Thank You

This is the final blog posting for 2012.  I would personally like to thank all those parents and caregivers who have assisted me during this year.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching this year and continue to experience a thrill in making a positive difference to the lives of children.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas and safe and happy holidays.  God bless to you all.

Iti rearea, teitei kahikatea, ka taea.   The smallest bird can reach the top of the tallest tree.  

'Still Life' using shapes

Kauri Whanau Day

On Wednesday, kauri whanau had their final assembly and sports day.  We watched a keynote on Felix's trip to Hollywood and Mrs Collyer showed images from her recent classroom play.  After our assembly, we had our sports rotation, this included games such as: lily pad hop, non-stop cricket, capture the flag and sketchers.  We had lots of fun in helping each other learn new games (and old games).  Lunch together under the trees in front of whanau block was next on the agenda!  Thanks to all teachers and whanau captains for supporting the day.  Well done TEAM!!!

Riya's live performance of Lavani at Northland Indian Association Cultural Festival - 2012

Te Reo Kori

 We have been learning (and having fun) using 'Te Reo Kori' rakau games.  We had to create our own routine in pairs and then in groups of four.  Finally, we got to perform our routine to the rest of the class.  There were lots of smiles..and the odd bump on the head. Tino pai nga tamariki ma!

Te Reo Kori, the language of movement, is about mastery of basic Māori movement and movement patterns, as exemplified in haka, poi, tirakau and other traditional movement forms. It is directly related both to the Māori performing arts and to the Māori concept of health and well-being, hauora (Walker, 1994).

Future Olympians

The two Ben's and Thomas...mates forever!

AJ, Ben, Deborah, Mia (Year 4 Relay Team - 3rd 60m)

Lucy (3rd Discus), Ben (1st Shot Put), Ben (1st 60m Sprint, 1st 80m Sprint, 1st High Jump), AJ (2nd 60m Sprint, 3rd 80m Sprint), Thomas (2nd High Jump)

Last week, 39 children represented our school at the Whangarei Primary Schools Athletics Championships.  Our Year 4 children did extremely well.  Above are some of the winners.  Well done to all those who competed and also to the parents/caregivers who supported the team.

Advent - A Time to Prepare for the coming of Christ

Our 'Movement' Challenge

Our 'movement challenge' was to design a machine that could help us do chores around the house.  We had to draw and label our special machine.  We had lots of fun explaining our design to the rest of the class.  Some of us even made prototypes!!!  Tino pai everyone.

Year 4's EOTC (in a nutshell)

Photo album created with Smilebox

An explanation about 'How a bike works'

The bike is a mechanical machine which is an easy type of transport

that can move people and goods around from place to place.  A bike is made up of many different parts such as: pedals, wheels and axles which makes it move effectively and function properly.  Firstly, you put your helmet on and hop on your bike.  Secondly, you keep your balance and start pedalling to get you going. Thirdly, when you are going a bit faster, change your gears and just keep on pedalling to get you going.  The bike can keep going until you stop or you use the brakes to stop. The brakes squeeze on the wheel to make it stop.

Now you know what is on your bicycle, how to ride it and a new word... ‘FRICTION.’

                                 By James and Riya

Adventure Forest...Here We Come!!!

On Tuesday the 20th and Wednesday the 21st of November, we went to Adventure Forest. When we got there we met our instructors Nick, Francois, Francoise and Katlin. Then we had a talk about what we where going to do. After that, we went to get the gear on. The gear we had to get on included: a harness, 2 karabiners, and a helmet.  But there was heaps of other gear connected on the harness. Once we had done that, we went to a practice test that was awesome!!!  There were 20 flying foxers, 7 circuits and 80 activities to do...that’s a lot!!!  Sometimes, you have to take risks on things that you don’t want to do like the big flying foxes. Sometimes, when you do that, you are building up your courage and confidence.  What a thrilling EOTC experience...we can’t wait until Kawau Island next year...BRING IT ON!!!

By Tayla and Madeline  

Surfing at Sandy Bay

Wow...this is the best day ever!  We are at Sandy Bay having a surfing lesson.  While we were waiting, we played bat down and volleyball and then we went for a surf  was awesome!!!  Then we finshed our day by going back to school and went home. It was a awesome trip. If you want to be a good surfer, you have know how to quickly stand on your feet, balance, weight forward and just enjoy the ride.  A special thanks to the parents who helped on the day.  Also, thank you to Simon and Jo from ‘Surf Safaris.’  (By Levi and Antoni)

Reotahi Rocks!!!

