Room 16 Newsletter
Term 1, 2016
Welcome to 2016 in Room16. I have enjoyed getting to know your child over the past week and meeting some of you. We have used this week to get to know each other and establish some routines for the year. This will be continuing over the next few weeks. A huge thank you to you all for making sure your child had their stationery ready. It made it very easy to get into our routines more quickly.
For those who don’t know me, I have taught at Parkview for the past 14 years, in the Middle and Senior school. I enjoy teaching all ages and seeing the progress each child makes over the course of their time here at Parkview. I am a member of the Leadership team in the school and the Co-ordinator for Sports and ICT.
I live in Woodend, about 25 minutes north of Christchurch. My 14 year old son Liam is in Year 10 at Rangiora New Life school while my 11 year old daughter Nadia is in Year 7 at Woodend Primary School. My wife Kerry is a co-ordinator at Woodend Playcentre, relieves at a local pre-school and is starting training in ECE part-time this year.
In week 4 we will be starting Maths interchange. Students from Rooms 10 and 16 will be interchanging into ability groups. This allows for more streamlined teaching and learning for our students. Your child will have either Mrs Merewether or myself for Maths. These sessions will run from 9.50am till 10.35am Monday to Thursday. Friday maths will be Basic Facts based in our own classrooms. Children may be regrouped for different Maths topics. We will be working on Basic Facts and Statistics in Room 16 until Maths Interchange begins.
Our main inquiry theme this year is “Fit For Life ~ healthy bodies, happy minds!”. This Terms focus is ’Making a Difference’ looking at our social, emotional, spiritual well-being or Hauora, and how important this is in creating a happy, safe and exciting learning community. This terms Skills for Life focus are Respect and Courageous.
Maximo the monkey is a class Mascot for Room16. He is always trying to do his very best and so is a great role model for the students. We have a new mascot to assist Maximo this year, Bob the Fox.
We are fortunate to have the services of Youthtown sport in our school again this year. Each class will have 1 session each fortnight with coaches taking the group for a variety of activities. The focus this term is team building, and will be moving into more sports related activities next term. We will also have Golf in Schools and Swimming sports this term.
School camp will be in week 11 of this term, the 13th –15th of April. We will again be going to Waipara Adventure Centre. We will alter the programme so those who came in Yr5 will have new experiences this year.
Homework will start next week. It is based around reading and basic facts as well as learning spelling words. Homework also includes a section for you to sign off with regards to chores being done at home each week and your child being active at home. Homework is handed out on a Monday and will be due in the following Friday. Homework is your child’s responsibility to complete and hand in and should not place extra burdens on Parents/Caregivers.
Our Library time is 9.00 to 9.50 on Fridays when students will be able to borrow books for reading in class and at home. We have the Computer Suite for learning sessions on Wednesdays. Details on how to log in to StudyLadder, an on-line learning site will come home with the homework books.
In Term 2 Arts Interchange will begin. Children will be able to choose to join our Kapa Haka group or the Senior Choir. Those who do not wish to be part of these groups will have Arts based rotations around other classes where they will have the opportunity to be involved in various Music, Drama, Dance or Visual Art sessions.
A reminder that all students are to remain on the front court until they hear the 8.30am bell. Your help in modelling this is greatly appreciated.
I am on Road Patrol on Friday mornings from 8.30am until 9.00am. This means that the door to the classroom may be locked at this time though the cloak bay will still be open.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I am available before school from 8.30am and after school each day to 3.30pm, though Staff and Syndicate meetings start at 3.00pm on a Tuesday.
I am also happy for you to contact me via email. My email address is;
I am looking forward to a busy time in 2016. Providing the Black Caps perform well in the T20 World Cup, the Highlanders make the semi-finals in the Super rugby competition and the All Blacks beat everyone, we can look forward to a happy and successful year!
Yours Truly,
Murray Fox.
