P.E. The Term 3 focus is on Large Ball skills. Students will be exploring basketball, netball and soccer. Later in the term we will transition to fundamental skills and activities in badminton and volleyball.

Our annual Cross Country event is next week, Friday, 1 August. We will be doing a walk of the course on Wednesday, 30 July.

Students need to be prepared and have their PE gear in their bag, daily.

We are over half way through the year already, how time flies! We had a great Term 2 and ended with a celebration of our Inquiry learning. Thanks to all those parents who were able to make the parent interviews at the end of last term. Remember, if you have any queries or concerns you can contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Pukeko 3 - Mrs Lisa Pearson (Team Leader) lisap@thegardens.school.nz

Pukeko 2 - Mrs Karen Vincent karenv@thegardens.school.nz

Pukeko 1 - Mrs Yolande Mathlay

yolandem@thegardens.school.nz

Takahe 1 - Mrs Tracey Kubatraceyk@thegardens.school.nz

S T R I V E F O R T H E B E S T

OWAIRAKA newsletterT E R M 3 , 2 0 1 4

DATES TO REMEMBER !

• School Photos - Mon/Tues, 28/29th July • Cross Country - Fri, 1 August • Netsafe Parent Meeting - Wed, 6 August • Whole School Assembly (Junior) - Fri, 15

August • Cultural Day - Thurs, September 4th • Whole School Assembly (School Council) -

Fri, 12 September • Last day of Term 3 - Fri, 26 September • (Mufti & Sausage Sizzle Day) • Year 5 & 6 Camp - 28th to 31st October

SCHOOL UNIFORM !• No summer hat necessary • Girls can wear long black socks or black

tights (not footless) • White OR black short socks can be worn

with plain black, closed-in shoes • No t-shirts to be worn underneath the

school polo other than the official TGS long sleeved grey t-shirt

• Optional winter uniform items like scarves, beanies, black cargo pants etc are available from our on-site Uniform Shop

UNIFORM SHOP OPEN TUESDAYS (8:30-9:00AM)

THURSDAYS (2:45-3:15PM)

Testing the volts of objects in Science.

Making motorised cars in Science.

Over the next two terms we will be using the “Horrible Histories” books and movies to explore historical events. Each class has chosen a particular time in history to focus on and is excited to begin their inquiry learning. We will be studying a range of periods, from the Ancient Egyptians to the angry Aztecs. !Early this term, students will be writing and presenting their mihi and developing an understanding of their turangawaewae (the place I stand). This learning will come together in Week 7, when students will fly their own kite they will have made in class, at our whole school Cultural Celebration. Each kite will be individually made and students will use symbols to represent both their heritage and the places and people that are special to them. !Classes will be continuing to learn about the world around them, with Mr Fowler in the Science Room, investigating and experimenting with material and physical sciences.

Our focus areas in Maths this term are Geometry and Measurement, in particular, volume, capacity and temperature. Students will be continuing the work on their numeracy strategies dependent on their ability and need.

For the second half of the year, the Writing focus is ‘Writing to Socialise’. Students will be learning how to structure and write an invitation to a variety of audiences, using technical language. We will also be learning to write narratives to develop creative thinking and story telling.

What are we learning this term?

H O M E W O R K !Homework is expected to be handed in every second Friday beginning Week 2.

Our homework expectations are glued into the front cover of the homework book if you need to check. These include:

★ SPELLING - Each week, the student will have a new spelling list of a minimum of 10 words. These need to be practised and tested each night (see inside Homework book for ways to do this).

★ MATHS – 1000 points or more each week on Mathletics. Teachers will check this online. ★ READING - Read for no less than 20 minutes each weeknight. Students may choose from a variety of reading

material, e.g., chapter book, comic book, magazine, website etc. ★ HOW MUCH TO DO? All students will complete all the above plus one activity per week selected from the grid

or class teacher directed activity. !Teachers expect students to do the same quality of work at home as is expected at school. Work should follow our Book Standards, which will also be glued into the student’s Homework book. !It was encouraging to see the standard of Homework handed in by most students. If students do not complete their Homework they are expected to finish during their Friday lunch time.

Check us out online! !Remember to check out our class blogs and see what has been happening in our class and around the school.

Pukeko 1: http://2014lia.wikispaces.com/home Pukeko 2:www.pukeko2.blogspot.co.nz

Pukeko 3:http://pukekoflyinghigh.blogspot.co.nz/ Takahe 1:www.brightsparx.wikispaces.com !

Please check it out the Senior Maths Wikispace at: https://tgsseniormaths.wikispaces.com

for strategy demonstrations, stage appropriate games and activities.

It is the students responsibility to remember to look after their borrowed library books and return them by the due date.

Our classes visit the Library: Pukeko 1 - Thursday Pukeko 2 - Thursday

Pukeko 3 - Monday Takahe 1 - Thursday

Students may also visit the library at lunch time.