NEWSLINK
TERM 3
2014
What’s on Top?
Tena Koutou E Hoa Ma
What special times in the school calendar
our cross country events are. The
beautiful sunny days we had this year
helped set the scene, but it is the
inspiring efforts by the children that really
make it memorable. Sprinting down that
steep hillside, hair flying and splashing
dramatically through the ford are
memories to savour.
Special thanks to Pat Murphy for his
efforts in organising and setting up the
events in partnership with Chris Hayman
from Waireka. Huge thanks to Lynda and
John Matthews for their ongoing support
of our cross country. Being able to use
the Waireka Estate makes us the most
fortunate school around. You couldn’t
design a better course. It is challenging,
has interesting terrain, set in beautiful
surroundings and it is just over the fence!
Staff professional learning this year has
been focused on the language teachers
use to help the students develop an
identity as an active agent in their
learning. Our source of research has been
a book by Peter H. Johnston called
‘Choice Words’. We have also had the
teacher only day with Nathan Mikaere
Cross Country Brilliance
Tim and Tasmin
Wallis to gain an understanding of how
brain research has implications for our
teaching and engagement with students.
The ‘Accelerated Literacy Learning’
Ministry funded development has been
to concentrate on a group of year 2
students and develop teaching strategies
which will quickly move students writing
achievement.
All of these professional learning focuses
for staff are proving both challenging and
worthwhile. We set high standards for
ourselves, as educators, and for our
students. We are all learners at Omata.
In regards to the IES initiative you may
have heard about that creates new
‘executive principals’ and ‘expert
teachers’ positions. It must surely be
puzzling to you, that when principals and
teachers have the chance to pick up a
$20 - 40,000 salary top-up, the
opportunity doesn’t attract any great
interest or enthusiasm. Our staff feel that
we don’t want to be out of our
classrooms and school for any more time
than we are already. For those teachers
and principals who would receive the
higher pay, it means two days a week out
of your class and school supporting other
teachers and principals. It may work more
seamlessly in secondary schools where
you wouldn’t notice if a teacher takes less
classes but for us, positive outcomes for
our most vulnerable and special needs
students are more important.
In our opinion smaller class sizes and
more staff are ways that would really
make a difference to the quality of
support we can provide all students.
Next term is the busiest of all and we
look forward to the ‘Aladdin’ production,
our end of year reporting, junior balls
skills at Oakura, prize-giving and of
course the eagerly anticipated, ‘Big Day
Out’. The ‘Big Day Out’ is the final
reward afternoon for the year and is part
of our ‘Go for Gold’ behaviour
management system. If you are not sure
how this works please have a chat to the
classroom teacher or to your child.
Enjoy the spring break.
Ka Kite Ano Karen Brisco
Omata School Play-Group
We invite all pre-schoolers and parents to
play-group held every
Thursday in the hall from 9-11am.
Phone Rachael Shotter 7514529
Huge thanks to Rachael for running our
popular playgroup so well.
The year 5-6 camp is a great way to finish the term with students always looking forward to it. The opportunity to take the
classroom into an outside environment offers another learning dimension.
Stuart Bennett gave a very comprehensive curriculum report on Health and PE. Stuart talked of the need for balance
between the wonderful amount of sports and physical activities that we expose the children to and the classroom learning
about well being. We recognise the value of sports and movement activities and the lessons that come with it,
remembering learning is everywhere. Omata has high sport and activity involvement through all the year levels. That along
Hamish
with visiting professionals, is all helping our students understand the importance of healthy living.
Priority learning was also tabled at the last board meeting by Bridgit Barleyman. Highlighted by Bridgit was how students
Logan
are identified and monitored, and support programmes are put in place to cater for students special learning needs. Priority
learning covers both children that are at risk of not achieving and those that need extension. These programmes are
structured so that they benefit all children throughout the school.
Throughout all of the meetings that the Board and staff have, the one message that comes to the fore is that good communication between all
can only benefit our children. Remember the door is always open and staff are happy to talk to you on any matter regarding the welfare of your
child.
Board of
Trustees
Update
Class Acts
ROOM 3
ROOM 1
I cannot believe it is the end of term already.
We have been enjoying our science topic
‘What’s Going On’, with our main focus being
the states of matter; solid, liquid and gas. It has
been a great opportunity to combine with our
buddy class, Room 6 and carry out some
exciting experiments. Our goal has been to
make accurate predictions, observe carefully
and notice changes just like real scientists.
In mathematics, we have been learning how
multiplication means groups of, and division is
sharing. We are learning to use known facts to
recall our basic facts quickly. Everyone is trying
to improve their basic facts score, which we
graph each month in our mathematics book. The students in Room 1 have been using their
notebooks as a seedbed for writing with Mrs
Hill and have completed some wonderful
published writing. Feel free to come into class
and read the writing with your child.
Have a wonderful holiday, hopefully the great
weather will continue.
