Round Up of Week 9 Term 4

Hi Every-one,

On Tuesday we visited Cherry's Pre School and watched their Christmas Play. We were a practice audience--a lot of work had gone into the play particularly working with such young children. 

The plot was; Santa had lost Rudolph and he kept asking the various animals that he came into contact with had they seen him.

These little cuties are special fish and no they had not seen Rudolph! 

Sophie's brothers were in the play. 

Room 1 and 3 as the audience.

Wednesday saw the last session of Balloon Badminton. 

The children loved the sessions. I am not sure why the shuttle cock is on their heads?

Events this week;

School uniform will not be needed tomorrow, except for tomorrow night. 

On Monday we will be walking to Cashmere High to practice for the night's Prize-giving. The children will take down their morning tea so if they could have something that is easy to carry.  I will take it down in a bag. The children are asked to be at Cashmere High by 5.40 pm for a 6 pm start . [If your child is in Kapa Haka they will just wear the Kapa Haka uniform.]

Also on Monday I will be sending home their books etc. I will keep their Effort and Behaviour book as it will carry over to next year and I will pass on their dictionaries to Rebekah Carroll. 

On Tuesday is our trip to the Gardens. The children will wear their sports uniform, sun hat and take lunch and drink bottles. It should be a great day especially having an art lesson thrown in . The art lesson will go for an hour and a half. We will be meeting in the playground at 12.30 for lunch. You are welcome to join us for lunch if you have the time. The buses will be departing school at 9 am. Our art session begins at 9.30 am. The buses will depart from the Botanic gardens at 2.30 pm

Wednesday the children will only need to wear their school uniform. The Leavers mass is at 11 am in the school hall and all are welcome. The mass will finish at 12.00 and then we will go back to the classroom for a final half hour together. School closes for 2015 at 12.30 pm. 

This is my last blog for 2015 and I  just want to say how much I have enjoyed teaching your children and seeing them grow in their learning!!! 

You have been an amazing group of parents and I sincerely thank-you all for the wonderful support you have given me throughout 2015! 

Thank-you too for the  supportive comments about this blog! Blogging is not really my thing!!

I would like to wish you all a well deserved holiday and best wishes for 2016. 

Warm regards,

Mary

Round up of Week 8 Term 4 2015

Hi Every-one 

We are all beginning to feel that countdown! 

Balloon Badminton has been a great hit and each week the children are building on the skills taught from the previous week.

An action shot of Angus. 

Brooke setting up her shot. 

Not sure what is happening here.

On Friday at our TRUMP sessions for outdoor play the children are able to play with special blocks. They love it.

The boys have built this huge tower  and wanted to take a photo.  They arranged the photo and took it themselves. 

Carl helped to build this tower. 

Lastly we have some more photos from this week's TRUMP session. 

David was also wearing high heeled shoes but I could't get them in the photo..

The girls at the Craft table. 

This week on Tuesday Rms 1 and 3 have been invited to visit Cherry's Pre School to see their Christmas play. 

Wednesday is not only Balloon Badminton but the Mini Fair run by our Student Council starting at 2.30pm. 

Friday reports, publishing books, stationery lists and class placements for 2016 go home.

Please put in your diaries 'School Prize-giving on Monday December 14 @ Cashmere High. It starts at 6.00 pm! This evening is not all about awards; our Kapa Haka group will be performing and its a fitting way to farewell our Year 8's. I have heard so many parents say over the years that they come to this event and watch the Year 8's sitting up on the stage and then walking out to the lovely hymn ' Irish Blessing' and then suddenly it's their child leaving! 

It's the expectation that all students will attend this event in their full school uniform.

Regards,

Mary

 NB: When I wrote this blog on Sunday Dec 6,  I made a mistake about the starting time for our School Prize-giving.  I have now changed it. 

Round up of Week 7

Hi Everyone,

Congratulations to Matilda for being a great Leader at Friday's school assembly and also to Noah, Ethan and Dylan for how well they read their prayers! Thank-you to their parents who helped them with their practice, it was noticeable. 

I said last week that I would include some samples of the poetry we are working on at present.

Sense Poems

Marsh mellows

Marsh mellows look like white snow.

Marsh mellows feel like a squishy ball.

 Marsh mellows tastes like raspberries.

By Liam J

Teddy Bears

My teddy feels soft

My teddy looks like a snowman.

My teddy is friendly.

My teddy is funny.

My teddy is cool.

By David

  

Teddy Bears

My teddy looks like a big dog.

My teddy feels soft.

My teddy smells like strawberries.

By Polly

Teddy Bears

My Teddy looks like a grizzly bear.

My teddy feels soft and happy.

My teddy sounds like a bird tweeting in the trees.

My teddy smells like a flower.

