1 March 2012
Dear Whanau
Finally - I welcome you and your child to Ruma Whitu for 2012.
What a busy five weeks it has been and my time since I started here, has just flown.
A bit about me -
I have been a teacher for the last 16 years and have taught in various schools in Christchurch, Taranaki and in London. I live in town and I am passionate about sport - golf, triathlon, league and the Highlanders being my main interests. I am excited about my appointment here at Burnham and look forward to having a busy and productive year with your child/ren.
Our inquiry for this term is TURN IT ON - which reflects investigating forces at work. Our focus is on motion and checking out the forces behind motor cars - inertia, friction, streamlining, propulsion and rotation. As part of this, we are going to build three different types of cars with the final one being a Whizz car that is propelled by CO2 gas. They can be seen on the website www.co2dragsters.co.nz. The cost for these are $10 per kit. If your child is working in a pair, it will be $5 - let me know if that is a problem.
This term is an awesome one for us with a lot of events going on.
Math is Addition and Subtraction and Measurement
Writing is Recounts and Explanations - we are writing an autobiography and how to build a W car
Reading is vocabulary and retelling / sequencing
PAT and STAR testing is happening
Also ..........
Week 6 - Science Alive $8 , Carrot car making, Kiwiana calendars
Week 7 - Other car making, Cheapskates, Kiwiana calendars
Week 8 - Cricket coaching, W car making $10/$5, Kiwiana calendars Community duathlon 21 March, Attending What Now taping 23 March - Cars are needed for this to take us into Riccarton - time TBC
Week 9 - W car making, Class camp at Blue Skies, Kaiapoi 28 - 30 March - 4 parent helpers are needed for this camp - contact me if you are interested - this would involving taking a registered and warranted car - You will recieve more info about this on Monday.
Week 10- Forces - Car expo
Homework/ Word study
Your child should now be in the throes of completing their weekly homework.
They have been set a number of homework challenges which they can work on a their leisure.
Other expectations are the weekly completion of their spelling practice and word study - which is due to me on a Friday morning.
Your child should also be reading for at least 20 mins a night and recording this in their reading log. It’s great to see that so many people made reading a chapter book their goal for this term.
Our class timetable
TIMES
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MONDAY
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TUESDAY
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WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
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FRIDAY
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8.55-9.30
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Roll / Karakia
Panui
Buzz groups -Weekend stories
Te Reo
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Roll / Karakia
Panui
Buzz groups -
Jokes
Te Reo
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Roll / Karakia
Panui
Buzz groups - Current events
Te Reo
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Roll / Karakia
Panui
Buzz groups - Controversial topic
Te Reo
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Roll / Karakia
Panui
Buzz groups -
Show and tell
Te Reo
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9.30-9.55
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Spelling - Word study
Homework
Free writing
Fitness
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Writing
Fitness
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Writing
Fitness
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Writing
Fitness
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Spelling tests
Basic facts
9.30 BP technology challenge
Fitness
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9.55-10.05
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Brain food
Serial story
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Brain food
Serial story
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Brain food
Serial story
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Brain food
Serial story
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Brain food
Serial story
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10.05-11.00
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Math
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Math
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Math
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Math
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Math - with Room 5
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I N T E R V A L
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|||||
11.20-11.35
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Silent reading
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Silent reading
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Silent reading
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Silent reading
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Silent reading
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11.35-12.30
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Reading - including
Word study
Handwriting
Library
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Reading
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Reading
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Reading
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Discovery Time
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L U N C H
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1.30-2.15
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Kapahaka
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Inquiry/Topic
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Inquiry/Topic
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Library
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PE
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2.15-2.50
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Maori immersion
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Arts - Drama/Art/Music
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Hui
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School singing
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BP challenges
Each Friday, Rooms 5 and 7 join together for a co-operative group activity involving the BP challenges.
We do need some extra equipment for these such as :
Bamboo garden stakes
Cardboard boxes
Plastic drink bottles 1.5 size
Milk bottle tops
MDF off cuts
Plastic takeaway containers
If you have any of these items spare at home, we would greatly appreciate them
If you have any questions, queries or compliments, please don’t hesitate to contact me on samwalker@burnham.school.nz and I will reply to you as soon as possible.
Hei kona
Whaea Sam
