Akomanga Koru (Hub 0)

Kia ora Parents and Whanau,

We warmly welcome you to Term 1 in Akomanga Koru. This term Akomanga Koru has a very exciting term of learning ahead! Please take some time to read our upcoming concept learning, events and reminders. Remember to mark your calendars!

Introducing the team …

Concept learning

We have an exciting term of learning ahead! Our overarching concept is taha whanau - social wellbeing. We will be working on social skills that help us to have a happy and rewarding time at school. We will start off reading “Have you filled a bucket today?” by Carol McCloud and then put a kiwi twist on it with an individual kete for each child so they have a visual reminder. At home you might hear such comments as “you are dipping into my bucket” or “you are filling up my bucket” as we progress through our concept.

Meet the Teacher Evening

This term Thursday 21st February - Week 3 Stonefields School is hosting an evening where you have the opportunity to meet the teachers and ask any questions. This is also a great opportunity to meet other parents, so bring along your picnic blanket and dinner, and enjoy a picnic with your family.

Where to find information

The best way to keep up to date about what is happening is to download the school app onto your phone or similar device. Search ‘Stonefields’ at the App Store and download.

A must read is the school communication update that gets emailed fortnightly to you. This has all the major dates and upcoming events. Another place to find information is the school website selecting the ‘Communication’ tab will take you to a page full of useful information.

On the Communication page is a Parent Hub tab which leads to a range of useful resources.

Some of the resources we use in the hub are available here.

When your child starts school, you are sent an invitation to School Talk which is your online access to your child’s daily timetable, current goals and next steps. Please take time to familiarise yourself with this app and look out for information evenings related to this.

Teachers’ Professional Development

Professional learning for teachers is every Thursday morning. This usually runs until 8.45am, therefore teachers are not available before school on Thursdays.

Clothing, Drink Bottles and Bags

Please write your child’s name on EVERYTHING they bring to school, clothing, shoes, lunch boxes, lunch box lids - it’s amazing what we find, having everything named helps us to help children keep track of their belongings.

In Terms 1 & 4 all learners need to wear their school summer hat when they are outside, please apply sunblock before school each day, it is also encouraged to be reapplied at lunchtime (a roll-on one is recommended), please ensure your child’s sunblock is also named.

Having a special button, ribbon or an embroidered name on items, especially hats and fleeces, helps your child recognise their belongings without relying on an adult. If you need to buy a school hat for your child, they are available from the school office at the cost of $12.

Packing school bags can be tricky for our young learners, please get your child to practice putting all their items in their school bag independently - lunch boxes, morning tea boxes, book bags, hats and fleeces.

It is also a good opportunity to ensure your child’s school bag is big enough for everything to fit!

Food

Stonefields School is proud to be an Enviro School. To ensure we remain litter free we recommend the you use reusable containers that are easily accessible to your child and all rubbish to be taken home. Brain food is vital for children during their learning, please include plenty of fruit and vegetables along with good sources of carbohydrate and protein.

Please save lollies and treats to enjoy at home. We have an additional brain food time of 9:30am where learners can have a piece of fruit or cut up veges to snack on. It is helpful if brain food is in a separate container, so they know how much and what to eat. Finally, some lunch boxes are quite tricky for little hands to open so please make sure your child practices opening and closing their own.

Home learning

Your child will receive 3 books each week, they will receive 1 book a day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Thursday they will keep all 3 books in their book bags until the following Monday. Please read just one book each day, to maintain interest and enthusiasm. They need to read the books more than once to ensure a deeper level of understanding and to make meaning. Feel free to expose your child to other picture books and various reading material such as taking your child to the library, making books, reading signs, websites, newspaper, magazines and listening to audiobooks etc.

Please see your child’s reading teacher if you have any questions.

Your child should also keep their reading log in their book bags.

Each time your child reads their reading books, poem book or practises their sight words, please make an entry in the reading log. Teachers look at the entries in the reading log to ensure learners are getting regular reading practise and to see how you are finding things.

Poetry Books

Children should keep their poetry book in their book bags.

We add a new poem each week on a Monday.

Please read the poems each week - focus on the new poem, but choose other ones to share and enjoy too!

Children’s school reading books must be kept in the children’s book bags to protect them. They should come to school every day. If you do not have a book bag, please purchase one from the office for $5.

Children are able to borrow books from the school library. They can have two books for a period of two weeks. Children will go to the library during learning time. They are also able to borrow books during lunchtimes. Library books should also be kept in book bags.

The Nurture Room

It is important that children play at morning tea and lunchtimes and establish their friendships. During morning tea and lunchtimes the nurture room is also available in Hub Koru, this is a quiet space where your child can stay for some familiar and quiet play without the overwhelm of the playground.

Parent Helpers Please!!

Once learners have had time to settle into school and develop independence with school activities, we would love your help with the following:

• Putting reading books away
• Hearing learners read
• Laminating
• Pencil sharpening
• Cleaning whiteboards

Parent help can come in a variety of ways. Please see if there is something that suits you - click here

School Supervision

School supervision is from 8.30 - 3.00pm. Learners are welcome in the Hub from 8.30am.

Before 8.30am, children should be booked into Kelly Club. You can book your child into Kelly Club by contacting Celia Mackinven stonefields@kellyclub.co.nz

Children in Hub Koru are escorted to afternoon Kelly Club by a teacher or teacher aide.

Sickness

If your child is sick and/or has been vomiting or had diarrhea, please keep them home so other children in the hub and teachers do not get sick. We prefer that the children stay at home for 48 hours after their sickness so the bugs cannot be passed on.

Use the ‘Absentee’ tab on the School App to let us know your child is absent. Alternatively call the office on 527 7721 or email admin@stonefields.school.nz If you send an email, please also copy Hub Koru teachers hub0teachers@stonefields.school.nz

Assembly

This term our Junior assemblies will be held on the following days:

Friday 22nd February - Week 3

Friday 8th March - Week 5

Friday 5th April - Week 9

Parents are welcome to attend on these dates - we look forward to seeing you there!

Contacts

If you would like to email the teachers individually please use the emails provided below:

Sally Stacey sally.stacey@stonefields.school.nz

Sally Stanley sally.stanley@stonefields.school.nz

Sammy Weir sammy.weir@stonefields.school.nz

Or everyone at once! hub0teachers@stonefields.school.nz

We look forward to working in partnership with you.

Nga mihi nui,

Sally, Sally & Sammy (S Club 3!)

Hub Koru Teachers