ASHGROVE SCHOOL   

Junior Learning Team

Introduction
Our team consists of three classrooms and special educational support.   We have one Teacher Aide working in our syndicate.

Literacy, Numeracy and Integrated Topic are the key focus areas for development in the Junior school

English / Literacy
All lessons in literacy work towards developing the following skills.

Mathematics
We focus on the core skills and strategies as set out by the National Early Numeracy Project (ENP).  Junior teachers are diligent with continuing their Professional Development in the ENP.

Integrated Units of Work in Science, Social Studies, Technology
Teachers work together as a team to plan these.  We use a themed approach for our planning and implementation of units.  We are developing the early skills for Inquiry Learning according to the National Curriculum.  

Syndicate meeting time will be made available for brainstorming and pooling of ideas and strategies, prior to unit preparation.  Planning for the teaching of inquiry/thinking skills will be a major focus in topic work.

Health & Physical Education
Health and Physical education continues to be an important component of our programmes for 2010.  As well as Physical Education we have daily fitness and Jump Jam as part of our programme.

In Term One we have two sessions of Cricket Coaching.  In Term Two for seven weeks we have swimming instruction and gymnastics timetabled for Tuesday afternoons starting from Week 4.  

Health units are part of our school wide integrated topic.  The focus for this year is the value of RESPONSIBILITY.  The value of Responsibility for our own learning, ourselves, for our community and Our Environment will be embedded in our daily teaching and learning.

The Arts
Visual Art
Visual art may be integrated with the current topic or taught as a separate curriculum area depending on the skills needing to be covered.
There is a focus on the use of different media each term with sketching and drawing being taught as part of visual art across the whole year. 

Music, Dance and Drama
There will be an emphasis on a different arts strand each term covering the 3 strands of dance, music and drama.
Many aspects of these disciplines are covered in daily programmes and weekly planning.

Perceptual Motor Programme
The Year 1 students in Room 7 will be part of a PMP programme in Terms 2 and 3. 

A teacher aide will be employed to help run the programme along with parent helpers.  The programme will run Mondays 1.30 - 3.00pm and Tuesdays 9.00 - 10.10am.  Classes will also take one floor session each week as part of the programme.

Junior Assembly (Combined Early Junior and Junior Learning Teams)
Friday   1.30 - 2.00pm        

Children sing the National Anthem and syndicate songs, present items as a class and show items made in class or developmental programmes based around RESPONSIBILITY.   Birthdays, achievements, behaviour ideals are acknowledged and rewarded with a certificate.
Each class has a turn to present assembly on a rostered basis.

Six Year Net
Completed by Assistant Principal.  Results report sent home to parents.  Interview scheduled if child is at risk or at parent request.

Syndicate Newsletter
Beginning each new Term to outline upcoming programmes and advise parents of trips, additional programmes or changes within the syndicate and to celebrate successes.  A copy of this will be given to the Principal and put on the school website for parent’s information.

Parent Contact and Classroom Help
We welcome parent help in the classroom and are grateful to those people who have already offered to assist with this.  As classroom teachers we are happy to discuss any needs or concerns your child may have throughout the year.  To do this thoroughly please take the time to make an appointment that suits us both.  We thank you for your continued support in helping us make the most of your childs opportunities to learn successfully.

Send mail to admin@ashgrove.school.nz with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: Friday April 04, 2008