Week 6 Update

Kia ora koutou!

PCT
This Friday, eight Year 7/8 students will be participating in the Police Competency Test (PCT) held at English Park, St Albans.  Team 1 is made up of: Lauren, Holly R., Torian and Jake W.  Term 2 consists of: Amelia, Alice, Louis and Louie.  Students were selected by Mr P due to their athleticism and results in previous athletic events.  We wish them the best of luck!  Our St Martins whānau is behind you all the way!!  Here is the link to last years event photos http://stmartinsyear78.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/police-competency-test-photos.html

Zone and Canterbury Swimming
We have a number of Room 18/19 students who will be representing our school at Zone swimming next Wednesday - Lauren, Rosie, Chloe, Lily S., Molly, Holly C., Holly R., Paris T., Giles, Max Cr., Jake and Jonas.  Good luck guys!  We look forward to hearing of your successes!

School Duathlon
On Tuesday 24th March, we will be having our school duathlon at Hansen Park.  A notice was sent home a few days ago. :)

The individual events will run from 9-11am and then the team event will kick off around 11:30am.  This year, all students are required to participate in either the individual or team event... and in some cases, students have elected to participate in both - ka mau te wehi (awesome!)

Individual Event: 2km Run, 9km Bike, 1km Run
Team Event (3 people): 3km Run, 4km Bike, 1km Run

Mr P and I are so pleased with the number of students who have put their name forward for the individual event.  This demonstrates that we have such a positive 'CAN DO' culture in Room 18 and 19!  It's shaping up to be another hotly contested Class Eagle challenge!  Further to this, there are House points on offer.

ICAS Exams
A notice was provided to students who are interested in participating in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS).  More information about these exams can be found at: https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/    These are non-compulsory exams and there is a fee attached to each exam.  In the past, students from our school have featured well.  Distinction and High Distinction awards are presented at whole school assemblies.

Home Learning
A reminder to students to keep focused when it comes to the Home Learning goals that they set themselves at the beginning of the year.  There is just over 3 weeks left of the term, so it's a good time to evaluate what has been achieved so far, and what needs to be completed before the end of the term.  Remember, Home Learning completion leads to Success Award eligibility.  And, of course, please speak with your class teacher if you'd like to negotiate tasks and task completion.  Congratulations to Nina who received a Sports badge for completing 3 physical challenges earlier this term.  We also have some other students who will be receiving badges at this Friday's syndicate assembly for completing Home Learning challenges.

** Parents, please check with your child if they have any work to complete from class that day.  In Room 18/19, we ask that students complete Maths and Reading at home if it is not completed at school.  Today, we had roughly 12 students who had not completed their reading activities ready for marking (and/or had left it at home).  Thanks for your support with this!

Technology
Please make sure that your child is at school and signed in before 8:30am.  It's important that students have signed in and that they line up on the basketball court (sitting down) straight after the 8:30am bell.  We need the bus to leave at 8:40am so that students can be in class at their respective technology centres for a 9:00am start.

Remember, any questions please pop us a line at nickyp@stmartins.school.nz or jaradp@stmartins.school.nz.  We love to hear from you!