My Heena

Riya came to school today with her hand covered in beautiful patterns. Her family/whanau is celebrating Diwali.  Here is her story...

My hand has beautiful cream called Heena.  You can make any design you want on your hands and legs.  You need to keep the cream in the fridge.  You make your design on paper first than transfer it onto your hand.  Next, wait for two hours for it to dry.  When it is dry, peel it off - now look at your hand.  It is a wonderful orange colour.  Well done!!!  Diwali is a 'celebration of the lights.'  It is an Indian festival and is special to my family and I.  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Diwali, also known as Deepavali (literally “a row of lamps”), is perhaps the most important and ancient of the Indian festivals.

Diya (or deepa or divaa) are typically made from clayIt is also known as “The Festival of Lights”, and families light small oil lamps (diyas) and candles around the home and set off firecrackers and fireworks.

Traditionally, Diwali is celebrated for five days, and takes place at the new moon on 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik or Karthika (October/November). This is at the beginning of the winter season and is called the “darkest night of the year”, so lamps are lit to brighten this moonless night.

ipad/ipod apps

I recently visited a classroom where the teacher integrated ipads and ipods into the learning programme.    Below are some of the applications used.  These will need to be viewed first and then down loaded if appropriate to suit the needs of your child.  Children please seek Mum or Dad's permission first.  ENJOY!!!

NUMERACY:

fastfactsadd

fastfactssub

fastfactsmultiply

AUM Multiply

Maths Bingo

Hungry Fish

Number Battle

SPELLING:

Chicktionary

Search Star

Spelling Magic

HangmanFree

WRITING:

Picturebook

Scribble Press

Story Buddy

My Trip to Sunny Samoa

Nga Marama (Months)

Ko te aha tenei marama? (What is this month?)
Ko...........tenei marama.  (This month is.......)

Ko te tera marama? (What was last month?)
Ko..........tera marama. (Last month was.....)

Ko te aha te marama kei te heki mai? (What will next month be?)
Ko ......te marama kei te heki mai. (Next month will be......)

Ko te aha tenei wa o te tau?  (What is this season?)
Ko...tenei wa o te tau (This season is....)


Marama - month
Maramataka - calendar

Hanuere - January
Pepuere - February
Maehe - March
Aperira - April
Mei - May
Hune - June
Hurae - July
Akuhata - August
Hepetema - September
Oketopa - October
Noema - November
Tihema - December

Koanga - spring
Raumati - summer
Ngahuru - autumn
Hotoke - winter

Our Special Mission

On Friday, Room 15 were invited to attend the senior assembly under the shade area.  Fr Thige was the special guest.  He presented to Lucy and Kieran their 'Alter Server' certificates.  Part of the 'Church Strand' and 'Social Justice' is one's response to serving others within the church community and beyond.  The position of alter servers in helping the priest during the Holy Eucharist plays an important role in for fulfilling these duties.  We all look forward to watching Lucy and Kieran grow in this role within the church.  

Tino pai team - you made us proud! 

Save our Marine Life - By James

Today, Room 15 went to a seminar called 'Sustainable Coastlines.' We met a man named Sam and he told us about what is happening around the world with plastic.  Sam showed us a mini movie clip about someone chucking a plastic bag out the window and it went with the wind all the way to Great Barrier Island where a turtle ate it and died because of someone's poor actions.  The turtle thought the plastic bag was jelly fish.  He also showed us some seagulls that ate bottle tops on an island called Midway Atoll.   This is an island near Hawaii where ocean currents meet, also known as 'Gyres.'  Midway Atoll is a place where little natural water is stored yet it has lots of cril and plankton in the ocean where sea life feed from.  After that, he spoke to us about a plastic bag that a small fish ate and died on the food chain...gross!   The worst part of his speech was when he showed us the 20 year-old turtle that has been strangled by a plastic milk ring.  Sam's message was to follow the three 'R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and not to litter in the ocean.  So...PLEASE TAKE CARE OF OUR (AND GOD'S) ENVIRONMENT!!!!

The Chalice and Ciborium

We have been learning about some of the sacramental vessels used in the Catholic church.  The chalice it is most commonly used in reference to the large cup-like vessel in which the wine symbolizing the blood of Jesus Christ is served during the Eucharist or a church communion service.  The ciborium holds the consecrated Eucharistic bread. The ciborium is usually shaped like a rounded goblet, or chalice, having a dome-shaped cover. Both are important vessels (and symbols) that were first used by Jesus during the Last Supper over 2000 years ago. Enjoy our special images...