Welcome back, notices and learning tasks for Week 1-2

Kia ora everyone and welcome back to school again for Term 3. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday and feel ready to get back into things. Here are some important notices for the week ahead

Tues 23rd July
-Cross Country training, wear PE gear
-Sticks 'n' Stones with Vanessa
-Student lead conferences after school

Wed 24th July
-9am Mass, everyone welcome to join us in the church
-Cross Country training, wear PE gear
-Student lead conferences from 1.30pm
-House activities for the afternoon

Thurs 25th July
-Swimming: bring togs, towel, goggles if you have them. We will be having an early lunch and walking to the pool. Wear PE gear.

Fri 26th July
-9am school assembly lead by Room 1, all welcome to join us.
-Book Fair parade, come dressed as your favourite book character

LEARNING TASKS

-Mathletics Tasks. All groups have tasks set for this week and will receive another set of tasks next week.
-Writing Challenge. One task completed each week. Published, added to your portfolio.
-Reading 'Top 50' Five tasks completed each week.
-Principal appointment student survey (this will be completed in class)
-Student lead interview reflection and preparation.
-House leaders preparation (for Wednesday afternoon. Must be completed by Wed lunch time at the latest)
-Reading. Everyone must have a novel and check this with Mr Yeoman or Mrs Te Huia-Holmes, and be reading for at least 20mins each day at home.
-Book Letters. Due by those students who didn't hand in at the end of Term 2.

Enjoy your learning.

Mr Yeoman and Mr Te Huia-Holmes

Central Otago Primary Schools Curling tournament. Friday July 5th 2019

Here is the information for the students who were lucky enough to be picked to play in the tournament this Friday. Sorry to those who have missed out, we are only allowed to enter two teams. Our teams will be:

St Gerards 1 = Libby, Imojen, Thomas, Harry

St Gerards 2 =Lucas, Mika, Mayce, Hannah

·       Arrive at school normal time.

·       Briefing at 9:45am. Play starts 10:00am sharp. All finished with prizegiving at 2:30pm. 

·       Wear school tracksuits and warm clothes.

·       Bring a pen/pencil for your scoring cards and a broom for sweeping your stones.

·       Hot chips, sausages and hot drinking chocolate will be available for lunch. Bring coins if you want this.

  We need an adult to manage & supervise the teams throughout the day and we will need help with transport from school to the ice rink. Please contact Mr Yeoman (027 277 8466 ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz) asap if you are available to do this for part or all of the day. Thanks

Parents please advise Mr Yeoman if your child has permission to go home directly from the ice rink or if they will need transport back to school at the end of the day.

Important notices for final week of term

Kia ora everyone. Welcome to the final week of Term 2. What a term it's been! We're finishing off with lots of interesting things, enjoy the week and enjoy the holidays.

Tues July 2nd
-Ice skating / Curling. Meet at the ice rink 8.50am. Wear PE gear and warm clothes. Bring a drink bottle.
-Lunch with the Mayor! Tim Cadogan will be in Room 1 to discuss Climate Change and the Council response. 12.45pm - 1.30pm. Any interested students are welcome to join this conversation.

Wed July 3rd
-Ice skating / Curling. Meet at the ice rink 8.50am. Wear PE gear and warm clothes. Bring a drink bottle.
-First Aid course 1.30pm for all students.

Thurs July 4th
-Mufti mania day
-Ice skating / Curling. Meet at the ice rink 8.50am. Wear warm clothes. Bring a drink bottle.
-Shared lunch. Please bring something healthy to contribute to a class lunch to celebrate the end of term.
-Eisteddfod assembly 1:30pm. Student speakers will be announced in class on Tuesday morning.

Fri July 5th
-Technology at The Terrace.
-Curling tournament for our 8 Year 8 students involved, see your separate notice.

Notices and learning tasks for this coming week

Kia ora everyone. Welcome to Week 9 of the term. There is plenty of interesting things going on over the next couple of weeks. Please be well organised and enjoy all the opportunities!

