27 August

Dear Parents

It is hard to believe that it will be September next week. Long may the fine weather last.
The senior classes were fortunate to have Lloyd Esler working with them yesterday as part of their Ecosystems study.

We also have the following children taking part in the Southland Gymnastics Festival this weekend:
Ashleigh Baker, Samantha Ward, Patrice Brookland, Charlotte Chesters, Keegan Fiebie, Eli Winders, Rory Horn and Jeremy Bower.
We wish them all the best.

Thank you to all the children who donated a gold coin today to raise money for the people in Pakistan who have been affected by the floods. $388 was collected to send to Caritas.
A tremendous effort!

We wish the 20 competitors taking part in the ‘Fight 4 Life’ tomorrow night, all the best in their efforts towards a worthy cause.

Next Tuesday and Wednesday there will be relievers throughout the school, as our teachers take part in RE Cluster meetings.

Welcome to Megan Sullivan who joins the children in the junior classes. We hope she enjoys her time with us.

Our prayers are with the Hosie family for the next couple of months.

Upcoming School Events

2 Sept Choir Practice
3/ 8 Sept Reconciliation Practice
9 Sept First Reconciliation @ 6.30 pm
10 Sept Senior Ecosystem Field Trip
13/14 Sept School First Aid Course
14 Sept ILT Bus Tour
15 Sept Mini Olympics
15 Sept Choir Practice
16 Sept Choral Festival @ 6 pm
20 Sept Convent Cup
22 Sept Disco (to be confirmed)
24 Sept End of Term 3
11 Oct Start of Term 4

Newsletter Cover
Please note the new newsletter cover. We thank the new and existing sponsors for their continued support. We ask parents to please support these businesses.

Collegiate School Relay Carnival ~ Saturday 11th September 6.30 pm
As to date there has been no interest in this carnival. There is still time to enter a team, so if your child is interested, please see me.




Congratulations
To Abby Humm who has been named in the New Zealand Under 12 Basketball Development team, that travels to Australia in November. A fantastic effort Abby! I’m sure the staff and parents at Sacred Heart will be happy to support any fundraising ventures you have in the pipeline.

Dipton School Fundraising Auction with the Hilarious Hypnotist – Dave Upfold Friday 29th October 2010 – 7.00pm Dipton Hall, Tickets $45.00. Includes Complimentary Drink/Finger Food, Bar Available. Tickets Available: Dipton School – Email: office@dipton.school.nz Ph: 03 248 5208

Nigel Latta Central Southland College Hall – Thurs 28th October 7.15 pm
The Limehills Home & School have been fortunate in securing Nigel Latta to speak in Winton on parenting to the teenage years focusing on 10 years and beyond. Cost is $15 per person. Enquiries to Limehills School (03) 236-0772
Check out the flyer on the notice board in the junior corridor.

Room 7 Class Happenings

Inquiry –Why are Ecosystems important?
We have found out that Ecosystems are communities of creatures, plants, and their environment. As part of our unit we have been talking about these scientific words: -producers, consumers, prey, predators, decomposers, omnivores, carnivores, herbivores, and scavengers and food chains. Please quiz us to see how many we can remember.
Here are a few examples of reports we have written.

Tree Wetas ~ The weta is an insect.
Wetas live in New Zealand bush. The weta lives in a rotten tree. They make a nest in the rotten tree. They join jaws together while fighting. The weta see whose jaws are the biggest. Which ever one is biggest the other one backs off. They protect the female weta by doing that. The weta lay their eggs in the ground. They lay brown eggs in flat dirt. They hatch into baby wetas.
Male wetas fight so hard to protect the female wetas. By Harry

Our observational pencil drawings of Tree Wetas


Takahe have purple, green, blue feathers , red legs and and orange beak. It looks like a pukeko.
There scientific name is porphyrio. An easier way to say the takahe’s scientific name is poor-fie-re-oh. Takahe eat snow tussock shoots in the summer. In winter they eat fern rhizomes, stems that grow underground. If a takahe pair is separated they will run to each othter with their wings outstretched.
Maori hunted the takahae which made a good sized meal.
People should look after the takahe in New Zealand because they are precious to us. By Briana

Tuatara ~ Tuataras are the only living dinosaur in New Zealand.
They are green it has scaly skin. Some are brown and they have spines starting from their head. Tuataras live in islands around New Zealand
They eat wetas, lizards, moths, and, beetles. It stands still lots and they hide, eat and sleep. When they are born they have three eyes. They can live up to 100 years old. It is not a lizard. Tuatara adults are between 30 and 75 centimetres long. I think everyone should like tuataras because it is the only New Zealand reptile. By Elsie

To view more of what is happening in Room 7, remember to visit our blog. http://room7shs.blogspot.com/





SCHOOL FAIR
As you know the school fair is to be held on the 7th November, please mark the calendar now.
The fair committee has made great progress with planning for this; it will however require the help from all families to bring it to fruition. Each class has a stall to operate and all families will be contacted to make a time that suits adults can help on the stall that your child’s class is operating.
This will be approx 3/4 hr and will be well supported by the fair committee and PTA.

Please let the school office know or email pladams@xtra.co.nz if you can suggest any of the following:
Does anybody have clown outfits some older children can use for the fair?
Are there any families in hairdressing who may be able to donate hair products for the funky hair stall?
Does anybody have balloon animals making skills ?
Businesses who may donate prizes for the chocolate wheel?
Do you know of any businesses who may be interested in sponsoring a stall at the fair?

Keep stashing those items for the white elephant stall ,if you can.
Please store until the day before the fair when the hall will be open for deliveries. But if you have anything big you can't store, phone Trish Mitchell 215-8292 for collection or you can drop items to Tina Paraki 215-8234 - 40 Vogel St or Kerri-Ann Foleni 215-7273 - 96 Edinburgh Cresent.



Basketball starts in Term 4. It will be on Tuesday nights at the Stadium from 4 - 7.30pm. It is for Year 3 - 6 children. The season is from 12 October to the 14th of December. Each team will play 10 games. If your child would like to play, please fill out the slip and return to the office. These must be returned by Friday 3rd of the September AT THE LATEST. The cost will be $35 each, which includes entry to the Stadium. Payment must accompany the child’s slip to secure a place in the team.

I give permission for__________________ to play basketball in Term 4

Year ___________________ Signed____________________