Tena Koutou, Nau mai haeri mai.  Welcome back to Term 3.  What a bumper start to the term with the production on in week 2.  There are some photos below to have a look at but I just wanted to reiterate what was in the latest newsletter.  There is video footage of the production on the website htpps://vimeo.com/177869151.  If you would like access to this, email the office for a password  office@raumatibeach.school.nz.  

Our Assembly item on point of view

After reading the story, ‘Voices in the Park,’ we wrote a story from the point of view of one of the characters in the story.  These were the stories that were read at assembly by their authors.  They read them to their audience with fluency, phrasing and expression.

Hi I am Smudge the dog and I am going to the park today.  I met a lovely dog called Victoria.  We went running off.  We both ran up and down the hills.  I loved playing with the ball.  We ran all around the park.  After that we danced to some really rocky music then it was time to go home.  Then I had some dinner and a sleep. 

Charlotte

We ran to the park across the road.  I went on the see-saw with a tuff kid!  His name is Caleb and now he is a bit nicer to me.  Now I did some swimming in the pool with Victoria and Smudge, then it was time to go home.  But I had a playdate with him the next day.  Who am I?  I am Charles.

Nick

Woof!  Hi I’m Albert the dog.  I went to the park.  Firstly I went swimming in the fountain.  I went to see Victoria.  I secondly went dancing on the dance stage and now I have to go home.  Woof! Bye.  Home time is always in the afternoon.

Liam

I am Smudge.  I love the park.  I am at the park.  Hey I can see Victoria and…another me playing with the rugby ball?  That’s weird.  They are leaving.  I MUST FOLLOW THEM!

Five hours later…is it the pools?  It must be.  Yep it is.  “Cannon ball!!”  SPLASH!  Yay!  A toy bone.  Squeak.  Time to go home.  Yay!  I get to have a sleepover with me and Victoria.

Bradley

           

Half-way Through the Term Already???

Kia ora, hi everybody

We are well into our Athletics now, halfway through the programme in fact.  We are learning fundamental movement skills, currently dodging.  We have completed balance and ball handling.  Did you notice our skills have improved?

We had people from the council come into our class and teach us about being safe around dogs.  The main message was "If it's on it's own, leave it alone!"

Our X country turned out to be a bit of a running obstacle course but it was fun.  Some bits were hard but we were trying to keep going even when the going gets tough because that is our classroom focus right now.

The Matariki Festival will be held on 21 June.  This is usually a fun time.  Bring a jar or a few if you have them and leave them on the bench in the classroom.

Reports have been delayed until 23 June followed by parent/teacher/student interviews the following week.  This is a good chance for all interested parties, namely parent, student and teacher to discuss the goals that are on the reports.  If there is anything that is not very clear, I can clarify.  If you think there are more important goals for your child to work on I'd love to hear them.  Most importantly, your child needs to be at the meeting so we know they are aware of and understand their goals.  

Kia pai to ra, have a nice day.

Welcome to Term 2

Kia ora!  It's only week 2 of term 2 and already very busy!  Week one we had a Powhiri to formally invite new students and staff to the school.  Mr Worboys, who is taking on the role of RBS Principal for a term, showed us he has talent at korero.  In our class, we have students new to RBS this year so they were able to take part in being welcomed to our school whanau.

Many of our Wharemauku students were very tired last week as they eased back into school life, it's great to see they have a bit of spark back this week.

We started Athletics this week.  The coach, Martin from Kelly Sports, spends the first two sessions on balance.  We have a meeting on Monday to find out what the next 4 skills are going to be.  The children will spend two sessions on each skill focus.  It's great to have the opportunity to thoroughly observe the students as they practice these skills.  I can certainly see their strengths, weaknesses and development throughout the session.

Next Thursday 19 May, we have an afternoon visit from Dogsmart.  This session is to teach children how to behave safely around dogs.  It should be valuable.

If you wish to join us for school celebrations they are being held on Thursdays weeks 6 and 9.  The school has been split into two teams for this event as we can no longer all fit into the hall.  Our sessions start at 12 pm.

On the 8 June, our class will get a visit from an ASB bank representative to teach us a little about financial literacy.  That should be interesting.

Reports are signaled to go home on 10 June at this stage.  That is subject to confirmation.  There will be an opportunity for parents to discuss these results with teachers shortly after.  In preparation for this, room 8 children will be undergoing numeracy and literacy assessments most afternoons and throughout the days if necessary.  Children will be taking home known readers during this process.  You may want to use this opportunity to share a range of books with them, not just readers at their current reading level.  

Later in the term, RBS will have a Matariki festival.  These are always fun.  There will be more information on this, closer to the time.

We will be spending a lot of time on the arts later in the term.  More specifically, visual arts, dance and drama.  This will be in preparation for the RBS production early in term 3.

I hope you have an amazing term.  It's certainly looking like we will!

Hei kona, kia waimarie!

