Welcome back! It has been wonderful to see all your faces again and hear about your adventures over the holidays.

It is a new term and time to just remind our students about being responsible and respectful with our belongings so we are always Ready to Learn each day. I would like to remind everyone of a few points so we can work successfully this term:

• Ipads need to be charged each night at home and return to school with each day. These devices are important as they are used to practise and consolidate learning that has been previously taught.
• All of the consolidation activity results can be viewed by myself so I can determine if they have mastered the concept or need some further support.
• Some students are also in need of new headphones, so I ask if you could please check in with your child as to whether they need a new set. This may also be a time to check if they need any stationary refilled/replaced for the term.

All of these reminders allow a smooth start to the term and allow the students to understand our 4 R’s when it is related to their academic part of school life.

The last fortnight, I have introduced literacy rotations a couple of times a week. The students get a chance to participate in activities that cover each of the three main strands in English: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The rotations allow me to spend time with each group and also gives me a chance to do individual reading records to see where the student is at and what they need to work on next. You can help your student get the best outcomes in this by encouraging reading every day. It could be an audio book in the car, your child reading a story to you, or a five minute bedtime story. Anything that help students fall in love with reading because you know as well as I do, that when a student is engaged in something, they will want to do it more often and will improve.

Reports go out this term, which mean there will be lots of preparation for assessment tasks over the coming weeks. Attendance is key to helping your child succeed! Our attendance at the moment is sitting at only 47% of students attending 95% or more. There are a lot of events already filling up the school calendar which means every hour counts. If you are aware that your child will be absent, even for one day, please let me know in advance so we can arrange ways of making sure your student does not miss out or fall behind. I am committed to helping your child grow and learn and attendance can be a key to their success.

As always, if you have any concerns about your student, please come and see me.

thank you,

Sammy.