Handwriting Hints

Hi everyone!
I was asked by a couple of parents about handwriting at the recent learning discussions. You may have noticed the letter formation sheets that I glued  into the children's home learning books, which show the correct formation for letters that we teach in New Zealand.
This chart (below) shows the correct starting points for the capital letters, lowercase letters and numbers. If you would like to practise at home please use these models for starting points 

 I have glued a copy of this sheet into only some handwriting books.

I have also attached a chart to show the pencil grip development of children:

Please help encourage your child to use the dynamic tripod grip to write with. This allows more fine movement with their fingers and greater fluency to write faster.

Term 3 Week 3

Kia Orana everyone,

There are a couple of important notices for this week:

• Swimming: Tuesday - Thursday. 1pm - 3pm. Don't forget togs and towels.

• Garden to Table will be at 9.10am - 10.50am this week.

• Learning Discussions take place on Wednesday and Thursday. School finishes at 3pm on both these days. Thanks to everyone who has booked an appointment so far. Please remember to bring your child along as these are student led discussions about their learning.

• Room 8's Got Talent: On Friday Savannah, Keisomani, Lucas, Marcus and Anjola all performed for the class. I am looking forward to seeing other class members over the next couple of weeks. Some of them will be chosen to perform at the Puriri Assembly when it is our turn in Week 5.

• Homework - Sadly only 3 children remembered to bring their home learning books and their reading logs, with 4 days of reading, to school on Friday with all their homework complete. I am concerned that so many are not doing any reading so ...

This week we are only going to have reading homework - no Spelling or Maths ... JUST READING

.                       

Every child has a reading log. Every child will be personally given a book or story to read. They only need to read for 10 - 15 minutes to you each night (Monday - Thursday). 
The goal is to have everyone reading every night. Can we do it??

Have a great week everyone !!

Schoolwide Focus for Weeks 3 & 4

Who Loves Garden To Table?

Sarah shares her knowledge about plant life cycles with the FRUIT GROUP

          Jerico loved the curry so much he had to have seconds. The smile tells it all!! 😀

SWIMMING HAS STARTED

We have now completed our first 3 swimming sessions and it is wonderful to see everyone bringing their togs. Thanks to the parents who have helped supervise the children while they have been in the big pool. So many smiley faces!!!

Term 3 Week 2

Hi everyone! Kia ora koutou!

There are a few updates for you this week.

HOME LEARNING: Only a few children completed all their home learning and filled in their Reading logs (Monday to Thursday) last week. Please check your child has done their homework which is given out on Mondays and checked on Fridays.

 

SWIMMING starts this week. (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) All the children need to bring their togs and towel in a swimming bag or plastic bag. We need parents to help supervise during our free swim time. You do not need to get in the pool. If you can help please contact me at mmudgway@owairaka.school.nz.

GARDEN TO TABLE has begun. If you are able to help the children who are gardening we would be very grateful. No experience is needed but you will need to wear old shoes or gumboots. Email or send a note on the day you can help.

Week	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
9am    – 10.50pm	Rm 6	Rm 8	Rm 6	Rm 8	Rm 8	Rm 25	Rm 6	Rm 8	Rm 25
11.20 – 12.50pm	Rm 8	Rm 25	Rm 25	Rm 25	Rm 25	Rm 6	Rm 25	Rm 25	Rm 6
1.40 – 3pm	Rm 25	Rm 6	Rm 8	Rm 6	Rm 6	Rm 8	Rm 8	Rm 6	Rm 8

STUDENT LED CONFERENCES take place on Wednesday 9 August and Thursday 10 August. If you would like me to book a time for you please send a note along with possible times you are available. If you are unable to come along on this evenings but would still like to talk about your child’s learning please let me know so we can organize another time.

LAST NOTE: Please have your child at school before 8.50am so they can be ready to start the day with the rest of the class. Children who arrive on or after the bell have not had the opportunity to socialise with classmates or get organized for the day ahead. Help us get our day off to an organized start.

Have a great week everyone !! Whai i te wiki whakamiharo katoa!!

GARDEN TO TABLE

Today was our first day of Garden To Table. The class was split into two groups - the FRUIT group worked in the kitchen, with Virginia and her helpers, preparing our tasty dishes while the VEGETABLES group spent time with Sarah learning about our composting system and the tool shed. 

The Recipes for this week's Garden to Table:

Pakora

Ingredients

250g chickpea flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

250 ml water

600g any vegetables (onion, potato, beans, silverbeet,carrots, cauliflower, etc)

oil for frying in

What to do

1. Mix flour, baking powder and spices altogether.

2. Slowly add the water until you have a smooth, thick batter.

3. Add the cut up vegetables and mix well.

4. Heat a small amount of oil in the frying pan.

5. Carefully drop in teaspoons of the mixture into the oil and leave to cook for 4 minutes before turning and letting the other side cook.

If they are browning too quickly turn down the heat.

6. Keep the cooked fritters warm in the oven at 100 degrees.

Herb Raita

Ingredients

3/4 cup plain yoghurt (thick is best)

1 teaspoon lemon juice or cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt 

mint leaves and coriander leaves

What to do

1   1.  Mince the herbs (cut into little pieces).

     2.  Put chopped herbs into a bowl with yoghurt, lemon juice or vinegar and salt.

     3. Mix well.

4.  Serve with pakoras, curry or as a dip.

Lemon Shortbread Biscuits

Ingredients:

150 grams softened butter

⅔ cup icing sugar

Finely grated lemon rind of one lemon

100 grams cornflour

120 grams plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

What to do:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Centigrade.

1. Put the butter and icing sugar into a large bowl. Using the electric beaters cream the butter and icing sugar together.
2. Using the lemon zester take the lemon rind (the yellow skin only, the white underneath is the pith which is bitter) off the lemon and put into the butter mixture. Put the lemon back in the fridge.
3. Sift the cornflour, flour and baking powder over the butter mixture. Stir to mix in all the flour, but don't mix too much.
4. Put the bowl in the freezer to chill for 10 minutes.
5. Put small teaspoonfuls of mixture onto a baking tray and squash down. Leave space for the biscuits to expand.
6. Put the tray in the oven and cook for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.
7. Cool on a cooling rack.