Spreading Christmas Cheer at the Fitzroy

We really enjoyed sharing our singing on Monday to the residents at the Fitzroy Retirement Home... we were so proud of the children who sang beautifully and then shared a home made decoration with each resident. Mrs Campbell tells us that all the resident snow have them hanging on the bedroom doors :)

Congratulations also to Lucy for her beautiful violin playing, Louis for his wonderful song on the piano, Shiva, Mylo, Sam, Oli and Luca for their fabulous ukulele playing and to Gabriel, Zora, Hannah, and Khori for their starring role singing the lead parts in Christmas is a Time.

Christmas Comes to Kohara

Kohara were lucky enough to get our very own Elf on the Shelf visiting last week and then we got a visit from Santa with his reindeers... ho ho ho we love Christmas in Kohara!

Week 10 (11-15 Dec)

Welcome to Week 10 - our final week of the year!

We have had a wonderful year with your children and it has been a highlight to watch confidence levels bloom, independence grow, and to see your children learning through play and following their passions and interests in their project learning. For the children moving on to Year 3 we wish you all the best for next year and hope you'll continue to pop back and visit us from time to time because as we have told the children "once you are a Kohara kid, you're always a Kohara kid!" For those staying in Kohara in 2018 we are excited about planning new topics and things for you, and look forward to seeing you rise up as our new leaders of Kohara!

Gayle's Farewell - Monday Meet Up
All children need to be prompt to class in the morning as we need to do a quick roll check before assembling in our places at the hall. The children will not be able to sit with parents for this as we have a special role as part of the junior kapa haka tribute to Gayle. We will be walking over as a class at 8.45am to sit together with the junior classes.

Swimming
Our class swimming days are Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
The children have the option of a lunchtime swim also on Tuesday.
Our Monday our class swim will be dependent on how long Monday Meet Up goes for, but please pack the togs anyway.

Rest Home Visit
Monday is the big day! We are all very excited about singing for Mrs Campbell's mum Pam and her fellow residents at the Fitzroy Rest Home. We will be having a slightly early lunch on Monday so we are ready in time for our bus and we will be returning to school by 3pm.

Children may bring a Christmas themed hat or headband to wear if they wish. Please ensure children are in correct school uniform as well.

Classroom Release Time
This Wednesday is our final CRT for the year - Room 18 will have Art with Mrs McHaffie and Room 19 will have PE with Mr Lukes during the afternoon.

Hanging Baskets
If there is anyone who would like to look after our 4 hanging garden baskets over the Christmas season, please let us know and we can send them home with you over the holidays. They would just need a bit of water :)

Class Placements
Children will bring home an envelope on Tuesday with details of their class placement for 2018.
On Thursday morning, all returning children will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and classmates for 2018. Stationery lists will be given to children on their class visit on Thursday. Please look out for these in school bags!

Final Assembly
Our final assembly for the year is on Thursday afternoon starting at 2pm. All welcome.

School Finish
School finishes for the year on Friday at 12.30pm.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
We would both like to extend you our warmest wishes for a wonderful summer break with your children. We hope you get to enjoy some fabulous weather, wherever you will be spending Christmas and enjoy making memories with your fabulous children.

Merry Christmas Kohara :)

Toys

Please remind children to keep their toys at home over the next week as we are in the process of starting to send things home for the end of the year. This includes bey blades and bey blade stadiums, beany boos and toy cars etc.
We appreciate your help with this.

Please keep sending back any more reading books or library books.

Monday Meet Up

Because Monday is our special farewell to Gayle - can all children please meet in Kohara by 8.45am so that we can walk over together, as classes will have set areas to sit. Our junior classes will be performing some of their kapa haka items for Gayle.

Absences from School

If your child is unwell or absent from school, please leave a message on the school answer phone or email Tracy or Monique before school. This helps the office staff out hugely as following up absences is a time consuming job. Many thanks to those of you who already do this :)

Rest Home Visit

On Monday, the children may bring along a Christmas hat or headband to wear for our visit to the Fitzroy Rest Home if they wish. It is not mufti - the children will still need to wear their school uniform.

Tuesday Swimming

Pack the togs for Tuesday as the temperature continues to soar!

Kohara also have the option of a lunch time swim on Tuesdays if they wish, once they have finished eating lunch - 2 swims, how lucky with this great weather :)

Week 8 (4-8 December)

Welcome to Week 8 :)

Classroom Release Time
This week both classes have CRT on Thursday from 11-12.30pm. Room 18 have Art and Room 19 have PE.
On Wednesday afternoon, Room 18 will also have CRT with Mrs McHaffie as this was a swap due to events last week.

Singing
We are busy rehearsing for our upcoming visit to the Fitzroy Rest Home which is on Monday 11th December in the afternoon. We have shared our expectations with the children about having great manners, and joining in with the singing as this is a lovely way to spread joy at Christmas time by giving the residents something special to enjoy. We will be travelling by bus leaving school at 1.30pm and returning by 3pm.

