WELCOME

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all those students and their families who have joined the Middle School this term.  This is  going to be a busy and exciting term.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school if there is an issue or problem at school or at home.  Our email addresses can be accessed on the school website – go to ‘Our People’ and then ‘Our Staff’ to find the teacher you wish to contact.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Uniforms

All students are expected to wear the correct uniform items  every day.  Those who are not in  the  correct school uniform will need a note from home to inform the  class teacher about the reason.  Please remember that shoes/sandals should be only black and suitable  to run and play in.

Students are also reminded that they are expected to wear the correct uniform for sport and PE. They should be wearing blue shorts with a sports t-shirt and suitable footwear.

PE All students have a PE lesson with Mr Grimmer on Monday. On Wednesday the students will be involved in a sports and arts rotation where they will take part in gymnastics, games or dance. PE is part of the school curriculum and it is important that your child brings their sports uniform on each of these days. Mr Grimmer has asked that on Monday the students are to wear sports shoes for their PE session.

HOME LEARNING

Students are asked to complete home learning on a regular basis.  Home learning encourages the development of good study skills and habits, will provide opportunities for parents to have a sharing time with their children and will help students to develop responsibility for their own learning.  

For Year 3 and 4 children, up to 20 minutes a night is considered sufficient.

In the Middle School, Home Learning will be set weekly. Home Learning will usually comprise of daily reading, learning of spelling words and maths such as basic facts or problem solving activities. These skills support our Writing, Reading and Maths programmes.

From time to time teachers will set additional tasks to be completed and these tasks will be explained in the Home Learning book.

Book Bags/Library Bags are to be used to transport readers and library books to/from school and to/from the library. Students will not be able to issue a library book or bring home a school reader without a bookbag.

Please take the time to read to or with your child on a daily basis.  Reread the readers with your child, read from the library books or read a book from your own collection.  Make it a regular and fun time.

Term One Highlights

Class Treaties

During the first few weeks of the term classes worked on preparing treaties outlining the expectations for behaviour and relationships in the class. The classes presented and shared their class treaties with each other at their assembly. The treaties are displayed in the classroom for all to see.

Community Inquiry

Last term the Middle School classes visited Musick Point, Eastern Beach, and Pigeon Mountain to find out more about their community. It was a very physical day with everyone walking about 5 kms and taking many photos and videos. We were very impressed with the behaviour and the way the students were engaged in their learning all day. For many students, the learning culminated in presenting information in posters, videos, and google slide presentations. You can see the work the students have done on classroom walls, on iPads where they have made presentations, and in their google docs.

The ideas that were talked about in this Inquiry will be used this term when we look at how we can plan a community event.

Term 2 Focus

Science Roadshow

This term the Science Roadshow will deliver an exciting and interactive learning experience for students. BBPS will host the Roadshow in our hall.

One 80 minute session includes:

  • Live shows and hands-on exhibits that broaden students’ knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
  • Strong support for the Nature of Science strand and the Five Foundational Science Capabilities.

Themes:

Observations; Heat; Electricity; Gravity; Magnetism; and Human performance.

The cost per student to attend the Science Roadshow is $7.50.

Inquiry Focus

This term Middle School students will be conducting an inquiry unit that follows on from last term, which explores the way that societies can create and organise events that contribute to the community. This inquiry unit will focus on the roles and responsibilities of people involved in planning an event, how groups work together to achieve a goal, and the role of economics in the decision making.

We will look at identifying a need to create a product or service and understand that a product or service can lead to a social action.

We plan to hold some events in week 8 that involve our school community such as a cake stall, a burger sizzle, a sports event for the Juniors and a Middle Team Community picnic.

If you are able to help in any way for this Inquiry please talk to your child’s teacher. You might have experience in planning events that you could talk to the students about, have contacts that we could write to or be able to help us run any of the events.

Throughout the term, our focus in Maths will involve learning about money and timetables. In Literacy we will focus on letter writing, persuasive writing and explanations.

Financial Literacy

As part of the Inquiry this term, the ASB GetWise Financial Literacy will hold sessions with each class to deliver a free, curriculum-based, financial literacy programme. This will take place on Wednesday in week 6.

The School Website and BYOD

The school website is an efficient way to advise the school office of absences, read team and school newsletters, access the school lunch ordering system, and access your child’s learning through Student Voice. As the year progresses your child will post examples of their learning to the site. The children love it when someone comments and leaves feedback on their work.

Important dates  for this term

  • 5 June – Queen’s Birthday (School is closed)
  • 7 June – Financial Literacy
  • Week 7, 12 – 16 June – Junior School Production
  • Week 8, 19 – 23 June – Community Week
  • Week 9, 26 – 30 June  – Matariki
  • 28 June – Science Roadshow
  • 3, 4 July – Parent Conferences
  • 7 July – Last day of term. School finishes at 3pm

Paying Online

All payments for trips etc can be made online. Go to “Parent Shop” and pay on “Wrap it Up”.

The cost for each child to attend the Science Roadshow is $7.50.