27 February 2009

Dear Parents

One of the teachers mentioned yesterday that it was only 10 months till Christmas. A bit scary really that we are already into March.
Today I am in Dunedin attending the annual forum with Bishop Colin and representatives from the Catholic Education Office. Of interest to our school, is whether there is any information regarding the school’s property plan. While we are due to have an admin update in 2011, at present we are still a classroom size space down on what we are entitled to. The BOT will also be meeting with Stuart Young, the general manager in March to discuss these issues.
Thanks to Mrs Lieshout and all the teachers and children for making our House Colour Day so successful. Also a big thanks for your generosity in raising more than $320 for the Victoria Fire Appeal.
Our year 6 pupils took part in PAL’S training at the stadium this week as part of our Active School Contract.
This will enable them to run lunchtime sports programmes for younger children.
Also as part of this contract, we have had Sport Southland staff run a New Entrant programme for Rms 1/ 2

PALM SUNDAY MASS ~ 5TH APRIL
Please put this date in your family diary. All school children will be attending this Mass.

ASH WEDNESDAY
Thank you to Fr Vince and Miss O’Neill for Wednesday’s Mass. Ash Wednesday signals the beginning of Lent in the lead up to Holy week. While it is still ok to get children to give up things such as lollies!! etc, it is often more significant to have them undertake some extra responsibility or service to others.

GOOD LUCK ~ Good luck to all the children taking part in the Kids’ Triathalon on Sunday.
We hope the weather says fine.

AUSTRALIAN TESTS 2009
We are offering the Australian School Tests for children in Years 4 – 6. If you would like your child to take part, please fill out the slip at the end of this newsletter.

STRANGER DANGER
As you may have seen in Saturday’s paper, the Police have reinforced the stranger danger message. While it has been discussed in class, it is also worth following this up at home. Thank you.

FOR SALE ~ TV on trolley – 25”. Inquiries to office please.

PTA AGM ~ This will be held this Monday 2nd March at the Cabbage Tree 7.30 p.m. All welcome.

FRUIT ORDERS ~ The next delivery of fruit will be on Thursday 5th March. Available this time is garlic, mixed fruit (nectarines & plums) or black doris plums. If you would like to place an order, please fill out the form in the junior corridor and have your money to the office by Tuesday morning. Thank you.

ART SUPPLIES SOUTHLAND have a few places left for the next KIDS’ ART CLASS.
The 6 week block course will commence Tuesday 03.03.2009 and is suitable for ages 8 to 12.
For further information please phone 2181222

AUSTRALIAN TESTS 2009
Please tick which tests your child wishes to sit and return with the entry fee by Friday 20th March 2009.
No late entries accepted.


CHILD’S NAME: ……………………………………………. YEAR 4 5 6 (please circle)

 Computer Skills 27th May $ 7.50
 Science 10 June $ 7.50
 Spelling 23rd June $ 9.50
 Writing 23rd June $14.00
 English 4th August $ 7.50
 Mathematics 19th August $ 7.50









THE RUN


This is Caitlin Russell reporting from Room 9 News Invercargill

GO!!! What the? For a split second I pause but then we’re off.

We go for a run every day with the exception of weekends and when it’s raining. We start in the field by the car park and then run around the edge of the field. After we’ve run around the field we go through a gap in the hedge. Then we run up around the fitness track along beside the hedge, keep going to Room 8 and up along beside the junior corridor. Around the garden over to the playground and back through the gap in the hedge we pound and then a home straight.

My P.B. (personal best) is three minutes and thirteen seconds but the best time in the class is three minutes and three seconds.
You may be wondering, why are they doing fitness runs? To keep fit and healthy but also to get fit for the Zone Athletics.
I don’t mean to boast but Olivia and I are the fastest girls in the class. (At the moment). To record our results we have used a line graph. Before we started running we walked around the track and it took nine minutes. So we’re not allowed to take longer than that for our runs. But most people don’t take longer than 6 minutes.

And that was Caitlin Russell reporting from Room 9 News.



INQUIRY U.V. CARDS

Mrs Lieshout told us she had a present for us, we knew it was something cool. Is it a pen drive? I bet it is those Inquiry books?

No, it’s something way groovier than that! She sat us down on the mat and showed us what the present was. I did not know what it was at first. She told us we could use them to collect data for our inquiry.

They were called U.V cards! We took them outside, and counted to twenty. Then the white strip changed to a very light purple that means that there was a low amount of ultra violet light outside. If it was darker, then it would have been a high amount of ultra violet light outside. We think that they are pretty cool because they tell you if you need to slip slop slap and wrap!