24 February 2012

KA IK OR A I P R I MA R Y SCHO O L
N e w s l e t t e r
A very special welcome to Shakira Tate, Levi James, Bailey Devenie, Jamie Beaman, Kate Taylor, Kavarn Clemenger, Harry Burrow, Ryan and Milla Campher, Kayla Anderson, Moss Barton and their families to Kaikorai Primary School!

PRINCIPALS MESSAGE
The children have made a fantastic start to the new year. The children have quickly settled into new routines and all of our programmes are up and running. It has been a busy start and we believe that children learn best when they are actively engaged and taught in a meaningful way. You will have noted that all classes are involved with either an expert inside the school or an activity outside of the school this term. If at any time these additional costs are putting undue pressure on your budget then please do not hesitate to contact me. All of the classes are studying the concept of Belonging and the big question is Why do groups join together? Our syndicate section has more details on how they will be looking at this issue and how they will answer that question. We are implementing a new system for booking parent/teacher interviews this year. Please read that section carefully. The site is live now so please get in early to ensure a time slot that is suitable for you. Finally, we welcome Kopua and Ana Waititi who will be running the Kapa Haka programme this year and Edward Leach who is our new teacher aide. Kind regards, Simon Clarke

Important Dates Feb 27-2- Sports Activator in classes 1 March - Juniors at Museum 6-8 March - Parent interviews 6 March - Room 1 at Art Gallery 7 March - World Math Day 7 March - Room 2 at Art Gallery 8 March - Middle Syndicate at Warrington Beach 9 March - Room 2A at Art Gallery 14-15 March- Junior Swimming 14-15 March - Sports Activator 23-26 March-Year 6 Camp

Wright St, Roslyn 4640065 www.kaikorai.school.nz

24 February 2012

SYN D ICA TE N EWS

Junior News Monarch caterpillars, stick insects, bees and bugs are all under scrutiny by the junior classes. With these creatures in mind we are off to visit the Otago Museum to learn more about 'Mini Beasts' on Thursday 1st March. There we hope to look at a variety of creatures and how they are classied and belong to different groups. We have really enjoyed our two sessions of futsal learning some new skills. Fun Friday began last week and we have 6 different options to try for the next 6 weeks. Thanks to the parents who come and help it is most appreciated. PMP has begun much to the children's delight. We always need helpers for each class please come along and help us out.

Middle News By the time you are reading this, the 4 classes in the middle syndicate will have had a wonderful day at the Portobello Aquarium taking part in the Creature Features programme and a Seashore Scramble. Children were working with marine experts in the Aquarium, in the laboratory and outside on the seashore. This has been part of investigating our theme for the year of Belonging. Children have been investigating if sea creatures nd it easier if they belong to a group. Rooms 5 and 8 have been exploring our local environment by wandering through the Kaikorai Common and observing the creatures and changes in the plant environment. Walking with buddy partners was a great opportunity to practise safe road skills.

Senior News The Senior Classes are busy completing studies in Statistics, where information about the children in the classes is gathered and presented in graphs. Addition and Subtraction topics have also started. Topic work has centered on the big idea of Belonging, and the question of Is it easier to belong to a group? Many attention grabbing visual displays are now shared on classroom walls. Children have also conducted research, which has resulted in some surprising discoveries in family traditions, names, relationships and places. ! ! !

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Wright St, Roslyn 4640065 www.kaikorai.school.nz

24 February 2012

SCHO O L N EWS
Kaikorai Kiwis Orchestra and Choir
Kaikorai Primary Orchestra Our orchestra has started up for 2012. We have twenty budding musicians who are learning several pieces in preparation for our combined Balmacewan Intermediate and Kaikorai Primary concert in Term 2. This is always a popular event with our orchestra and features a shared hot lunch with the Intermediate orchestra. Our parents are invited to attend. Dates will be nalized for this event early next term. Practices are on every Wednesday in the Kaikorai Primary hall. Kaikorai Primary Choir This year we are preparing for our Kids for Kids Regent Theatre concert with Suzanne Prentice. Kaikorai Primary will be involved on either May 9th or 10th. Tickets will be available approximately one month before the concert. We have 54 children from our middle and senior syndicates practising a wide selection of songs, which include melody and harmony parts. Some of our children are also preparing to try out for soloist parts. Please bring a writable CD to school if you are keen to do this (hand to Mrs Kumar, room 2). More information on this upcoming event can be found on World Visions website at
after teams and to Mr Reid and Mrs Kernaghan for helping organise and coach teams.

Our transition to school programme began last Wednesdaywith a very successful turn out of 16 children and their parents. We had lots of fun and it was great to welcome some new families into our school community. Please let any other families of 4 year old know about this new programme

Futsal
http://tiny.cc/kuqxu

Wayne, Dana and Mike from Futsal South have been running coaching sessions with classes over the last few weeks. Children have had opportunities to build and extend their football skills and nd out about the game of Futsal. Kicking and trapping large balls are fundamental skills all children need to practise. We are grateful to Futsal South for this opportunity. It has been a successful start to the Futsal season with all four teams competing hard but fair. Thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered to help look

Wright St, Roslyn 4640065 www.kaikorai.school.nz

24 February 2012

SCHO O L N EWS
Enviroschool As an Enviroschool, we have started our year by incorporating environmental ideas into classroom learning. Different classes have been working on ideas and activities that are relevant to current themes. Some of the ideas currently being explored include:

Lost Property
Have you lost some items of clothing? They are probably in one of our huge bags of lost property. Please feel free to come and collect.

Ways to improve the social and physical environment have been developed through classroom agreements and care codes. Reminders about reducing, reusing, and recycling. Composting and worm farming. Planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables from the garden.

