Testing and Parent Interviews

The last three weeks of term 2 are busy for the ESOL team, as we are in the middle of testing the children we teach.  We test reading words, listening, speaking and writing.  When we have completed our testing, we will be holding parent interviews in the last week of the term to report back on the results of the testing and each child's progress this year.  Please ensure you have an interview time - the exact time and day will be sent home with your child.  If you don't get this notice please come and see one of the ESOL team.  We will be happy tell you your interview time or to make you a new time.  We are really looking forward to talking to you about your child and the positive learning they are participating in at Ilam School.  Don't forget Mrs Hong is available to translate in Korean, Chinese and Japanese, and Mrs Brunell is available to translate in Samoan.  Thank you for sharing in your child's learning!

Farm Park Visit

Many of the senior and junior children who attend ESOL lessons visited the Arion Farm Park as a conclusion to our school-wide Inquiry. We travelled by bus to McLeans Island where the park is located. When we got there we had our lunch in the play area, surrounded by animals and farm machinery. It was funny when the pig came over to try to eat Anotida's lunch!

After that we were allowed to feed the animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, horses, llamas, chickens and geese.  Many of the children were nervous about feeding the animals at first, but by the end they were happy to hold their hand out for the animals to feed from. We then took turns having a miniature pony ride which was one of the highlights of the day!  By then it was time to head back home on the bus.  Most of us felt quite tired after all the excitement we had experienced!

International lunch

Thank you to all of the parents who attended our International lunch! It was an amazing turnout, we were truly surprised at the number of people who came along to support their children, meet other parents and find out a bit more about what is happening at Ilam School this year. As you can see, we had a most delicious array of food, which was especially appreciated by the children who couldn't believe the amount we had to choose from! If you couldn't make it to our lunch, we are holding another one in term 3. Come along and join in the fun - we would love to meet you.

Visit to Ray Blank Park

Some of the new children and children who have joined us over the last year went on a trip to Ray Blank Park.
At 1.30 we caught the bus to the Waimairi Road shops and crossed the roads at the traffic lights.
We looked at the different shops and visited the dairy. There we bought an iceblock to take to the park with us.
We walked to the park, sat at the picnic tables and ate our iceblocks.
When we had finished, we tried out all of the different equipment in the playground, such as the swings, the slide, the seesaws and the rocktopus.
At 2.45 we showed the bus driver our return tickets and caught the bus back to Ilam School.
We had a fantastic time and it was great getting to know some of the new children who have joined our school.

Welcome to new children

Welcome to all the new children attending Ilam School this year! We welcome children from different ethnicities and cultures, and look forward to meeting and working with you. We are starting our groups next week and are getting prepared with lots of fun activities focusing on speaking, listening, reading and writing.