Listening and Speaking

We have been learing what good listening looks like and trying really hard to recall some facts that we have heard while listening.  Now we are focusing on questioning using what, where, when, who, why and how as question starters.  Today Liam shared some lovely news about a special weekend outing and there were some fabulous questions asked.











Liam shared his news about a trip to Waimangu Thermal Valley.
Well done Liam, a great speech.



Don asked a question using a great question word.



Maiah remembered to use question words so she could
find out more information about Liam's trip.



DJ remembered our hand up to talk rule.



Prayers

Last night Mrs Donovan, a very special past teacher of St Mary's passed away.  Everyone here is feeling a bit sad and so today at prayer time we talked about her and asked God to take her to Heaven to be with him.  The children's prayers were so thoughtful and lovely, I was very proud of them.  Miss Donovan, her daughter does our classroom release on Monday mornings so the children also said some lovely prayers for her.  Perhaps tonight your families could have a quiet word with God on her behalf.  We are also praying for Tara Chapman and her family in class at present.  The children are very reverent and prayerful when it comes to someone who is sick, they have shown their gorgeous Catholic Character so well.

Today we were discussing the gifts of the Holy Spirit and what they look like in our behaviour.  You can see their ideas and their lovely photos on the hall foyer wall.  It is Room 13's job to keep the foyer looking interesting and colourful, your children are likely to feature a fair bit there.  Keep talking to them about the things that show the Holy Spirit is in their heart, it helps them remember the right thing to do.

Annie

Reading and Writing

A big congratulations parents.  Your hard work at home with reading is paying off.  The children are making some lovely progress.

A special congratulations to these three children.  Imogen and Jacob who have moved onto Yellow, level 6.  And Aarav who after only a short time at school is already on Red, Level 5.  You guys are super stars!

Awesome readers and great friends too.

Super duper reading Aarav.

Clever Readers

Congratulations to Don, Maiah and Max who moved their race cars onto the yellow track today.  They are now reading level 6, yellow and everyone in Room 13 is so proud of them. Awesome job you three clever readers.

Writing Assessment

At present we are learning how to write persuasively.  It is really tricky!  Today we did a pretest to put into our portfolio's which will come home during Term 2.  I was so impressed with some of strategies the children were using and how hard they were concentrating. Check these pictures out of your lovely children hard at work.

Kaia writing why her mum is the best.

KJ motoring on with her writing.

Maiah taking a moment to think what comes next.

Aarav working out the sounds he needs.

Dylan on target and focussed.

What a day!

We have had a huge day to celebrate the end of the term. First we made ANZAC biscuits which I have to admit were delicious. We talked about what ANZAC day means and why we still celebrate it after all this time. We made Poppies which we turned into a lovely wreath and then for a super surprise, Claudine, Molly's Mum brought us Pizza for lunch. Thank you so much Claudine, that was just awesome and a lovely way for the kids to share their last lunch together.

We are super cooks.  They look delicious.

Yummy Anzac Biscuits!





Sharing Pizza with friends.

Please remember the reading over the break.  Each child has a reading log which they can use to enter a competition after the holidays. Fill in all the stories they read to win cool prizes.



Last Word

Hi parents and whanau, I have been a little remiss when filling in the blog over the last couple of weeks. The usual end of term business has got the better of me. We have been engaging in some lovely learning though and the children are continuing to make me proud, showing how awesome they are. Last week we began a short unit on Jack and the Beanstalk. We were focusing on retelling a story we know well in our own words, being careful to acknowledge that these stories are made up and have a beginning a middle and an end. We have an awesome beanstalk in Room 13 and now Jack and the Giant are hanging from it. We also had a cool disco for Golden time last week and I enjoyed very much watching your little movers show their stuff. It was gorgeous and quite hilarious too. Once again I am having some trouble uploading photos onto our blog. As soon as I can, I will put some photos on. The children are well and truly ready for a break. Just this week some have been having trouble keeping their hands to themselves. Nothing major and a nice holiday at home will remedy it, I am sure. Tomorrow we will be having a fun day looking at ANZAC day, making poppies, talking about its meaning and of course, baking anzac biscuits. Hopefully it will be a nice ending to our very busy term. I hope you all have a wonderful, restful time with your children and I look forward to seeing you all back next term raring to go. God Bless Annie

Don showed us some great break dancing!  Cool.

The girls are a little more reserved.

DJ shows us his mean moves.  Awesome!

Aarav had some cool break dancing moves too!