By Emilia

Balloon badminton continued this week. The coach is impressive.

rackets down and listening.

rackets ready

action!

retrieving the balls

This week I will not send home Instructional readers!! The daily programme will be the same but I will be doing Shared books. As you know the children are tired and I will not be doing them,or you and the all the lovely new books a favour by trying to teach to them. 

Now is a great time to look out for any extra reading books you might have at home and return them to school. 

The rest of the week is pretty normal--we are starting 'Christmas Craft' on Monday and then on Wednesday the class will move on a daily basis around each Rutherford class room and experience making a card or decoration.  

Regards,

Mary

Round up of Term 4 Week 6

Hi All

I hope you all have had a great weekend. I did begin Christmas shopping!!

The photo competition took place this week. The children had the choice to enter--I think about 12 wanted to compete.

Cohen, Sophie, Emilia and Matilda were the winners. They guessed 18 out of 18 correctly. 

On Wednesday it was Balloon badminton.

We began Poetry last week and hopefully I will have samples of their poetry for you to view next week. 

School photos went well. 

Recently the children have been keen to take a photo of something special they have done. They have set up the photo and I have taken it. 

Brooke, Hayley and Jessica with the fans they made at TRUMP. 

Liam is rightly proud of his construction. 

A lovely posed snap--all arranged by them. 

This week we will be having Pre Entries for 2016 each day. 

Wednesday is Balloon Badminton.

Thursday night from 5-7pm is The PTA family fun night--do come along and support our awesome PTA!! 

Regards,

Mary

Round up of Term 4 week 5

Hi All 

I do hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Swimming took up a lot of our time last week. Thursday was 'Water Safety' day. The children participated in four activities; monkey crawl, making waves, wearing life jackets and being in the boat. 

Dylan jumping in at the deep end and then will go the side of the pool and monkey crawl down the side.

Hayley, Emilia, and Matilda with Balloons.  

A close up of the group. 

Carl after working with the balloons. 

As you can see this station was with Life Jackets. 

The last station and a very popular one was being in the boat.

This week you will notice that we have pre- entry visits starting for the New Entrants starting on day 1 of 2016. 

This Tuesday I will be on classroom release at school--checking teacher's reports. Liz Hooker will be teaching that day as well as Wednesday. 

Wednesday sees a new venture for the children to participate in-- 'Balloon Badminton'. This has been organised by Jacqui Restieaux and is of no cost to parents. The children will be attending 45 min sessions for the next month. It will take place in the hall. 

Thursday is school photos; this will mean that the children come to school in full school uniform. 

No sports uniform is needed that day. 

Regards,

Mary

Round up of Term 4 week 4

Hi All

Swimming has certainly dominated our week and nicely so. I am very impressed with the effort the children are putting in on a daily basis and the progress they are making. 

All waiting patiently for their lessons to begin. 

 

Swimming lessons in progress.

David.

Dylan and Violet

For Art this week Liz Hooker had the children making some lovely winter themed prints. They are on display in the cloak bay. 

This week swimming continues. Thursday will be our last day and for this lesson it will be based around water safety.  They will bring in the boat, life jackets etc. Also that day will be mufti for Benedict House[red] only. Benedict won the most house points for Term 3. 

Regards,

Mary

Round up of Term 4 Week 3

Hi All

It was certainly worth getting up early this morning to watch the World Cup Final. What a game!

It was another different Friday with 'Black Out Day' and Jo Earl's final assembly. The children loved going out to Sparks Road and seeing Hoon Hay school line up on the opposite side of the road. They enjoyed cheering and hearing all the car horns beeping. 

Jo Earl's final assembly was lovely. Our Rutherford Team did a wonderful job of performing their farewell song to Jo. Plus it was special seeing Matilda, Sophie and Polly performing for the first time with the school Kapa Haka group. 

On Wednesday and Thursday the children visited the Life Education caravan.

They spent time learning about what their body needs and discussed what a balanced diet looks like.  The Instructor talked to them about  ''Thinking Traffic Lights'.

Thinking Traffic lights

Red - Stop - food that gives energy but different energy ie crazy bonkers energy

Orange - Slow - food that gives energy but don’t need too much

Green - Go, go ,go - food for energy

Sitting quietly around the edges of the caravan.

They met Harold.

This week it is Swimming! Notices have been sent out; in summary 8.50 am at school, in the pool at 9.30 am for 30 minutes. I can appreciate that some children will be feeling anxious about tomorrow but once we are into the swing of things they will really enjoy the next 9 days. 

Many of you have asked about Parent Help, I have just said come down when you can and many hands will be welcomed to get the children changed. 

On Tuesday I will be off site writing reports and Liz Hooker will be in Room 1. 

Thursday is School Photos!! We will probably need combs etc on hand to fix up children's hair after swimming. 

Regards,

Mary