Last week

• Yes it is our swimming week, bring togs, but I can't guarantee that we will get to go swimming, with all the practices, prize-giving etc etc.

• Please bring a bag on Monday to take your books home in.

• We will try to keep things as normal as possible for the next two and a half days, so please make sure that children are still in bed nice and early do they are not too tired during these hot days.

• We finish at 12.00 on Wednesday, parents please either pick your children up then or have some arrangements for your children- the children hate being the last ones there at school, when everyone else has gone home!

Last few days

• Just a few things to note, remember the picnic tomorrow, sunblock, hats, swimming gear, and a shared lunch..

• Also please send a couple of plastic bags or something similar so the children can take their books and other work home on Monday..

Friday's Middle school picnic

Please remember that it is the Middle School picnic on Friday- your children will need to bring something to share for lunch - preferably something healthy an able to be able to be eaten with fingers. The children will also need their togs, as there will be water activities for part of the day..
Any questions please send me an email or come and see me..

Plastic Bags

Could all the children please bring a couple of plastic bags to carry their books home in, I hope to send home the books either on Friday this week, or Monday next week.

Reading time in Room 8 today

We are still doing heaps of reading in our class every day, we love books..

Meeting.

There will be another meeting for parents on Tuesday evening at 6.30, it is the same format as last week, if you are interested in the children bringing their own devices next year, you are welcome to attend.
Also the school is putting a float into the Christmas Parade this Saturday, if you are available to help with it on Friday or Saturday morning, please let the office know, also the children are invited to be on the float, they are to be dressed as angels.

Athletics Sports

On Friday Room 8 will be involved in the Inter-House Athletics sports, Parents will need to drop children off at the Number two field on Devon St by 8.45 - could children please wear their P.E gear and a t-shirt of their house colour... Parents are welcome to come and watch, and you will be able to help as well if you like!!

Meetings this week.

REMINDERS FOR PARENTSThis week the school is hosting some community meetings.  The discussion will be on some aspects of our Charter and planned E-learning developments for the school for next year.  The meetings will be held in Room 15 and are scheduled for:

Wednesday 20 November        
General Meeting     3.15 pm
Whanau Group       5.30 pm 

Thursday 21 November            
 General Meeting     8.45 am (meeting in Hall)         
 Filipino Community  3.15 pm
 Pasifika Fono         5.30 pm
 General Meeting    7.00pm

Tuesday 26  November            
 Indian Community   6.30 pm
Anyone is welcome to attend any meeting time slot that suits. The same content will be presented at each meeting. It would be good if everyone could try to come to a meeting -  particularly parents of children who are currently in Year 2 or 3.  This is because the school is planning to allow students in Year 3/4 in 2014 to bring a Chromebook to school if they wish (probably from start of Term 2).

Room 8 on Dress up day

Here are a couple of photos of Room 8 dressed up as their favourite character...

A really hard worker..

Sesilia is a really hard worker all the time - she puts great effort into all her her work.

A reading STAR

William has been a reading STAR all year, he has really tried hard and has succeeded in improving everything about his reading.

Character Day on Thursday

Remember to come to school on Thursday as your favourite book character - you can choose any character you like from any story..
And also remember to invite your grandparents to our school Mass on Friday morning, there will be a special morning tea and concert for them in the Hall after Mass.

Rangoli Patterns

Yesterday Room 8 made this Rangoli pattern with Gargi's Mum- everyone had brought flowers to school and we used to petals, the children can tell you all about when Indian Communities make these patterns.

Andrew Chinn Concert

All St Mary's children and their families are invited to St Mary's Church on Tuesday night for a concert with Andrew Chinn. We sing a lot of Andrew's songs at school and this is a wonderful opportunity to be involved with his wonderful talents.Please meet me on the field at 6.15, so we can go into the Church as a class. The concert will be finished at 7.30..

Indian Symbols

We have been making Indian Lanterns with three Mums from our room

Tuesday

Could all children please bring flowers to school on Tuesday, as we are going to be making some Rangoli Patterns with Gargi's Mum on Tuesday afternoon, we will be using the petals and other parts of the flowers.

A STAR for this week

It has been a while since we had a star, this is Gian who is pretty good at getting on with his work.

Cake Stall

There will be a cake stall on Wednesday at morning tea- the Young Vinnies are organising it. All items will be 50c or $1.00.