Notices for this week:

Tues 25th June
-Ice skating & curling = Please meet at the rink 8.55am. Wear PE uniform plus warm thermals under and jackets/ski pants etc over top.

-Young Vinnies = Meeting at lunch time in Rm 2

-Sticks and Stones with Vanessa, 1.30pm

Wed 26th June
-Ukelele with Baz, as always bring a ukelele and a tuner if you have either, thanks!

-Eisteddfod poems in Rm 1, everyone must be ready to present on this day.

Thurs 27th June
-Ice skating & curling = Please meet at the rink 8.55am. Wear PE uniform plus warm thermals under and jackets/ski pants etc over top.

-1.30pm Predator Free NZ film making for a small group.

-Matariki art. Bring materials to decorate if you want to.

Fri 28th June
-7.30am Matariki breakfast
-1:55 pm Buddy reading, 2:20pm house sports.

Must Do Learning Tasks for Week 9 & 10

Please see the Must Do check sheet in Rm 2 for any more details. These have all been discussed and planned for today, students have details in their diaries.

1.) Mathletics activities

2.) Reading pages and tasks

3.) Book Letter from one of the books you've read this term.

4.) Writing portfolio

5.) Eisteddfod poem

6.) Buddy reading/House activity planning (for house leaders)

7.) Matariki reading and activities (will happen in class)

8.) Spelling, vocabulary activity, and Target game

Enjoy the learning!

Ngā mihinui

Mr Yeoman and Mrs Te Huia-Holmes

Up and coming - Eisteddfod Poetry details

Hi all, with camp coming up next week I thought you'd better know about this term's Eisteddfod nice and early. Below is all the info you'll need.

Term 2 Eisteddfod - Poetry

Room 1 Poetry Eisteddfods will be heard in Week 9 of this term.

You will need to recite the poem in a way to make the poem come alive, as the poet meant it to be when read aloud. We are looking at performing the poem rather than just reading it.

Chosen poems should be of a reasonable length - 16 to 20 lines is a good length.

The performance is scored out of 50:

•   10 marks for the introduction - state the title, the poet, some interesting facts about him/her if you have some. Why you chose this poem? The meaning you take from the poem?

•   10 marks for the preparation - how well have you learned it? What ideas have you used to perform it? Do you bring any props?

•   10 marks for diction - how clear are the words? - can we understand all of them? and can we hear them all?

•   10 marks for audience suitability - Room 6 are the first audience, and later the whole school - is this a poem that suits this audience? I know that we all enjoy humorous poems, animals, adventures, narrative poems that tell a story and ones with interesting nonsense words.  Many people also seem to enjoy poems that have a clear rhythm and rhyme.

•   10 marks for the overall presentation - this is the pure performance and entertainment factor.

Poetry  Eisteddfod Marking

*  Using poetry, recite/perform a chosen poem, entertaining the audience and making meaning clear by using appropriate speech and delivery.

Name:  __________________                             Title: ___________________

Introduction	/10
Preparation	/10
Diction	/10
Audience suitability	/10
Presentation	/10
Total	/50
Marker Comment

Notices, Learning Tasks and Dates - Week Five

Kia ora whānau. As we begin a new week there's plenty of things to look forward to, enjoy, and make the most of. Here's some happenings in the week ahead. Enjoy!

Tues 28th May
-Ukelele with Baz
-Sticks 'n' Stones with Ness

Wed 29th May
-Teacher Strike

Thurs 30th May
-New Zealand Playhouse Theatre performance

Fri 31st May
-Assembly, lead by Room 6. All welcome to join, reminder of the new time, 9am.
-Buddy reading and house games to finish the week.

MUST DO LEARNING TASKS

We begin another two-week round of Must Do learning tasks. Here are your tasks for the next two weeks.

-Mathletics Tasks. Please make sure these are completed. We will have workshops to cover any new learning

-Portfolio writing. Continue to work hard on these. Make sure all work is edited, improved and proofread before submitting to Mrs T.

