Team+4+Newsletter

** Term 1, 2012 ** Kia Ora Parents and Caregivers,
 * Team 4 Newsletter **

Welcome to Year 4! What a year it will be! A special welcome to families new to Willowbank, and a warm welcome back to our existing families. We hope you had a fun and safe holiday and are ready for your exciting year of learning.


 * Introducing the friendly teachers of Team 4 **
 * ** Halina Varcoe, Room 14 **
 * ** James O’Brien, Room 6 **
 * ** Cheryl McLeod, Room 20 **
 * ** Marissa Kruse, Room 31(Team Leader) **

We are looking forward to meeting and working with your children this year. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to drop by to see your child’s classroom teacher before or after school. There will be a more formal opportunity to meet the teachers and discuss your child’s learning in a few weeks when we have our ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening and open morning. More information will be sent home closer to the time.

Thanks to those of you who have already purchased and sent along your child’s stationery – great start! It is important that all children begin using their books at the same time and start the school year equipped for their learning, this enables them to settle quickly into routines. We would appreciate if all children could have their stationery at school by Tuesday 8th February. Students will still be required to have book bags to ensure the safety and return of books they bring home. If your child is new to Willowbank there maybe a couple of additional items they need such as a book bag and clear files. Please see your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
 * Stationery **

Thanks for sending your child to school in the correct summer uniform. It is still very hot outside and the UV rays are very strong, therefore students are required to wear their sun hats everyday to help prevent burning. Unfortunately if students forget their sun hats they will not be permitted to play in the sunshine. We appreciate parents/caregivers taking the time to name each part of their child’s uniform, as it makes it easier to find the owner of any items found. The correct footwear is plain black shoes or sandals. Now that your child is Year 4, it is compulsory for them to have a PE uniform. The children will be participating in fitness activities twice a week and in a PE lesson. More information on fitness and PE timetables will be given out at a later date. It is important that your child still comes to school and goes home in their school uniforms. They may get changed into their PE clothes during lunch breaks.
 * Uniform Expectations **

Over the next few weeks, teachers will be busy assessing and getting to know your child’s abilities and needs. For the first few weeks students will be getting to know each other, become familiar with ‘The Willowbank Way’, the setting up of classroom routines, discovering ‘What is Learning’, and be involved in activities that build ‘Learning Focused Relationships’. Home learning will start approximately in week 4 and will be on the classroom wiki. More information will be given out at a later time about how to set up your wiki account and the expectations and learning activities that will be involved.
 * Keeping You Informed **


 * // Open Morning at Willowbank School //**

// Parents and caregivers are invited to our open morning on Thursday 29 March at 10am – 11am. During this time children will share their reading, writing and numeracy learning goals with parents/caregivers. You will have a chance to talk with your child about how they are going to achieve their goals and how you are going to support them with this learning at home. //

// There will be an opportunity for you to meet the teachers of your child’s team in week 3 of this term and our student led conferences are scheduled for term 2 (more information about this will follow at a later date). //

// We look forward to seeing you on Thursday 29 March. //


 * ** Event ** || ** Date ** ||
 * Meet the Teacher evening || Thursday 16th February ||
 * Open Morning || Thursday 29st March ||

Our school timetable is: First learning block: 8.55am – 11.00am Morning tea: 11.00am – 11.20am Second learning block: 11.20am – 12.30pm Lunch: 12.30pm – 1.30pm Third learning block 1.30pm – 3.00pm
 * School Timetable **

Kind Regards

Marissa Kruse, James O’Brien, Cheryl McLeod and Halina Varcoe