Swimming tomorrow

Don't forget to bring your togs tomorrow- we will be swimming at 9.00 every morning this week, except for Thursday when we will be helping the rest of the Middle school run the Rosary for this week. Parents are most welcome to join us for the Rosary in the Hall.

Golden Time -week 1

The Room 8 children have chosen to make fruit skewers for Golden Time on Friday. Could all children bring a piece of fruit and if you have any marshmallows at home, they would be appreciated as well. We will need some skewers, I will (hopefully) remember to stop on the way home this afternoon and pick some up, but if you have any wooden skewers lying around they will be useful as well.
Thanks! 

Maths time in Room 8

Swimming

Room 8 will be swimming in even weeks this term, so we will start swimming lessons next Monday at 9.00, remember to bring your togs..

Holidays and week 1 of Term 4

I hope you are all having a great holiday, the weather has certainly good where I have been, so I hope the children are managing to get outside to play as well as continuing with their reading logs..
Don't forget that school begins for Term 4 next Monday, it would be great if everyone could be at school by 8.30 in the morning ready to start our day when the bell goes at 8.45. You may wear you winter uniform for the first two weeks if you think it is still cold, but after Labour Weekend you will need to be in the correct summer uniform.
Please keep an eye on the Blog, as there may be updates as this weeks goes on..
Enjoy the rest of the week.

Golden time

Room 8 have voted to have Pizza for Golden Time- this means that all children will need to bring $1.50 to cover the cost of the pizzas that I order- I will order a selection of flavours to cover all tastes..

Calendar Art

Please remember to come in and view your children's art work that they have done recently- these make great Christmas parents for family members, grandparents etc. I have a folder of the art work in the class, so feel free to come and have a look anytime..

Home Reading

There will be another Home Reading Log sent home at the end of this week- Please read with your children and fill in the Log every day. The class who has the Most Reading Logs returned at the beginning of next term will get a Prize!!! Wouldn't that be great for us...

poems

Remember to learn your poems, we will have everyone recite their poems on Friday morning in class, so we can choose our four people who will go forward to the Middle School Poetry finals on Wednesday..

working hard

Amon is working hard at his smart words and handwriting- well done Amon

Enterprise

The Enterprise Book programme is well under way, we are so looking forward to our book launch next Thursday, 19 September.

Wacky Hair and sock Day

Don't forget your Wacky hair and socks tomorrow (Friday)- you need to bring a Gold Coin donation to have your hair judged by the team leaders.
Also I want all the homework books in tomorrow morning so I can mark them.

Father's Day present

Father's Days will be sold on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at lunchtime, children can bring a couple of dollars to buy something for their Dad for this Sunday..

Creating a book

Here are some of the children working really hard on their books that they are writing, illustrating and then going to publish..

a STAR

Ellie has been working really hard this week- I am really proud of her.

Home made soup

The Year twos are doing another fundraiser this week, they will be selling home-made soup and a bun for $2.00 on Thursday - children can order in the class like they did last week for the Nachos-so if you want some vege soup and a bun on Thursday at lunchtime, please bring $2.00 to our class tomorrow and order it with me..

Nachos

Remember to bring your $3.00 to order your nachos - you can order your nachos with Mrs Tootill on Tuesday and Wednesday and then the Nachos will be delivered to our room on Thursday at lunchtime.

A great week.

OOPS haven't any photos to put on this week, but the Room 8 children have been sooooo busy with doing some fantastic writing and Enterprise work that we are just heads down and 'bottoms up'!!! Parents are invited to come in and see the fantastic work that we have been doing lately. Wow this term is going so fast, keep up the good work children...

Mary MacKillop

We have started talking about Mary MacKillop, she started our school and it is her feast day next week.

Term 3

I hope you are all having a lovely holiday and enjoying doing family activities and also doing lots of reading...
Just a reminder that Monday 29 July is a Teacher Only Day, so the children are expected at school ready to start learning on Tuesday morning.

Preparing for our Sustainability Show

We have learnt so much about how to care for God's Creation, everyone needs to think about how we can make sure everything is perfect for future generations.

