Term 4 Week 9

On Friday we presented the last of our plays for 2013. I am very impressed with what the children have learnt through preparing for and presenting plays. The enthusiasm, creativity and energy that has gone into this part of the curriculum is amazing. The highlight has been the growth in their confidence in being in front of an audience.
Ka pai, Room 5! You are all awesome.

Rebecca, Won Jeong, Eve and Erin

Thea, Poppy, Daniel and Liam

Rheubyn, Xavier, Elspeth, Harry, Jack, Conor and Asher

Jonathan, George, Rata, Sienna, Amelia K, Amelia M, Libby and Ruaridh

We now look forward to the last week of the 2013 school year. It will be a busy week with assembly, Year 3 Graduation, prize giving, school mass and farewells. Please note the following dates and times:

Tuesday 17 December 9:15am for Year 3 parents only - Year 3 graduation in the school hall (please bring a small plate of food to share for morning tea)

Wednesday 18 December 6:30pm for all - final school mass in the church - children wear uniform and sit with their parents

Thursday 19 December 12:30pm School finishes - reports (for some), 2014 class placements and stationery lists are handed out

Production Recounts

Last night we all performed in the Junior Syndicate musical "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". Everyone overcame their nerves and a few behind the scenes glitches to give an amazing performance. I am very proud of the way the children stepped up.
The outstanding favourite skit was Charles and the Seal.
Here's some snippets from our recount of the production:

I was a present. In the dance we did eight gallops to the left and then eight gallops to the right and then we went in and out two times. Then we skipped across to the side of the stage, picked up the presents and put them under the Christmas tree. We went round the tree and lined up to bow and curtsey. By Amelia M

I'm in kapa haka. When the curtains were closed everybody was getting into their lines. I was in the front row. When the curtains opened it was really scary. Everybody was looking at us. The light was on us and I couldn't see anything. By Elspeth

It was really scary when we started. I was really nervous and I felt like I couldn't do it right. So I just thought to myself they're only mums, dads, brothers, sisters and grandparents and theyr're not scary. Suddenly the curtains rose, thousands of people started at me and the music started. Finally the nerves drifted away. By Thea 

Then it was the Junior production. My favourite part was when Lily said 'Where are the blankets?' By Makahni

I was a traveling child. I was nervous when it was my part because there were lots and lots of people at the Aurora Centre. By Liam

Last night was the school production. the kapa haka group were on stage first. The boys did their haka. By Rheubyn

Yesterday was Wednesday and at six fifteen my sister and I were in the green room for the production. The Year 3s had to audition for a part in the production. By Amelia K

When it was my turn I felt really nervous. I was a bit late going on but it was great. I want to do it again. I think that all the practise was worth it. By Rebecca

In the production there were lots of claps and laughter going on. By Daniel

I was so sleepy when it was my bit so I had to use my two very last loud voices for the night. By Erin

Please wash and iron your costumes before returning them to school as soon as possible. Thank you for your support with this.

Maths Fun

We are learning about measurement. We have learnt about non-standard and standard measures and why we need standard measures. We have learnt different measurement vocabulary. We also learnt that when we use a ruler to measure anything we have to start at the 0, not the end of the ruler.
Yesterday we worked with a buddy to measure different parts of our bodies. Today we found items around the classroom and in the courtyard that were either less than a metre, about a metre or longer than a metre. We had a piece of string that was a metre long to help us. Check out these photos:

Erin and Jonathan

Conor and Libby

Amelia M and Thea

Asher and Won Jeong

Ruaridh and Rebecca

Term 3 Week 6

At today's school assembly Lachlan received a certificate.

Ka pai, Lachlan, we are proud of you.

Yesterday Amelia K, Rata and Amelia M sat dance exams. They each received a badge for their dances. Well done girls. 

We are learning about measurement. Today we used non-standard measures, such as hands, arms, pencils, pencil cases and books. Check out these photos:

Rebecca measuring with her hands

Jack and Harry measuring with their arms

Asher and Ruaridh measuring with a pencil

Rata measuring with her pencil case

NZ Maths Week

This week is NZ Maths Week. Yesterday we invited our Room 8 buddies to come to Room 13 and play maths games with us. We all had a great time. Thanks Big Buddies! Check out these photos:

Oriana and Rebecca

Gabby and Libby

Eve and Shianne

Rheubyn and Daniel

Lucy and Poppy

Erin, Louise, Amelia M and Kathryn

Mason and Jonathan

Conor and Alexander

Room 13 News

Today Sienna brought in the gold medal and certificate she won at a recent ballet competition. Congratulations Sienna.

Today we learnt about what transparent, translucent and opaque mean. Transparent means that light can shine straight through, translucent means that light can shine through, and opaque means that light cannot shine through.
We looked at different materials and predicted whether they were transparent, translucent or opaque. We then tested each one by holding it up to the light to check our prediction. Most of our predictions were correct but there were some items that tricked us.
We now have another question: Do some colours let more light through than other colours?

Chris, George, Makahni

Harry, Conor, Xavier, Amelia M and Eve

Term 2 Week 7 'Star of the Week'

This week's 'Star of the Week' is Amelia M.

Ka pai, Amelia, it's great to have you in Room 13.

