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Newsletter Thursday 12 August 2021

MATHS WEEK This week is Maths Week in New Zealand. It's an annual event sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Association of Mathematics Teachers, designed to stimulate and recognise student interest in mathematics and provide more resources. This year will be its 23rd year. It gains the attention of an estimated audience of more than 250,000 students, teachers and parents from around NZ in August each year. At Otatara we have promoted this week and there have been a range of engaging mathematics activities happening across the school. It's a great opportunity to have a conversation with your child about the types of activities they enjoy and how they can use their mathematical skills to solve real-world problems.

KŌWHAI ROOM 1 – N.E Kōwhai worked out how many dogs went walking altogether on Tuesday evening. One person had 2 dogs, another person had 1 dog and another person had 4 dogs. We used the counters and pretended they were dogs and figured out that 2 and 1 and 4 made 7. We counted them all then double checked! The dogs had a wonderful time!

MIRO ROOM 2 – YEAR 1

On Monday we have been at school 100 days since the start of the year. After looking at 100 Things by Masayuki Sebestory, we have been working in teams exploring how to create our own book with each page a photo of 100 things.

MĀTAI ROOM 3 – YEAR 1 Here are some photographs of us working in small groups looking at halves using ‘the pizza place’ number problem.

TŌTARA ROOM 4 – YEAR 1/2

Connected, self-managing learners, striving for excellence

PŌNGA ROOM 5 – YEAR 2 Ponga have been exploring measuring length over the last 2 weeks. We have been learning how to measure accurately. To measure accurately you need to: Start at the edge, measure in a straight line, use the same equipment when measuring and choose measuring equipment that is appropriate for what you are measuring. We love measuring!

KAHIKATEA ROOM 11 – YEAR 2/3

Kahikatea is exploring fractions of shapes; and fractions of sets.

KŌTUKUTUKU ROOM 12 - YEAR 3

Our Kōtukutuku students are discussing fractions of shapes and are proving to each other which fraction it is.

MĀNUKA ROOM 6 – YEAR 4 Here are Mānuka students measuring the perimeter of shapes.

TĪ KŌUKA ROOM 8/9 – YEAR 4/5

Tī Kōuka learning about volume.

PŌKĀKĀ ROOM 13 – YEAR 5/6

Year 6 children have been learning about the differences in the methods used to work out a mixed number or an improper fraction. First we had to learn what those words meant. Mixed numbers are a mixture of whole numbers and a fraction. The way to get a mixed number is to evenly share the wholes first and then split what is left over. Improper fractions are when the numerator is bigger than the denominator. The difference in the method of sharing is that every object gets split into equal pieces and then the pieces are evenly shared out. Both numbers show that there is more than one whole being evenly shared.

Connected, self-managing learners, striving for excellence

TARATA ROOM 14 – YEAR 5/6 The year 5s from Tarata and Pōkākā have been using their 2, 5 & 10 x multiplication skills and 3 digit number addition strategies to test a new points system for Olympic medals.

WELCOME

Welcome Anastasia Simpson who started school in Room 1. We hope you enjoy being part of our learning community.

VALUES CERTIFICATE

Manaakitanga Elizabeth Walker

Ako Award Zack Findley

Whānaungatanga Maggie Kennedy

Kaitiakitanga Harry Domigan

POLYFEST - TIME CORRECTIONS

Polyfest dress rehearsal is Friday 20 August at 1.30pm. Senior Polyfest dressing and preparation is from 12.15pm on Wednesday 25 August. All student spectators going in to watch the Polyfest performances on Monday 23 August or Wednesday 25 August need to bring a gold coin koha for entry to the event.

SKI TRIP Otatara School ski trip notices are available from the office foyer. This is planned for Friday 3 September at The Remarkables. There is one bus booked for senior students and some adults, but juniors can go in cars with parents. The Ski Trip is filling up fast; there’s room for more students on the bus but the adult allocation is full - plenty more adults can join if they come in cars though. Please note this trip is dependent on numbers so sign up quickly so we can confirm it.

CALENDAR 16 August BOT Meeting 7:00pm Learning Centre 17 August Chess Tournament Waihopai School 23 August Polyfest – Juniors/Kindy 10:00am 25 August Polyfest – Seniors 1:50pm 27 August Daffodil Day Dress Up Day 03 September School Ski Trip 01 October End of Term 3

ROAD PATROL ROSTER

Monday 16 August to Friday 20 August

Monday Leanne Kennedy Tuesday Mana Harrison Wednesday Bridget Robson Thursday Deidre Vercoe/Darren Scott Friday Chris Lange

If for some reason you are unavailable on your rostered day please swap with another parent.

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY

13 August 2:00pm Junior School Assembly

20 August 1:30pm Whole School Assembly Polyfest Rehearsal

We hope you can join us to celebrate our learning.