The World On Our Doorstep and Reading to Learn on PhotoPeach

What Do Teachers Do When School Is Closed? on PhotoPeach

ABCD

ABCD. Activity Based Challenge and Discovery on PhotoPeach

Years 3 and 4 Sports Initiative

Amy has organized coaches from our soccer community to coach our students in the skills and strategies of soccer. That's our focus for this term.

Listening skills are essential for transferring knowledge and learning so at times the excitement over took the need to listen. We are so fortunate to have access to experts in our community. Amy, our sports co-ordinator has passion for young people and for sport. Now that's a good combination.

Team Work and Co-operation

The object of the game was to work together to hit the balloon from one end of the classroom to the other, ensuring that everyone touches the balloon on it's journey. Mmmmm. Sounds simple I agree.
Suzanne has the patience of a saint. She kept redirecting and encouraging the children to include everyone and to keep the balloon off the floor but I have to admit it looked like "Mission Impossible."
We do a lot to assist our children to work together and to have fun. Learning life skills and key competencies is an important part of our focus as a school. Teachers have wonderful imaginations and use games to reinforce learning. There was a lot of laughter so I guess that took care of the fun part.

Tomorrow is another day.

Winter Tournament

Thanks volunteer parents for getting the children to the park after the bus was a "no-show." Poor Maata had conniptions.
As always it was pleasing to see so many of our students involved with sporting competition. We have a way to go in understanding team play and strategies but we're learning.

The rugby team had some magnificent moments and I saw a couple of tries being scored. Our children are a pleasure to take on events.

Ripper Rugby Tournament

Amy Smit is our sports co-ordinator and works with five schools in our local area. We have jointly employed her with our Kiwi Sport funding and she is working with years 3 and 4 students to develop sports skills and knowledge. Term 2's focus was on Ripper Rugby.
The tournament day was held at Hillmorton High. Thanks to the staff for letting us use the grounds.
It was a great day sprinkled with laughter and a bit of frustration from this by-stander.
Laughter was all about seeing the children having a wonderful time and the great job that Amy did in organizing the inter-school tournament.

The frustration comes from knowing that we need to keep teaching the fundamental skills, rules and strategies of  games and sport to our children so that eventually they can apply them to a competitive game situation.
Getting in early is a key to hooking children into playing sport throughout their lives.
Thanks Amy and all of the volunteers.

Quake Break

Several of our lovely students were selected for a fully sponsored holiday to Auckland or Great Barrier Island as a break away from Christchurch in the July Holidays.
Special thanks to Bridgit Veenings, Amanda Tointon and Al Hawkins who made the applications for the children to attend this amazing holiday, all expenses paid. Thanks too to the organization that provided this for our children. You will probably never know the real effect this has had on our children and the ways in which it has made a difference.
The pre-event excitement was wonderful to watch.
One of the boys has come back buzzing after his first plane trip. He was so thrilled that they"landed in Australia" on the way to Auckland.
 I think I would be too.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Kia ora te whanau.