Welcome to room 3!

My name is Sophie Robertson and I am thrilled to be teaching Year 5 and 6 in Room 3 next year. This is my first year teaching and I am very excited for the great year ahead! I am looking forward to bringing my fresh enthusiasm and ideas to Howick Primary.

For the past 4 years I have been studying at Massey University, gaining a Bachelor of Education specialising in primary education and a Diploma of Educational Studies. I had my last teaching practicum at Howick Primary in the second term of 2015, and have since been working at Kidz Patch and as a teacher aide in the junior school – so I will be a familiar face to some!

School opens on Tuesday, February 2nd with classes starting at 8:50am. Students benefit from arriving from 8:30am onwards to give them time to prepare for learning, play with friends, and get to know their new teacher!

Please could you make sure your child brings all their named stationery to school on the first day of Term. Your child will also need to have a pencil case to store their pencils, glue, rubber, pens, scissors etc in. This needs to be able to fit inside their desk so please make sure it’s not too big . Stationery can be ordered online through Office Max.

2016 Dates for Term 1: 
Monday February 1st            School Closed: Auckland Anniversary Day
Tuesday February 2nd         School Starts, Welcome Powhiri and Swimming starts for Year 3-6
Monday February 8th            School Closed: Waitangi Day Observed
Thursday February 11th       Meet the Teacher at 6:30pm
Friday  February 26th           HPS Family Picnic
March 15th and 17th               HPS 3-Way Conference

We will be continuing the BYOD Senior School initiative in 2016. This is an optional initiative at HPS and there is no pressure from HPS to purchase a device for school unless you choose to. Students who have participated in this programme for 2015 are asked to keep all devices at home for the first two weeks of the term. We need this time to ensure all students are up to date with HPS digital citizenship expectations including cyber safety. For students new to this programme, information will go home to parents in early 2016 outlining the initiative in full.

Have a safe and happy holiday! I look forward to an exciting learning partnership with you in the New Year.

Kind Regards,
Sophie Robertson
s.robertson@howickprimary.school.nz