A 40 minute movie and a slideshow is available now on DVD of Room 3’s Karapairo Camp experiences in term 1 of 2009. See below for a short trailer of highlights from the DVD.

We are trying to encourage children to walk to school because the benefits of using ‘active transport’ are significant. More children walking to school means:

• better levels of fitness and health
• less money spent on petrol
• reduced energy use and fewer vehicle emissions
• less congestion at the school gate
• more social interaction for children, their families and whānau.

While walking, children are also learning sustainable transport habits for the future. Each week Waihi East School is recording the number of people who walk, cycle, scooter or skateboard all or part of the way to school. This information is entered in a database on the ‘Feet First’ website which records the efforts of schools nationwide that are encouraging the use of ‘active transport’ in their community. This database produces graphs that help schools see how many people are using ‘active transport’ to get to school and how our school compares with others.

Within East School we also know how many people in each room have used ‘active transport’ during the week and the class with the most people walking (or using one of the other methods given above) is given a ‘Feet First’ trophy for the week in recognition of their efforts.

Check the graph below which compares Waihi East School’s percentage of walkers with other schools throughout the Waikato. Our school is the blue line, there are two things that will help us improve this percentage in the future.

1. Firstly we haven’t been counting those who travel to school by cycle, scooter or skateboard.
2. The second is more people trying to get to school using ‘active transport’.

This weeks Habit of Mind ☺ is “Finding ☺Humour”. Successful people can see the funny side of things and are able to laugh at themselves.

Feb 3 Feb 5 extra Feb 12 Feb 19 Feb 26 March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26 April 2 April 9

Kia ora
The term has flown by. By now you will have received your child’s Year Book. It shows your child’s achievements over the term and their next learning steps. It is amazing to view Year Books and to see the learning across the school. I hope you enjoy reading this information. Please return Year Books to school tomorrow.

Today, invitations have been sent home for Cool Kids/Wheelie Afternoon. Invitations have been handed out to those children who have made great choices across the school. Children who have attended two or more detentions during the term will have a thinking time out with Robbie during this special afternoon. We are very pleased to note that the majority of the school have been given invitations.

Last week Jude, Lynette, Donna and Briar held the first of our Numeracy evenings. It was a great night of finding out about the programme and learning games that parents and children can play at home. We would appreciate more parents attending our next workshop in term 2. Please return the tear off slip choosing the best time that would suit a family member to come to school e.g. straight after school or 7.30pm. All slips returned go into a lucky draw which will be drawn on Thursday before Cool Kids afternoon.
☺Have a great holiday break. ☺

Kia ora
I would like to thank the school community for their amazing efforts with the Variety Bash fundraiser on Tuesday. Our organizing team were truly amazing. The hall looked fantastic and your organization for the day was brilliant. The Variety Team said our lunch was the best that they have ever had supplied and they appreciated the special home cooked meal. Approximately $1200 was raised for Breakfast Club. Thank you all for your wonderful contribution. Gavin Hill was our special guest at the Duffy Book launch. He was a friendly, encouraging speaker whom the children enjoyed listening to and freely asked questions.

Our thanks to Nicola and Whiti, our Duffy Books sponsors. Nicola and Whiti helped present the books to students. I am sure all students are enjoying their first Duffy Book.

We have swung into action with a new after school roadside safety plan. Our idea is for children who need to cross Donnelly Street, cross at one point. Our crossing area is the driveway beside the kindergarten. Six cones are placed there daily and a staff member will be supervising this point. Please help us by indicating before turning and making sure children have seat belts on before leaving school. Thank you.

Year Books go home next week. I hope you enjoy reading about your child’s achievements at school this term and their goals for the year. Parent/Teacher interviews will be held early next term, however if you have any concerns please contact your child’s teacher and arrange a time to meet.
Have a great weekend.

This weeks Habit of Mind is “Listening with Understanding and Empathy”. Successful people listen to others with their ears, minds and feelings. Next week’s Habit of Mind will be “Finding Humour”.

Travis talks to Hadleigh about the Variety Bash day on Tuesday 31st March at East School.