Regards, Bridgit
ROOM 2
For our writing in term 3 we wrote poetry on
how to throw a ball and we finished the term
off with writing speeches. The children did a
fantastic job and it was great to see them
actively seeking to improve, both the writing,
as well as the delivery of their speeches.
In Maths, we finished off our measurement unit
before spending time looking at Geometry. In
the last few weeks we have been learning
about fractions.
Our Science topic of ‘What’s Happening’, has
allowed the students to conduct a number of
different science experiments, to make
observations and to research information about
what is happening.
In PE we have been practicing our small ball
skills and more recently, we have completed
our cross country. It was great to see the
children giving it their best.
Vertical Horizons is here again and I know the
children are all very excited.
I will be away in the last week, having my knee
operation, and Jo Hill will be teaching Room 2.
I hope you all a wonderful holiday.
Regards Stuart
Home &
School
News
Rachel
Alford
Throughout the term we have had our science
hats on. We have looked at the skills scientists
use. Room 3 have carried out a range of
investigations using the skills of a scientist by
first making a hypothesis, then carrying out an
investigation, writing down what they saw
happen and the science ideas they gained.
In writing, we have been learning about how to
structure a speech. The children then wrote
speeches ensuring they had a clear
introduction, middle and conclusion.
In reading, some students have been
participating in literature circles where they
read, then have discussions about what they
have read and critically analyse the text. Other
students have been taking part in reciprocal
reading where each child takes turn leading
their group in reading.
In mathematics, we did a measurement unit
where the children learnt about units of
measurement and how to tell the time using
both an analogue and a digital clock. We are
currently focusing on further developing our
place value knowledge.
The Year 5’s and I had a fantastic time at
Vertical Horizons camp last week.
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Regards, Vicky
ROOM 4
It has been exciting to enter the room 4
‘learning zone’. Already these children are
showing wonderful development of their self
management skills. They are really taking
responsibility for their own learning and
routines. Leadership roles are well established
and the class really knows what to do next.
A highlight has been students learning with
their buddy class, room 3, as part of their
science focus.
Students created a story with magnetic
characters moving across a scene that they
had created on cardboard. The children are
now writing short plays to video for the first
assembly in term 4.
Regards Wendy
Sunshine Online resource, that allows learners
to have an interactive reading experience using
the iPads.! Our ‘Wacky Science’ study has given
learners the chance to explore the magic of
science and we have been growing crystals,
moving liquids, burning oxygen and observing
c h e m i c a l re a c t i o n s ! T h e m a t h e m a t i c s
programme has centred around skip counting
which is the introduction to multiplication. We
have been jumping, skipping and dancing as
part of this and the physical aspect has really
assisted the children to memorise these new
counting techniques. The physical movement
has continued with Cross Country and Jump
Jam, so all children should be nice and fit
heading into the holidays.!
It has been a great term and I am really
enjoying my time in Room 5.
Regards, Jemma
ROOM 6
Here we are again nearing the end of a very
busy Term 3, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a term
planning board so jammed packed full of
events. For the last six weeks we have had the
privilege of having Mrs Julie-Anne Hall working
in our class room. Julie-Anne quickly
established a strong working relationship with
our students and has added considerable value
to our learning programme. I thank Julie-Anne
very much for her commitment, her awareness
and by the professional way she has gone
about meeting the needs of our students.
One again we have recently completed our
Cross Country season at Waireka. The new
Property Manager Mr Chris Hayman went out
of his way to assist us. As an extra bonus Chris
was able to give the Room 6 students a tour of
Waireka’s replica of the Omata Stockade. This
project is making great progress and is being
built as closely as possible to the original,
including the use of 1860’s style nails especially
imported from America. Thank you very much
Chris for making the cross country event even
more special, and if that was not enough, we
managed four beautiful sunny afternoons to
run our own school and inter-school cross
country events.
Regards, Pat
ROOM 5
Writing has been a major focus in Room 5 this
term, We are now lucky enough to have 3
teachers in the class at writing time, offering all
students the chance for an extra boost in
writing!
The children continue to progress in their
reading ability, and we have introduced the
Our first attempt at the Kings Seeds fundraiser went well, even with camp fundraising and school photos happening at the
same time. We squeezed it in to make the most of the change in the season and the beautiful weather. With time up our sleeve
and lots of keen gardeners within the school, I am confident that next year it will be a ‘King hit’.
Ann, as always, is doing a wonderful job with lunches and now by providing gluten free home baking we are getting orders
from students who have not been able to in the past. Recently some students from Room 3 did a survey on lunches and found
that sushi had the potential to be a popular item on the menu. So with support from Mari Clothier and Noay Saito, Ann and I
prepared ourselves for a big day, and gave it a go. It turned out to be the most fun lunches we have ever made and proved to
be a huge hit with students and teachers alike. The first lot of calendars have been processed and a second round will come
through when we receive the last of the artwork, early next term. Thank you to all those behind the scenes of Home and School
who help with all our projects and support the school. Have an enjoyable spring holidays everyone.