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

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• My child ________________________has permission to attend the spelling quiz.

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