This morning two reading groups presented plays:

The Kakapo Group presented 'The Best Chef'

Isobel, Ruaridh, Sienna, Lachlan, Poppy, Amelia M, Amelia K, Liam

And the Fantail Group presented 'Androcles and the Lion'

Rebecca, Libby, Eve, Erin, Chris

Reminder: Junior School Mass this Sunday 23 June at 9am. Meet in the Parish Centre at 8:45am.

Birthday and Other News

Today Amelia M turned 7. We sang 'Happy Birthday' and wished Amelia all the best as a 7 year old.



This morning we presented certificates to Daniel, Jonathan, Sienna and Rata for taking part in the recent Reading Crusade. Congratulations to you all - keep up the good reading.



Mr H has been teaching us to write poetry about colours. Today we wrote a poem together. It is called Green. Then we each choose a colour and wrote our own poems. We are going to publish these in the next few days. In the meantime check out our class one:

Green

By Room 13

Green is the colour of grass

Green is the guardian of grass

Green is the fourth colour of the rainbow

Green is the colour of spirit

Green tastes like crunchy cabbage

Green smells like freshly mown grass

Green sounds like a green grasshopper

Green feels like green leaves tumbling down on your hands

Green looks like the green sea

Green makes me excited

Green is awesome!

For some interesting activities and light experiments check out the 'Light' link under ICT and Other Sites on the right hand side of the blog.

Term 2 Week 6

At today's school assembly Poppy received a certificate.

Ka pai, Poppy, we are proud of you.

Four people received 'Player of the Day' for their Saturday sports teams. Congratulations to Rheubyn (rugby), Amelia M (hockey), Amelia K (hockey) and Jack (rugby). 

On Saturday I watched several Room 13 boys play soccer. We have some talented sports stars in Room 13. 

Here's a photo of Jonathan and me at half time.

Mathletics certificates were awarded to Libby, Jack and Jonathan. Well done.

This afternoon we had Buddy Reading with Room 8. Several of our big buddies were unable to read with us so their teacher, Mrs A, took their place. Libby, Isobel and Rata enjoyed sharing books with their new big buddy. Thanks Mrs A.

Ballet Star

Amelia M received a medal from her ballet class for being focused during her lesson. Ka pai, Amelia.

Term 2 Week 4

At today's school assembly Sienna received a certificate.

Ka pai, Sienna, we are proud of you.

Yesterday Elspeth turned 7. Today we sang 'Happy Birthday' to her and wished her all the best for the coming year.

Jack, Isobel and Chris received Mathletics certificates for their efforts last week. Jack was also named Mathlete of the Week. Ka pai.

This afternoon the Pukeko Reading Group presented the play 'Too Many Mangoes' to Room 13 and Room 8. They were amazing - look out Hollywood!

Amelia M, George, Erin, Thea, Sienna and Rata

Today's swimming sessions were fantastic - it certainly helped having all the children come to school in their togs. 

Please note that there will be no spelling this week due to swimming.

Term 2 Week 1 'Star of the Week'

The first 'Star of the Week' for Term 2 is Elspeth.

Ka pai, Elspeth, it's great to have you in Room 13.

Today Sienna turned 7. We sang Happy Birthday to her and wished her all the best as a 7 year old.

Ruaridh and Conor

The Room 13 children have worked very hard this week. As well as settling back into school and doing the routine curriculum activities they have completed a maths test and a spelling test. I am very impressed with how they are 'Stepping Up for Success'. This afternoon we had choosing time. We enjoyed being with each other, playing games, creating, taking photos and using the computers. Check out these photos:

Won Jeong and Elspeth

Won Jeong, Amelia M and Eve

Makahni and Xavier

Libby

We have up graded our school email system which, among other things, enables the newsletter to be emailed to every family. Please let me know if you wish to receive the newsletter via email or would prefer to continue to receive a hard copy each Thursday. 

Looking ahead to next week:

Gumboots and slippers and a raincoat are essential items on wet days. Children may wish to bring an older pair of track pants to wear while playing soccer/rugby at break times. These are not to be worn to school but can be put on at morning tea or lunch times and taken off before coming back into the classroom.

Term 1 Week 11 'Star of the Week' and Other News

The end of Term 1 2013 has arrived! It has certainly been busy and we have kept working until the end. I wish you all a safe, happy and relaxing holiday. Keep checking the Blog and using the bookmarked sites over the break.

This week's 'Star of the Week' is Harry.

Ka pai, Harry, it's great to have you in Room 13.

We had lots to celebrate today:

Rata and Amelia K will be turing 7 on Sunday and Saturday respectively. We sang 'Happy Birthday' to them and wished them all the best for their birthdays and the year to follow.

Two people received their first Silver Mathletics certificates today. Congratulations to Thea and Amelia M.





Amelia K received a Principal's Award for her recount of the disco. (See last post for an excerpt.) Ka pai, Amelia.






This morning we made 'Hedgehogs' - fruit kebabs - as an end to our Healthy Eating topic. We enjoyed making them and the finished product looked great.

 

Amelia K, Lachlan, Poppy and Harry                            Chris and Jonathan

Five people received certificates for 100% attendance in Term 1. Congratulations to: Liam, Eve, Jack, Lachlan and Rheubyn. 

Susan, one of our Parent Council reps, sent an email to everyone about upcoming events. If you did not receive this, please let me know and I will forward it to you. Thanks Sharon and Debbie for all you do on the Parent Council.