Northbrook Waters Walk

A successful and fun day walking to Matawai Park for an easter hunt, rubbish pickup, games and lunch. Then on to North Brook Waters to meet with Parks Officer Dan who informed us about the area and answered lots of questions.

Dan talking to the students about the wildlife found in the area. Previously we stopped to look at harakeke and kanuka which grows along the edges of the lake.

One or two tired bods after walking to the park - little did they realise we still had to walk back to school which would test the patience of a few.

A bit hard to see but a pukeko on the left (yes they can swim) visiting a swan who has made a nest on a small island in the middle of the lake.

Modern Technology

These spheroid balls which Leanne has introduced to our year 6 group have been an absolute hit. The class are learning to code the movement of the sphero, and learning some very practical uses of coding.

We are seeing some real engagement from the students, and they are like sponges when it comes to learning anything new that involves technology. Great thing is, this does require a level of reading skill, numeracy knowledge and teaches science skills as well (mainly physics), so lots of learning going on.

Tennis Skills

This morning was lawn bowls and this afternoon tennis skills. It has been a few full on days of juggling sport lessons and class lessons.

A few hand eye coordination activities before they are let loose with a tennis racket.

Working on our listening skills.

Turbo Touch

Warming up to play turbo touch by playing monkeys and monsters. Our second lesson on the skills needed to play this exciting adaptation of touch. Logan has been putting the kids through their paces in this five lesson module.

Tech and ICT with our Year 6 learners.

Students working on their blogs and coding. All fully engaged in their work.

Students choose many different spaces to work in the room, with many opting to wear headphones.

Year 6 students learning how to use their technology skills. This week they looked at how to slow the descent of a Lego man to the ground from a height.

All concentration.

Passion Projects

This term the kids are working on passion projects - completing something they really enjoy. Some are teaching younger students sport, others are building, being artistic, or helping others. All very cool and most are fully engaged in what they are doing.

Practising our drawing skills and using google sites to help us.

Learning how to make origami and then teaching others.

This group taught themselves some simple chords then went on to teach these to younger children.

Dixel had fun pulling apart a remote controlled car and trying to rebuild it into something else, or something better.

Phoenix and her group were successfully teaching gymnastics to a younger group of children.

YAY! A successful handstand.

Lego animation keep these boys well engaged and on task.

The House the Jack Built, not quite but Theo did some research and began to build his popsicle house with some encouragement from Jonny.

Pizza Lunch

Today this lovely bunch got a pizza lunch at Victoria Park as a reward for their excellent help at the Junior Athletics day. Well done guys.

Newsletter

We started the year with 76 children and have lost a few and gained a few along the way with our current roll being 79 children. What a year it has been – even the children are saying how fast the year has gone by. Our last two terms in our new space have been very settled and peaceful despite negative media hype about the failure of Modern Learning Environments.

 

The children have adjusted very well to their new space and we have thoroughly enjoyed teaching this group of children and watching them grow as young people. We will all miss them as a group next year and wish them all the best for the future.

 

A few housekeeping items for the end of year that you all need to be aware of.

·      Super heroes dress up next Friday 1^st Dec.

·      First Aid class – please bring a gold coin donation, which will go to St. John’s Ambulance.

·      Final week – shared lunch. We will send a reminder closer to the time.

We will put photos of these events up as they happen - so keep watching.

Also congratulations to 17 students who helped at the junior athletics day a few weeks ago. These students will have a pizza lunch tomorrow at Victoria Park with Mrs Fawkes.  Awesome effort.

In week 8 - good luck to Alex, Luka, Molly, Kobe and Theo in your athletic endeavours at the Canterbury Champs. Well done on making it through to this competition.

Super Hero Teachers

Today was our chance to dress up and show our students how easy it is to dress up as a super hero. We are doing a literacy unit based around super hero's and encouraging the kids to dress-up in Week 7. Can't wait!!!
Needless to say the kids have been looking at us sideways all day. Great fun.

Rubbish pick up at Dudley Park

This great bunch spent an hour cleaning up Dudley Park today. Awesome effort everyone.

Koru Games success

This week we have had 37 children competing in four different sporting codes at the Koru Games. I was very impressed with the way in which our children conducted themselves throughout the three days. Feedback from parents and teachers was all extremely positive and it was again an absolute pleasure to watch these young people give their best.

Sports we competed in were table-tennis, basketball, netball and football. Many of the competitors were focussed on their sporting achievements but found it a great social event as well, networking with other schools, and making new friends. Overall it was a great experience which was enjoyed by all.

All of our teams got good placings with netball and basketball both getting middle of their prospective fields and boys and junior girls table tennis competing well in a hard fought competition. Table tennis girls won the gold medal following on from their silver medal last year, awesome effort. The football team won a silver medal, in a competition with 32 teams this was also awesome. So proud of all our teams.

Special mention also to the younger girls  table tennis team, who took out the sportsmanship award for their sport (we have won this two years in a row). Well done.

GOLD Medal Table Tennis Team

SILVER Medal Football Team and Roger Kay their awesome coach.

Creative Makerspace

We are in the process of putting together a 'MakerSpace" and yes it is exactly what you think - a space for making things. In our space we need lots of things and stuff. We already have miscellaneous bits and bobs but we are now looking for anything really that kids can use to make 'anything' with.

Some children are currently working on dioramas and we would love some more shoe boxes. Others need felt and material for puppets, and another group need card etc to make board games. We also need a few tools for our new workbench - so if you have anything sitting around gathering dust that needs a new home, then let us know.

The list is endless, with one man's junk being another man's treasure.

                                        

Goal setting.

Working hard on writing our goals and next steps learning.