Term 3 Week 9
Principal's Message
How on earth is it week 9 already!?
This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and classes will be involved in activities around that.
This Wednesday at 2pm we have our Celebration of Learning. It would be lovely to have as many of you there as possible to see and hear what the children have been learning. We will also have a performance from our Room 4 guitarists - you'll be so impressed with the progress they have made since you saw them last. Remember that any family members and friends are welcome if you can't get away from work.
On Thursday morning we will all be heading to St Patrick's College to join our Kāhui Ako schools in a Cultural Celebration. Each school or college will bring up to 50 students to perform on the stage. We have been practising really hard and despite being nervous I am sure we will do a fabulous job. Unfortunately, due to space restrictions parents are not invited but we will vidoe the perfromance and share it with you.
On Wednesday afternoon your child will come home with a t-shirt that they are to wear to school on Thursday. They are to wear the t-shirt with plain black leggings, shorts or jogging trousers just as they do for PE. If your child does not have plain black items then please let me know as we have some spares. Please ensure your child has a waterbottle with them on Thursday as well.
First Communion
I was so happy yesterday to be able to join Inigo and Imara as they celebrated their First Holy Communion, such a special occasion. Congratulations to you both.
Lisa Small
Principal
Faith News
Wednesday Mass
Please come and join Room 2, along with members of the parish, for Mass this Wednesday morning at 9am,
in Room 3.
Parish Newsletter
This week’s Parish newsletter is available here
Celebration of Learning
This Wednesday, September 18, at 2pm in the hall we are holding our Celebration of Learning. Each class will share what they have learnt during the term. We will then head back to classes for you to have some one on one time with your children.
Anyone is welcome to join us- mums, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, au pairs, etc.
Calendar Art Fundraiser
The children have been working on some fantastic artwork which can be made into cards, calendars, diaries, mousepads and sketch books. These make great Christmas presents for family and friends.
Artwork will be on display in the classrooms during the celebration of learning this Wednesday.
Order forms will be sent home next Monday.
Swimming Lessons Term 4
All children will be taking part in our swimming programme during Term 4. Lessons will be on Fridays . Children will travel by bus to the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre at 12.15pm. Parents and caregivers of younger children are welcome to join us at the pool and assist with changing.
Please ensue all items of your child's clothing and footwear are clearly named. Children must remove all their belongings from the changing rooms during lessons, check that the bag your child will take to swimming is large enough for them to fit all their clothes, footwear and towel into while they are swimming.
Children are to wear their P.E uniform on swimming days.
Sun Hats Term 4
A reminder we are a sun smart school, so all children must have a school sunhat at school each day in Term 4 regardless of the weather.
Birthday Wishes
Happy Birthday to Natalie who turns 13 today! and to Elijah who turns 7 tomorrow, Blake who turns 11 on Saturday, and finally to Nelly who will turn 7 on Sunday. We hope you all have wonderful, fun filled birthdays.
Absences
If your child is sick or unable to attend school for all or part of the day, please either send a notification via the school app (skool loop), email the school office on office@stbernards.school.nz or phone 3899377 by 9.00 a.m. so that your child's absence can be accounted for.
Children who are late need to report to the office in case they have been marked absent by the teacher who takes the roll first thing in the morning.
If an absence is planned for a special reason, a note or telephone call to the school in advance is appreciated. In cases of prolonged absence, e.g. a family trip, a written note is required.
Room 1 Learning
As we nearing the end of term, I thought I'd share with you photos of Room 1 children busy learning, working and playing together. We have had a busy term, the class has grown and it has been lovely to see everyone humming along together, helping each other and looking after our new students showing manaakitanga and aroha.
Room 2 Learning
Room 2 have been working hard at practising their handwriting. We have a lesson that focuses on handwriting at least once a week, if not twice. Here we carefully practice how to form each letter correctly. We first practice the letters in normal print, then we have a go at writing them in cursive. Recently, teaching cursive has resurfaced as a tool for helping children with dyslexia, or for any children who might struggle with handwriting. The continuous flow of cursive supports muscle memory and the cursive writing process leads to less letter formation mistakes (confusion between d's and b's etc.). Additionally, learning a little cursive each week gives the class an extra chance to develop their fine motor skills, along with the skills to recognise the cursive alphabet and to read cursive writing.
Room 4 Learning
Forces: Friction!
Last Friday, Dave Harper (Natalie and Joshua’s father) visited Room 4 to help us with our session on friction. Dave is an engineer was able to share his expertise on forces and their scientific processes. For this activity, each pair of children had a plastic bottle filled with sand. Attached to each side of the bottle was a different material - velvet, carpet, a rubber tile and a blank side.
The children worked in pairs and selected a classroom surface to test the four surfaces' friction. Using a force metre, they measured the force required to move each surface of the bottle in Newtons (N). A force metre is a device used to measure the amount of force it takes to move an object. The children recorded their results in a table.
Following the classroom measurements, the classroom went outside to test the four bottle surfaces on the concrete court, wood, grass and playground rubber matting. The children enjoyed using the force metre, testing different surfaces and recording their results. The next step will be to type up their results and create graphs showing friction on different surfaces.
Community Notices
Looking for a way to get a little bit extra this side of Christmas?
PFI (People For Information) is a research recruitment agency – we recruit people just like you to share your feedback on new products, new ideas, advertising, etc.
Topics can range from shopping to skincare to banking, and each person taking part receives a koha for their time and input (with either a direct credit or vouchers).
The best part? You can fit this around the family – we offer daytime sessions, evening sessions, in person or online via Zoom.
It’s up to you – if you’re keen to find out more please click on one of the links below which will take you to either our website, Facebook page or our LinkedIn page.
We look forward to getting you on board and involved!
Who's ready for an adventure at Staglands these school holidays?
Be the early bird that gets the worm, or in this case, a FREE ADULT TICKET, to return again!
Just purchase your entry tickets at our Ticket Office by 10am, and voila!
Offer runs from 28th September - 13th October 2024.
Conditions apply, see website for details.
We will also be running our ever-popular, free Tractor-Trailer Rides (circumstances permitting).
Get Kids Moving, Learning, and Thriving at Bigair Gym!
Is your child keen to learn cartwheels, handstands, flips, trampolining tricks, or parkour? Bigair Gym is the ultimate place to explore these skills and more! Classes combine fun, focus, and fitness in a supportive environment where kids can build confidence and master new techniques. Catering to all levels, from beginners to advanced, with safety and technique prioritized.
At Bigair Gym, kids participate in structured classes with a 1-10 level program, designed to encourage progress, celebrate milestones, and promote achievement. A variety of classes are offered, including Gymnastics, Trampolining, Tumbling, Free Running (parkour with flips and tricks!), and Cheerleading. Weekend Birthday Parties are also available and highly popular!
Bookings are now open for Bigair Gym’s popular Holiday Programme, with both full and half-day sessions available. Spaces are limited, so book online today to secure a spot. It’s the perfect opportunity for children to stay active and have fun during the holiday break.
Join Bigair Gym and watch your child thrive!
Booking online for Term 4 & the Holiday Programme is quick and easy at www.bigairgym.co.nz
Bigair Gym Owhiro Bay: ph. 383 8779, e. wgtn@bigairgym.co.nz at 14 Landfill Road, Owhiro Bay.
