Two Weeks to go

Not long now everybody...only 2 weeks until our Twilight fair!
There are a lot of people working very hard to make it a success...how can you help? (if you're not already, that is!!)
And keep reading those weekly fair notices.

More Stars to be proud of...

Wow Harrison, we were all so proud of your handwriting today...you tried really hard with the size and position of your 'g's, and squashing bad habits!

And we celebrated success at addition and subtraction for Tatenda and J, and handwriting for Samuel at Junior Assembly this afternoon. Well done to all 3 of you!

Not this time

The Interface Class blog competition results are in.......unfortunately we're not a winner, but congratulations to "Room 9 You Shine" from Outram School in Dunedin - Well Done. Maybe next time.............

150 nights

You are a star Tessa...congratulations on reaching 150 nights. I am so proud of your hard work at reading. Keep it up.

You won't believe your eyes!

Reihana's handwriting today was so amazing we had to share it with everyone! His 'open mouth' shape sat perfectly on the line, his 'hanging stick' was exactly the right length, and the little flick was sharp and extremely dangerous! Have a look...

Thoughts on Athletics

Finally the weather has allowed us to get out a couple of times to athletics. Here are Benjamin's thoughts, recorded on Mrs H's new toy - an easi speak recorder...

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Musician extraordinaire

Miss James thought Jin tried extra hard at music this afternoon...well done Jin. (photo to follow soon)

A weighty challenge

Today's maths challenge was to find an object that would balance Dougal dog, when we put it in the other bucket.

We know that when something is lighter it stays up, when something is heavier it goes down, and when something is the same weight the buckets will balance - be the same.

We all found something that would fit inside the bucket to try and balance Dougal dog...

These things nearly balanced Dougal dog - the buckets were both up, but not quite balanced:

And then Ti'a put her avocado into the bucket ... and it balanced!!!!!

We talked about some interesting things afterwards:

• The duster that Mrs Hawkins put in the bucket balanced Dougal dog AND Ti'a's avocado also balanced Dougal dog...so...the duster and the avocado should also be the same and balance each other. We checked it out and they did!
• Brooklyn's drink bottle nearly balanced Dougal dog when it had a little bit of water in it, but after he drank it, it didn't. Why was this? The water was making his bottle heavy.
  
• Did that mean that Jin would be able to do something to make his heavy drink bottle balance Dougal dog? YES...he could drink some of the water!
  

Hauraki supports Samoa

On Friday
Here we are adding our coins to the coin trail...
We wonder how much money we have collected? We will have to wait until Mrs Franklin has counted it all up!
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Tomorrow (Friday) we are going to show we care for others...especially all the people in Samoa affected by the earthquake and tsunami!

Children are encouraged to bring coins to donate and place them on our coin trail, chalked in the shape of the Samoan islands under the pergola. I wonder how much money we will raise? Check back later to find out.

Six Superstars

What a great day today...3 readers reached their next reader certificate - Brooklyn & Samuel 150 nights, and Ashleigh - 75 nights! Well done to you.
Also 3 busy workers received certificates at Junior Assembly... Ti'a for spelling new words by listening for sounds independently, Reihana for trying really hard to sit his handwriting on the line, and Jin for working at correcting his pencil grip. A super effort from you all, keep up the good work.

What a shame!

The Maori Cultural group that was supposed to be performing this afternoon...and the Firefighters supposed to be visiting on Friday have both had to postpone! We look forward to the Cultural performance next Wednesday, and the visit from the Firefighters some time in the future.

Reaching more milestones!

More readers are reaching higher and higher milestones! Congratulations to Hannah and Eric for getting to 50 nights, and Reihana for reaching 75! An excellent achievement, keep on reading.

Our New Journey begins

We have 'blasted off' towards new learning...our journey will take us to the heavens and back to determine where we would be without the Sun!

There is so much up above us, and we have enthusiastically started discussing Space, completing our own Space books, reading and looking at pictures and much much more.
Yesterday we played a fun game called 'Shadow Tag' - jumping on everyone else's shadows while keeping our own out of everyone's way!
A lot of fun.

We brainstormed our initial thoughts on Shadows...

