Term 2 2015

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

 I hope you all had a relaxing Easter break and managed to get out and enjoy some of the fine weather. It's hard to believe that Term 1 has come and gone and we are now full swing into Term 2! All the teachers in the Senior School were extremely pleased with the start of the 2015. We have also been very impressed with the attitude of the students in Year 7/8, particularly throughout our leadership selection process. It was excellent to see so many individuals step up to the challenge of a leadership role. We are also really pleased with the way the students are getting along with each other both in and outside the classroom. We have a diverse group yet it is great to see them all interacting so positively with each other. Term 2 is set to be a busy one with a heavy classroom programme planned. Below is a run down on what your child will be focusing on.

Inquiry. 

To start the term we will be completing our Term 1 inquiring on Innovation along with spending some time inquiring about ANZAC Day, focusing on the 100 years since the Gallipoli landing. On the 11th  of May all the classes will be visiting Te Papa to view the fantastic new exhibition 'Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War'.

As Term 2 is traditionally our 'Science' term our major focus we will be inquiring into our Solar System and Beyond and asking 'Could there really be life beyond Earth?' Also on the 11th May all the classes will be visiting Carter Observatory to view the Planetarium show 'The Dawn of the Space Age' plus complete a workshop called 'The Hunt for Asteroids'.

 Writing. 

 We will be focusing on several different genre of writing this term. Firstly we will also be focusing on narrative and creative writing through mini lessons. The focus for these lessons will be to develop our deeper features in writing so the children can work towards their next learning steps. We will also be focusing on Explanation writing which will be integrated into our Science topic. Along with these two genres,  our other writing focus is speech writing. Students will be required to research, prepare and deliver an oral presentation to their class during week 6. Their speech must be 3-5 minutes long. We will start looking at speeches in class during week 2 but the majority of the preparation will be completed as homework through our homework programme. Your child will be guided through the preparation process each week and given specific deadlines to ensure they are ready to present during week 6. In week 8 our Speech Finals will be held where the students with the best speeches will go head to head!

 Mathematics. 

 From week 1 maths cross grouping will take place 4 times a week across the 3 classes. These groups has been based on our knowledge of each child's maths ability through classroom observations and recent assessments.  Our first topic of work for this term is focusing on 'The 4 operations' along with maintenance on Place Value. Later on in the term we will be looking at Measurement.

 Mathletics will continue to be an integral part of our maths programme.  Each child will have tasks assigned to them by their maths teacher which will need to be completed for homework. The tasks that are set  relate to work that is happening in the classroom so it provides you with a useful platform for seeing what your child is focusing on in the class.

 The Arts. 

This term we be building on our painting focus through studying the works of NZ Artist Michael Smither.


Physical Education. 

The focus for the first half of the term is gymnastics. Each class has 2 sessions per week(Monday and Tuesday)  so it would be appreciated if all students have appropriate clothing to participate in all activities on these days. In the second half of the term we will be focusing on large ball skills. Our sport  programme will continue on Wednesday afternoons. Fitness is programmed in for every morning (weather permitting). We are finding these sessions incredibly beneficial. It's a great way of building on personal fitness and waking the brain up to start the day! 

Syndicate Sparks Programme: Personal Passion Project

Every Friday morning for the first 5 weeks of the term is dedicated to Personal Passion Projects.  This is an opportunity for individuals (or groups) to drive their own learning on something of their choice - focusing on their passion. This may involve a personal inquiry into a topic of interest, implementing an initiative based on their leadership role or a hands-on project they are keen to carry out. In the first week of the term each student will be asked to develop a proposal which needs to be approved by their classroom teacher. They will need to plan their sessions and record their learning throughout the process. They will also be asked to share an 'artefact' from their learning journey to a small group. We are really looking forward to seeing what ideas they come up with!

Other things to note... 

 Homework.

 Due to the amount of work that will be required from the students for their speech, this will be the major focus for homework this term. They will have several deadlines to meet throughout the term, which they will be regularly reminded of. They will still need to read for at least 15 minutes every night plus complete their mathletics tasks set by their maths teacher. There will also be a spelling or grammar task to be completed.  Additional Inquiry work may also be included throughout the term.

 Wet Weather. 

 With the winter months fast approaching, many of us start to get a bit hairy being stuck indoors all day! Wet lunchtimes can often be difficult so we welcome students bringing to school indoor games, such as board games or cards.

 Learning Journeys and Celebration of Learning. 

At the end of this term the classrooms will be open for the afternoon for your child to share their learning with you from the first half of the term. This year your child will have two platforms to record and share their work with you; in their clearfile and online on Google Drive. The date for this celebration is Wednesday 1st July (3pm - 6pm). We would love to see as many of you attend as possible as it's a great opportunity to hear first hand (from your child) about their learning. So ask the boss if you can leave work an hour early on the 1st!

Finally if you have any concerns or questions regarding our classroom programme or your child's learning, please don't hesitate to make contact with us. Feel free to pop in before or after school or the easiest way to touch base with us is email:

Anand: ranchod@muritai.school.nz
Melissa: coton@muritai.school.nz
Lisa: allen@muritai.school.nz
Stu: devenport@muritai.school.nz


Thank you again for your support,

 Stu Devenport
 Associate Principal