Notices

OHAUPO SCHOOL
Room 8 Class Newsletter  
Term 4 •  2015
Tēna koutou katoa - Greetings to you all
Welcome back to the new term. Your child and their learning is very important to me so if you have any queries please don’t hesitate to come in, give me a ring or email: 07-8236736 • kadams@ohaupo.school.nz.
Our Learning:
Below is information we feel parents need to know about how, but more importantly why your child is currently learning in a “different way”. You might have heard your child talking about “Learner Agency” or the “Learning Pit”.

What is Learner Agency:
People refer to Learner Agency in a range of different ways, but often mean the same thing…
  • Modern Learning Environments
  • Innovative Learning Environments
  • Modern Learning Pedagogy
  • Future Focused
  • Collaborative Learning Spaces
  • 21st Century Learning

Why are we doing “it”?
  • Our world has changed, it's not changing!
  • Schools used to be about preparing children to be able to work independently, and comply! The world is now looking for those who can work collaboratively, ask questions and solve problems.
  • “Schools have traditionally been set up as great spaces for teachers to teach in.  We need to create spaces that are designed for children to learn in.” Mark Osborne - Core Education.
  • Modern Learning Environments (MLE’s) is the term that is most commonly used around NZ (and the world) to refer to learning environments that reflect the skills, attitudes and dispositions that children will need to function successfully in our globally connected world.

Some of the key benefits for children:
  • Greater autonomy and self awareness of own learning.
  • More frequent interactions with teacher.
  • Able to better differentiate learning needs within the class.
  • Increased collaboration with peers and teachers.
  • More detailed analysis of children's needs through teachers talking about and considering current needs and next steps for every child.
  • More focused interventions in class due to awareness of needs and ability to work in a way that meets those needs.
  • More opportunities for children to work in a setting that suits them due to more spaces within the class.
  • Increased motivation through authenticity.

*Collaborative Teaching Spaces (Modern Learning Environments) at Leamington School.

What it does look like:
  • The teacher teaching your child to read, write and solve maths problems.

What could this look like:
  • Different spaces for children to work in around the class – quiet, collaboration, creative, independent, groups, inside, outside, at tables, in corners…
  • Students should learn from others and then share their learning.
  • Strength based learning - Giving students choice.
  • Time for reflection about what is being learned.
  • Opportunities for innovation and problem solving.
For more information watch the following clips: The Future of Learning, Networked Society - Ericsson                                                               The Future of Learning


What We Are Learning:

Class Blog
Please check our Class Blog (Ultranet Page) to find out what we are learning about this term. Also note that our class will be updating our class blog regularly this term to inform parents of our learning and updating them on upcoming events so please watch this space.

Link to our class blog: Room 8

Genius Hour
This term, we will be introducing Genius Hour in our classroom in the afternoons. Genius Hour allows students to explore their own passions and encourages creativity in the classroom.  It provides students a choice in what they learn during a set period of time during school.  

For more information watch the following clip: What is Genius Hour?

Important Reminders and Dates to Remember:


Indoor displays & Ag day
For the Year Level Section, students complete their displays at school, on Tuesday 13th October. Open items are to be made at home and brought to school on Tuesday morning. Judging will occur after school on Tuesday and the items will then be on display on Wednesday 14th October till 2pm.(Agriculture Day)

Year 7 – 8 students
  1. Vegetable Sculptures (A sculpture from one piece of vegetable or fruit e.g. a carrot   carved into a pen or a leaf, or a kumera carved into a mushroom, toothpicks or skewers can be used to join pieces back to the main part and artificial eyes or raisins etc. can be added for faces.)
  2. Flowers in an unusual container (1, 3, 5 or 7 flowers plus greenery) Unusual containers need to be able to hold a jar with water in it if they are not water tight. They need to match the size of the flowers (small flowers small container). We will not be providing oasis. If students need this they need to purchase it from a florist or hardware store beforehand.
  3. Build Design Project – an in-class, teacher-supervised activity.

