Home School Partnership

At Hay Park School, we encourage our parents to be involved in their child's learning. Each year we hold events and workshops and invite our parents and whānau into our school to see what their child is learning and to learn how to help at home.

This term we have a Kawa of Care workshop on Thursday 18th March for our Y4 students and whānau and new Y5&6 students and whānau. We also are planning a fun digital workshop for whānau next term. Each year we run Reading Together workshops for parents to help establish good reading habits at home. We also run Early Reading Together workshops for families with preschool children. Here are a few ideas for how you can help your child at home.

Talk about their learning

Talk to your child about what they are learning at school. Ask them questions about what they have been doing. If you know something about it, tell them or show them. Take them to the library to find out some information about it, or look up some information on the internet. Show your child that you are interested and that learning is important. 

Listen to them Read, Read to them

A great way to help your child with their learning is to listen to them read every day. Junior School children will bring home a book each day so they can practice what they have read at school that day. With older children, you can read and discuss what happened in the story, or identify the main facts in a non fiction text. You can also read your child's blog and leave a comment.

There are lots of other ways to practice reading - read the newspaper together, look at the junk mail to identify words, read the signs together while you are driving in the car, or the labels at the supermarket. 

Food

It is important that your child has a filling breakfast (either at school or before they come to school) and that they bring enough food for morning tea. It is hard for children to focus in the classroom if they are hungry. Healthy food gives them the energy they need to learn. We have Breakfast and Buddy Reading each day except Thursday in the hall from 8.55am to 9.25am.

Sleep

Children need to be well rested to learn well. This means that they need to get enough sleep for their age. On average, a primary school aged child needs about 10 hours of sleep a night. Tired children can not concentrate in the classroom, making it hard for them to keep up with their school work.

A place to do homework

Set aside a quiet place at home for your child to do homework. Somewhere away from distractions like the TV and other people if possible. Have somewhere to keep things that they will need to do their work. Have a routine for doing homework.

There are also some great ideas on the Ministry of Education website for Parents.