Let the fun times begin....

The children have finished their planning sheets and are now in the beginning stages of creating their creations.  The noise level is horrific - we LOVE it!  So many motivated kids right now.

Chase

For Class Reporter today Isaac told us all about his cat Chase.  He is a chocolate burmese and is very very cute!  Thanks for bringing him to meet us Isaac.

Skeleton

Look at the awesome bird's head that Evan found in his garden.  He so very carefully brought it to school to share with us.

Blog on Home Screen

A massive thank to Tracy (Isaac H's Mum) who showed me this morning how she has the Blog on her home screen on her phone.  I never even knew this existed but it's so cool!  You do only get the first page of the blog but that's where we do most of our posting for our whanau anyway (there is an option to view the whole blog down the bottom of the page).

It's really simple to do too....

Step one : Go on to the web and type in www.wsaroha2016.blogspot.co.nz. 

Step two:  Press the icon that is the square with an arrow pointing upwards.  

Step three:  Press the icon that says 'add to home screen'.

Easy peasy and so cool

Reading Books

Hi Whanau

Just to let you know that we have taken away all of the kitbox books for reading as we are disappointed at the state that some of the books are coming back to school in.  We have always told the children that they can only take a book home if they have their book bag (reading folder) and some just aren't doing this.

We are super lucky to have so many reading books at this school but we do need to teach our children to respect them and look after them.

Sorry for the nuisance this will cause some people but make the most of reading library books together.

We will think about bringing kitboxes back again next week.

Many thanks

Learning Celebrations

Don't forget to come and see your child in action on Thursday afternoon between 2 - 4pm.  We have changed our reading time to 1.30pm so you can see everyone doing their independent reading activities.  You may take your child home from 2.30pm.

Learning Plans

Learning Plans will be coming home with your child today.  Celebrate their successes with them - they work so hard!

Follow by email

Hi Whanau

Hope you've all had a great week.

We just have a little request.  Are you please able to comment on this post and let us know if you are following the blog via email (so you get an email notification that tells you a new post has been added).

Thanks so much.
Have a great weekend.

Free Choice Friday Reading Activities

If you were to come into the Pod right now it would probably look a bit like madness.  BUT... check out how engaged our learners are with their reading activities.  Such a great buzz going on at the moment!

Trash to Treasures

This is what it looks like when Aroha kids choose their own groups of 4 and work together to plan a creation they are going to make using recycled materials.  Can't wait to see the end result!!

Writing Sharing

Today the students of Aroha Pod got to share their favourite pieces of writing with people from other writing groups.

More to watch for...

We have also had a case of conjunctivitis so please keep an eye on your child and if you see them itching their eyes or waking up with gunky eyes, take them to a chemist and keep them home :)

Holiday Activity

Alert! Alert! Alert!

Aroha Pod has had a confirmed case of chicken pox.  Please keep a close eye on your child for any signs of itching, tiredness or general irritability.  Chicken pox are contagious for 14 days BEFORE the symptoms present themselves.

Please, please, please... let us know if you child has the chicken pox.

Matariki Story Teller

Aroha pod were lucky enough to have Whaea Tracy come in yesterday and tell us the story of Matariki. We loved listening to the story, and afterwards making whetu (stars) out of harakeke (flax). 

Literacy Time...

It's always interesting to see what the answers are when we ask the students what they are doing and why they are doing it.....

Holiday Programme

We received this notice this morning but there isn't enough for one per child / family so we are putting it up here so everyone knows about it :)

Tinkering

Hi everyone

As part of one of our Reading Stations (Imagination Station) next term, we are going to have a tinkering component.  In order for this to be successful we need lots of broken or not working items that the children can take apart (without being plugged in of course!).  Anything that you don't want that you think they would like tinkering with would be appreciated.  Also - any old tools that you would like to donate would also be welcomed.

Things like padlocks and keys would also be welcomed.

Disclaimer:  you will not get these items back as we can make no promises that they can be put back together once taken apart.

Sophie's Stag

Sophie brought in a stag head that her dad had shot whilst hunting on his farm in the Wairarapa.  It's an eleven pointer so we think he was about 11 years old.  Sophie even used a special machine so we could hear what a stag roar sounded like.  What a cool sharing item!  Thanks a lot Sophie.

Happy birthday

A massive happy birthday to Cooper who celebrated his 7th birthday.  Hip hip hooray!

Movie Time...

We have told all the children that they may bring popcorn (already popped) and a pillow tomorrow to watch The Lorax movie.

Please make sure they do not bring any toys as they have been told they are not allowed.

Happy Birthday

A big happy birthday to Callum who turns 7 on Sunday.  We hope you have a magical day.

Hami's Golf Club

Hami chose to share his golf club, ball and tee this morning for class reporter. He has played golf for a few years and has an awesome swing! Go Hami

Head lice

Hello hello.

It seems that we have some unwelcome guests in our Pod at the moment.  We know how frustrating this can be and even more so when it's ongoing.  We ask that all families check hair and treat accordingly so that we can get rid of all nasties and have scratch free children.

Thanks so much!

Please note....