Looking at environments outside of our school such as the rocky shore, and insect habitats.

Parent Teacher Interviews Home and school communication is vital to the success of your child at school. Our doors are always open to discuss concerns but it is also important that we have regular meetings. Thank you to everyone who attended the Meet the Teacher evening. We hope that you have a clearer understanding of the expectations, routines and how you can help your childs learning at home. Our second meeting will be held on the 6-8 March. This meeting is intended to share information regarding how your child has settled in, where they are at academically and socially and set some goals for the year. We will be running a new system of booking these interviews which we hope will be more convenient for you and the school. 1. To make a booking please go to http://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz 2. Enter the schools unique code 9YD8A 3. Fill out the information details including how many children you would like to discuss. 4. Select your teacher 5. Pick your times. We would advise you not to select back to back sessions as this may cause delays. The site is live now! Although the vast majority of parents will be able to access the web from a home computer, a friends computer or a workplace computer, our ofce staff are available to assist any families having difculty with the booking process. We advise parents to book early to conrm their preferred time.
Wright St, Roslyn 4640065 www.kaikorai.school.nz

24 February 2012

SCHO O L N EWS
Enrichment Programme A philosophical discussion group has started in Room 3 with Mrs Graham. Twenty three children from classes throughout the school are meeting on Tuesday afternoons to exercise their thinking skills, talk about issues of a philosophical nature, and learn more about learning. This initiative is part of an enrichment programme in which different children will have opportunities to extend interests and develop new skills. There will be a variety of groups working with different teachers throughout the year, exploring areas of strength and interest to the teachers and children alike. Future programmes will include; art, environment, robotics and creative writing to name a few. Teachers who are running the programmes establish a selection criteria and classroom teacher identify children who t this criteria. It is hoped that a wide range of children from across the school will take part in the programme at some stage. Parent Group News
PARENTS GROUP AGM & GENERAL MEETING The Parents Group AGM will take place on Wednesday 14 March at 1.30pm in the Staff Room. The AGM will be followed by a general Parents Group meeting, our rst for the ! year. At the AGM well be voting on an amended Parents Group Constitution. If anyone would like a copy of this amended Constitution prior to the meeting, then please contact Tor (details below). Everyone is very welcome to attend the AGM and Parents Group Meeting - and we would love to see some new faces. SAUSAGE SIZZLE The Parents Group will be running a fundraising Sausage Sizzle on Friday 16 March at school during lunchtime. The money raised from the Sausage Sizzle will be put towards the cost of the Year 6 camp which will take place the following week. The Parents Group is going to make this an annual event so we can support the Year 6 camp every year. All families are invited to come along and join in the sausage sizzle. Sausages will cost $2 each and they will need to be ordered and paid for in advance. An order form for sausages will be sent home soon. (Note: Vegetarian and Gluten Free options will be available.) ! ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS There has been a delay in the printing of the 2012/13 Entertainment Books which means that they cannot be distributed this term. However, an Entertainment Book will be sent home to each family on the rst day of Term 2, Monday 23 April. This can either be purchased or returned to school. A notice explaining all about the Entertainment Books will be sent home in March. In the meantime, though, you can start taking orders for Entertainment Books from ! family members, friends, neighbours and work colleagues. (A few parents are already ! school will get doing this thank you!) This year the books will cost $55 each and for each book sold the $11 so this is a great fundraising opportunity for our school. The money raised from this fundraiser will be added to that already allocated by the Parents Group for new sports and kapa haka uniforms. If you have any questions or would like more information about the Parents Group, then please contact Tor (453-1108, 027-635-1512, devereux@ihug.co.nz).
Wright St, Roslyn 4640065 www.kaikorai.school.nz

CO MMUN ITY N O TICES

Rata Kids
Does your child have handwriting difculties? Does your child appear clumsy and uncoordinated? Does your child dget or lack concentration? Does your child have poor memory or organisational skills? Does your child have speech or communication difculties?

Take a Kid Tramping

This course is a family-friendly introduction to the basic skills needed to tramp safely in the NZ bush. 3 sessions plus a day tramp (optional) which together will equip you to be safe and have fun, even if you have no family history of tramping. Average tness required for tramp. Friday 9 March 6.30-9.15pm (Dunedin) Sunday 11 March 1-6pm (Outram Bridge) Monday 12 March 6.30-9pm (Dunedin) Saturday 17 March 10-3.30pm (Trampoptional) Only $20 per adult, $10 per child (maximum $60/family) Children should be at least 10 years old, and must be accompanied by a participating adult. Transport to outdoor activity venues and personal food for tramp are own cost. Sturdy walking shoes, waterproof jacket, warm clothes, day pack required. To register or enquire further phone Helen on 027 693 0762 or Email: dunedin@mountainsafety.org.nz

RATA Kids is a private paediatric service who works with children of all ability levels. Our staff including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy help children to achieve their physical and academic milestones. We are able to provide assessment and intervention based at school or our modern clinic. If you would like to speak with a therapist about your child please contact Anna Baker, Occupational Therapist, on 021 470 393 or email anna.baker@ratasouth.co.nz .

Soccer Club Registrations

ROSLYN WAKARI AFC Junior Football Registration 2012 Wednesday 29th February - 5pm to 6:30pm and Saturday 3rd March 11am to 1pm Ellis Park Clubrooms Frasers Road Further Details Contact: Peter Verwey: 454 4976 The Maori Hill Junior Football Club MHJFC is having our club registration this year as follows: Sunday 26th February 2.00pm-4.30pm & Wednesday 29th February 4.30pm-5.30pm at Prospect Park. New players welcome in all grades. You can just come along to Prospect Park or contact us at Maorihilljfc@gmail.com for more information.

Lessons held at Kaikorai Rugby Club