Open Section
  1. Wild Flower arrangement (can be just greenery or dried wild flowers).
  2. Nature’s Creatures (creatures made from shells, nuts, wood, leaves,twigs, berries etc. must be organic with glue or blue tac to stick it together).
  3. Baking: 3 iced or decorated cupcakes or biscuits.

  • All students must bring to school items (flowers, saucers, shoebox lids etc) to complete the item or items listed for each year level section on the morning of Tuesday 13th October.
  • Students who have an animal for Agriculture day do not need to select an item from the Open Section.
  • All other students can choose one item from the Open Section (a, b or c) to make at home and bring to school on the morning of  Tuesday the 13th October.

Camp
The camp for Yr7 & 8 to Kauaeranga Christian Camp in Thames will be departing school on Tuesday the first of December and returning on Friday the 4th. By now you should have received all the information and forms for camp. A reminder that the cost is $250. Camp fees need to be paid in full at least 2 week prior to departure. Please do let us know if you need to make other arrangements.

Class Release Time (CRT)
Class Release Time is time entitled to staff. Teachers are released from their class for planning, implementation, assessment, evaluation and reporting of a sequential programme for their class. Staff on CRT will be replaced by either a reliever or colleague. As Deputy Principal I also have Management release for meetings, appraisal and supporting other teachers in the school. Mostly this is timed to coincide with the students Tech classes to Peachgrove Int. Please note that there will be times this term when I will be on CRT out of class as in the past.

Clothing                                                                              
Term 4 is our sun safe awareness time. .  All students need to have a hat to wear every day. The best hats are ones that have a brim that will protect their ears and neck. Students also need to have their shoulders covered i.e. no singlet style tops.

Water Bottles
Why should students drink in class? Water lost each day through breathing, sweating and going to the toilet needs to be replaced and adequate fluid intake is essential to good health. Not drinking enough fluid causes dehydration leading to mental and physical effects such as loss of concentration, headaches and irritability. By the time a person is thirsty they are becoming dehydrated. Children rarely drink enough during break times at school and often forget to drink unless reminded. Allowing and reminding students to drink water in class and allowing water bottles in the classroom increases the likelihood that they will drink more and stay hydrated. Please note, only water (no sugar drinks) are allowed at school.

Life Education Trust
The Life Education Mobile Classroom will be at our school from 18th to 24th November and Room 8 will be focusing on developing their understanding of how drugs and medicines affect their bodies, why delaying decisions is a good idea, and dealing with peer pressure and advertising.




Library
Room 8 has ready access to the Library between 11:00am and 12;30pm. Your child should have a range of reading materials, e.g. quick reads (magazines), easy reads (comics, joke books etc.) and at least one fiction and one non-fiction chapter book which they need to read at school and at home.

Tech classes
Students in Year 7 & 8 will continue to attend Technology classes at Peachgrove Intermediate on Thursdays. (Except for Week  and week 8)
The bus collects them at 8:40 am and returns them to school by 11:10 am.  
A teacher Aide will accompany the students. Requirements for Technology include having covered footwear.

Extension Writing and Spelling                   
Students of Room 8 will continue this term to work with Valerie Millington in the mid morning block for Extension Writing.  This term the focus will be History Essay Writing.

Homework
Check out our Shared Learning page on our class blog to find out what your child needs to do for homework every week.

Absences

If children are absent from school, parents MUST phone the absentee line at the school and leave the child’s name, class number, reason for absence and expected date of return to school. Parents delivering or removing children during school time must sign in and out at the office.


Upcoming Events for this term:


When?
What?
Where?
Tues 13 October
Indoor Displays
School
Wed 14 October
Ag day
School
Fri 23 October
Group Day
Nghinapouri School
Mon 2 November
Ohaupo School Athletics
School
Fri 13 November
Lower Waipa Athletics
Te Awamutu
Tues 1st Dec-4th Dec
Senior Camp
Thames
18-24 November
Harold and the Life Education Mobile Classroom
School
Wednesday  
16 December
Prize Giving/School Disco
School
Thursday 17 December
End of year (last day of term)
School

Regards

Kerry Adams
Room 8 Class Teacher

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