-Camp mapping task = Please complete what we all began together in class, be ready for marking.

-Camp animal portfolio task =With your partner please complete your research to a high standard, add to the google doc that has been shared with you.

-Personal reading and activities = As usual you are required to be reading every day, please complete your chosen activity each week and be ready to report back to your group.

-Spelling & Word activities = Spelling testing every night plus vocab activities, you also have a crossword to complete this week.

-Camp 'Leave No Trace' activity = We will cover this in class so you will know more about this later in the week or early next week.

-Leaders planning Friday afternoon buddy reading and house activities, please complete the planning form shared with you before lunch time on Friday.

-Catchups! Some of you still have unfinished work from our previous Must Do learning tasks. Please look over the checklist on the wall of Room 1 and ensure you work hard to catchup! Don't get behind!

Cheers

Mr Yeoman and Mrs T

Notices and Learning Tasks for this week - Term 2 Week 4

Hi everyone. Below are some important notices for this week.

Tuesday May 21st
-Ukelele with Baz. Please bring along any ukes and tuners you have at home.

Wed May 22nd
-Mass at 9am. All are welcome to join us.
-ODT Extra! Central Otago Spelling Quiz. Meet at the church car park 5.45pm.

Thursday May 23rd
-Rippa Tournament at Molyneux park. Please see earlier blog post for details.
-Camp parent helper meeting at 7:30pm in Room 2, for those who are coming on camp.

Fri May 24th
-Technology at The Terrace

Extra happenings this weekend...
-School family mass 9am on Sunday 26th
-Mountain Bike orienteering event around The Pines, beginning at Industry Lane. See the school newsletter or Mr Yeoman for more details.

MUST DO LEARNING TASKS
These roll over from last week, please see earlier blog post. Students need to be aware that Thurs and Fri many of you won't have school time to work on these tasks so you must be well organised and many of you will need to spare some more homework time to complete these to your best standard and on time. Go for it!

Have a great week

Mr Yeoman and Mrs Te Huia-Holmes

Central Otago Rippa Rugby Tournament Molyneux Park

What: Central Otago Schools Rippa Rugby tournament

When: Thursday 23rd May. 9am – Aprox 2:30pm. Postponement Fri 24th.

Where: Molyneux Park

Who: Yr 3-8 students who have chosen to take part. We have two year 3-4 teams entered, 2 x Year 5-6 teams, and 2 x Year 7-8 teams entered.

Bring: PE uniform. School tracksuit. Warm clothes. Lunch and drink. Money if you want to buy food from the canteen.

Registration: All players are required to register with the Rugby union. Please click on the link on your class blog or Seesaw to fill out the registration form.

Parent Helpers: We will need 1-2 parent helpers per team. You don’t need to be a Rippa expert, you just need to help manage reserves & subbing, and help students to be at the right place at the right time. Please contact me asap if you are available to help.

Thanks!

Mr Yeoman

ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz

Student Strike for the Climate - meeting this Fri 24th @ Community House

Kia ora everyone. Following on from last week's message regarding the student Climate Strike happening around NZ, and here in Alex, a meeting will be occurring at Community House where students can come together and share ideas, understandings, and make plans for their strike action.

When - Immediately after school this Friday May 24th.

Where - Community House, Centennial Ave opposite the Museum.

Who - Students planning for the School Strike For Climate, as well as any parents and caregivers who want to know more about the strike, or who would like to discuss plans and ideas with students.

A reminder that this is to be a student lead initiative, however conversations within and between whānau are important if students are to feel supported in this initiative.

I hope some of you can make it along!

Mr Yeoman

He waka eke noa

We're all in this canoe together!

Notices and Learning Tasks for Week Three and Four of Term Two

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a nice weekend and are ready for the week ahead. Here's a few important notices to plan for:

Tues May 14th
-Ukelele with Baz in the morning. If you can please bring along a Ukelele and tuner.
-Sticks 'n' Stones with Vanessa in the afternoon.

