Senior Team

Welcome back to the Senior Syndicate Term 2.

Welcome back to term 2. We hope you had a lovely Easter break. Our Year 7&8 students enjoyed a fantastic week at Tui Ridge Park and around Rotorua at the end of last term. Many thanks once again to our wonderful parent helpers. Our Year 5&6 students are really looking forward to going to Camp Bentzon on Kawau Island in week 5. Mrs Mallinson and Mrs Richardson have visited the camp in the school holidays and are very excited about their week away.

Term 2 Topics
English Oral Language- Listening & Evaluating (Debates, arguments, seminars & discussions)
Visual Language- Viewing (Timelines, advertisements, posters and postcards).
Written Language- Procedural, Reports and Narratives (Writing procedures and reports based on activities from camp, science and technology lessons)
Science - Energy (Electricity, Light, Sound and Heat Waves)
Social Sciences - Sustainable Resources
Mathematics - Year 5&6- Number (Multiplication & Division)
- Number (Fractions)
- Geometry (Movement & Shape)
Year 7&8- Number & Algebra (Fractions, Decimals, Percentages & Integers)
- Statistics & Probability
- Measurement (Time & Money)
Physical Education - Large Ball Sports
Visual Art - Printmaking Camp T-Shirts
Dance - Te Reo Kori
Music- Listening, Playing and Singing. Identifying and describing characteristics of different styles of Music.
Maori - Te Reo Maori- using the language in everyday conversations and Te Reo Kori
Technology - Electrical Circuits

The Year 7&8 students will travel to Mansell Senior School each Wednesday morning at 10:50am and will return at 1:00. Their class time 11:10- 12:40. They will have a short lunch break when they return to school. They will need to wear full school uniform, covered shoes and take their pencil case.
All Year 7&8 Students will also continue to study French for Foreign Languages this term as well as Careers Education.

Term Trips
With the Year 5&6 students attending camp this term, we are currently looking at organising a trip specifically for the Year 7&8 students for later in the term. We will send more information home later in the term.

Science Equipment
We are currently planning practical activities as a part of our Science and Technology units. We would really appreciate donations of electrical equipment such as; fine electrical wire, small bulbs, tools or working batteries.

Progressive Achievement Test (P.A.T) Results
All of the PAT tests have now been completed. The results will be included in the Mid Year Report which you will receive later this term and can discuss with the teacher at the Parent & Teacher Interviews.

Term 2 Testing
This term each of the classes will complete the following testing:
A term Basic Facts test, Computation test, Peters Spelling test, Narrative Writing Assessment and a Running Record that assesses their reading skills, strategies and comprehension skill.
By using the results in the above tests, the PAT's and the work the children produce daily we will be able to give you a clearer picture of where your child is at in relation to the National Standards in their Mid Year Report. We will also hold Parent Teacher Interviews this term to discuss with you your child's progress and how you can help them at home. The Year 7&8 children are able to attend their interview and become a part of this process if you wish. This can help them to understand where they are at and take more responsibility for their own learning.

Basic Facts
This is a reminder that each week the senior school students complete a 5 minute basic facts questions (100 quick multiplication, division, addition and subtraction questions). Please encourage your child to take their tests home and use them as a practice sheet. Knowing their basic facts is vital at this level of mathematics. They should know all of their times tables by the end of year 6 (multiplication and corresponding division). In year 7&8 they are working on the speed at which they can recall these facts. Year 7 children should be gaining 100% in under 4 minutes; year 8 children should be gaining 100% in under 3 minutes. It is therefore very important that you encourage them to practise at home. Obviously mastering all of their basic facts will assist them greatly when it comes to problem solving and mathematical applications.

Mathletics
The class teachers' ability group all of the students for each mathematical topic to ensure they are being taught at the correct level of their understanding. They have then selected the objectives, skills and activities for each group on Mathletics. Each week the children will be given the opportunity in class to use the laptops to work on this programme. We would like to encourage the students to complete some of these activities at home using the log in we give them. This will also give you the opportunity to see what they are doing in the classroom.

Kind Regards,
Kristie Thomas, Jean Mallinson, Kim Richardson, Peter Clark
and Paula Frearson.