Juliana-Shadows can dance.

Angela-Shadows can walk.

J-Shadows can run.

Emil-They can jump.

Tessa-Shadows can skip.

J-Shadows can hop.

Harrison-Shadows can swim.

Matthew-Shadows can crawl.

Kody-The sun makes shadows.

Hannah-Shadows can slip.

Reihana-They can put 1 leg up.

Avan-They are black.

Benjamin-It’s like a little friend that does what you do.

Tatenda-Shadows can let go of you…just lift your legs up.

Brooklyn-What ever you do your shadow does it.

Matthew-Shadows can be under the swimming pool when you dive.

J-Shadows can do anything.

Ashleigh-Shadows need sun so we if there wasn’t sun we couldn’t make shadows.

Angela-If you jump shadows jump.

Ti’a-Shadows can sit.

Reihana-Shadows come from the concrete – it’s on the concrete.

Benjamin-The way they make shadows is quite different to your body. On the ground it’s grey but you’re not grey. I think that shadows do what ever you do.

J-Shadows can do a star jump.

Emil-Shadows can jump.

Matthew-When you swim you can see your shadow on the ground in the swimming pool.

Tatenda-Shadows can spin.

Brooklyn-Where ever you go your shadow goes with you.

Kody-Sometimes it doesn’t go with you because the sun goes behind a cloud.

Avan-Shadows can do hopping and jumping.

Ashleigh-Shadows go wherever you go.

Mrs Hawkins-Shadows can grow and shrink.

Benjamin-I think if you get a big scare your shadow will get out of you and you will fall over because your shadow is what holds you up.

Reading Whizz

Congratulations J and Angela for getting to
125 nights of home reading...
you're champions!

In the book bags tonight...

• Today your children are bringing home the class term newsletter. Here's an online copy in case it doesn't make it home....

• Portfolios are also coming home today. Please spend time looking at this and discussing it with your child. You may like to talk to them about things they are particularly proud of, and the things they would like to achieve by the end of the term. When you have looked at it can you please sign/comment in the box at the bottom of the Term 3 Contents page and return it to school. I hope you enjoy looking at all their hard work.
• An Activity fee notice is also coming home. Please pay to the office as soon as possible.
  

Soccer Skills

Today the Soccer guys came to promote after school soccer training.
We had a lot of fun and learnt some new games...cat & mouse, cowboys & indians and bullrush.

Musician of the day

Congratulations today to Ti'a...Miss James thought you had some great ideas today in Music. Well Done.

Meet our New Friend

WELCOME

This term we welcome Jin and his family into our Room 2 community, from Hamilton. We are very pleased to have you, and hope you enjoy the term with us!

Well done

Welcome back to school everyone, and what a great way to start back it was for Benjamin..

Today's Assembly star celebrating his recent acting success!
Congratulations Benjamin.

SHADOWS

This term we are going to be studying Day/Night/Sun/Shadows to answer our question:

"Without the Sun, where would we be?"

Have a look at the Shadows websites for a preview!

EXCITING NEWS EVERYONE

Exciting news everyone - our class blog was entered into a competition run by Interface Magazine, and I have just received an email announcing our blog is one of the 5 finalists!
Interface Magazine is a technology magazine supporting NZ teachers and educators with their use of ICT. A panel of judges has chosen the top 5 blog entries, and now teachers and educators around NZ will vote to decide who the winner is.

"Congratulations to all our finalists on their selection," said INTERFACE Editor Greg Adams.
"They're an impressive looking bunch. My thanks to the judges for their sterling efforts in selecting the two shortlists. There were some tough decisions and a few close calls that had to be made. These were the entries that made the cut.
So, well done to our finalists … and good luck.

Click here for more information.

Congratulations - FAIR GO AD AWARDS

Congratulations to Benjamin - world famous in NZ - for starring in the Mitre 10 advertisement that won the Fair Go Best Ad Award last week. We look forward to seeing you star in another ad soon?!...

On Holiday

Don't forget to keep in touch by adding your holiday adventures / photos to the linked wiki...just click here or on the 'On Holiday' link on the right hand side of the blog and follow the instructions. We'd love to know what you're up to...