WELCOME
We would like to extend a warm welcome to all those students and their families who have joined the Middle School this year and we are looking forward to a great year of learning. This is going to be a busy and exciting term.
Please remember that we see every child as an important part of our classrooms so please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the Middle School Team Leader in Room 13, Mrs Rist, with any queries or concerns.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHING STAFF
Welcome back to Nick Chamberlain, Laura Ahern, Hannah Saul, Jacinta Howie and Debbie Rist. Joining the middle school team is Anushka Zaveri, with Michael Grimmer teaching in Room 16 on Tuesdays.
Room 14 – Hannah Saul – Year 3
Room 15 – Jacinta Howie – Year 3
Room 17 – Laura Ahern – Year 3
Room 5 – Nick Chamberlain – Year 4
Room 13 – Debbie Rist (Team Leader) – Year 4
Room 16 – Anushka Zaveri (and Michael Grimmer ) – Year 4
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. HATS are compulsory in Term 1.
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.
Swimming: This term all students will have two swimming lessons per week. Your child’s teacher will advise you about the day and time your child will be swimming. Swimming is part of the school PE curriculum and it is important that your child brings their swimming gear for each lesson. It would be appreciated if all swimming togs, towels and goggles are named.
Room 5 – Wednesday and Thursday
Room 13 – Tuesday and Friday
Room 14 – Tuesday and Thursday
Room 15 – Thursday and Friday
Room 16 – Wednesday and Thursday
Room 17 – Tuesday and Wednesday
Last year we had a few instances of toys or other personal items being brought to school and in some cases the items becoming broken or lost. Please help us by reminding your child that unless it is part of class learning, toys are not to be brought to school. This includes soft toys, beyblades, collectable figurines and the swap cards such as the ones from Countdown.
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 basic facts. 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.
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.
INQUIRY FOCUS
Developing a Class Treaty
During the first few weeks of the term classes will be working on preparing treaties, developing and agreeing on expectations for behaviour and relationships in the class. When each class treaty has been agreed upon, each class will attend a very special assembly where they will share their class treaties with each other.
This term Middle School students will be conducting an inquiry unit that explores the communities that they are part of. This inquiry unit will focus on where we live and come from and the different groups we belong to – school, neighbourhoods, towns, cities, countries, continent, world. We will look at what our roles and responsibilities are in each group and the roles we play in the Bucklands Beach community and New Zealand as part of the global community.
The inquiry will include a trip on Thursday 2 March by bus and by foot where the students will explore our local community.
Please follow this link: MIddle School Community Trip 2 March
We will require parents to help with this trip. Further details of the day’s plan will be sent out at a later date.
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.
The Year 4 team is very excited about BYOD this year and are looking forward to using the iPads for creating and enhancing our learning. Some of the prices for the paid Apps have increased since the end of last year so you are welcome to come and talk to your child’s teacher about any aspect of the use of iPads in the classroom, the uploading of the required Apps, or about accessing and using the school’s website: www.bbps.school.nz.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THIS TERM
- 6 February – Waitangi Day observation day (school closed)
- 13, 14, 15 February – Getting to Know You conferences
- 24 February – Whole school beach cleanup
- 27 February – 3 March – Seaweek
- 2 March – Inquiry trip to our local community
- 8, 9, 10 March – Mm2 Seaweek testing at Eastern Beach
- 22 March – Year 3/4 Swimming Carnival 11.00am – 12.30pm
- 13 April – Last day of term
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 travel by bus for the Community Inquiry trip is $5.00.
If you are interested in being a parent helper on this day please complete the Google Form or print and complete this form.
Debbie Rist
Middle School Team Leader
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Please return this completed form to your child’s class teacher
I would be interested in being a parent helper on the Community trip.
Child’s Name _____________________________________ Room No. _______
Parent Signature __________________________________
Contact Phone number ____________________________
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