We've launched into Term 3.

One of our Karawha highlights from the end of last term was our 3 Way Conference and Goal Setting evenings. The Karawha Teachers would like to thank all the Tamariki and their Whanau for taking the time to come and celebrate our learning and helping us set our ‘next step goals’ for Term 3 and 4. If you were unable to make it last term, please fell free to contact your child’s classroom teacher to book in a time to have a catch up.

Looking ahead to this term we have some exciting learning planned including our Healthy Heroes programme sponsored by Rotary, the Cultural Diversity Inquiry study which we launched into this week, our Fabric and Fibre Visual Arts involving weaving and sewing, and our continued quest to keep fit and agile with our daily Fitness and weekly Kiwisport programmes. Once a week each Karawha Class will be studying ‘Dances from around the World’ with Deborah Ogilvie and Kapa Haka with Matua Anton. Back in our regular classrooms the Karawha Team will continue to strengthen and grow our Learning Brains by building on the social and academic skills established during Term 1 and 2. It’s only a nine week term, so come Monday the Karawha Teachers were keen to get started and see the tamariki again after their term break. On reflection at the end of the day, we all agreed the tamariki had been eager to get back into their routines and it had been a really positive happy start to Term 3.   

The following are samples of our mini Reading Research Studies presented as pic collage posters completed by Room 6 and 7 students.  

Literacy

This term we have completed an extensive study of how to write an Explanation.  The subjects we have based our explanations on have been wide ranged and varied. These have included explaining why it is important to wear a seat belt, to learn how to swim, to clean our teeth each day and to drink lots of water throughout the day.

Our Reading lessons have continued to focus on getting enough reading mileage each day to help improve our understanding and fluency. Thank you for your support at home in this area. As we say in classic Dr Seuss words “ The more you read, the more you learn, the more you learn, the more you know”  Next term we will be doing more factual and research reading. 

Arts or PE

In Room 6 and 7 we all look forward to our weekly Art lessons every Tuesday afternoon. This term we have been experimenting with paint and colour mixing. Both Room 6 and 7 have some gorgeous artwork displayed in their classrooms and the art really speaks for it self, so please pop in and take a look. Next term we are learning about Fabric and Fibre. So if you are a sewer and you  have any scraps of fabric laying around we would love to put it to good use. 

In our Kiwi Sport and P.E lessons we have  worked on improving our large ball skills of catching, throwing, kicking and stopping a netball and a soccer ball. Over the term there has been quite an improvement in the children’s coordination and general ball skills. So grab a ball and let them demonstrate their skills.

Numeracy

Our Maths lessons this term began with building on our knowledge about money. We learned how to recognise New Zealand notes and coins and what their values were. It would be great if you could continue to talk to your child about money, it’s value and how to ensure they have correct change when shopping. We have also learned about ‘Place Value’ and how a digit is given a value according to where it is placed in a number e.g. 26 is 2 tens and 6 ones. This is  important to know and understanding so they can rename when subtracting. Knowing our Basic Facts was still a major focus this term and next term multiplication and division will be our next step learning focus.

Last day of Term 2  - Friday 8 July 

Term 3 begins - Monday 25 July

Lastly, I would like to wish you all a happy and relaxed term break. I  look forward  to seeing you all again in the new term. 

Kind regards Sharon Leatham.