Number Boxes is a simple yet fun game to play at home that helps to build number patterns, strategy, and critical thinking. 

It's a two player game that can be easily adapted to suit a range of levels. Play it as is or alter the number range for older children by increasing it to three or four digit numbers. To increase the complexity further you could change the operation. 

All you need to play this game is a 6 sided dice, paper, and a pen, making it a truly easy game to pick up and play at home. Please see the image below that further explains the game. Have fun!

Great results for our zone and school from the Southland Athletics on Sunday.  Congratulations to all our students who qualified to represent Kiwi Zone and special congratulations to the following students who gained top three places:
Kahu Wilmshurst - 2nd 7 year olds 100 metres
Ollie Shuttleworth - 3rd 7 year olds 100 metres
Ben Holmes - 1st 9 year olds 800 metres
Sam Arthur - 2nd 9 year olds Shot Put
Madeline Tiriaere - 3rd 10 year olds High Jump
George Ramsay - 1st 10 year olds High Jump, 3rd Long Jump, 3rd Discus, 3rd 800 metres
Ari Coradine - 1st 10 year old Shot Put
Relays
8 year old girls  - 2nd
8 year old boys - 2nd
9 year old girls - 1st
9 year old boys - 3rd
10 year old girls - 1st
A big thank you to whānau for your support of all the athletes who represented our Zone on Sunday.  Special thanks to our staff members Deidre Murphy, Gillian Donnelly and Stacey Seager for your mahi on the day as well as all the officials, team managers and other volunteers who make events like this possible.

A big thank you to all our Y6 Camp parents and Outdoor Ed and junior sports day helpers - these experiences provided rich opportunities for our students and are not possible without such tremendous parental support and involvement.
We hope you enjoy this collection of photos that provides insights into the learning fun! 

This week we farewelled Lindsay King who has worked in Invercargill schools over the years in his role as the Learning Connections Coordinator.  We wish him well on the next chapter of his journey and we will miss his many talents including being a reader, published author, musician and ICT facilitator.

Blackberries have provided inspiration for these beautiful artworks created by Tarata Room 14 (Years 5/6) and Kahikatea R11 (New Entrants)

The end of daylight saving is approaching so we will be having darker mornings, please make sure your child/ren are wearing their Hi Vis vests to increase their visibility and help keep them safe on their way to and from school.

Welcome to Tate Jones and Sydney Gamble who started in our new entrant class recently. We hope you and your whānau enjoy being part of our learning community.

This week we welcome back Teresa and Harold with the Life Education Bus and programme.  All children partake in two sessions in the classroom in the bus.

The Life Education classroom will be open for anyone to visit on Wednesday 3 April between 2.30 - 3.15pm.  Tamariki must be accompanied by an adult.

On Friday 5 April whānau are invited to a session before Assembly (1.20 - 1.50pm) to learn about the Life Education programme, experience the technology and to also to meet Harold the Giraffe.

Tuesday 2nd April is the last day the school pool will be open.  Over the winter the pool's external structure is being replaced with new translucent cladding.  
If everything goes according to plan the pool should reopen again after Labour Weekend for more swimming fun. 

To register your child/ren for sport in Term 2, click on the links below for further information.    Please note registration closing dates, late entries will not be accepted.  All payments are to be made to the Otatara School bank account: 030855 0560871 000.

After registrations have closed and teams have been organised, team information will be emailed out to parents/caregivers.

Tuesday: Age 5-8, Thursday: Age 9-11

Cost $40

Wednesday Term 2/3

Thursday 2nd May - 20th June

Sunday 19th May - Splash Palace

This event is for competitive swimmers. Click on the link below for information/registration details. Once you have registered your child with Fastlane, could you please email: sport@otatara.school.nz with your child's name and events entered, to assist with the relay team entry.  The team will also require a manager if you would like to take on the job please let me know.  If you are not registered with a swim club please email the above address with your child’s entry information. 

Tuesday 14th May - Waihopai School

Sunday 19th May -  Fosbender Park

More information to come

Friday 29 March – Easter Friday - No Assembly

Friday 05 April - 2:10pm Junior School Assembly

Friday 12 April - 2:00pm Whole School Assembly

                            Morning                     Afternoon

Monday                      Easter Monday
Tuesday             Easter Tuesday/Southland Anniversary Day
Wednesday   Carla Werder               Deidre Murphy
Thursday       Koreena Wharepouri  Koreena Wharepouri
Friday             Jase/Jess Domigan      Carla Werder

 

Parent helpers please be at school by 8.20am for the morning patrol and 2.40pm for the afternoon patrol. If for some reason you are unavailable on your rostered day please swap with another parent.