NAU MAI, HAERE MAI - Welcome to 2017.

Rimu Whanau - Year 7/8 - Sandy and Tandi’s whanau

Term One 2017

1st February 2017

Kia ora koutou,

Nga mihi o te tau hou!  Happy New Year and welcome to 2017.  This year we also welcome Micheline as Tandi’s senior release teacher. She will be teaching maths with Sandy Monday-Wednesdays.  All students and teachers will be collaborating closely and working with each other throughout the day.  Each student will have access to both teachers and all the Year 7-8 learners, with set times of the day being allocated to individual, collaborative and larger group activities.  Your child’s whanau teacher is your first port of call with any notes, queries and communication.  We are reached easiest via email, and it works best if both Sandy and Tandi are emailed, as we will both be aware of what is happening with your child.

Important events coming up

Curriculum Evening   Week 2 Tuesday, 7th of February 6-6.45 pm You need them to log on to the chromebooks for our first Q+A session! Based on the huge success of last year’s “modern learning” style event, we will again be running our Curriculum Evening similar to sessions your child experiences every day.  So that we can cater our information night to your queries, concerns and needs, please complete the following shared doc.  We hope to answer your questions about the Year 7-8 programme through a series of activities, some digital, some collaborative and some teacher workshops.  By the end of the night you will have a better understanding of what learning looks like at this level and what the expectations are of your child.   Throughout the night you will act as a learner and as a teacher.  This will allow you to experience the way modern learning happens, the same way your child does.   We’d like to signal a separate meeting for the camp parent helpers that will be joining us in Rotoiti.  Wednesday 15th Feb at 6pm-7.  We’ll be covering health and safety, your role as a parent helper and answer any queries you may have.   Book BBQ Week 4 Thursday, 23rd February 5.00-7.00 pm Come along to browse our book collection, share kai and chill out with the CQS whānau. Books are available for families to donate books to our school library. Your child/whānau is then acknowledged in your book of choice and gets to be the first to borrow the books from the library. The night is always a great opportunity for us to make those beginning of the year connections again. Parent/Teacher interviews Week 11 Tuesday, 11th-Wednesday, 12th April Times and bookings to be confirmed by the office closer to the time. These meetings are an opportunity for us to have a conversation about how your child has settled into the term and to discuss your child’s goals for the upcoming term. CQS Swimming Week 11 Tuesday, 11th April School swimming sports are booked. This will involve year 4-8 students who will sign up for either competitive or noncompetitive swimming events. Those who are racing in the competitive events will be eligible for the Central Zone swimming sports that will be held later in the year.

Learning in Rimu:

Building Learning Power - A growth mindset

This year we will continue to build on the modern learning foundations set out in previous years.  The focus is on students adding to their ability/power as a learner.   Some keywords that you have probably already heard around school that will continue to be important this year are “resilience,” “collaboration,” and “growth mindset.”  We’d love you to discuss these words with your children - if you’re not 100% sure what they mean, perhaps you and your child could find out together.  We are keen to support the development of skills and attitudes that serve our children well during their formal education and beyond.  

Video explaining Growth Mindset

Learning Challenge model

Workshops and Goal Setting

The first month will be about getting to know our learners and helping them to identify where they are in their learning. From this students will be supported to set goals, plan and attend workshops run by Sandy, Micheline and Tandi (‘Standi’) in the core areas of maths, reading and writing. Students will regularly reflect on goals, collect and share evidence of their progress.  In all areas, we will be emphasising the learning cycle of “Learn, practise, check, maintain”.  

Collaboration and Peer Learning

Students in Rimu will build on their collaborative skills to support each other with learning. This means that students will work toward collective goals with a range of people. They will be actively involved in small group discussions and activities where the expectation is to contribute for the benefit of all members.  It is widely accepted that collaboration is a key skill for future employment and that students learn more effectively from listening and talking with their peers.  Our preparation for Rotoiti camp in week 5 will be a large component of this social aspect of learning.

