Western Heights Primary
Sturges Road,
Western Heights,
Auckland,
New Zealand

Term 3 Newsletter

Western Heights School Junior Syndicate Pod A

2007, Term 3, Week 1

Dear Parents / Caregivers

Welcome back to Term 3. We hope you had an enjoyable holiday. We would also like to welcome a new teacher, Kathryn Mill to the junior syndicate. Miss Mill will be starting a new entrant class in CS 3.

Here are some points to note for this term:

*Topics: Weeks 1-3 Health- Healthy Eating- Food for Energy, including 2 sessions in the Life Education Caravan ($3.50 cost)Weeks 4-6 Social Studies- Pasifika- we will participate in a Pasific Experience at the Corbans Centre on Tuesday 14 August (cost $10.00)Weeks 7-10 –Health- Keeping Ourselves Safe led by Constable Rohan Stace

*Math: This term we will cover Measurement (Time and Money), Number (continuing to develop number knowledge and problem solving strategies) and Statistics.(Probability)We will be celebrating 100 days of school on Friday 27 July. On this day we ask children to bring to school a collection of 100 things to share with the class eg. 100 stickers, pegs, buttons, pencils, cards, pasta, balloons, straws, bark, pebbles, letters etc… (Please refer to separate newsletter)

*Literacy: Instructional reading continues as before. Please ensure that your child returns the readers daily, as we need to keep circulating the books throughout the classes. Your child’s poem book and library book are an important part of his/her reading programme.

*Handwriting: We give particular emphasis on the correct formation of letters. Many children enter school with incorrect letter formation and find it very difficult to change learned behaviors. Attached is a sheet giving correct formation. A few minutes practice at home each day would help to maintain correct letter formation and knowledge.Some children may need pencil grips. These are available from the office at a cost of $ 5.00.

*P. E. We will be learning new folkdances each week as part of our Physical Education Programme. This will culminate in two Junior School Fancy Dress Folkdance Performances, one in the day and one in the evening of Tuesday 11 September. We ask that the children dress up in their favourite costume that they have at home or that can be made, borrowed or hired. This is a very popular event, with amazing creativity seen in the costume designs. More details will follow closer to the event.

*Art: Emphasis this term is on printing and painting and fabric art.

*Clothing: Please ensure that your child’s clothing is clearly named. A second set of clothing at school is advisable in case of accidents. (Especially boys in the mud!). There is a huge amount of lost property at the moment. Often young children are unable to identify their own clothes therefore we advise you to have constant checks of the lost property throughout the term. All unclaimed clothing will be given to the Salvation Army.

*Lunches: With the colder weather children tend to eat more so please ensure that your child has plenty of healthy morning tea and lunch food. Lollies and chocolate are not appropriate school food. Water is the preferred school drink.

This is an action packed term!

Dates to Note:

Week 1

16 July-3 Aug Life Education Caravan

Week 2

Friday 27 July 100 Day Party

Week 4

Wednesday 8 August Pyjama day – children and teachers attend school in their pyjamas!…(parents welcome too)

Week 5

Tuesday 14 August Visit to Corbans-Pasifika

Week 6

Wednesday 22 August Individual/Class Photos