Swimming
Our swimming days each week are Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Please ensure children have their togs at school on these days or a note if they are unable to swim due to medical reasons.

Staffing
Mrs Campbell is being released on Tuesday and Friday afternoon this week - Ms Jill Kelk will be relieving in Kohara.

Reading Books and Library Books
ALL library and reading books are now due back - please keep sending back any books you find and pop them on our stage by the mat area.

Sunhats
Thanks to those families who are remembering to send the sun hats to school every day - especially in this lively hot weather.

Have a great week :)

Khori the Dancer

It is always lovely to work alongside our friends in Kahukura who are part of our Rakaia River Team. Last week Khori got to work with her cousin Larrisa during their Discovery Time to learn a dance which they performed for both our class groups. It was great to see their cool dance moves, great timing and the enthusiasm of the audience. Great team work Khori - and a great way to practise interacting with others in new settings!

Thanks!

Thanks so much to all the parents and whanau who were able to come along to school to support our children at athletics and the triathlon. We hope you enjoyed seeing your children in action - they were certainly all buzzing with excitement.

It was wonderful to see children trying something new, stepping out of their comfort zones and conquering their nerves. We were so proud of them. We bet there were some very tired children afterwards.

Our next event is our Friday (1 December) Health & PE sharing at 2pm in the hall for those who are free to pop along and join us.

Friday Inquiry Sharing

Hopefully the notices made it out of the school bags and into your hands!

We would like to invite you to come along to the hall on Friday afternoon at 2pm (1 December) where the junior classes will share some of the Health & PE learning that our children have been doing over the last 7 weeks with our focus on 'How I Can Make My Interactions With Others Better'. 

We look forward to sharing this learning with you if you can make it.

Staffing

Mrs Campbell is being released on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon this week - Mrs Lynda Wilson will be relieving on Wednesday afternoon and Ms Jill Kelk on Thursday afternoon.

Library Books

All library books are due back by this Friday at the latest - please start sending library books back to class before then.

Also we would love any reading books returned as well please  - these go in the grey container at the front of the class by the stage. If anyone has any spare time over the next week we would really appreciate some help with sorting books and/or returning them to the book room.

Many Thanks.

Wednesday is Athletics and Triathlon Day!

Fingers crossed for sunshine on Wednesday (29 November) for our junior athletics and triathlon day.

A reminder that junior children are to wear sports mufti but must still have a sunhat.

Please pack a drink bottle.

You're welcome to join us for a picnic at lunchtime and the coffee shop will be open until 1.30pm tomorrow - Julie would love to see you at the 4 Rivers cafe!!

Athletics rotations start from 11am on the back field until 12.30pm.

The children will be back in class at 1.30pm for the class roll and to get organised for the triathlon (changing etc) and then the triathlon will kick off from 2pm out on the back field near He Tangata.

Children in the triathlon remember your scooter or bike, named helmet and swimming togs/towel in a named bag.

Please let class teachers know if you are taking children home early.

We are looking forward to a great day - hope to see you there if you can make it :)

Week 7 (27 Nov-1 Dec)

Welcome to Week 7 :)

Swimming
Our swimming days are Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Junior Athletics and Triathlon
Junior Athletics is on this Wednesday 29 November starting at 11am. Children to wear sports mufti and if possible a t-shirt in the colour of their team. This will take place on the back field with class groups rotating around different activities.

After lunch the triathlon is on for those who have returned their notice to say they are participating. Those not doing it, will watch the others at the station where their teacher is based. Children taking part must have a bike helmet for this event (for scooters and bikes). Remember to send the bike or scooter, helmet and togs along on this day.

Classroom Release Time
The children will have CRT on Thursday afternoon - Room 18 have Art with Mrs McHaffie and Room 19 have PE with Mr Lukes.

Health & PE
On Friday afternoon we invite you to come along to school in the afternoon and find out more about what the children have been doing over the term for our Health & PE inquiry. We will send out more details soon.

No chess club Monday.

Sunhats
Thanks to those who are ensuring that children have these at school every day.

Have a great week :)

Chickenpox

Just to let you know that we have had a case of chicken pox in Kohara in case any of the children come out in spots over the next week or so. Children are contagious until the last spots have crusted/scabbed over. This can be between 5-10 days.

Swimming Monday

Please send togs on Monday for class swimming. 

Music Lessons in 2018

There is a form attached to this week's email/newsletter for those children who wish to learn an instrument next year. These need to be filled in and returned by Friday 8 December - either by paper copy or via the online link on the notice.

Reminder Wacky Hair Day Friday

A reminder that Friday is wacky hair day (not mufti). Please bring a gold coin donation - proceeds going to Sudan.

If you need some help with creating a wacky hair do - there will be senior children available in the morning to help out at a hair station with hair chalk!

Some ideas:
* hair chalk, coloured hair spray
* ribbons, clips
* spikes hair
* multiple plaits or buns
* clip in a  Christmas decoration or toy