Collaborative Story Writing

In Room 19 we have been having fun experimenting with Google Story Builder (GSB). 

GSB allows us to work collaboratively and write texts in a group. We can go back in and edit (or delete!) other people's work. We can make improvements, or we can change the direction of the text entirely. 

Last week we started with a reading prompt, "Describe a time you were brave" and then let our creativity take us from there. Each person had 4 minutes of writing time before they passed the Chrome Book onto the next group member. While we were writing we listened to music about bravery to get ourselves in a courageous mindset.

We hope you'll enjoy 'reading' our stories!

Bronson, Maxi, Keegan, and James:

1. When I was brave (https://goo.gl/D3qCdf)
2. When I was brave II (https://goo.gl/qvZGW2)

Paige, Imogen, Dannielle, and Kia:

1. The Chubby Chubber (https://goo.gl/D3qCdf)

Lani, Kendra, Lily, and Zoe:

1. Eyes at the back (https://goo.gl/wMyshL)
2. The time I was brave (https://goo.gl/KTHmYS)

Lexie, Jade, Renee, Jack K, and Kailash:

1. The brave (https://goo.gl/IvOzvS)
2. What's up (https://goo.gl/PXfetK)

Kayden, Jericho, Jack U, and Danny:

1. Sky Tower (https://goo.gl/RtG7iV)
2. The Metal Gate (https://goo.gl/ljPu8L)

Deakon, Caleb, Liam, and Kaymen:

1. Awesome story (https://goo.gl/e6qEZV)

Ciara, Aimee, Camille, Wade, and Georgia:

1. Bob The Scared Dragon (https://goo.gl/w4Pscp)
2. Be brave! (https://goo.gl/qBWp7S)

Here's a video of our time at Whareroa Farm.  It was a great learning experience and we all had fun learning outside of the 4 walls of the classroom. Thank you to all our amazing parents who assisted with the trip.

Today we had an assembly. But not any ordinary assembly, a very sad assembly. This is Mrs Whyte, AKA Blogging Queen's last assembly here at Waikanae School. She has found a job up in Levin. This is what she said, "When a job opportunity like this pops up you have to just take it." Mrs Parkinson will be teaching in Room 18 for the last two terms of the year. We will all miss Mrs Whyte, but this is her decision and let's hope it all goes to plan. 


This is Lucy signing out! 

As part of children contributing to our community the Te Aramoana syndicate participated in planting at the Pharazyn Reserve yesterday.  Over the last 10 years, our school has regularly participated in the Arbor Day event, and we can see that what was planted when we first started has now grown considerably.  The plantings for habitat for many native species and so the biodiversity of the area is being enhanced by this work.

Ross demonstrates how to correctly plant one of the new tree seedlings.

Nathan & Flynn remove their plant from its plastic bag.

A small frog was found hidden in one of the holes. 

We want to find out what kind of frog it is.

 Olivia squealed when she saw a what she thought was a worm in with the plant.

Joshua T and Ivan proudly show off their newly planted tree seedling.

Chloe gives her hands a good scrub to clean them after the planting was done.

The catchment between the sand dunes hosts some great habitat for various creatures.

Hayley points out some interesting features where future plantings will take place.

Discussing the habitats where skinks and lizards like to hide.

Read some more about our Pharazyn adventures on the individual student blogs found here.

Our Matariki celebrations at the Marae last week was a fabulous event where children explored a range of different activities as part of the Matariki event.

 The school Kapa Haka group wait for the start of the powhiri

The school tukutuku panels were welcomed back on to the marae.

We made matariki lanterns in the wharekai.

 Some of our kapa haka performers.

 Te Aramoana's tukutuku panel being carried into the wharanui.  The panel tells of our syndicate learning journey.

 Koru Don addresses the gathering.

 A hongi formalises the ending of the powhiri.

 Teacher Doris Lake addresses the gathering.

 Children gather in the waka photo booth.

Cross Country Interschools

Swimming update

Every Tuesday the Te Aramoana Syndicate catch the bus to the Kapiti Aquatic Center for swimming lessons. So far we have had three lessons and learned a lot of new swimming skills that will help us to stay safe in the water.

PJ day

It’s Friday at Waikanae school, Waikanae school is having a PJ day with a gold coin donation. The gold coin donation is to fundraise for Waikanae’s rugby team to go to Taupo.

By Michael

Matariki

On Thursday the 2nd there was Matariki.

Our school got welcomed to Whakarongotai marae by koro Don.

We placed our tukutuku panels on the steps of the Whare nui.

Mr Campbell did a speech and handed over the tukutuku panels.

By Kees and Meretene

Matariki this week

Matariki. Next week

Matariki is the time when we celebrate the Maori new year, grow crops and admire the seven sisters sitting in the night sky. Next week, we will be doing activities in class based on Matariki like, making stars, doing marble art and much, much more! We will also be going on a trip to Whakarongatai Marae.

Here is a little fact on Matariki:

Matariki is a Maori word that can be translated as tiny eyes, or eyes of God.

By Imogen

This week there was a big thunderstorm in Wellington in the middle of the night! It woke a lot of us up and we did some writing about it. Here is the Stuff article on the Storm. There are some videos to watch and pictures.

