already!!

Dear Parents, family and friends

What a glorious day. The energy levels increased and everyone was sporting a smile. May the spring like weather continue.

Nathalia Leatu received her RESPECT award at our assembly last week.

Clayton Hawke got 10 RBBA tickets for being able to recite our value for the week.

Room 14 received the Energy Spies shield. This is a new award given to the class that saves electricity by turning of lights whenever they are not in class. Way to go Room 14. 

At Mairehau Primary the children have the opportunity to go to clubs during their play times that the teachers run. Room 14 hosts the Design and Technology Club. There is a weekly challenge. Last week the children had to design a parachute with an object attached. The parachute with the longest time in the air won. Well done to Clayton and Sophia. 

This term we have Mel Geddes with us for five weeks. We love having her in Room 14. Come in to say hi if you get the chance.

Blake Benington is our Student Council representative for Term 3. We know he will have some good ideas to share with Mr Sim that he has collected from the class. 

During maths time we are doing a lot of thinking using money. The children love spending even though the money is not real. We need to have a lesson around budgeting!! Last night I went to a talk by Dr Audrey Chan on the achievement of NZ children in maths. I came away inspired and I have to say there was little sleep last night as I reflected on the maths programme in Room 14.

Kind Regards

Jenny Layton 

The children have worked really hard this term and some of the learning has been challenging. They have had a go at persuasive writing and done extremely well. A recent news item which had a go at an Australian supermarket for wrapping their fresh produce in non-recyclable plastic brought to our attention that Countdown in New Zealand is doing the same. So the children wrote to Countdown to tell them of all the downsides of doing this. Some of the children shared their letters with parents at our recent Student Led Conferences and Mr Bangma has read some. We are now working on Action Plans to makes changes to a problem that the children have identified around the school. Hopefully before the end of term the children will share their ideas with Mr Bangma and who knows we may get the go ahead. We will share the outcome on the next post. 

Our trip to the Botanic Gardens was hugely successful. There is nothing like being at the Gardens when the sun is shining. Happy faces, active children, and great learning. We had a very informative talk from Museum staff on why birds live in different habitats due to their physical characteristics. We then walked down to the curators house to hear about worms and the good work they can do in your garden. The children dug for tiger worms and made a worm house to put them in. I have loved hearing from parents about how responsible their child is being in looking after them. 

This visit was for you Rossi.

 And this one!!

 Free Time. Who needs fidget spinners!

 Digging for Worms

 I loved this photo. It looks like Rossi is taking part in a Rodeo. It is actually a tree branch. 

Annabelle makes a pot of tea. Mrs Layton loves all this retro stuff. 

                                      

Lunch in the sun.

Sitting on ginormous pumpkins these boys show their worm farms. 

Slishy, sloshy!!

Nathalia and Tasha practise reading 'O La'u Pusi ready for next weeks Book Week. 

On Wednesday I came back after release time to read this on the white board. A proud Mrs Layton. 

Lots of Dojo points were given after reading this.So what better way to spend them than a delivery of hot chips on a cold, wet day. 

I 

Well deserved Room 14

Today we said goodbye to Miss Giles after 7 weeks of her lovely presence in Room 14. She heads to Thailand in a week for a well deserved break and back home to Canada at the end of the year. 

Two weeks until the end of term and we still have lots to pack in. Remember Book Week next week and Friday is dress up as your favourite book character. 

Keep warm and sane in this lovely weather !! 

Kind Regards

Jenny Layton 

Term 2 is underway

Term 2, the first 3 weeks

Kia ora 

I was so proud of the Room 14 children during our swim weeks. They were well behaved on the bus, thanked the bus driver and showed respect to all at the Graham Condon pool. They have listened to their instructors and the result has been great progress in the pool. The children set their swimming goals before the lessons started and I don't doubt that they have all achieved them. Thank you to the parents who have come to help. We would not be able to offer the children these valuable water safety and swimming lessons without you. 

This week Alyson Giles a student at UC joined us in Room 14 for seven weeks. Another pair of hands and new enthusiasm is always welcomed. Pop in to say hello if you get the chance. 

In the last week of term one we started our Art Attack project. The children really loved designing and painting the Maori panels. Combined with Rooms 4,5,6 and 7 we hope to have 40 panels to line the entrance to the hall. We are still working on them when time allows in the hope of sharing some of them at our Year 3/4 assembly. 

With Swim Week our timetable goes out the window a bit. Chelsea and Megan brought in a mountain of feijoas so we had to do something with them. We managed to integrate fractions, measurement, 
volume and capacity, science and more into a feijoa ice-cream making session in the last 40 minutes of a Friday afternoon (I did question who in their right mind would do this). It froze over a weekend and we ate it after swimming last Monday. 




There's nothing like licking the beaters.  How did you get in on the action Thomas Hunter??


                                           
For the last two weeks we have been learning about the Keys To Success program. When the children can recite the Seven Keys to Success off by heart and demonstrate them in the classroom they get the Shield. Ka Pai to these tamariki. Ask your child about this program. Some families have been using it at home.

Some action at Graham Condon Pool.

Oodles of Noodles

Art Attack 2017

This was a project that relied on the children seeing it through until the finish. There were many steps involved and the majority of them stuck with it. They loved it. It was great to see Billie Siataga come and spend a morning with us to add his design to one of the panels. 

At the end of last terms inquiry topic we made bottle people showing fashion through the ages. We presented them by way of a time line at one of our recent junior assemblies.



Minus two last night. What is winter going to be like?? Year 3/4 hope to see you at our assembly especially for parents on Thursday afternoon. A wee reminder that we need to get cracking on our act. It's another busy term!!

Kind Regards

Jenny Layton