Whoa!  We had just arrived at Reotahi Bay and we are already into it.  Firstly, group five had to do a colouring comptition and boy it was it hard to do.  Secondly, we went for a walk to the old Reotahi Freezing works.  It was built in 1918, and was the first freezing works to be built in the world!  Refridgeration was also invented around that era which helped keep the meat cool.  Oh yeah, don’t let me forget when we went snorkelling.  We saw all sort of fish like the nudibrand, sea horse, grey mallet and sea anemone. The most dangerous fish or shell there today were oysters, eagle rays and last of all jellyfish.  We learnt a lot about marine life and ways we can look after them in their environment.  What an amazing day! Thanks Samara and Eden from Experiencing Marine Reserves.   By James

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

New Zealand is surrounded by ocean - our oceans are a national treasure for many reasons, but we have begun to see a national decline in many of our fish species. It is only recently that we have begun to understand the impacts this has on the rest of our marine environment. Only by working together as a nation towards understanding more about our marine environment can we minimise our impacts upon it and conserve what we have for future generations.  Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) is about providing schools and their communities with the expertise and knowledge to experience their local marine environment first-hand, leading to local communities understanding marine conservation issues in their local area and fostering kaitiakitanga. 

My Enviro Schools Expo (Going Bush)

Hi, I’m Charlotte Gillespie.  A few weeks ago, I was chosen to go to an 'Enviro Schools Expo' at Heritage Park. We had lots of fun! First, we went to a lady who knew lots about different types of garden weeds. It was very interesting! We all had to write on a chart about the name of weeds, how they get spread and how to idenyify them.

Secondly, we met a man who knew lots about Maori plants, and what Maori people believe in.  There is a plant called kawa-kawa.  It tastes delicious! He said, “the ones that the bugs have eaten taste better because if its good enough for the bugs, its good enough for you.” However, my favourite part of the expo was...The Puppet Show! It took ages to put all the bit and pieces together, but we eventualy did it.  Soon it was time to go home, so we watched the puppet show - it was awesome.  They said, "farewell”, and we were on our way. I had wished that it was the start of the day, but it wasn’t.  

Story Bird Stories

The kids be sneaky. on StorybirdAnimal Facts on Storybird

Free Falling...

Today, we (in pairs) made a paper spinner and a parachute.  We looked at how these objects float from a high distance or how they free fall.  An object is in free fall when it drops with gravity.  The only force acting on a freely falling object is its weight.  We had to follow a set of instructions and work with our buddy to construct our free falling objects.  We experienced lots of fun!  Enjoy...

SOP (SAVE OUR PLANET!!!)

Room 15 children are passionate about creating and promoting a sustainable environment.  They have been learning about the impact that ewaste has on them and their planet.  Enjoy their ewaste posters and please consider the impact that you have on the planet next time you throw away your next electronic device. 

Maori String Games

Part of our concept of 'movement' we looked at different string games that Maori used a long time ago.  Some of us were the teacher/kaiako, and others were the learners.  We discussed the importance string games played in the lives of Maori people.  

Maori string games date to pre-European times and are similar to string games played around the world. Traditionally women were more proficient at the games although whai was played by both genders and all ages.  String games were an excellent training ground for the skills required in weaving, in the making of nets, korowai(cloaks), bird and hinaki traps, tukutuku panel work and even the thatching of meeting houses.  Kia ora.

Please Save Our Planet!!!

Anna Murphy from 'EcoSolutions' spoke to us about e-waste (or electronic waste).  E-waste is defined as “electronic equipment that people don’t want.”  Did you know...each year, New Zealanders throw away 80,000 tonnes of e-waste every year-less than 20% of that is recycled, and that e-waste contains hazardous materials, such as mercury, lead and cadmium!  These chemicals can be leached into landfills and our waterways, and as a result, impact on humans, plants and animals.  Anna emphasised the importance of the 4 ‘R’s (reduce, recycle, reuse and repair) and thinking more about God’s environment.  She taught us about the many components in a computer.  We got to disassemble and reassemble a computer.  We had loads of fun and learnt a lot.  So in summary, we ALL can make a positive difference when caring for our planet, so please consider Anna's message before throwing out your obsolete (out of date) e-device or buying your next e-device.  Thanks Anna for your enthusiasm and passion for promoting sustainability.  For more information, please visit these websites:  www.e-cycle.co.nz   www.tvtakeback.govt.nz    www.zerowaste.co.nz/hot-issues/e-waste-recycling