Weekly Notices, Term 1 Wk 9

 Kia Ora Kāhikatea whānau

Wow, Week 9 already! The term is flying by.  It's been a different kind of week with many children in our classes away. The children have impressed us by the resilience shown, both by those isolating and learning from home, as well as those at school where they have had to adapt to new routines and changes. Thank you for your continued support in keeping your child home if they are sick and testing if they show any symptoms. Hopefully, we are through the peak of covid in Kahikatea.

We have noticed during learning through play that children are playing and interacting with different groups and making friends with those they don't usually play with. Fort building is still a favourite even on wet days as well as the blocks which have been used to create army bases, a kingdom, a castle and even a school.

Swimming

We are swimming this week.  Please bring your togs every day.

Library

Tuesday: Room 15

Wednesday: Room 17 & room 16

Roller Skating

Fridays at lunchtime if your child wishes to attend. Bring your own skates and helmets. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Lorette Tiedt and Team Kahikatea

Weekly Notices - Term 1 Week 8

 Welcome to Week 8 of a very unique first term 2022. We hope all those families affected by covid-19 are holding up well and the children and caregivers who have contracted it recover quickly. We are all praying for you in class. Children are now returning to school from isolation mostly reporting only mild symptoms. We are one of the least affected schools in Rotorua, last week our roll was still at 75% with only a couple of teachers affected. Many schools in Rotorua have temporarily closed.  We continue to follow strict Omicron protocols at school to ensure that we have as little spread as is possible, including:

• Good ventilation in classrooms and any place that children and staff are 

• Sanitising when we enter school and buildings

• Cleaning surfaces in classrooms during the day

• Social distancing where practicable

Mrs Dobson and Mrs Mines are busy in their role as DRSs. Thanks to them for organising the Bread and Water Morning Tea last week when the children were asked to think of those around the world who only have bread and water to eat every day, and also for the St Joseph’s Liturgy. This week on Friday we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. The liturgies will be run in classrooms.

Coming up this week: 

• No swimming this week for Middle School, Kahikatea.
• Wednesday - Library. 
  
• Friday - Feast of the Annunciation Liturgy in classes.
• Roller Skating at lunchtime on Friday

Have a great week.

Lorette Tiedt and

Team Kahikatea

Weekly Notices - Term 1 Week 7

 Kia ora, 

We hope you are enjoying the sunshine and have had a fantastic weekend so far. 

Thank you for supporting our fundraiser on Friday, we managed to raise $522 which will be sent to Unicef for Ukraine. 

Last week we started our Structured Literacy programme in the afternoons. Having had a taste of Structured Literacy last year, the children adjusted to the new routine well. We are looking forward to seeing the benefits this programme will have for reading and writing.

We are after some tin cans for a provocation this week. If you have any spares, please send them in with your children. 

Coming up this week: 

• Monday - Friday is swimming.
• Monday - Thursday is the Ice Block fundraiser (see below). 
• Wednesday - Library, Rm 17 attend 12pm Mass
  
• Thursday - Rice Day. 
  

Messages from Mr MacMillan

Rest assured that we are doing our very best to follow the Covid protocols that the Ministry of Education has set down for us. This includes good ventilation in classrooms and any place that children and staff are. We are sanitising when we enter school and buildings and children Years 4 and up wearing masks indoors. Cleaning surfaces is happening in classrooms during the day and social distancing is applied where practicable. 

Have a lovely Sunday, 

Lorette Tiedt and the Kahikatea Team. 

Play-based learning - The nature of Science

 We have has another successful week of play-based learning. Our focus for the past fortnight has been The Nature of Science, which the children have enjoyed. 

One provocation has been about the life cycle of a plant and what needs to be in a plant's habitat in order for it to survive. The children planted their own seeds in recycled yoghurt pots and will record what they notice happening over the rest of the term. 

Library time

 Room 17 really look forward to their Library time on a Wednesday.  We have been taking a bit of time to share about a favourite book we read and why we liked it.  This week Roald Dahl books seem to be a big hit.  Please remember to bring your library books back on a Wednesday so that you don't miss out.

Swimming with Henk

We are once again lucky to have Henk in our school, giving professional swimming instruction to our children. All Year 3 children have really enjoyed their sessions with Henk, which for some of our young ones is as much about learning to listen carefully and follow instructions as it is about improving swimming techniques.