Kiwi Connection - Ruma 1 - New Entrant to Year 1

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome back, and a huge welcome to our new families this term. I hope the children have had a restful holiday, as term 4 is going to be filled with learning experiences that are going to tire them out! Ruma 1 is lucky this term to have Miss Shaharane'e working alongside myself from week 3 till the end of the year. 

This letter is just a reminder/description of a few routines, and also to let you know about a few changes.

I would like to congratulate the children on a wonderful performance they did last term in our school production!!!!!

ROUTINES:

Children are encouraged to be in the classroom before the bell goes at 8:45am.  If it is raining outside, they are allowed in earlier. 

Children need to put their school bag on their named hook, and put their book bag in the book bag box every morning when entering the classroom.

GROUPING:

New instructional groups have been created in order to make curriculum delivery more targeted to the right level for your child.  The new groups are displayed in the classroom.

READING:

As in Term 1,2 and 3 children will be bringing home a book in their book bag everyday, Monday to Thursday.  It will be a book at their instructional level, that they have read that day in the classroom.  It is possible that children will bring the same book home more than once to revisit and reinforce some reading skills.

On Tuesdays children will bring home a library book, or a reader to read independently.  Please, continue to support the literacy programme by reading the book with them, and ensure the books are returned the following day. If the titles of the books aren’t recorded in the yellow reading logs, please record them.  I sometimes run out of time to do it myself for everyone, but it is important that a reading log is kept.

Reading is the only compulsory homework in Ruma 1

TOPIC:

This term for our Technology focus we will be looking at 'Making Toys" On November the 3rd Richard Lees, who is a toy maker,  will be visiting Kiwi Connection. He will be conducting a toy making session with KC, and the juniors will participate in a session called 'Toys before Electricity". At some stage the children will be asked to bring in a few toys of their own to talk about and display in class. It is Ruma 1's vision to make a simple toy in the coming weeks. 

There will also a focus on healthy food (more info to come in the following weeks)

Please ensure that your child wears suitable footwear daily for either fitness, PE or Junior Sports.

PARENT HELP:

I might every now and again need some help for photocopying/making/assembling/laminating/repairing resources for use in our room, so if you have any time to spare please let me know. 

MISCELLANEOUS:

Although attention is given to new students who might not be used to the toilet routines, there is at some times children who have little accidents through no fault of their own.  Please, if you think this might happen to your child, leave a spare change of clothes in their bag.

FOOD: 

Children usually take a couple of things to eat in the playground at morning teatime.  At lunchtime, they are supervised in the classroom while eating, to ensure they don’t run off to the playground on an empty stomach.  Some of them often struggle to finish off the contents of their lunch box. If you do not expect them to finish everything entirely, I would appreciate that you let me know.  Water only is also recommended for their drink bottles. As some parents are aware, a child in our class is severely allergic to eggs and nuts (and dog saliva!).  We strongly recommend that you don't put eggs or nuts in your child’s lunchbox. There is also a rule in Ruma 1 in that the children are not allowed to share their food. Please talk to your child to remind them of this.

If you have any further questions on the organization of this term, please do not hesitate to come and talk to me.

Regards                                                                                

Mr Jason