Learning and Goal-Setting with Structured Literacy
It has been a busy and productive start to the term, with our students working diligently toward their maths, reading, and writing goals. Our classrooms are alive with purposeful learning, as students take an active role in setting and achieving their targets. This term, we specialise in implementing a Structured Literacy approach to support students’ spelling and reading skills. This approach helps students develop a solid foundation in phonics and word recognition, building confidence in both reading and writing. Teachers are working with small groups to tailor lessons to students' needs, ensuring every child progresses in their understanding of sounds, syllables, and letter patterns. It is fantastic to see students feeling empowered as they improve their fluency and comprehension. We encourage families to continue discussing these goals at home to reinforce the skills and excitement for learning that we are building together.
Rocky Shore Inquiry – Building Knowledge and Responsibility
Our local curriculum inquiry on the rocky shore has engaged our students as they explore the habitats and life cycles of the plants and creatures living along our coastline. Through class discussions, interactive lessons, and observations, our students gain an understanding of the biodiversity that exists right on our doorstep. They have studied the tidal zones, identified the plants and animals that thrive in these unique conditions, and learned about the delicate balance required to keep these ecosystems healthy. Importantly, this unit also emphasises the concept of Kaitiakitanga or guardianship. Our students are exploring ways they could be kaitiaki (guardians) of our beaches and environment. With summer approaching, this inquiry is timely, reminding our tamariki of the importance of protecting our natural surroundings. Many students are sharing wonderful insights, connecting these lessons to family outings at the beach and conversations about sustainable practices at home. We appreciate whānau for supporting this learning by discussing ways we can all contribute to the health and preservation of our local beaches.
Behaviour Expectations and School Values
As part of our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) programme, we continue to reinforce our core values of kindness, respect, and resilience. These values are vital to maintaining a positive, safe, and inclusive school environment. Across the school, we take time to remind students of our behaviour expectations, from the classroom to play areas as part of our daily routines. In class, this means focusing on respectful communication, listening to peers, and valuing each other’s opinions. In the bathrooms, students learned about privacy, cleanliness, and personal responsibility to maintain these shared spaces. During break times, we encouraged fair play, sharing, and resilience in handling challenges with friends. By consistently aligning with these values, we create an environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and respected. We appreciate whānau who reinforce these messages at home, helping to ensure our students understand the importance of kindness, respect, and resilience in all aspects of their lives.
Celebrating Athletics Days – Teina and Tuakana Teams
This week, we were excited to cheer on our Teina Team (Years 0-3) as they took part in Athletics Day. Our youngest athletes participated in a range of events, from running races to fun, skill-based activities that built their confidence and coordination. Athletics Day is a special occasion where students showcase their enthusiasm, teamwork, and effort. Thank you to all our whānau who joined us to support our budding athletes during this fun, high-energy event.
Due to Wednesday’s wet weather, we rescheduled the Tuakana Team (Years 4-5) Athletics Day to Thursday, 7 November. Our older students have been eagerly preparing, and practicing their running, jumping, and throwing skills. Athletics Day offers them the chance to set personal goals, support their peers, and demonstrate perseverance, one of our core values. We are hopeful for sunny skies, so our Tuakana Team can enjoy a day full of friendly competition and school spirit!
Restorative Practice Whānau Hui with Leane Carlson
A quick and friendly reminder to sign up for our Restorative Practice whānau hui with Leane Carlson on Tuesday, 12 November. There will be two sessions available, from 1:45pm-2:45pm and from 6:30pm-7:30pm, held in the staffroom. This hui will be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about restorative practices in our school and to connect with other whānau on this important topic. Please check out the details on Hero and reserve your spot!
Thank you for your ongoing support, encouragement, and partnership. Here’s to another successful week at Mairangi Bay School as we learn together to create a better tomorrow.
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