Thunder and lightning

I woke up and there was thunder and lightning it was scary I tried to go back to sleep but  I enjoyed watching the lightning. Then went to sleep.  

By Dilana

Upcoming Science Trip!

The Te Aramoana syndicate are going on a science trip to Whareroa Farm. Because we are studying water we are going for a trip, every two classes will go at a different time. We are also going to the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Keep a look out for the notices for this which should be coming home soon.

FALSE LOCK DOWN

At

Waikanae School

On the 26th May the office got a message saying that there was someone in the school that shouldn’t be there, so they decided to play it safe and call a whole school lockdown, then call the police. Classes were waiting under their tables. Some students were worried that there was a mystery person in the school. The students were worried because when we are waiting for the message we usually get it in about 2 minutes but that day we didn’t get it for a long time! Luckily it was all a miscommunication and the police said we did the right thing. The police gave us the all clear.

By Michael & Ciara

Room 5 & 19

Waikanae School App is Official!

Our school have made a new Waikanae School App.

It enables you to

1. Urgent ‘Push Notices and Alerts’
2. Our calendar
3. Our newsletter
4. Class Blogs Facebook Pages and other important links
5. Contacts and phone numbers
6. Fill out absent form for a child when sick… This is very good! (No more phone messages) This is very good for busy parents.

Stay in touch and get the App just go to Playstore /Appstore and search Waikanae Primary School and download for Free!!

By Lucy Curran

Anti bullying

Today is anti bullying day, so everyone wore pink, I've got to admit a lot of you were wearing pink, it was awesome.Whether it was pink t-shirts or even pink shoes, either way it was brilliant. Nice job Waikanae school.

This term Te Aramoana is taking swimming lessons on Tuesdays 9:30-11:30.
The Paraparaumu pools is a great place to do swimming lessons.
There are four groups, group 1 the lowest group just for beginners, group 2 for people who have just made it out of group 1, group 3 the second best group which means second best swimmers & group 4 people who are the best swimmers.

Kiwi swim safe is who we are learning with here is a picture:

Click here to see their website.
By Michael Room 5.

Cross Country

In Te Aramoana  we have been practising for cross country. We practice at least three times a week so that  the kids are prepared for the day .Cross country is on Wednesday the first of June, on the top field. Please can you wear the right foot wear and comfortable clothing.

Water Science

Te Aramoana are learning about water through science.
If you want to see the water cycle, here it is:

Add caption

Some classes are learning about the water cycle and others are learning the proper science of water.
Here are some pictures.

By Michael Room 5

Swimming - DON'T FORGET

Hey everyone, remember swimming is on Tuesday. Bring your togs, towel and goggles. It is on till week 9.

Stop Motion Videos at The Mind Lab

Mind Lab was an experience for a select few to get a taste of what stop motion was like. 20 Te Aramoana students went in the last week of term to The NZ Mind Lab in Petone for the experience. 

We learnt how to use webcams with a programme called Stop Motion Animator. It was really easy, but you had to think about how far you move your characters. One of ours kept on falling over. Estelle has a tip that you can use bluetak to stick them down. Here are some of our videos:

by Evy, Estelle, Mia and Faith

We were so excited about this, that the school has purchased some new webcams so we can create stop motions in class and for learning! Room 18 have been doing some experiments and having lots of fun with them. 

Post by Evy, Imogen and Mrs Whyte

BLOGGING UPDATES!

Today Imogen, Kees, Oscar and Mrs Whyte met to discuss making our blog more AWESOME! Watch this space, we will be regularly updating our blog. PLEASE comment! We want your feedback and ideas. Thanks for your support. 

From the AWESOME blogging team! 

Helping with your child's maths at home

Image retrieved from the New Zealand Herald's five-day series on Primary Schools in New Zealand.

Last week was the Year 6 camp held at the Palm Grove campsite, up in the hills of Paraparaumu.

 

We engaged in lots of challenging activities over the three days.For some children it was the first time they had stayed away from home overnight.  There were various cabins and bunkrooms where everyone did (or didn't) sleep.  

 Exploring the camp site and the boundaries.

Archery involved shooting at balloons and there were big cheers every time a balloon was popped.

Anais lines up on the target.

 Learning teamwork

Jessie, playing games in the homestead, a large old farmhouse on a wet afternoon.

One of the most challenging activities was the low ropes course.  While from the name it may sound easy, once you scrambled and climbed up up on the starting platform it looked a long way down.  Thank goodness for our safety harnesses.

We rotated around activities, and one of the most creative ones involved collecting natural items around the camp to make Crazy Critters

Some of our critters are on display in the school library.

Other activities included camping skills, making bivouacs, Chase the light, Orienteering and games in the gymnasium.

One of the most exciting activities was a GIANT waterslide.

Children race down the chute, squealing  and laughing as they zoomed down, to land up in the pools of water at the bottom.

It was a great camp that we all enjoyed.

Thank you to Mrs Fearon who did a great job of organising the camp,  Brandon and Helen who hosted us, and our parent helpers who took on the challenges along with the children.