Year 4 Newsletter, Term 4 2016

Kia ora, malo e lelei, kia orana, fakalofa lahi atu, ni hao, bula vinaka.

Welcome back to Term 4 and a special welcome to our new families at Elm Park School.  

It is the last term of the year and it will be extremely busy with trips, swimming, athletics and much more!

Important dates this term:

Week 1                                                               Swimming and Athletics Start                                                                                

Week 3               Mon 24th October                   Labour Day

                           Wed 26th October                   Y4 Speech Competition

                           Thur 27th October                   Rm12/13 Tip Top Factory Visit

                           Fri 28th October                       Rm 14/15 Tip Top Factory Visit  

Week 4               Tues 1-3 November                 Inquiry Showcase (in the Auditorium)

Week 6               Mon 21st November               Rm 12/13 Te Tuhi Visit

                           Tues 22nd November              Rm 14/15 Te Tuhi Visit    

                           Thurs 24th November              Student Led Conferences

                           Fri 25th November                   Principal’s Awards Assembly (10am)

Week 9               Mon 5 December                     Y4 Swimming Carnival (11am)

                           Thur 8 December                     Celebration Concert (6-8pm)

Week 10             Tue 13 December                   Final Awards Assembly

Last Day of Term 

Wednesday 14 December (finish at 1pm)

Our learning focus for the term:

This term we will be wrapping up our science based Inquiry about Matter, including a trip to the Tip Top Factory in Week 3!   We are looking forward to sharing our Inquiry learning with parents and whanau at our Inquiry Showcase in Week 4 when you will all see what and how our students have been learning about Matter and they conclude ‘Which Matter Matters Most?’

As part of our PE programme for the term, we will be focusing on swimming and athletic skills!  

Throughout this term, we will be working very hard to practise for the celebration concert which will be a fantastic evening of performances.

We will also be continuing with e-Portfolios as a means of keeping you up to date with your child’s learning. It would be fantastic if you post comments on your child’s blog.

We look forward to a busy last term showcasing and celebrating our learning along with the exciting trips we have planned.

 

Nga Mihi Koutou,

Sasha Kulik, Julie Prendergast, Alice Massey and Sara Melville (Year 4 Team Leader)

Useful information

Uniforms: 

As always, we ask for your support to help our students show pride in their Elm Park School uniform.  Please ensure that your child is in the correct school uniform and that all items of clothing are clearly named. All school shoes need to be plain BLACK.  Please do not buy shoes with coloured soles and laces.  

Please note that hats are compulsory in Term 4.

Swimming Skills: 

This term students will have three swimming sessions per week.  Please ensure they have their togs, towel, cap and goggles (if applicable) all named and in a plastic bag.  Please note, swimming is compulsory and is for all skill levels.  It is extremely important that all children learn how to be safe in and around the water!  If your child is unable to participate in a swimming session they will be required to provide a note.

Homework: 

In Year 4, we have reduced homework to the basics, as we understand that families have commitments outside of school time.  The expectations are as follows:

  • At least 20 minutes reading per day
  • Mathletics - aim to achieve a bronze certificate (should take approximately 30 minutes over the week)
  • Basic Facts - focus on quick recall for all addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts
  • Spelling City to practise their spelling words

These skills form the foundation of success in the senior school. Please support your child by ensuring that they are meeting these minimum expectations.  If access to computers is a concern, students may use computers before school in their classrooms - please ask their teachers.

Lunches:

We have noticed that some of the children are running out of food by lunchtime and we ask that more food is sent each day. Water bottles are also essential to have in the classroom, especially as the days get warmer, so please encourage your child to organise this every day.

Athletics

This term the students will be participating in an Athletics rotation on Wednesday afternoons with the Year 3’s, covering sprints, high jump, hurdles, triple jump, long jump and ball throwing.

Library:

Your child will visit the school library every week. Please ensure that the borrowed book is returned promptly, before the next visit to the library. We trust that the library books that are taken home will be looked after.

 Activity Fee

If you have not paid the Term 4 activity fee already please make your payment as soon as possible.  We have an exciting trip to the Tip Top Factory in Week 3 and we do need this money to help cover the costs.

Keeping in contact

Contact with and from school

There are many ways we can contact you and you can contact the school.  

It is vital that school has your latest contact details in case of an emergency.

  • Website

www.elmpark.school.nz

  • Blog

http://elmparkschool.blogspot.co.nz/

  • Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ElmParkSchool/

  • Smartphone App

Our smartphone app by Skoolbag can be downloaded for free from iTunes & Google Play - just search for Elm Park School.

  • Year 3 & 4 Deputy Principal - Belinda Johnston

belinda@elmpark.school.nz or 09 5770194