This term inquiry is “May the force be with you” – Kia Kaha te kaha ki a hoe
Our focus question: How do the four forces of flight work together to help things fly? This week we’ve been briefly looking at Identify the 4 forces that affect flight; Lift, Thrust, Drag, and Weight.
This is one of our groups ‘Elena & Carnita’ looking at one of the motions of flight “Thrust”.
Task description: Today, we explored the pressing issues of the greenhouse effect, global warming, and climate change. We discussed how these factors are negatively impacting our planet Earth. How can we make a difference?
This week, Room 9’s literacy class became insect experts! We explored the concept of entomophagy and its potential benefits. The discussion was lively, with students expressing a range of emotions. Despite initial fear, the class bravely accepted the challenge of trying edible insects.
We were fortunate to have two generous sponsors, Mike Ashby from Biosuppliers Ltd., who provided us with 30 large locusts and a 100-pack of waxmoth larvae. Interestingly, Mike’s mother used to be a specialised teacher at our school, working with students who faced unique learning challenges.
Louise Burnie from Eat Crawlers contributed cricket pasta and scorpion lollipops to our culinary adventure. By embracing entomophagy, we aimed to contribute to the preservation of our planet.
I wonder who was the most adventurous eater in the class? Did anyone pretend to be sick to avoid trying the insect dishes?
If you could turn one of your classmates into an insect, who would it be and why? Stay tunned!
This term, Kelly sports is hosting “Ki o Rahi”. Our learners are familiar with the sports, and love it! Here’s a few things about the sport. I wonder what skills you bring to the game … is a Māori team sport that combines elements of rugby, touch, and handball. It’s a fast-paced game that emphasises teamwork, strategy, and respect.
Generally the game is played with two teams of 7 players. Sports equipment used: a ball, field, goals
This is how you play: The game begins with a kickoff from the centre of the field. Teams try to maintain possession of the ball by passing it among their players. Players can be tagged out by an opponent. A tagged player must leave the field for a short time.A team scores a point by touching the ball to the opposing team’s post.
Restart: After a score, the game restarts with a kickoff from the center.
What strategies do you use to help play as a team?
“Our class is exploring how nutrition and exercise impact our overall well-being. We’ve been active in sports and healthy eating.
This week, we learned about edible insects. Some were scared, but everyone tried them! Insects are a great source of protein and are more sustainable than traditional meat. We tasted them and wrote about our experience. Bug or not to bug? That’s the question!”
This week our class got excited for their Water Safety lessons held at Glen Innes Pools. Rm 9 had just over 70% of our class attend the swimminglessons. The rest of the 30% of the class had medical reasons for their non-participation.
We covered aspects of basic awareness of how to minimize risks in different water situation, getting in & out multiple ways, getting under the water and picking up objects. Our class favourite was on day 4, using lifejackets for floating and signalling for help.
Learning these skills, will help them to be smart in the water as well as be better swimmers! Well done Rm 9. A huge thank you to Miss Va’afusuaga, our sponsors, swimming tutors and Glen Innes Pools for making this happen!
This week, our Prefects shared a korero that was inspired from their Year 8 Camp “TLTS – to lead to serve”. What it looked like in their context was ‘do the right thing, showing initiative in class, helping others out etc. This resonated with me as there is a Samoan proverb, “O le ala ile pule o le tautua”, which means the pathway to leadership is through service.
I often think of our learners, as future leaders – how they serve within their community/spaces, will reflect in how they will navigate in their learning. From this, check out how our learners interpreted this weeks Korero.
Jortana
This term our school’s inquiry is ‘Transformers”. We will be focussing on different aspects of performing arts, more specifically drama, but we will look into music and dance as well. It is going to be a fun term of learning for us. It is also an opportunity for us to continue on with our MITEY learning – talking about how we can use drama to express ourselves and our emotions.
Get ready for a creative and art-filled term! Click this link here to see some images of our Immersion Assembly from Day 1, Term 2.
This year, our school is all about making kindness contagious with the theme “Make Kindness Go Viral” (Wheoritia te atawhai). One cool way to spread some kindness is with a special greeting – the Mana Wave!
What’s a Mana Wave?
It’s a Māori twist on a friendly wave. Mana, in Māori, is a powerful word that means much more than just prestige or status. It’s about respect, strength, and a special kind of energy. So, a Mana Wave is more than just saying hi – it’s about sharing that positive energy with others.
Who started it?
Truck drivers in Aotearoa/New Zealand came up with the Mana Wave. They’d give a big, enthusiastic wave to other drivers and road crews they passed by. It’s a simple gesture that shows kindness and creates a sense of community.
So give it a try! A Mana Wave is a great way to show someone you care.
Have a tumeke holiday PES – Keep the Mana PES!
Kia Kaha! #UpdaWahs!
Our Year 5 students were fortunate to receive a week of free swimming lessons focused on water safety and awareness. They had a fun and engaging learning experience, gaining valuable knowledge and skills to navigate water safely.
Key learning outcomes from the lessons included:
Safe Entry and Exit: Students learned how to safely get in/out multiple ways, to test for depth, use slide entry, stride entry, and compact jump. They also learned safe exit techniques.
Submersion Comfort: Students got comfortable being submerged in water, controlled their breathing underwater, and performed simple tasks like retrieving objects from the pool floor. These skills enhance their underwater confidence and safety.
Personal Buoyancy: Students gained an understanding of how their body composition affects buoyancy and how to adjust their body positioning to float effectively in various positions. This knowledge is crucial for maintaining buoyancy and staying safe in different water depths.
Emergency Response: Students learned to recognise water emergencies, signal for help, and perform reach and throw rescues while prioritising their own safety. They also gained insights into assisting others in distress.
Overall, the swimming lessons empowered students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enjoy water activities safely and responsibly. By instilling water safety awareness, these lessons aim to prevent water-related accidents and promote lifelong aquatic enjoyment.
Reference: waterskills
Today we bid farewell to an exceptional Kiwisports Coach Tre. Over time, he became an integral part of our Pt England family, where he no longer needed introductions. He knew everyone’s names and quickly grasped their individual skill sets.
It has been remarkable to witness the growth in enjoyment, strength, and skills of our students, especially those who were initially less confident, under Coach Tre’s expert guidance. And to see our top athletes further develop their abilities and camaraderie with their peers.
As you embark on new endeavours, Coach Tre, know that you will be dearly missed. Please keep in touch!
