22 May 2009

Dear Parents

Another busy week is almost over, and hopefully the awful weather, at least for a while.
In the week after Queens Birthday, we will be having 5 Interactive Whiteboards installed thanks to the ILT. This will mean all classes will have access to this technology. I recommend all parents, if possible attend the Numeracy evenings – our aim is to outline classroom teaching practices and provide you with some strategies to assist your children at home.

Please support the PTA ‘All Blacks Fun Nite’, it promises to be another successful occasion.

Our prayers are with the Hibbs-Fearn family.

Also with the family of David Harrington, an ex-mayor of Invercargill who has had a lot to do with the administration of Catholic Schools at a Diocesan level.

FIRST RECONCILIATION
The children being prepared for FIRST RECONCILIATION will have their first after school session next week.
1st children’s session: Wednesday 27 May 3.15 pm – 4.00pm in Room 1.
Please bring the programme book.
It would be good if the children have had a look or have started some of the activities in the book.
Please see me if you have any questions about the programme or children’s sessions.
Thank you ~ Mary O’Neill

ACTIVITY FEE
The school activity fee has been set for 2009. These will be receipted as a donation to enable you to claim a rebate on your tax. Compulsory text books e.g. RE books, reading logs, scrapbooks and spelling books will be charged separately. 1 child = $70
2 children = $100
3 children = $125

SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
The school Cross Country will be held on Wednesday afternoon for all children in Rooms 7, 8 & 9.
Only those children aged 10 and 11 (at 31/12/09) are eligible to attend the Zone and Southland events.

PARENTS NUMERACY EVENING ~ HELPING YOU HELP YOUR KIDS
Several Invercargill Primary Schools have formed a Numeracy Cluster where we have provided extra help for our pupils who find mathematics a challenge. We are holding two Open Nights for all Invercargill Parents who would like to learn how they could reinforce their child’s numeracy learning at home.

If your child is in Year 1 to 3: 28 May 7:00pm. at Donovan Primary School Hall.
If your child is in Year 4 to 6: 11 June 7:00pm. at Donovan Primary School Hall.
These are practical, “hands-on” workshops. No charge. Includes take-home resources and guidelines, tea and coffee to follow.

To help the organisation of this evening we require an indication of interested parents who will be attending. Please let Christine know on Monday morning if you intend going. Each session will last approximately 1½ hours. We would like as many parents as possible to attend.

ALTAR SERVERS ~ Sat 23rd Joe McKenzie & Mitchell Smith, Sun 24th Reuben Brown & Anton O’Connell

FRUIT ORDER ~ NEXT DELIVERY THURSDAY 4TH JUNE
Please fill out the form in the junior corridor if you would like to order apples, pears, pumpkin or honey.
Orders and money must be to the office by Tuesday 2nd June 12.30 pm.
N.B. This will be the final delivery for this season.

HIGHLAND DANCING
Limited space available for children wishing to learn highland dancing, ages between 5-7. Beginners welcome. Small class size enables more one on one time. Tuesdays at 3.30pm. Please contact Nicola for more information
21-73583 or 027-6225165. $50 for a full term.

YOUNG SPIRITS INDOOR BOWLS ~ Have a go! Onslow Street every Friday night @ 7.30 p.m.
For more info contact: 0273009806.

PTA
Thank you to all families for taking part in the mother’s day gift fundraiser.
The children really enjoyed the excitement and the shopping, and we hope the mums enjoyed the gifts!
These events really help to enhance the children’s school experience and they are organized so they have some fun things to add to their school memories.
Special thanks to Vanessa Stupples for the idea and to the teachers for their help on the day.

Staff & parents are invited to "The Fantastic All Blacks Fun Nite" to be held in the Grannies bar (Northern Tavern) on Sat June 20th @ 7.00pm. We have a big screen to watch the All Blacks vs France rugby game. Dress up as an All Black supporter (optional). Tickets are $5 each & can be bought from Christine in the office.
Please bring a plate for supper. There will be prizes ....Oh and kick off is 7.30pm.

CLASS HAPPENINGS - ROOM 5

Wow, what a busy start to term 2 we have had. We have been fortunate to have a student teacher, Whaea Ange, for the past two weeks. We are working extra hard on achieving our personal learning goals, and Mrs Williams is seeing some great results.

We have started our skills based programme at the stadium, which will run for the next 5 Fridays. Please make sure that your child has a drink with them everyday as we are seeing some thirsty children at school lately.

We have been lucky to see 2 performances this week, one from the Covenant Players and the Opera.
As a class we used De Bono’s Hats to find the strengths and weaknesses of ideas and to come up with some new ideas, in preparation for our school production. We want to make it the best it can be.

Currently as part of our writing programme, we are concentrating on writing narratives; we are concentrating on making our own fairy tale. We are trying to make sure we include: introducing the characters, having a problem and a resolution and using cool describing words, throughout our story. I am seeing some wonderful pieces of writing and can’t wait to see what the children come up with.

There are a lot of bugs around at the moment, so please make sure we wrap up warm and stay healthy.

NO TOY CARS ARE TO BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL