Introductory Newsletter.

Room 10
Riverdale School

4th February 2008,

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Room 10 for 2008!! We’ve made a great start to the year with everyone already working hard!! I’m really looking forward to teaching your child and know we’re in for a busy year in the Senior Skyscrapers with many highlights to look forward to.

The following is some introductory information about Room 10:
STATIONERY:
We are starting to work in books next Monday, so require all stationery for Monday. Everything needs to be named clearly. The following are the names for the exercise books that we will be using from the start of the year. There are other books issued but I will be collecting them in for use later on in the year.
Ø 1B5 – Home Fun
Draft Writing
Skills
Magic Monday Book
Ø QB - Mathematics
Ø Activity book – Connected Curriculum.

All the above books are to have attractive title pages with a border, block lettering titles and illustrations. These need to be done in pencil first, then black pen for the outlines and coloured pencils and jovi crayons to colour in (NO felts in books please!!) You could help your child with this or another option is to do it on the computer, then trim to fit within the page and glue the sheet into their book. I will go over some useful word-art skills on the computer this week. I’ll give students some time during school but they need to work at home as well, to have all title pages completed by the end of February. I will be collecting these in and checking that these are finished!! I’d love to see the books covered as well, to further strengthen them and enhance the standard of book presentation. I have also gone over the fact that there is to be NO GRAFFITTI on the inside and outside covers of the books. Any scribble etc will need to be covered over immediately – we want to feel proud of the high standard of book presentation.

HOMEFUN:
This year students have a Homefun book in which they are to have at school each day. On Mondays they will be given an outline of the week’s tasks. This Homefun book outlines events and highlights for the week as well as any other homework and reminders. My intention is that this will be a good way to keep in touch with you and for you to keep in touch with me and with what we’re up to at school. It would be great if you could write in this book as well: comment on your child’s work and efforts, as well as a convenient place to write me a note to let me know anything (eg. if you had a family celebration and the Homefun wasn’t done!). Could this book come back signed daily.

SWIMMING:
Daily swimming begins next week. Could I have a note if your child is too sick to swim, otherwise it is an expectation that all students will swim. Our swimming days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with possibly a lunchtime swim on any day.

LIBRARY:
Library time is after interval on Mondays. Children are to bring their library books to change at this time. Room 10 is very lucky to have Mrs Weston teaching on Mondays and she will be covering ICT skills, library and research skills and returning and issuing new books.

SUNHATS
These are compulsory. They need to be a bucket hat as caps don’t fully protect ears and necks. Please ensure your child has theirs every day and also ensure it is clearly named.

ROOM 10 CLASSROOM BLOG SITE
I am presently setting up our very own Room 10 Riverdale School classroom Blog site. This will be available shortly to view and I will post weekly Homefun sheets and other relevant information and learning undertaken in Room 10. More on this development soon.

FACT SHEET
Please fill out the Fact Sheet issued today with your child and have it back to school by this Friday. Many thanks.

HEALTHY SNACKS
Please remember to pack a healthy snack for our 10am ”brain break” in the classroom, and also a water bottle.

I hope the above is helpful!! I’ve loved catching up with many familiar faces, and meeting some of you for the first time. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns about your child – I am very committed to ensuring your child has an excellent year in Room 10. My home phone number is 3545573, or you can catch up with me at school… Kia ora!

Kind regards
Andrea Tamatea.