Expanding Horizons on the Terrace

Children never cease to amaze me on the Terrace!  Lately, the children have been  or are involved in so many wonderful activities which continue to expand their horizons.  Last week, every child entered a science project into the school science fair.  What a brilliant array of projects!  It was really exciting to see what our children had found out about the world around them.  I was definitely very impressed.

This term, the Year 5 and 6 students are involved in Clubs on a Friday morning.  All kinds of activities are taking place!  There are children cooking,  building trolleys and boats, learning German and a whole host of other great activities.

Last week, our Kapa Haka group made a trip to the Whakatu Marae.  This really was an excellent trip.  Being welcomed on to such a beautiful Marae was a fantastic experience.  Both children and adults came away with wonderful memories which they will hold for many years to come.

Pizza Heaven

Well done to these three chefs!  Emma, Izzy and Cinamin won the Room 9 pizza making competition.  After a very busy hour of tasting 10 brilliant and mouth-watering pizzas, I was able to come to a very difficult decision and award the girls the prize of a $50 voucher supplied by New World Supermarket.  This was to purchase some yummy food.  They spent Wednesday afternoon doing some great purchasing!  Well done girls!

The Clifton Terrace  Ukelele Group

During the year, Kim McCormack has been working with a group introducing them to all the fun of making music with ukeleles.  They are having immense fun and we're all looking forward to their first concert!  They're a quiet group working hard to enjoy the melodic sounds of the ukelele - most of the time!

Pause! Prompt! Praise!

This week we have had Diane Rose in at school teaching some of our parents how to be tutors for Pause! Prompt! Praise!  The PPP programme is to assist children in classes with their reading.  Parents support children in the school setting to improve reading strategies which in turn helps to develop a love of reading.

Welcome Back to Clifton Terrace

Well the children are back at Clifton Terrace for 2009.  Even the animals are hopping with excitement to be included in the fun and learning as this wee fellow showed after making his home on the Terrace during the holidays.

It was fantastic to greet all the children last week and hear all the tales of the holidays.

A very warm welcome to the many new families we have at school this year.  It is lovely to have met you all.

The school is already very busy as we prepare for camps, trips, the Education Review Office and all the wonderful activities and learning that occurs in Clifton Terrace School classrooms.

Have a great term and year.

Kind regards

Rob Wemyss

Moving Into the Future On the Terrace

On Monday of this week, the staff were fortunate to be able to work with Sue Ashworth from Christchurch to look at our vision for the future and at how we would implement this in the best interests of children and their learning.  I'm really excited to say that we have made huge progress with this.  It is great to have been able to consult with the community.  The results will reflect community wishes for their children's learning and continue to reinforce the home and school partnership.

Last week we had our annual cross country run. Every child got into the spirit of the run and challenged themselves to complete the course. Well done to everyone.