Good relationships
between school and home will mean good learning
outcomes for all students.
We are committed to developing a positive
partnership between our school and our families.
Please talk to us at
any time if you have concerns or would like support
with any aspect of your child's education.
Praise for Halcombe School
"Respectful, informative relationships improve
outcomes for students. Clear, concise information,
shared between teachers, parents and students,
encourages a co-operative learning culture."
Education
Review Office Report 2009
Our
"Helping at Home" booklet is available
for you to download!
Keep in Touch - developing a good
relationship with school!
"Richie
Says..." - tips to help with reading
that our teachers use - and you can to!
We regularly host
information sessions for families to help
support learning at home. Coming soon:
-
Helping Your Child
with Reading - Wednesday 16th May at
3.15pm & 7pm at school.
-
Preparing Your
Child for School - Wednesday 23rd May at 3.15pm
& 7pm at school.
-
Helping Your Child
with Maths - Wednesday 13th June at 3.15pm & 7pm
at school.
Homework & Home Learning
"Homework" is a topic that can cause much tension in
families. At Halcombe School, we have given this
issue much consideration and have produced our own
philosophy on homework - which we prefer to call
"home learning". The current programme for home
learning is:
YEAR 1 – 4 STUDENTS
• Apart from reading, basic maths facts and a little
spelling, no "homework" will be ‘set’.
• Please read to your child and/or listen to them
read each night.
• Play games with your children which involve
counting and maths ideas, such as ‘Ludo’ and cards,
• Talk about numbers in everyday life, for example
on number plates and phone numbers.
• Involve your children in activities which involve
measuring and have problems to solve.
5 – 8 STUDENTS
• Children should be reading every night for at
least 20 minutes. They should also be learning
spelling and basic facts.
• Home learning may be a continuation of what is done in
class. If children need to catch up on work, they
will be able to do it at home if they wish.
• You can help your child by NOT mentioning
homework! By this age, children need to accept
responsibility for completing any homework they
choose to do. They shouldn’t need to be
reminded (or nagged!) at school or at home. If you
are nagging them now, you’ll still be nagging
them when they’re 17.
• Take an interest in what your children are doing,
but without threat or punishment. If children choose
not to complete their homework, that will be their
decision. There is no ‘penalty’ for not completing
homework. Children will not be ‘kept in’ at
lunchtime to complete homework.
• The culture and children’s intrinsic motivation to
learn and achieve in our senior classes, means that
by far the majority of children are happy to
complete some homework each night without any fuss.
• Home learning will consolidate, enrich and extend the
class programme. It should not be a big chore. The
challenge should be minimal, not so much that you
have to get help from your rocket scientist uncle!
• On occasions, children will have the opportunity
to spend part of their interval or lunchtime in
class working if they wish. We appreciate that many
children have a variety of after-school commitments.
• It is important that children develop good time
management skills before they go to High School, but
no longer than 45 minutes a night should be spent on
home learning.
• If you would like ideas about home learning,
please contact your child’s class teacher.
KEEP IN TOUCH - School Newsletters &
The KIT Book
School newsletters are sent home every Tuesday and
will have important notices, news and information
about school happenings. Visit the
"School
Newsletters" webpage of our website to see recent
editions.
The KIT Book is a "keep in touch" diary that is
issued to all students.
It will contain important class notices and provides
a chance for families and teachers to communicate
daily about students and their learning. Students
should be bringing their KIT Books home every day!
Three Way Conferences
(involving the student, parent/caregiver and
teacher) provide an opportunity for students to
share their learning, set their goals and celebrate
their achievements with their parents. Interviews
are held near the end of Term 1 and again in Term 3
each year. All families attend these interviews.
Written Reports are
sent home at the end of each year.
Get involved!
There are many ways to get involved at Halcombe
School. This will help to develop strong and
positive relationships with your children, their
classmates and their teachers. Consider
parent-helping in class, coaching sports teams,
providing transport to events, getting involved in
the PTA or the Board of Trustees. Just ask your
teacher or check the newsletter for opportunities to
get involved!
Online Help
There are many great educational websites to try!
Visit our class blogs
for links to trusted websites that our students are using every
day!
Ministry of Education
Link to the
Ministry of Education's
"parents and whanau" webpage for useful information
about your child and their education, what they learn,
how their progress is assessed and how they can succeed
with your support.
HALCOMBE
SCHOOL