French

Our French programme, which runs in collaboration with Alliance Francaise, is in the process of being finalised. It will continue on Fridays.  Each year group will have one 45 minute session on Friday between 11.00 am -12.30pm.   We look forward to working with Juliana again this year.  

Technicraft-Year 7 & 8’s

We have our first session at Mt. Cook school next Tuesday, February 7th. Buses will collect us at 10.30 a.m. every Tuesday and will return by lunchtime. The cost for the equipment in these specialist classes can be paid via “Wrap it Up”.   Students are required to wear closed shoes and tie back long hair.  Students in the Foodtech rotation must bring a sealable container and the relevant cutlery to eat the results of their efforts upon returning to school.  (Students will know their groups before hand!)

Camp 2017-Rotoiti Lodge

We are very excited about camp down in the beautiful Nelson Lakes (27th February-3rd March). Over the next two weeks we’ll ask you to complete Google Forms with important medical/dietary information. Please provide the relevant information this week so that we can progress with our planning for this event.  The full cost of camp can be paid via “Wrap it Up” and there are plenty of manageable payment plans which allow installments.  Helen is also very willing to talk about how payments can be tailored to meet your family’s situation.

Swimming

Rimu’s lessons begin THIS Thursday, tomorrow, (2nd February) at Kilbirnie Pool (WRAC).  Students must bring their own NAMED separate swimming bag, a towel, togs, swim cap and goggles (optional).  The cost for the term’s programme can be seen and paid via “Wrap it Up”.  Please keep an eye on the school newsletter and the events calendar on the school website as weekly details will be posted here.  

Student Google Accounts and ICT agreement

All year 7 & 8 students have individual “Single Sign-ons” to access personal gmail accounts and various educational apps.  This can be accessed from school and home so students will  be able to share their work in Google Classroom with you. Students and parents will need to sign the ICT agreement for Clyde Quay School as soon as it is sent out. We will be exploring key rights and responsibilities of chromebook use with all students.  Students are unable to access the chromebooks without the agreement. Please discuss the agreement with your child when it arrives.

Online Learning Opportunities

Students can use  a range of websites to support their home learning.  Some of these sites will be utilised as part of the classroom programmes and it would be great to see students accessing these from home and sharing their progress with you. Links to webpages that can support your child’s learning can also be found on the Rimu blog:  http://rimucqs.blogspot.co.nz/ Follow the tabs at the top of the page to find what you may need.

Sun Safety

All students must bring their named hats to school during Term 1 and Term 4.  Students should put on sunscreen before school and it is available in each class for reapplication at lunchtime. If students are allergic to the class sunscreen, they are strongly encouraged to bring their own supply and have this at school daily.   

Library

Library times for Rimu will provide students with an opportunity to read for longer periods.  We recommend that students bring their books to school for regular returns/issues.  The library is open during lunchtimes and students are encouraged to get new books when required and not just on our set library times.

Stationery

Stationery packs will be available from the office. They are welcome to take these home and cover them but we ask that they come back to school the next day. All items will need to be named including pens as students will be responsible for their own equipment. This year, we want all students to have and use a pencil case to reduce the time spent trying to find lost stationery.

1x MA4 Maths Book 2	Maths
4x 1B5 lined books	Reading, Inquiry, Draft Writing x2
1 x Clever Kiwi Activity Book	Learning Journal

Fees

All school activity fees can be paid through our new online payment system at www.wrapitup.co.nz . Alternatively you can pay at the office or via internet banking. Our bank account number is 12 3141 0350817 00.  Please contact us if you have difficulties in setting this up.

Mt. Victoria Release

We will continue to use the local area for learning and regular fitness activities.  

If you have any questions, please contact us via the avenues below and we can arrange a time to meet.

Tandi	3850900	tandi@clydequay.school.nz
Sandy	3850900	sandy@clydequay.school.nz
Helen	3850900	office@clydequay.school.nz

Nga mihi

Tandi, Sandy (Standi)