Saturday, April 25, 2015

Lest We Forget

Below are just a few photos taken by 'The Northern Advocate' that helps capture the different ways the people of Whangarei commemorated ANZAC Day.  Lest We Forget.
















Maths All Around Us - Day 1

 Patterns in Nature....
Did you know maths is in everything in nature?  There are heaps of shapes out there - especially circles and spheres.  Our earth is a sphere shape.  That's geometry!  There are many awesome patterns in nature.  That's number and algebra.  We can measure heaps of things like trees and blades of grass.  That's measurement!  We can collect data like all the insects we count in different places.  Then we can make cool graphs.  That's statistics!




ANZAC Day Liturgy

Anzac Day occurs on 25 April. It commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women.
The date itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. At the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Turkish defenders.
Thousands lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign: 87,000 Turks, 44,000 men from France and the British Empire, including 8500 Australians. To this day, Australia also marks the events of 25 April. Among the dead were 2779 New Zealanders, about a fifth of those who served on Gallipoli.
It may have led to a military defeat, but for many New Zealanders then and since, the Gallipoli landings meant the beginning of something else – a feeling that New Zealand had a role as a distinct nation, even as it fought on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.
Anzac Day was first marked in 1916. The day has gone through many changes since then. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand, or in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, remain rich in tradition and ritual befitting a military funeral. 






Friday, April 17, 2015

Agrikids - 2015

Today, six Year 5 & 6 children from our school participated in the Northern Regional Agrikids Finals held at the Dargaville Field Days Site.  The children were Jessie, Harry and Josh ('The Farming Saints') and Saoirse, Logan and Alex ('The Three Wise Shepherds').  Their task was to complete a variety of farming activities within a certain time frame, these included:
1.  identifying the age of a tree
2.  identifying different types of milk
3.  identification and matching of vegetables in the garden
4.  how to take care of animals
5.  answering general farming questions
6.  animal identification
7.  horse shoe throwing
8.  seed identification and matching activity
9.  safety on the farm 
Overall, both teams represented the school with distinction, and had loads of fun, despite the rain and wind.  Special thanks to the parents who assisted with transport and support.


Saturday, April 11, 2015

Paua Creations

Topic:  Paua Creations
Art inspired by: 'Tangaroa's Gift'
Talented Artists:  Room 9 Tamariki
Inspirational Kaiako:  Mrs Smith
Art Elements:   Pattern/design, colour
Process:
1.  Maori design practise
2.  Outlining shell, breathing holes
3.  Maori designs on 'bands'
4.  Wet on wet dye work - this allows the colours to blend naturally
5.  Brush on water first, then apply the dye in small areas next to each other
6.  Allow to the dye to dry
7.  Backing/apply glitter for the 'shimmer' effect/name art
8.  Sit back and...admire!!!!  
Mauri ora nga tamariki and kaiako!!!!