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

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.

Term 4 Week 6

At today's school assembly Elspeth received a certificate.

Ka pai, Elspeth, we are proud of you.

Jack also received a certificate - his second Gold Mathletics certificate for 2013. This is an amazing achievement and represents Jack's dedication and commitment to working on Mathletics regularly. Congratulations, Jack, we are proud of you.

This morning's swimming went well - we all got on the bus and made it to the pool in time for our lessons. Thank you for your support with this. Check out these photos:

Daniel, Eve, Rebecca, Conor, Libby,
Harriet and Xavier

Ruaridh, Erin, Won Jeong and Amelia K

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 5

At today's school assembly George received a certificate.

Ka pai, George, we are proud of you.

On Sunday Rata and Sienna competed in the Fun Triathalon at South Hagley. They each received a certificate. Ka pai girls.

This morning Simon from the Burnside Tennis Club taught us some fun games using a tennis racquet and a tennis ball. Check out these photos of us playing the games. We will have another tennis session tomorrow. Bring sports shoes to change into and girls might like to bring shorts to wear during tennis.

Playing 'Crabs'

Harriet

Elspeth

Makahni and Xavier

Looking ahead to Week 6 - we will be swimming every morning. A yellow notice was sent home today. This has all the swimming details you need. Please ask if you have any questions. The bottom piece of the notice only needs to be returned if you are able to help with swimming. We do need Dads/Grandads/Uncles to help the boys get dressed after their swims as the (female) teachers cannot go into the male change rooms. Of course Mums/Grandmas/Aunties are welcome as well.

There is no spelling homework this week, but there are Basic Facts to learn for a test on Thursday.

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

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!

Term 3 Week 4

At today's school assembly Jonathan received a Gold Mathletics Certificate and 

Won Jeong received a Great Progress certificate.

Ka pai, Jonathan and Won Jeong, we are proud of you.

Poppy and Ruaridh received certificates from their sport - Poppy for being part of the winning team in a gymnastics competition and Ruaridh for doing a skid in the mud at soccer. Ka pai.

In maths we are learning to find out how many groups of 10 are in a 2-digit number. We put the ice-block sticks into bundles of 10 and then we count how many bundles we have.

Elspeth, Lachlan and Harry

Erin and Rata

Term 2 Week 8 'Star of the Week'

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

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

At lunch time we had a farewell party for Mr H, who has been teaching us for the last six weeks. He has been a fantastic teacher and we will miss him. He gave us a book called 'Hester and Lester' so we can remember him each time we read it.

We only have two more weeks of Term 2 left. Over the next two weeks we will be preparing plays. Today we chose our own groups and on Monday we will get our plays to work on. 

In Religious Education we are learning about God being present in creation. Thank you for your support with the homework sheets

We continue our Light and Colour theme - this topic has enabled us to learn new things about light and colour, as well as write amazing poetry and create lovely art works. Come into our room and check out our walls.