Waikato Montessori Education Centre
267 Newell Road, R D 3, Hamilton. Ph 07-858 3563 fax 07-858 3561 www.goldenbeads.org.nz <montessori@goldenbeads.org.nz>
2012
NEWSLETTER 9
6
AUGUST
2012
Items to update Thank you to everyone who enjoyed the disco hosted by Corinne Schuitemaker during the Term break. It was a lovely surprise to receive your donations—we really appreciate the contributions and will be putting those funds toward a Land Form set for Fiore classroom. Thank you also to Gilbert Cawood, granddad of Morgan, who came to talk about his experience as a rower for NZ at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. It was exciting to hear about his experience and see the memorabilia. Term Dates 2012
Parent Evening— Wednesday 29 August 7-9pm Please put this date in your diary for a get together to come and learn more about our programme.
Reminder that costume Jewellery and toys should be kept for home. Any items brought to school will be placed in your child's bag for taking home.
Reminder that our opening time is 8.30am—we cannot be responsible for children brought to school earlier than this (the occasional necessity we can manage by prior arrangement only)
Term 3 16 July to 28 September (extra week to 6 Oct available) Term 4 15 Oct to 20 December
Victoria plays the piano
Max makes a flag.
Comparing the volume held by various shapes.
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Primary Class The first group of children to move to the Primary class are watching the building progress with so much anticipation. Katy is also working with them to determine the programme and plan for the rest of the Term. She is developing new resources every day so the shelves will be full of activities for them to dive into. A meeting for the parents of the first class is planned for Thursday at 7.30pm to meet Katy and answer any questions—if you have missed the information on this please ask .
Readiing and Language—continued from previous newsletter
Thank you for the feedback on our Language information sheet. We are adding the following further information for the future. “On an individual child basis, we may send reading books home for you to work with your child. These are to encourage and assist your child to become a more fluent reader. Generally the take home journals will be specific to 5yr old children. Once they have accomplished the initial phase of emergent reading these take home books should no longer be required. Your child’s teacher will discuss this with you when appropriate. The classrooms are full of reading opportunities and every child may read at their level everyday. ” If you do have the opportunity to work with your child at home, one of the most beneficial activities is to encourage writing. Initially, with pencil and paper, individual letters can be written—the more repetition of this will greatly assist their ongoing fine motor skills. This can be extended to words and sentences as they progress. Always sound out the letter—do not use the name of the letter please.
Using technology for writing does not develop fine motor skills the way holding a pencil can—fine motor skills are essential for so many tasks, and for greatest success, need to be refined in children at a young age. Encourage writing with pencils, the use of knobbed puzzles—all activities that use a pincer grip between the fingers.
Maisie is coping well with her broken leg. Carter works with magnetic/non-magnetic. William and Rylee complete the Pink Tower. One of the blankets made from the wool of the alpacas—Marvin and Midnight.