Kauri athletics day

We had learned a lot about various athletics events during P.E lessons and the big day had arrived! The sun was shining and we competed energetically in the track and field events. Check out these photos of the day 😉

Garden to table

We were very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in Owairaka's highly popular garden to table program. We each had a turn planting and harvesting in the school gardens. We each had a turn preparing and cooking in the kitchen. We cooked pizza in the outdoor pizza oven too! Garden to table is a fantastic, collaborative learning opportunity. It was very satisfying harvesting, preparing, cooking and especially eating, our own food!

Mathematical problem solving

One approach we use during maths is collaborative problem solving. We get together in a focus group and are given a word problem. First we 'unpack' the problem to find the maths we need to do to solve it.  Initially we engage with the problem individually and then colaborate with others in our group to help each other find a solution. Using this approach allows us to engage with and solve a problem which we may not have been able to solve alone. It also exposes us to a wide variety of strategies that others may use to solve a problem. We find this a very supportive way to do some tricky maths.

Calendar Art

Our calendar art is now ready! Last term we worked hard producing some fantastic artwork which is now ready to be purchased by families as a school fundraiser. We learned about perspective in our artworks and how to represent foreground, middle ground and background. We are very proud of the results! Please feel welcome to view the artworks in the class and please support the school if you can by purchasing your child's artwork. The artworks can be made into a 2016 calendar ($13), a 2016 diary  ($18), computer mouse pad ($16), sketch pad ($15), or a pack of 8 cards ($14). They make great gifts too!

Duffy role model assembly

We were very lucky to have a special visit from Rene Naufahu last week at our
'Duffy role model' assembly. Rene was one of the original actors in Shortland Street and
has worked more recently in America. He talked about the importance of reading, learning
and being the best you can be. Thanks Rene! Thanks also to to Owairaka family marimba group 
Who entertained us at the assembly.

Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae visit

Ruma tekau mā ono and the Kauri classes had a great trip to Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae at Unitec this week.
We made connections with the tangata whenua and with our tupuna, Wairaka. We heard about Wairaka and her journey around 950AD.
We visited the puna (spring) where Wairaka drank which we remember in our school pepeha. We saw the special carving of Wairaka
outside the amazing wharenui. We were welcomed onto the marae as the manuhiri with a special powhiri. It was a great experience
which truly helped us to make connections with the whakapapa, or ancestral history, of our school and our local area.

BOOK WEEK!

To celebrate 'Book Week' we dressed up as a book character and held a fun assembly.
The week was a great chance to celebrate our favourite books and the joy they bring us.😊