Pod 2 Portal
Hello and welcome to our Pod Portal.
This is the place to find information about Pod 2 events, including homework and learning links.
Welcome to our Pod
There are currently four Pod 2 classes operating for Year Two students.
The teachers are:
Room 4 – Meghan Wood
Room 5 – Smaranda Balais (Senior Teacher)
Room 6 – Sue Hayward
Room 3a – Derryn Chapman & Louise Bayly
We welcome you to Pod 2 and invite you to participate in the classroom. If you are able to assist in any way, please let us know.
Classes open at 8.30 each morning, prior to this is teacher preparation time.
A reminder about uniform:
Hats are compulsory in Term 1 & 4
All clothing must be named (including shoes)
Shoes are to be worn to and from school
Please check details on the school website regarding uniform policy:
Welcome to Term 3!
Please check for notices and remember to read the newsletter each Tuesday.
Home Learning:
How you can help at home…
Children in Pod 2 will have regular homework.
Spelling, Reading and Maths Basic Facts learning all need parent assistance.
For tips on how to help with this, please read the cover of the Reading log and also the inside cover of the Homework notebooks.
Other ways you can help are as follows:
Literacy
Read to and with your children
Play word and sound games e.g. Junior Scrabble etc
Talk about the stories they read and ask them questions like “Why do you think…?”
Join the local library
Take time to with help your child make links between what they read and their own personal experiences.
Numeracy
Sing number songs
Practise counting forwards and backwards from any number (skip count in 2s, 5s and 10s)
Measure in baking, sewing, building etc.
Talk to your children about how you use Maths in everyday life
Give your child opportunities to count in real life situations e.g. how many eggs are in the carton?
Discuss halves, quarters etc for fractions
Play maths board and card games
Encourage independence
Give your child opportunities to take responsibility, act as a leader and to organise themselves rather than waiting for your help. Little reminders are OK!
Click here
Click here for ideas on how to make spelling practice fun
SPS Spelling
Shelly Park School spelling lists are grouped into sets of words based on spelling patterns. Click here to view the overview of spelling lists.
In Pod 2, students select words from their list each week to learn as part of their homework. These are tested on either Thursday or Friday. At times the children are encouraged to learn words from their own Written Language. There are a range of ways to help your child, Have them see, say, write, squirt the words with water on the deck, use magnetic letters etc.
If you are looking for a specific list, check the spelling list tab.
Animals
Zebra, Elephant, Tiger, Lion, Penguin, Monkey, Giraffe
Snake, Kangaroo, Koala, Otter, Meerkat
Lizard, Orangutan, Rhinoceros, Wallaby
Sea Creatures
Trees
Essential Word Lists
Haka Lyrics
Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā
Ā, upane! ka upane!
Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!
Nga Iwi E (Shelly Park e)(Actions)
Shelly Park e
E karanga e te iwi e
Kua eke mai nei
Kua eke mai nei- ki runga te marae e
Mauria a mai ra
Mauria a mai ra- e nga mate o te motu e
Me nga tini roimata
Me nga tini roimata- e maringi whanui e
Titiro e nga iwi(Boys)
Titiro e nga iwi
e nga mahi o te motu
E hora atu nei e
Rū ana te whenua (Boys)
Rū ana te whenua, whatiwhati te moana
Aue te aroha
Aue te aroha – te mamae i ahau e x2
Aue te aroha
Aue te aroha -te mamae i ahau e
Rū ana te whenua, whatiwhati he
Pod 1 and 2 Information Sheet 2019
Dear Parents
* At the beginning of 2019, there are four classes in Pod 1 and four in Pod 2. Teachers are: Room 1 – Vanessa Hales, Room 2 – Narrelle Robson, Room 3 – Suzi McKay, Room 3a – Simmy Kaur, Room 4 – Meghan Wood, Room 5 – Smaranda Balais, Room 6 – Sue Hayward. and Room 7a – Rachel Forgie and Rachael Munro.
* Wendy Dove (Deputy Principal) will begin the year without a class. Elizabeth Thomas will provide support across Pod 1 and 2 during Term 1. Roll growth will dictate when a further Pod 1 class is created, which will be taught by Mrs Dove and Mrs Thomas.
* As well as the classroom teachers, we have Cathy Wessels and Jenny Brown on our team, who work as Reading Recovery teachers.
* Our timetable for the year is standardised, and covers all key curriculum areas. Individual classes go to the Library Information Centre, Music classes with Caleb Strickland, and swimming pool (in Terms 1 & 4) on a timetabled basis. This year we also have Footsteps Dance, which will occur on Fridays.
* There is a range of daily routines, which your child is expected to take responsibility for themself. We ask parents to encourage their children to independently put away their reading books, poetry books, book bags, school bags etc. Children are also expected to hang their bags on the hooks in an orderly manner and to zip their bags up after removing items such as hats, lunchboxes etc.
* Homework at Pod 1 and 2 level comprises reading of instructional texts (Monday to Thursday), poetry reading (Friday), and number identification and basic facts learning (regularly). Each child needs to bring their Spelling/Maths notebook back to school each Thursday so that individualised testing can take place. In the first 2 – 3 weeks after enrolment, individual assessment takes place before homework books are sent home to ensure that children continually work on the next steps in their learning. Home reading is to be recorded in the reading log, which is regularly monitored by teachers.
* This year, Shelly Park School, will continue to learn using the Inquiry process. Each term, our focus will be integrated across the curriculum, and may involve out of school activities or opportunities for families to assist and be involved through the school programme. In Term 1 our topic will be Citizenship and will involve children identifying themselves as members of our wider community as well as within their family, classroom and school.
* We welcome parent help, and will make regular requests for this assistance. Please see your child’s class teacher if you would like to assist us at any time in the classroom. If your child is a very recent new entrant, it is advisable to wait a few weeks before beginning to assist, as it helps your child to make the adjustment to school, and a longer separation from home each day, a little easier.
* Teacher aides work in the junior classes every morning from 9.30 until 11.50. They are attached to specific classes. During that time, they support children through group activities as directed and planned for by the teacher. This usually takes place during Literacy (Reading and Writing) but at times they may also work within the Maths programme. Some children with specific learning needs also receive teacher aide support, but this is not provided by the classroom teacher aides. Funding is provided by the Ministry of Education or other agencies such as the RTLB Learner Support Fund for these children. The Board of Trustees provides funding for the classroom teacher aides to support the learning of all children.
* As well as the support which is offered to children who need extra help in literacy through the Reading Recovery programme, we also cater for children who have strengths in a variety of areas, by differentiated planning.
* If you have any concerns, feel free to speak to your child’s class teacher. Be aware however, that before school may not provide enough time for a discussion, as staff are very busy at this time. Please contact the school office to arrange a time, if you feel a lengthy meeting is necessary.
* We have an effective Tone and Discipline system in the school. Children are made well aware of expectations and if inappropriate behaviour persists, contact will be made with you either by telephone or letter. We value the three-way partnership of parent, child and teacher, and will work with you to solve any problems that may arise. If there are any changes in your home circumstances, please let the class teacher know, as this can have an effect on your child. If we understand the background it is possible to be very supportive.
We look forward to working with you and your children in 2019.
Wendy Dove
Deputy Principal
