Year 5 & 6 Syndicate
Term 1 2021
Welcome Back Everyone!
Year 5 & 6 Team -Teachers
Room 12 – Miss Georgia Gilmore - ggilmore@terapa.school.nz
Room 13 – Ms Penny Jackson - pjackson@terapa.school.nz
Room 14 – Mr Shaun Wright - swright@terapa.school.nz
Room 15 – Mrs Abby Ritete - aritete@terapa.school.nz
Room 16 – Mr Mike McCurry - mmccurry@terapa.school.nz
Becoming an Independent Learner
A major goal for the students in the Year 5 and 6 Syndicate is to work towards becoming an ‘Independent Learner.’ This encourages them to take charge of being ready to learn and also helps them to monitor their own learning. This learning will help to ensure that they will be prepared for future years of learning.
Criteria for being an Independent Learner:
An Independent Learner would do these things:
Ask these questions frequently, ‘Do I know what I am supposed to be doing?’ ‘Am I doing it?’ An independent learner would answer ‘Yes’ to both questions.
Plan time on a task carefully so that it can be finished on time.
Look after all personal learning resources. If I misplace something, it is my own learning that suffers.
Be ready to start at the beginning of the day, with a clear and organised desk as well as a clear and organised frame of mind.
Know the best way to learn is to ask questions of others when unsure.
Work quickly and quietly on set tasks to maximise learning but is also conscious of the learning needs of others.
Set realistic goals and work hard to achieve them as it is clear that education plays a very important part in my future.
Team Behaviour Process
This is the procedure we will follow as a team for unacceptable behaviour. This rarely applies to most students but it is important to recognise the procedure we follow.
Minor Issues
First Occurrence Reminder
Second Occurrence Name on board
Third Occurrence 1 beside name
Fourth Occurrence 2 beside name
Fifth Occurrence 3 beside name and sent to Team Leader
Term 1 Learning Activities
Written Language – Recount and Instructional Writing, consolidating basic skills to improve writing
Reading – Guided Silent Reading and questioning and Shared Reading
Maths – Maths knowledge (basic facts, place value, fractions), PRIME Mathematics Programme
Inquiry/Big Idea – Becoming a powerful learner - How can I be a powerful learner? We can learn how to learn
Maori – Mihi, Greetings and Classroom Objects Arts – Identity
Art and visual art related to camp
Health & PE – Swimming and Fitness Circuits
H.E.A.R.T.– Learning Logs – Reflection on learning
Assessment – Running Records, Journal Reading Assessment, Writing Samples, PAT’s, Basic Facts, IKAN
Sun Smart
We would like to see all students being sun smart in the summer months and encourage them to dress appropriately for the sun, bring a sun hat and also apply sun block at home before coming to school. All classes will have sunblock available for students to re-apply when they need to during the day. We also encourage all students to have water bottles in class to keep hydrated.
Swimming
Please make sure that your child has swimming gear at school every day. If they are not swimming they must bring a note explaining why it is they are not swimming. If possible, we also ask that your child has a pair of goggles; these really help them to become much more confident in the water. We ask that girls swim in one piece togs please. This year’s Syndicate Swimming Sports will be held on Friday 19th March. From this event, swimmers will be selected for the Inter-school competition.
Home Learning
This year, in the Year 5/6 Syndicate, we will have ‘Home Learning Activities’ which will be done over a fortnight and will begin in Week 2. This will consist of activities which are the priority activities to be completed. The other activities on the list will be optional. Within these activities will be Reading at home. Your child is encouraged to read regularly at home, record this on the Home Learning Activities Sheet and have it signed by a parent or caregiver after each time.
Reading regularly is about encouraging reading mileage and helping your child to develop vocabulary and comprehension knowledge. Reading a variety of materials such as newspapers, comics, magazines, novels and recipes helps to develop a broader understanding of texts. Part of the activities will be having your child read aloud to someone to practise this skill. It is important that this is encouraged to support their learning at school. Reading aloud can be included as a part of reading activities.
Learning Basic Facts will also be an important part of the activities. The number of times per fortnight your child practises these will depend on their ability to recall basic facts in all four operations with speed and accuracy. Some suggestions of ways to learn these are: Using dice or counters Apps that can be downloaded onto your child’s device Flashcards (can be purchased from $2 shops or printed off the internet) Time tables poster Rock/Paper/Scissors activity Practising with an adult, saying the answer or question out loud.
Along with these two focus areas there will be other optional activities on the Home Learning Sheet. In some fortnights there will be a little competition within the activities for an optional task. Those children who complete the required tasks, with signatures and evidence if required at the end of each fortnight will be rewarded.
Te Reo Maori/Kapahaka
Will begin later in the term and will continue to be on Fridays
Camp
We are in the final planning stages of our Week 4 (2nd-5th March) Camp to Papamoa. Another gear list will come home with this newsletter so please ensure your child is beginning to prepare the necessary gear for their time away. Also ensure the parent contribution of $150 is paid to the school office by Monday, 16th February.
Up and Coming Events for Term 1
Orientation Evening: Thursday 18th February
Yr 5/6 Papamoa Camp: Tuesday 2nd -Friday 5th March
Class Photos: Wednesday 10th March
Year 5/6 Swimming Sports: Friday 19th March
Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences: Wednesday 14th April and Thursday 15th April
For more detailed information, please see your child's room page.
