Newsletter Week 8 Term 2
West Park School 25th June 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora, Talofa, Kia orana, Greetings Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers,
The weather has certainly taken a turn for the worst over the past couple of weeks with several cold and wet days. We ask that you please make sure that your child/ren are coming to school suitably dressed as there is nothing worse than trying to learn when you are cold and wet.
MODERN COLLABORATIVE TEACHING SPACES
The modern collaborative teaching and learning spaces that we have established in several of our year 1 to 6 classrooms have required teachers to implement their programmes through a variety of co-teaching strategies. One of these strategies is ‘Targeted Teaching’
· Targeted Teaching: This is what you will recognise from a traditional classroom. Needs based targeted teaching and learning (usually in reading, writing and mathematics). Children are organised into groups and move to teachers for needs based instruction. When not with teachers, children are involved in meaningful learning activities (not likely to be ‘worksheets’) that reinforce the most recent lesson. Group sizes will vary depending on need. A display will indicate what each group is doing and when. Independent learning activities will be organised in advance. There may be a learning assistant roving to support independent learning.
The difference between this in a traditional and collaborative teaching environment is the flexibility of groupings and the ability to utilise teacher strengths in various learning areas.
HELPING OUR KIDS WITH WRITING
To support the great work staff and students do in writing, it would be great if you could encourage your child/ren to write for a few minutes each day, and more so over the coming holidays. It is important to acknowledge that children become better readers by writing, and better writers by reading! Some simple writing activities that could be done at home during the holidays include:
· Lists: Families make these all the time: shopping lists, to-do lists, invitation lists, holiday packing lists. Encourage your children to make lists of their own. Ideas: birthdays of family
· Notes: Encourage your children to jot notes to family members and capture special moments in writing. Ideas: saying goodbye to grandparents after a summer vacation, the taste of a chocolate chip ice cream, a booster message for a sibling facing a challenge, a love note to a parent, a thank you note.
· Journals and diaries: In the process of writing, journal writers often come to deeper understanding of their lives. The journal becomes a precious keepsake as the journal writer continues through life. Make a diary or journal an annual essential of Christmas giving.
· Dialogue journals: These are a written conversation between a parent and child, usually in a notebook passed back and forth at different times of day. This is a way for a parent to develop a deeper relationship with a child – questions, answers, encouragements, apologies, and words of affection can be written that might never be spoken.
· Letters and e-mails: Letters can help children stay in touch with distant family members. All children love getting a letter or e-mail back. Getting into the habit of letter-writing can become a lifetime pleasure.
· Birthday and special-event books: Provide blank books for family members and guests at birthday parties and special events so they can write personal notes and wishes. These become treasured archives of people and occasions.
· Parodies: Make it a family thing to write spoofs of songs, poems and advertisements to mark special occasions or achievements.
Home-based writing should be enjoyable, real and frequent.
· Make the writing an authentic part of everyday life.
Avoid making it overly instructional. Give a quick response to requests for help rather than subjecting children to a lengthy ordeal of explanations or looking up words or information. This can be done later so the flow of writing is not interrupted.
· Don’t be overly concerned with grammar and spelling. Pointing out children’s shortcomings will discourage them from writing. Keep a dictionary close to hand and let your children see you using it to check a word in your own writing. Your attitude to spelling and grammar will naturally influence theirs without your having to make correctness a bugbear that takes away the pleasure from their writing.
· Always have writing materials available – pens, pencils, coloured markers, paper and staplers. Visit stationery shops to find attractive paper clips, stickers, notebooks and blank cards. The family writing kit should include envelopes, postage stamps and scissors. When shopping with your children, look out for items to add to the collection.
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What's been happening at West Park lately?
Future Bee Keepers?
Environmental Club
Kapa Haka Update
Student Council - SPCA Fundraiser
Matariki Evening
Morning Coffee Catch Up
Volunteers Needed!
Welcome to West Park
A warm welcome to the following students who have come to West Park in the past few weeks:
Road Patrol
Also, a friendly reminder that any grass verge near the roundabout is not to be parked on. This is for your safety and more importantly the safety of our tamakriki.
Home and School Commitee
The disco was a huge hit and a great success! Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and baking to help make it a great night, our tamariki had such a fantastic time and we couldn't have done it without your support. The $1300 raised is going to go towards building the seating area in the library.
We look forward to planning some more community events in the future, thanks again everyone!
Pedal Ready Scooter Sessions
Monday 28 June - Rm 8
Tuesday 29 June - Rm 11
Upcoming Events
- Kahikatea Yr 5-6 ASB Sports Centre - Monday 28 June 9.20am - 2.40pm
- Year 1 and 2 Parent Reading Workshop - 1st of July 9:30am-10:30am or 6:30-7:30pm email annas@westpark.school.nz for more information
- Last day of Term 2 - 9th July
- Term 3 Start Date - 26th July
- Life Ed Visit - 6th August to the 20th of August
WPS BOARD APPROVED 2022 SCHOOL TERM DATES
The following are the Board approved 2022 term dates which will have us align with the 2022 Raroa Intermediate term dates:
· Term 1 Thursday 3 Feb – Thursday 14 April
· Term 2 Mon 2 May – Fri 8 July
· Term 3 Mon 25 July – Fri 30 Sept
· Term 4 Mon 17 Oct – Fri 16 Dec
Contact Us
Email: office@westpark.school.nz
Website: https://www.westpark.school.nz
Location: 97 Broderick Road, Johnsonville, Wellington 6037, New Zealand
Phone: +64 (04) 478 7074
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmcoveintermediateschool
Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Drama Classes. For over 40 years!
Community Notices
PRIDE LANDS FUN HOLIDAY ADVENTURES
WINTER HOLIDAYS AT SOUTH WELLINGTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL (BERHAMPORE) AND OTARI SCHOOL (WILTON)
12th – 23rd JULY 2021 from 7.00am-6pm daily. Interactive Activities and NO TV or Video Games, Kai Cubs Cooking, Keep Fit Karapu Fitness, and Life Skills Programme creating healthy Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Teas. One-on-one care and shuttle services available. Daily $81.04/cub per session or $137.77 for two siblings per session; Weekly: $324.16 per cub/week or $551.07 for two siblings/week . MSD Approved & WINZ subsidies are available for eligible families.
Please contact us: 0800 PRIDE 4 U Or Register online: www.PRIDELANDS.co.nz or Visit our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/PrideLandsChildcare
Experience what life is like at Whitby Collegiate at Experience Day where your child will spend a day in class with our friendly staff & students.
Dates: Friday 25 June or Friday 2 July
Time: 8:45am - 3:15pm
If you're interested in your child attending on either of the available dates, please register on our website here or give us a call on 04 234 1070.
If you would like to tour our school, please register your interest here or telephone the above number. We’d be delighted to show you our school and tell you more in person.
2022 Scholarships are available. To find out more, please visit our website here.
Wellington North Badminton Centre
Once again Tawa Tennis, Tawa Squash, and Wellington North Badminton are running the Racketlon holiday programme these school holidays.
Players rotate around each sport spending 1.5 hours at each club. Qualified coaches will take each session.
Please note holiday programme is for age 6 years and older.
Monday 19 July, Wednesday 21 July, Friday 23 July, 9am - 3pm
Cost per day: $50 or sign up for three days $135
Registrations: https://forms.gle/QZco4DvLc1TthNj37
For more information contact Babette at babette@wnba.org.nz or call 2324774