Kia ora e te whānau
Football Sessions
Science
Kea Cards
Kia ora e te whānau
Kea Cards
Kia ora Kōwhai whānau,
We have had a great Week 3 in the Kōwhai Hub - our first full five-day week! We have been very busy establishing routines, engaging in learning activities and having lots of fun along the way. We have also started going to kapa haka with whaea Cath. Every homegroup will be given the opportunity to try kapa haka this term. Anna R, Rowe and Nick's homegroups are going to kapa haka from weeks 2-5 and Charlotte and Anna M's homegroups are going in weeks 6-9.
Our literacy groups are well under way. We will be sending a letter home soon informing you of how our home learning programme works. It is separated into two parts, depending on whether or not your child takes home a structured literacy reading book.
Library days are as follows:
Currently, our students are enjoying lessons and activities based on the geometry strand of mathematics. These activities are based on learning 2D and 3D shapes and their properties. The students are being introduced to vocabulary associated with these properties, e.g., faces, edges and vertices.
There is a Geometry section in Mathematics Games on the intranet which they can use as well. Try getting the children to identify the names of common household shapes or send them on a scavenger hunt to locate shapes.
We were very fortunate last week when we were given 2 monarch chrysalises for us to observe. The students were spellbound, waiting and watching as the monarchs emerged from their chrysalises. Many rich discussions about the process of metamorphosis took place. The children also discussed the process of monarch butterflies drying off their wings before they could fly.
The focus this week for Art has been creating a self-portrait. The children have been following the rules of facial proportion and have achieved some outstanding results.
Have a lovely weekend.
Ngā mihi,
The Kōwhai Team - Anna R, Anna M, Nick, Charlotte, Rowe and Megan.
Kia ora Kōwhai whānau,
We have had a great Week 3 in the Kōwhai Hub - our first full five-day week! We have been very busy establishing routines, engaging in learning activities and having lots of fun along the way. We have also started going to kapa haka with whaea Cath. Every homegroup will be given the opportunity to try kapa haka this term. Anna R, Rowe and Nick's homegroups are going to kapa haka from weeks 2-5 and Charlotte and Anna M's homegroups are going in weeks 6-9.
Our literacy groups are well under way. We will be sending a letter home soon informing you of how our home learning programme works. It is separated into two parts, depending on whether or not your child takes home a structured literacy reading book.
Library days are as follows:
Currently, our students are enjoying lessons and activities based on the geometry strand of mathematics. These activities are based on learning 2D and 3D shapes and their properties. The students are being introduced to vocabulary associated with these properties, e.g., faces, edges and vertices.
There is a Geometry section in Mathematics Games on the intranet which they can use as well. Try getting the children to identify the names of common household shapes or send them on a scavenger hunt to locate shapes.
We were very fortunate last week when we were given 2 monarch chrysalises for us to observe. The students were spellbound, waiting and watching as the monarchs emerged from their chrysalises. Many rich discussions about the process of metamorphosis took place. The children also discussed the process of monarch butterflies drying off their wings before they could fly.
The focus this week for Art has been creating a self-portrait. The children have been following the rules of facial proportion and have achieved some outstanding results.
Have a lovely weekend.
Ngā mihi,
The Kōwhai Team - Anna R, Anna M, Nick, Charlotte, Rowe and Megan.
Kia ora tātou,
It has been another busy fortnight, and our students have continued to amaze us with their passion and energy for learning. Well done to all our tamariki! Thanks again to all whānau for your ongoing support. We wish you a relaxing, healthy and fun holiday period.
We continue to provide a range of options on a weekly basis that engage and challenge students. Below are some examples of these.
Sphero Bolt Programming
We have had the privilege of learning how to use a Sphero Bolt - a ball-like robot. These are on loan to us for two weeks. Sphero BOLT is a coding robot that lets kids learn coding through hands-on play and STEAM activities. It is a perfect entry into robotics.
Lego Challenge
Each day, the students are set a new challenge. We have some real experts in our midst. Maybe one day you will see them as contestants on Lego Masters.
Some of our students chose to make the traditional Māori board game called Mū Tōrere. It is said to be the only native board game of the Māori. It is played on the points and centre of an 8-pointed star, by two players with four pieces each. The object of the game is to block your opponent so they cannot move. If your child has made one of these, look forward to it coming home just in time for some holiday fun. It is perfect for a wet day. The instructions will be glued to the back of the board. To play it, you will need two different coloured counters. Have fun!
We were very fortunate this week to be visited by Cheryl Coughlan, an Educator for Hearing Support Christchurch (a non-profit organisation affiliated with Hearing New Zealand providing education regarding hearing protection to our Primary and Preschool learning community).
‘Hear This’ (Incorporating Dangerous Decibels) is a presentation designed for children aged 4 -12 years, where they learn about the ear, hearing, decibels and how to prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). It aims to educate about the harmful effects of dangerous noise and how to protect their hearing for life.
The students all really enjoy painting and it would be great to have a new set of art shirts to avoid paint on their clothes. If anyone has a spare shirt at home that they no longer wear, could you please send it along to school. We are sure they will be christened with paint soon!
Kia ora whānau,
Here's out final update for the term. We have had a fantastic and busy term with our tamariki. The students have been so engaged in our coding and chemistry lessons this term.
Four Square Festival
This week some of our students planned and organised a Four Square Festival. Well done to Eadie, Isla, Toby and Nikoda for their amazing leadership and enthusiasm. A huge thank you to Sue and Jo for helping facilitate this.
Here are some photos of the festival.
Pokemon Cards
Please keep Pokemon cards at home. The students are not allowed to play with these during school time. Students have been trading these cards, and can become upset when they realise they may not get that card back. Thank you for your help.
Next Term
We are changing out home group spaces next term. We moved to these spaces on Friday.
Here is where the new homegroup spaces are in our hub:
Nick - Pathway
Meagan - Atrium
Quynh - Nook
Rowe - Breakout space
Laura - Theatre
Gymnastics
Kōwhai will be starting a Gymnastics unit and we will be visiting the Christchurch school of Gymnastics in Week 5 and 6. More information about this will come out at the start of Term 3.
We hope you have a lovely holiday and come back to school well rested on Monday the 26th of July.
Ngā mihi,
The Kōwhai Team - Laura, Rowe, Nick, Meagan and Quynh