Hi everyone,
After the event on Friday, we hope you have all managed to have a safe and calm weekend with your family. We were highly impressed with the way the children coped with the lockdown on Friday. As a teaching team, our sole focus was to ensure the wellbeing of all our tamariki by keeping the children happy and calm. This included giving no information about the events that were unfolding across the city. Thank you for being so supportive and patient in this situation as we understand how challenging it must have been for you all.
Here is the latest news and fantastic learning from Kōwhai team
Trip to the Art Gallery
In Week 8 of this term, all home groups in Kōwhai are going to be participating in an art lesson run by the gallery educator from Te Puna o Waiwhetu. The lesson is entitled Head Case. In this lesson, the children will Discover Julia Morison’s fantastic collection of 100 clay heads. In the Education Centre, students will learn how to manipulate and control clay as they make an alter ego of their own. This lesson will challenge your students to think creatively and explore the properties of clay and will take approx 90minutes.Home groups are booked in for their lessons as follows:
- Kate and Rowe’s hub departing school at 9:15 a.m and returning to school by 2.45 p.m on Monday 25th March
- Nick and Paulette's hub departing school at 9.15 a.m and returning to school by 2:45 p.m on Tuesday 26th March
All children will need to bring the following:
School bag - Packed lunch, drink bottle, sun hat, polar fleece and a lightweight rain jacket.
Hydrating (Drink to Think)
While we have always encouraged the students to drink plenty of water throughout the day as a team we have decided to make drinking water regularly throughout the day a focus for all students. During each transition time (when we swap from one learning activity to the next - discovery to maths, writing to reading), we are going to ask the students to have a 'drink to think'. We have talked about the benefits of drinking lots of water, from hydrating our brain and muscles to flushing out any toxins, so the students understand the importance of drinking water. Hopefully, you will notice your child's water bottle returning home empty, or having been refilled during the day!
Literacy (Reading Support) Help Needed
Kōwhai Choir
Some of our tamariki may be coming home excitedly talking about being in our amazing choir. We are currently running this on Wednesday mornings during Discovery time as a choice children can opt into.
This past week, we had about 35 wonderful voices joining together. Children who attend these sessions with passion and frequency could be asked to perform to an audience. The children have been given a choir booklet to practice the lyrics of our performance songs and some children may take these home to practice. These booklets need to be brought back to school daily in case we have a spontaneous practice, therefore just store these in their reading folders. They should also have a plastic sleeve to protect the covers.
We will let you know of any 'gigs' we have. Our first performance will more than likely be during an Assembly at school. Here is a link to the slideshow of songs.
Please do not hesitate to contact Dorinda or Rowe with any Choir Questions you may have.
Top Team
We had an amazing time on Tuesday at our team Top Team event. The children really impressed us with their ability to work together in their teams to complete a variety of challenges. It was great to see them actively problem solving and encouraging each other to do their best. A huge thanks you goes out to our wonderful parents who gave their time to support this event.
Writing
This week we gave students a writing motivation so they would be able to write a successful recount. In Rowe and Paulette's literacy group, they gave the children some cupcakes and told them they had a mystery ingredient. We focussed on using descriptive language and personal voice to help, 'paint a picture' for the reader. Here are some samples (not the whole piece) of their incredible recount writing.
"What's in the black tray that is perched on Paulette's lap?" At that very moment, Paulette ripped off the tea towel dramatically and there in the tray was a pile a green cupcake with blue frosting. I was unsure if I wanted to eat them or not. Then... By Haile
"Is it cookies? Is it candy? What is in the tray resting on Paulette's lap. The tray was an enormous, dark and mysterious tray. Just like a wizard, she whipped off the striped tea towel hiding the mysterious items which were waiting to be discovered. There inside the tray, were many sparkling, emerald coloured alien looking cupcakes. Max
It was Monday morning and Paulette had a mystery tray on her lap with a tea towel covering it. "I've got a mystery item from Ballantynes. What do you think it is?"
The children looked in surprise as Paulette revealed tiny green cupcakes. They were as green as aliens from Mars and as spongy as Sponge Bob floating under the ocean. Jamie
"What's in the black tray that is perched on Paulette's lap?" At that very moment, Paulette ripped off the tea towel dramatically and there in the tray was a pile a green cupcake with blue frosting. I was unsure if I wanted to eat them or not. Then... By Haile
"Is it cookies? Is it candy? What is in the tray resting on Paulette's lap. The tray was an enormous, dark and mysterious tray. Just like a wizard, she whipped off the striped tea towel hiding the mysterious items which were waiting to be discovered. There inside the tray, were many sparkling, emerald coloured alien looking cupcakes. Max
It was Monday morning and Paulette had a mystery tray on her lap with a tea towel covering it. "I've got a mystery item from Ballantynes. What do you think it is?"
The children looked in surprise as Paulette revealed tiny green cupcakes. They were as green as aliens from Mars and as spongy as Sponge Bob floating under the ocean. Jamie
Wheels in the School Grounds
As a school, we have noticed an increase in children (school and preschoolers) riding wheels in the school grounds before and after school. This can be problematic and has at times caused injuries that could have been prevented. We would love your assistance with this. The children have been asked to park their bikes in the bike storage area and to keep their bikes locked. If you have preschoolers on wheels, can you please make sure they are walking their wheels when they enter the school grounds. This will help to keep everyone safe. Thanks!
That's all for now
Kōwhai teaching team
That's all for now
Kōwhai teaching team