Kia ora koutou, Kōwhai whanau!
Not that we're counting or anything, but this is two weeks in a row that our KIT notice has been ready on time! Great work, Kōwhai teachers! :o) It's been another busy week in Kōwhai - we've had a lot of children away throughout the week with end-of-winter coughs and colds, chickenpox (still) and even hay fever starting to make its presence felt. We've all enjoyed the sunshine and warmer days, and have noticed it's been much lighter in the morning and evenings - spring is on its way! Head lice Another sign that spring is coming - head lice have made a re-appearance! Please take the time to check your child's hair over the weekend and treat as required. You'll find more information on head lice and how to treat them here. A gentle reminder that long hair should be tied back at school - this helps prevent the spread of head lice, and also helps to keep children safe while they swing, dangle and jump from playgrounds. Parent helps A huge 'thank you' to Andrea (Bonnie's mum), Katie (Natalie's mum) and Karla (Leo's mum) for their help this week. We've had pom poms, science experiments, lots of bug hunting and even bug habitats made. Yamato taught us about life in Japan (specifically Japanese theme parks), and Max helped us with some building and construction! And we've had lots of interest in volcanoes, doctors, lizards, snakes, dragons, airports, fire engines, washing clothes, and making books. After our busy afternoon with the Totara children, we're also very keen to learn about predators, and to make rat and mice tracking stations. If you were able to help a small group with their 'research' and discovery that would be awesome. Feel free to pop in any day between 9.00 - 12.00 and we can find a group to work with you. We've started a new display of our learning from our workshops on the far (west) wall of our learning community - come and have a look to see what we've been learning about, and how you might be able to support and extend your child's learning at home. A big 'thank you' to Sally (Elsie's mum) for the playdough a few weeks ago. We'd love some more, please - if anyone was able to whip some up over the weekend it would be much appreciated. Stones, paint, and other treasures We're planning a super exciting workshop with lots of stones and paint - it's a big surprise at the moment, so we can't share too many details! But we do need lots of flat stones (not too big - 3 cm wide would be perfect). If you're down by the river over the weekend, or if you're doing some gardening at home and come across some stones - please gather some for us! These can be sent to school over the next couple of weeks. We're also after some Resene paint - test pots would be perfect (not left over house paint!) We'd like lots of brights colours. We don't expect you'll find these down by the river (!!!), but we do wonder if you have any vouchers (they used to be on receipts), or if you have any contacts in the painting or building industry who might be able to hook us up! And (goodness, we're needy!) - we'd also love some boxes! Shoe boxes would be perfect (we're trying to make animal habitats), but we'll also use cereal boxes, museli bar boxes - all those boxes that usually go in the recycling. Basically, anything that you think is junk - we can find a use for it. And the good news is - you'll probably get it all home again in the form of some creation. :o) Library Our library day continues to be Thursday - we visit first thing on a Thursday morning, and managed to get all children to the library this week! We are aware that there are some cases where library books have been returned to the library but not recorded as returned in the library system. The library is undergoing a stocktake in the coming week, and we hope this will resolve any outstanding issues. Wednesday August 15 Please remember this day has been set aside as a strike for teachers. School will not be open, and you will need to make alternative arrangements for the care of your child on this day. Star Jam and Wheels Day Next Friday (August 17) is Jump Jam for Star Jam and Wheels Day. We're sure there will be more information about these events coming out over the next week. Please note that helmets are compulsory for Wheels Day (if you are bringing a scooter or bike!) - you won't need a helmet if you are just walking... Homework We don't have too many formal homework expectations in Kōwhai, but do hope that you manage to read with or to your child each night. Children learn to read by practising reading, and regular practice is essential to form good reading habits and to help early reading processes become automatic. Ten minutes each night would be wonderful! We know it's often hard to fit these things, and that families are busy, but we also know how important these early years are. Thanks for your support at home - if you have specific questions about reading, and how to help your child at home, please check in with your child's pod teacher. The Kōwhai teachers have been talking about how we can support spelling development at home. Watch this space as we come up with some (simple!) ideas. That's it for another week! Our congratulations to Mrs Beaumont who is in the process of moving into her new house - we hope you have a great weekend unpacking boxes, Mrs Beaumont! And thanks for the inspiration for today's Discovery Friday. :o) Enjoy the sunshine over the weekend everyone - rugby parents, enjoy your sleep-in! Football parents - not long to go... Hei te Rāhina, Thelma, Sonja, Jo, Rachael & Christina kowhai@westmelton,school.nz
2 Comments
Courtney
10/8/2018 04:37:44 pm
I will whip up some blue and red playdough over the weekend to bring in on Monday :)
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kowhai teachers
10/8/2018 06:44:14 pm
That would be fantastic! Thanks heaps Courtney - and thanks for the offer of stones too! :o)
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K.I.T. noticesK.I.T. notices are published every second Friday. They contain information that we hope will help to keep you up-to-date with what is happening in our learning community as well as the wider school. Please feel free to comment on each week's post with any news items or community notices of your own, or to ask any questions you may have! Archives
December 2020
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