Activities for our day to celebrate Matariki

We have been having fun learning all sorts of things today

Another STAR

Gargi has been working so hard recently, she is making such good progress with her work, we'll done Gargi

Mass

Please remember to come to the Parish Mass on Sunday morning at 10.00 a.m. All children are expected to be there in full school uniform, children are to sit with their parents at the Mass.

Another STAR

Riley has done the most fantastic writing this week, Mrs Tootill is so proud of him, he has worked so hard to improve the quality of his work. Well done Riley...

wednesday Star

Cohen is really trying hard with his writing...

He is learning to write fantastic stories...

We are learning about God

We have just started learning how God created everything, we are talking about all the things like to see, hear, feel, touch, smell and taste. Talk about things your family likes to do together in God's creation.

Visit to the recycling centre

This morning we have been to the recycling centre and we have learnt lots of things about how to keep Rotorua beautiful. We looked at what happens to our water when it goes down the drain. We also saw what happens to the plastics and glass when we take it to the recycling centre. Remember to recycle heaps of stuff that you have already used, or that you don't need anymore. We can all do our bit to Keep Rotorua beautiful......

Our gardening this week.

We have been using old soft drink bottles this week to make miniature gardens that are now hanging in the sustainable garden area near Mr Beckham's shed. It took two afternoons to do this, we worked in with Mr Bach and Mrs Waititi. We now have to plant some seedlings or seeds into the bottles. Hopefully they will grow! Parents are welcome to come and see what we are doing.

Monday STAR

Riley did some really great reading this morning. His reading is getting better and better all the time.

Friday star

Charlotte read beautifully at Mass this morning, well done.

Sustainability

We would love our parents to come and have a look at the work we are doing for sustainability..

Writing time in room 8

The children in room 8 are learning to write a persuasive argument. Come and read some of our work, it is really great.

Week 4

Room 8 is working really hard in all areas, we would love parents to come in and have a look at some of the work we have been doing.
Please remember to bring your homework book at the end of the week,so mrs Tootill can mark whatever you have done.
Friday is a teacher only day, if parents need help with child care o Friday they can contact Maryanne from the Glenholme after school care programme, our school office has her number.
Well done to the children who read items and stories at assembly this morning, I was ver proud of you, as we were called in to do assembly at the last minute.

Please keep Tara Chapman in your prayers, we have a a special prayer going home with every child today for Tara.
Remember the disco that was going to be held on Wednesday, is now going to be held at lunchtime on the 12 June.
Please remember to check the blog regularly, as if there is something that you need to know we will post it on the blog.....

Friday's STAR

Jhon Paul wrote a marvellous story in ELL this week, it was such a good story that he read it out at assembly this morning- he can be reallt proud of himself!! Well done!!

Cake Stall

Thanks to all the people who brought cakes today for the cake stall- and also thanks to the people who brought money to buy things.. There are still lots of cakes, muffins and other yummy things left, so bring some money tomorrow morning and we will sell the rest of the stuff. 50c or $1.00 each will be enough..

Cake Stall

The Year 3 children need to bring something to sell at the cake stall tomorrow- we are fund-raising for the trip to the museem to see the starlab..

Things to bring for selling could be:  muffins, biscuits, cake that has been cut into pieces, sweets...

Please take your contribution straight to the Hall in  the morning.

Tuesday STAR

Queenie has done some fantastic work in Reading today...She is doing soooo well with her learning.

Reading reading reading

More reading, the children in room8 love soooooo much and they love listening to stories being read to them as well..

 

Reading STARS

Look at these great people reading - we love reading lots of books in Room 8...

Maths time in room8

Room 8 are doing lots of really great maths. In these photos you can see some of the fantastic work around our room.

Reading evening

The middle school teachers will be holding a reading information evening on Wednesday 10 April from 5.30 till 6.00 p.m. At this meeting we will aim to give parents tips and advice on how to help their child read at home. This meeting is especially beneficial for parents who have a child who finds reading challenging.

Swimming

Remember to bring your togs on Thursday and Friday, this is our last week of swimming, so we want to make the most of our time....

Masks

Room8 made these beautiful masks with Miss Donovan, they are marvellous

Reading zip tales

Room 8 children love listening to zip tales

Donkey parade

Today we have had our Palm Sunday parade we sang 'Hosanna to our King' and watched Callum ride the Donkey around our field

Wednesday STARs

These people have been doing their own research about ants and now they are using their brainstorms to make a poster about ants