Wed May 15th
-Netball tournament in the afternoon. See the previous blog post for details.

Thurs May 16th
-Year 8s HPV immunisations for those who have chosen to do so.
-Girls 'Are We There Yet?' inquiry, exhibition launch morning tea in school foyer.
-Maths Problem Challenge number two

Fri May 17th
-Room 1 leading assembly at the new time of 9am. Please join us!
-Pink Shirt Day, more info to follow

MUST DO LEARNING TASKS

Below is an overview of the current student learning tasks. If you require any more of the details or have questions around what is involved please don't hesitate to make contact with Mr Yeoman or Mrs Te Huia-Holmes.

1.) Mathletics tasks. Students have all been grouped and therefore will have different tasks set depending on their group. Workshops related to these tasks will be given. Remember mathletics has a tutorial you can view alongside each task if you still have questions. If you don't get 100% then seek help from a parent, friend, teacher and take the time to attempt the task again

2.) Reading pages & activity. All students have a book they're reading and set pages they intend to read for the week. Once reading is done every student has a 'Literature Circles' task to complete and bring back to their small group to report on.

3.) Spelling & word activities. Includes testing spelling words each night, completing vocab activities for three chosen words, and working on a 'Boggle' word activity throughout the week.

4.) Writing portfolio. This comes from the tasks that Mrs Te Huia-Holmes handed out to students on Monday. She will speak more to students regarding this.

5.) Writing group tasks. After your workshops Mrs T or Mr Yeoman may set you a short follow-up writing task. Some groups may have longer ongoing writing projects to work on.

6.) Maths worksheets. Some groups will have maths worksheets to work on to follow up a specific learning outcome from their workshop.

As well as these compulsory tasks we will also be working on some Te Reo Maori orally in class, we will be carrying on our Predator Free Inquiry, and we will be preparing for assembly on Friday.

Enjoy! Work Hard. Do your best!

Mr Yeoman and Mrs Te Huia-Holmes

St Gerards Netball Tournament - Wed 15th May

Over the past two weeks we've had some excellent netball coaching sessions with Ashley. To conclude our netball sessions we're having our annual St Gerards tournament. Below is some important information.

1. Students will come to school in their house colours. Warm clothing needed please plus lunch and water. No pie warmers.
2. Leave school at 12.15 to walk to courts and eat lunch there. Parents are welcome to walk with us.
3. Sharelle and Ashelle will brief students at 1pm .
4. First game is 1.10. they are 5 mins long. No half time. 
5. Students will be going home straight from courts so arrangements will need to be made. Bus students can be brought back to school if needed.

It should be a fun occasion!

Kia ora

Mr Yeoman

NZ school's 'Strike For The Climate' - Important information

Kia ora everyone.

Some of you may be aware that school students around New Zealand are organising a School Strike for the Climate, in order to demand stronger action from government on Climate Change. A previous strike occurred in New Zealand and internationally on 15th March, the current strike is being planned for Friday 24th May.

Room 1 students at St Gerards have been studying Climate Change, and we recently hosted local climate scientist Greg Bodeker to our class for a question and answer time. In the nationwide 'Census in schools' survey students recently took, 28 of our class stated that Climate Change was an 'urgent issue'.

 11 students from Room 1 have indicated they are wanting to take part in some action on that day. The upcoming strike is a student-lead strike and not one organised by adults, nor is it promoted by schools, although I (Mr Yeoman) have brought to the student's attention the fact the strike is happening. I will be taking no further part in promoting any strike action.

These students will need to discuss with their whānau, and together whānau will need to make their own decisions around what action they are happy for students to take part in on the day. Whānau would need to know that this is not a school activity, and that therefore students would have to be marked absent - that is what makes this a potentially more powerful statement by students attending the strike.

The only role I, as an adult and as a teacher, would play is to help our St Gerards students to make contact with other school leaders who might assist them in their planning for the day.

