Recycle, Reuse

 When our beautiful school was rebuilt, the playground had to be moved and reconfigured. In the ensuing muddle several sections of the slide were left over. Yeah. Nah.

Never fear. Our wonderful tamariki can always find a use for something that can be rolled, pushed, tipped or tumbled. The skills of some of our children are sensational. They walk/run/ jump and turn on the top of the "barrels", to propel them along, often with a child inside the barrel for a free ride.

Matariki Night Market

 

Wow. Over the past term the senior children have been learning about entrepreneurial endeavour, business management and  Matariki. The whole school took part in the night market which showcased the learning right across the school.

So many parents and extended whanau supported the enterprise. There was delicious kai and wonderful art and crafts. The year 3/4 team had sell out audiences at their movie premier and the added draw of fresh popcorn. 

I searched for Chicago Mix but it was not to be. 

 In the one term I think we have covered: digital technology including movie making, animation, coding, robotics, design; Aotearoa New Zealand Histories including whakawhanaungatanga, akongatanga, tuakana teina, manaakitanga, awhingatanga,  myths and legends, local cultural narrative, tikanga and te reo; food technology; technology; chemistry and physics; mathematics including accounting and measurement; writing including amazing persuasive texts to promote the Night market in a very busy term;  reading; key competencies; The 6 Cs; art construction, collage, weaving and digital art; community partnerships; student voice and agency; leadership competencies; collaboration; and a myriad of other lenses on learning.

So many whanau arrived to help the children to succeed. We are unique in our connections and in the visible ways that whanau rally around for the children.

Congratulations to everyone.

 

Same Lovely Faces; New Lovely Spaces

 

It is very hard to compare what we used to have to what our school looks like now. Thank you to everyone who made the dream possible. Everywhere we go there are happy, busy, learning children and brilliant teachers and teacher assistants who make learning magic.

The best part of my job is to sit in a learning space and to watch and listen. Understanding how children learn is a mini miracle and when I see the hard work of the staff coming to life in the classrooms every day, I feel an incredible sense of pride and gratefulness. We want the children to experience the very best, and we do that on a daily basis. Thank you to all of the volunteers and helpers and for the parents who partner with us to make Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon School one out of the box.