Week 1 News

Term 1 Week 1

Tuesday 31^st January

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Room 4 and the 2012 learning year.  Here’s hoping you and your family have had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday and are ready for the exciting challenges that lie ahead! 

There are always adjustments needed at the beginning of a new school year - be it getting back into morning organisation and routines at home, adjusting to a new class and teacher, different expectations of a new year level or meeting and making new friends.  I believe it is especially important in the first few weeks to allay any fears or concerns children have and gradually increase the learning “momentum” so that children’s confidence is preserved and that everyone can get into the “groove” of being back at school again.

Here are some gentle reminders to ease you all back into the routine of school life.

The bell goes at 8.55.  Children settle better in the mornings if they are at school early enough to unpack themselves and have a little play.  They need to be seated, ready on the mat when the second bell rings at 9 o’clock. This is an important time for checking that all children are present and accounted for.  If your child is going to be absent please phone the school office in the morning to let us know.   The day finishes at 3 o’clock.  Please ensure that children know where to meet you.  If you are picking children up at the classroom we ask that you wait outside the classroom until they are dismissed as this keeps the child more focused on the end of day routine.

In the morning or after school you are very welcome to come into the classroom to view and talk with your child about the work they have been doing.  It makes them feel important and their efforts valued.  

A class newsletter is sent home each Monday outlining any special events and homework expectations that occur through the coming week.  The newsletter will be sent via email, as soon as I can load your email addresses onto my files.  A hard copy will be glued into homework books as soon as stationery is purchased and sorted.    Our class wiki will soon be up and running, but you can view this newsletter on our class blog which can be found at http://hnpkduligall.blogspot.com/ .  This is where we can share our learning with you.  It can also be used to consolidate our classroom learning, at home.

For the next week, reading and readers will be whole class, shared stories.  These stories will not be independent readers for most children.   Please take time to read to them and listen to a small portion of the story if they are able to read it themselves without too much difficulty.   Getting your child to tell you about the story, the characters or their favourite part may be a good idea.  Children will be focussed on getting back into school routine and it is important to make this a “happy” reading experience for them.

I would appreciate stationery being purchased as soon as possible so that we can start children working in their books.  Purchasing through the school ensures that children have the correct stationery right from the start. Children will be responsible for their own pencils, rubber, vivid, white board marker and glue stick.  They will need a pencil case to help them be organised and independent.

Our Rich Theme for the first half of this term is “Learning Excellence” and the Key Competency is “Managing Ourselves and our Learning”. 

Year 1/2 teachers have a busy and exciting year planned. More information about our themes and reading, writing and maths programmes will come in future newsletters.

I’m looking forward to working with you and your child this year.  Please feel free to speak to me about anything concerning your child. Please be aware that the mornings are a busy time for settling children and setting up for the day.  As I don’t have meetings on Monday and Thursday afternoons these are good times to make an appointment if you wish to see me.  

You can also contact me through my email address which is -  kduligall@hnps.school.nz  

Please remember chair bags and sunhat, if you forgot today.

Kind Regards,    

Karen Duligall