For further information see the School Strike for Climate website and Facebook page. This movement was inspired by the actions of Swedish school student Greta Thunberg, here is a good summary of her story - Greta Thunberg - which will help build a greater understanding of the context and magnitude of this student action.

Please discuss this with your child and if you have any questions or would like to discuss further please contact me by email.

Ngā mihinui

Mr Yeoman

Notices for Week Two in Room One

Kia ora everyone and welcome to Week Two of the term. Your learning tasks continue on from last week, note that many of you will have new mathletics tasks set this week - you will have teaching sessions to ensure you understand new material, please ask if you're unsure of anything, and remember Mathletics also has excellent tutorials sitting alongside each task.

It's been awesome to welcome Mrs Te Huia-Holmes  to join our class, how lucky we are to now have two teachers in Room 1!

Here's a few notices for the week ahead, as always make sure you're well organised and ready to make the most of all the opportunities that come your way.

Tues 7th May
-Ukelele: Can all those who own ukelele and tuners please bring them along
-Young Vinnies at lunch time (to be confirmed but plan for it)

Wed 8th May
-Netball has been cancelled, wear normal uniform please.
-Vege garden opportunity in the afternoon

Thurs 9th May
-Netball in the morning, please wear PE gear

Fri 10th May
-Technology at The Terrace, come prepared with all that you need.

Ngā mihi

Mr Yeoman and Mrs Te Huia-Holmes

ODT Extra! 2019 Central Otago Spelling Quiz

The following notice has been sent home with many students today who indicated they are keen to take part in this event. Please return (or email Mr Yeoman) asap so we can enter our St Gerards teams.

Your child has indicated that they are keen to participate in this years’ Central Otago Spelling Quiz, run by the ‘ODT Extra!’ Student newspaper.

What: Spelling and word challenge

Who: Teams of 3 Year 7- 8 students

When: Wednesday, May 22nd, 6:30-8:00pm

Where: Cromwell College auditorium, Cromwell.

Students will be required to wear school uniform and bring their own pens.

We require help with transportation to and from Cromwell. Please cut off and return the slip below.

Thanks!

Mr Yeoman

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• My child ________________________has permission to attend the spelling quiz.

• I can take a vehicle, transporting ___ (number) children on the night.

Notices, Dates and Learning Tasks for this week

Kia ora everyone and welcome back to school for Term Two. Here are some important things happening this week...

Tuesday 30th April
-Ukelele with Baz. Please bring your ukelele and tuner if you have your own.
-Sticks 'n' Stones with Vanessa

Wednesday 1st May
-Welcome Mrs Tehuia-Homes to Room 1 for the next 3 terms!
-Lookout Reserve, volunteer planting, 10am. Wear PE, shoes good for working in, warm clothes, gardening gloves if you have some.
-Zone swimming sports
-Vege Garden for small group in the afternoon.

Thursday 2nd May
-Netball with Sharelle, wear PE gear

Friday 3rd May
-9am assembly. All welcome to join us, note the new time of day. Room 1 are running this assembly.
-Netball with Sharelle, wear PE gear

MUST DO LEARNING TASKS FOR WEEK ONE AND TWO

-Mathletics Tasks = A mixture of statistics and multiplication/division tasks have been set.

-Maths statistics = Complete the first steps in your statistics inquiry project. We will be covering this in your maths groups in class so you're all clear on what you need to be doing.

-Personal novel reading & Reading Literature Circles Task = This will be discussed and set in your reading group and due to be completed before your reading group meeting in one week.

-Holiday Recount writing = First draft due Thurs or Fri for your next Writing workshop. Edited, proofread & published copy due next Thurs May 9th

-Spelling = Words to learn and either vocabulary activity or word activity to complete this week, another new list coming next week, test on Friday.

-Jigsaw art = See Mrs Connor for your puzzle piece to go on our Room 1 & 2 doors

-Goal Setting reflection = Please make time to sit down and discuss with your whānau, return to Mr Yeoman by Friday.