Molly Daube      

My Mihi

This week we learned how to introduce ourselves in Maori and say who our parents are.  We made a cute, little booklet to help us with this.  We are hoping, at some stage, we can visit a Marae and have an opportunity to mihi for real!.

This Week's Writing Gem

I cried in my heart because my Grandad's leaving!

 Olivia

Road Safety

We had a visitor this week.  Constable Andy came and talked to us about Road Safety.  Then we went for a walk to practice what we had learned.  We learned to look out for sneaky driveways (did you know our school has a sneaky driveway?), and reversing cars.  There are 5 things to look for when a car is reversing.
1. Driver
2. Lights
3. Engine noise
4. Wheels moving
5.  Smoke

We also learned about safe ways to walk on the footpath.  Ask us which side of the footpath we should walk on when we are out walking with you.  Should it be the roadside or the house-side?  Ask us what else we learned.

Discovery Time

The children think Friday afternoons are the best.  Why?  They do Discovery Time (DT).  DT is a time when they get to play and be as creative as they like.  There are a few rules such as C3B4Me.  That means the children have to ask 3 people to help them solve a problem before they ask the teacher for help.  They need to clean up an activity when they have finished and after sharing time everyone helps to clean up.  It is a time when we focus on our social skills, problem solving, resilience, communication, involvement, curiosity, respect and of course having fun.  Today's focus was to stay in our own space and C3B4Me.  Take a look at some of the great stuff we did.

  

Week 10's Story of the Week

This is Liam's Fantastic Easter story.  He managed to include some thoughts and feelings as well as the 5 w's in his writing.

On Easter I heard the Easter Bunny.  I also felt the Easter Bunny's ear flop on my leg.  And in the morning I found his footprint.  He hid fourteen Easter eggs.  My parents got me a Minyon Easter egg with a cup, plate and spoon.  I was very happy how many Easter eggs I got.  I thought it was cool how I heard the Easter Bunny.

Can you put a skewer into a balloon without it popping?

Today our class did an experiment.  Our experiment was about putting a skewer through a balloon.  I blew up the balloon and Margaret tied it up.  First we put the skewer through the balloon.  Then it popped in Isabella’s face!  Isabella felt surprised.                                                     Charlotte

Today we did an experiment.  Firstly I blew up a balloon then Olivia tied a knot in the balloon.  Then Chase was scared to put the skewer in so I did it and I got the skewer in.  When I got to the top part, Pop!  And we felt sad because we had never won in the experiment.                                   Ashleigh

Today we did an experiment.  I wonder what it could be?  I knew it was something to do with balloons.  So here is the experiment.  Firstly Ashleigh blew the balloon up then she put the skewer through the balloon.  When we put it through the top, it popped and we felt sad.                            Nick

We have a class photographer now...

Thank you Liam
At the moment, Liam's job is to take photos of room 8 children doing ordinary, everyday stuff.  The job will develop into him deciding which ones should go on the blog.  Maybe even putting photos on our blog!  Eventually, he will train a new photographer and partner as two heads are better than one for this kind of stuff.  Then, when he wants a change, his new partner can train someone else to be their partner.  I hope he enjoys this role.

These are his first photos of some of us doing Easter Activities while others were reading with the teacher.

A Character Study Brainstorm

Some of our Writing

Our target was to write about an event of our choice and try to include some of our thoughts and feelings.  These stories achieved that don’t you think?

There is a new girl moving to Raumati Beach School. Her name is Asha.  She is moving here after the holidays.  I am so excited.  I am going to be her friend and monkey bar buddy.  But I know she isn’t going to be in my class but she’s my friend anyway.

Isabella

Never!  Yesterday I was playing with Steve, my Lego minecraft toy, and Zombie my other Lego minecraft toy.  But!!! I lost it outside.  “Wa, wa, wa!!!  I am scared Jack is going to find it!!!  And I am getting bored without it.  I think it is going to be gone forever!

Bradley

Yesterday I learnt how to do a flip on the trampoline.  I was amazed how I could do that!  It was fantastic!  I showed my Mum and Dad.  They were amazed too!  Was is possible?  Spectacular! I can do it.  Next I’m learning back flips.

Isabelle. 

Some Class Work

Green Day 2016

What an amazing day.  We looked great with our Green Day hats on.  We spent a lot of time making those but it was worth it because they were neat.

Room 8

Tena koutou katoa

The year has begun with a focus on learning about ourselves, our place in our classroom, our school and our community.

Our learning journey so far is focusing on the question, 'Have you filled a bucket today?'  Room 8 students are well on their way to becoming great bucket fillers.

We are learning where everything is in the room and how to put things away correctly.  We are beginning to identify some of the promises we will need to make to ensure we are part of an effective learning community.

Finally, it  has been hot and tiring, but we are beginning to learn a few independent literacy and numeracy activities so we have stuff to do when our group is not working with the teacher.  We have been working hard and having fun!

Keep an eye out for some of our work.  Watch this space....