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

Classroom News

On Tuesday four boys were named 'Player of the Day' for their respective Touch Rugby teams.
Ka pai to Harry, George, Lachlan and Jonathan.

Elspeth was presented with a certificate of Excellence for her dance performance. Ka pai, Elspeth.








This afternoon Makahni, Chris, Lachlan and Harriet presented their play 'Maui and The Sun'. They put on a superb performance.

Asher sharing his story with Poppy

Term 4 Week 6

Makahni and Liam waiting to get into the pool

Week 6 is now over. It has been a full-on week with swimming in the mornings and production practice in the afternoons. Thank you for your support in getting your child to school in time to catch the bus to the pool and with all their swimming gear. I have enjoyed watching the children's progress at swimming.



Here's some more of our 'All About Arthur' poems:

In Thailand Thea met a terrible tiger teaching turtles how to tiptoe.

Her name was Teddy the terrible Tiptoe Tiger.
She tends to talk too much to Tiffney the Tutu Tiger on the telephone.

In Southern Spain Sienna met a seal.
Her name was Summer. She did six somersaults in the sea.

In America Asher met an ape.
His name was Arthur.

He had amazing eyes.

On Tuesday Harry and Conor were named 'Player of the Day' for their respective Touch Rugby teams. Ka pai, boys, keep playing hard.

Next Wednesday is Production Day. We will be having a dress rehearsal on Monday. If you have not already brought your costume to school, please bring it on Monday. On Wednesday we will be going to the Aurora Centre for our final practise. Tickets are on sale at the school office - $6 each.

Enjoy your weekend - no doubt the children will sleep well.

Tennis Lessons and Poems

Today we had another tennis session. We loved playing crabs and having competitions to see who could bounce the ball, using the tennis racquet, for the longest. We also stood in a circle and passed two tennis balls around our racquets. We managed to do this in under a minute. Check out these photos:

 

Liam

Asher

Won Jeong

As part of our Eric Carle topic study we have been reading 'All About Arthur'. Arthur is a lonely ape who visits different places to find friends. We have written our own poems using the same formula. Here's some for you to enjoy ... (All our poems will be displayed in the classroom next week)

In Timaru I saw a toothless, ticklish, trained tiger who loved turkey on toast for tea. His name was Tim Tam Tiger. He was terrifying. Rooooar! Harriet

In Edinburgh Eslpeth saw an enormous elephant. Her name was Ella. Ella was eating an electric eel.

In Bangladesh Xavier met a buffalo. His name was Benny. He had a bear. Benny built a beautiful bunk for them. 

In Russia Rebecca ran into a rowdy rhino. Her name was Ruby. She had a rude rabbit. Ruby ate red radishes with raspberry rocky road.

Term 4 Week 4 'Star of the Week'

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

Ka pai, Erin, it's great to have you in our room.

Yesterday the Kakapo Reading Group received certificates recognising the fantastic work they did in working together to design and create a bridge. Ka pai Lachlan, George, Daniel and Chris.

Asher has been inspired by Eric Carle's books. He has created his own Little Cloud book. Tino pai, Asher.

Today was animal theme mufti. Check out our zoo:

Makahni, Xavier, Rheubyn and George

Lachlan, Jack, Elspeth and Poppy

Rata, Amelia K and Erin

Harry, Rebecca, Thea and Conor 

Chris, Ruaridh, Daniel and Asher

Amelia M, Won Jeong, Sienna, Harriet, Eve and Libby

Term 4 Week 2

We have had a busy week - on Monday we completed the stained glass windows we were working on with our Room 12 Buddies. We made these to show our learning about Jesus. We told our buddies what we had learnt and they shared their learning with us. Then we wrote on the windows before colouring them in. We wiped baby oil over them to create a stained glass effect. Our big buddies then cut them out and mounted them onto black paper for us. Come into our room to see them.

On Tuesday and Wednesday we had production practice. We have been busy learning the songs and the Year 3s have been learning their lines. We will continue with twice weekly syndicate practices and the Year 3s will have extra practices to learn their lines.

Today we had Discovery Time with Room 6. This is a fantastic session where children direct their own learning. It is great to watch the children working together and teaching each other. Check out these photos:

Lachlan and George

Thea, Rebecca and Poppy

Conor and Daniel

Asher

This week we also did some writing. Here's Rata's recount from her weekend:

Yesterday I went bike riding with my Mum, to Jellie Park. I was really hot. I was sweating while I was riding. Then at last we got there. I dipped my feet in the waterfall and walked around in it until my feet got shivering. Then it was time to go. I hopped on my bike and sped off to go home to Dad and Bree. It was a hot ride home.

Notices:
*No school on Monday - Labour day.
*The Parent Council are holding a Garden Tour on Sunday 10 November. If you have a spare hour or two and would like to help on the day please let me know. If you haven't got your ticket be in quick - they are selling fast. $25 from the school office.
*Wanted: Dress ups for Discovery Time; magazines for cutting up. Please bring into Room 5.
*As next week is a short week we will not have spelling homework. Children will bring home basic facts to learn and a reading book each night. Also try out Mathletics for some extra challenges.
*For your diary - Room 5 will be leading the school assembly on Monday 4 November.

Have a great long weekend.

Measurement

In Maths we have been learning about measurement. Today we had to fit eight rectangles into a bigger rectangle. This proved to be a challenge but between us we found 12 different ways to do this. They are on the classroom wall - come in and check them out. Here we are working to solve the problem.

Eve

Elspeth

Liam

Asher and Daniel

Term 3 Week 8 'Star of the Week'

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

Ka pai, Asher, it's great to have you in Room 13/5

We've had a very busy week settling into our new room. I still get muddled up with our room number, but the children are patient with me. We love being in a big, bright, open space and having the hall just next door has been great when we have needed a bit more room. This morning we opened the doors and enjoyed our first Discovery Time with Room 6 and Room 3. 

In Religious Education we are learning about Jesus and the Eucharist. As part of this module we made unleavened bread this morning. The children enjoyed making the bread, then eating it. We are also compiling a class recipe book. Everyone will have a turn at bringing the book home and you might like to try a recipe from it. Thank you for your support with the homework sheets.

Our maths lessons have been focused on measurement. We have learnt lots of things - ask your child about non-standard and standard measures; what is important when measuring things and perimeters.

The children love preparing for and performing plays. Once again they have excelled in both their learning of the lines and creating their props. We will celebrate this learning with a performance on Wednesday 25 September, starting at 2pm in the School Hall - next to our classroom. This time space will not be an issue so grandparents, uncles, aunts as well as mums and dads are welcome to attend.

This Sunday, 22 September, the Junior School will be attending 9am mass at Christ the King Church. Please meet outside the Parish Centre at 8:45am. Children are to wear their uniform and will sit with their class.

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

Ferrymead Trip

On Tuesday Room 13, Room 12 and Room 4 went to Ferrymead. While there we experienced what life was like 100 years ago. We had to dress up in costumes and wear them all day. The girls' dresses made walking and playing tricky as they were long. We had a great day. A special THANKS to the mums who helped us.
Here's some photos:

Harry, Daniel, Jack

Elspeth, Eve and Poppy

Chris wrapping soap

Amelia K counting blackballs

George spinning a wheel

Asher making a bed

Lachlan doing the dishes

Harry ironing

Xavier and Conor doing the dishes

Poppy and Rata on the tram

Jonathan on a hobby horse

Our teacher - she is not allowed to smile!