1 August
2013
5/6KF Class Newsletter – Term 3
Hi Everyone!
I trust you all had a good break. The boys have certainly returned full of
energy and enthusiasm which is fantastic! Term Three is very short – only 8
weeks so we are right into the swing of things.
It was great to meet with most of you at the end of last term.
Yesterday we
had a discussion around the amount of prep the boys get – they feel they get
too much however really it is about time management and this is an area where
you can support them at home.
Each Monday
boys are given Spelling words. The requirement this term is that they will
complete 5 definitions (to encourage dictionary use – either on an ipad or
other digital device, or a book) and 10 sentences which use their list word in
a way that reflects the words meaning eg ‘I am freezing’ does not reflect the
meaning of freezing – ‘I was freezing cold when I was shut in the chiller’
does! I know the boys like the idea of working independently but if you could
glance at their sentences occasionally it would save them having to rewrite ‘meaningless’
sentences at school. Many thanks! Sentences and definitions are due on
Wednesdays. I have spoken to Scott and Carl re Maths prep and they are going to
give this more regularly (something many of you mentioned in interviews at the
end of last term) – you should all have received the 5SJ blog address
yesterday. Maths prep for 5SJ will be recorded here. Other prep eg for Social
Science will always be given over a longer period so if the boys do a little
each night they will get what is required done – little and often!
Please keep the boys reading for 15 minutes at night – either their own books
or from their mileage boxes at school. This term, to aid in vocabulary
building, the boys also have a ‘Word of the Day’ each day. This needs to be
defined and used in a sentence – ideally on the document on their Drive
(accessed through Google Chrome) or in their English book
In Maths
this term the 3 classes are completing Multiplication and Division before
moving onto Fractions, Decimals and Percentages. We will be writing reports and focusing on
comprehension and vocabulary building in reading. In Social Science we are
looking at the history of our school and in particular the 100 year celebration
of the Wiremu building. This will take the first two weeks of term before we
move into Financial Literacy. Zoology is
the focus in Science. Add in Technology, Music, Art, RI, Drama, and IT and it
is a wonderfully varied timetable.
I spoke to
many of you about iPads at the end of term interviews. We have been lucky to be
one of the classes to trial using the school owned iPads. In Week 3 of this
term the boys in 5/6KF will be invited to bring their own iPads to school. If
they do not already have an iPad you do not need to buy one as we will still
have the school iPads available to ensure all boys have access. There is a parent
evening on Wednesday next week in the Founders Room at 6.30 which should answer
any questions you may have. Boys and parents will both need to sign a user
agreement before an iPad is brought into school and there will be some firm
boundaries in place around usage. This is an exciting time in education and we
are lucky to be part of it!
I am
endeavouring to create a blog for boys and parents to refer to for information
– newsletters, prep etc. I will let you know when this is up and running!
What a
lengthy spiel! As always please do not hesitate to touch base if you have a
query or concern. Here’s to a hard-working, positive term in 5/6KF!
Kate Field
