Welcome to 2009 in Room 9.

It was great to meet the children today. I am looking forward to getting to know them and their individual strengths and talents better. Our whole class had their stationery ready on the first day which was awesome! It makes getting started much easier. 

I have been teaching since 2003 in a wide range of schools from rural Maruia, to Taumarunui and Taupo in the North Island. It's amazing how geographically challenged people can be until you visit the other island. One North Island radio station said Hanmer Springs was between Christchurch and Dunedin.(??!!) I have travelled to Australia, America, Dubai, England and Samoa as I enjoy experiencing new cultures. I also have a 12 year old daughter, Sasha, of Ngai Tahu descent. I descend from Ngati Tuwharetoa from a long line of Te Heu Heu and Grace's. 

I draw pencil portraits in my spare time, enjoy all forms of sport. I even tried skim boarding these holidays (jumping on a moving board and planing across the water). This is far more complicated than it sounds, and as the water is ankle deep when you crash their is not much to break your fall!!  

This term is going to be very busy! We have a great topic coming up in the last half of the term looking at insects. The kids will be out in the school grounds digging, sieving and observing them.  I, myself, climb walls to get away from spiders, cockroaches and other bugs so it will be a great opportunity for me to overcome my little phobia.  If you are an expert in this field I would love to hear from you. The children always enjoy speakers coming in and sharing their knowledge.

This term I have produced a 10 week homework book so there will be homework EVERY week. It is divided into weeks so students can clearly see what they need to do. The only week there will be no homework is Week 7 while we are on camp.

We have school camp in Week 7 with the Year 5 & 6's. There will be a meeting about camp after the 'Meet the Teacher' evening on Wednesday 11 February. A notice with times will come home shortly. Megan (R10) and I encourage you to come to this camp meeting as it will outline what happens on camp and our expectations.

Please feel free to pop in an introduce yourself to me. I do forewarn you, I can remember a class of kids names in one day but I am abysmal with adults names so please excuse me if I ask you to re-introduce yourself!  (It's a bit like that dvd "50 First Dates")