The Last Post…

Well, it’s been a great year. Brodie and I have seen great changes in our students that have been very positive, and we are very proud of all our students.

Bit of a change for us next year. Brodie is off to teach at Kahutara and we wish him well in his new job. Kauri syndicate will become four classes…Room 10, a straight year 6 class, Room 12 will be a 6/7 class with Mr Preston/Miss Burt. Those year 7’s with laptops. Room 13 is 7/8 with Mr Paul Hammond  and Room 14,  7/8 with me.

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and Happy Christmas, to thank you for your support and encouragement, and lastly, thanks to those of you who were able to leave comments for the students or us, it was much appreciated. See you next year!

Week 8

LAST WEEK

A great week had by all.  Inquiries are coming along nicely.  On Wednesday about half of the syndicate went to Carterton to compete at the inter-school athletics event.  Congratulations to all those students for competing and especially to those who have been selected to go to Wellington to represent the South Wairarapa.  These events are a great opportunity to showcase what our school stands for, the SHARP values.

THIS WEEK 

Inquiry presentations begin this week, good luck to all the students.  School as usual aside from the presentations.

COMING UP

• Monday 17 December – Syndicate pool picnic at the Greytown Pools. $2:00 per student.
• Monday 17 December – Year 8 Leavers dinner. 6pm in the library.
• Tuesday 18 December – Final Assembly, 12 noon, Kuranui auditorium.

Week 7…still busy!

LAST WEEK

Athletics Day was a great success. Our students performed very well and I’m proud to say that we saw many of our students striving to do the best they could. Well done to Brodie for organising a smoothly run event.

Also, the year 7’s prepared and presented their speeches to become Black Hat’s for 2013. We had many applicants for the job and Mr Mackay and I were very impressed with the quality of them and how the students reacted with the results. We look forward to finding opportunities for all students to showcase their leadership next year.

THIS WEEK 

The last week for preparing Inquiries, Inter-school Athletics and leadership skills with Doug Bracewell.

This week will be the last for the year for the “Super Sizzling Sausage  Company.” We are still busy!

On a personal note, I went to Auckland yesterday to celebrate my sisters 70th birthday. As I watched, impressed by her children and grandchildren working together to make the event a roaring success, I thought about how my students do the same. They have been helping each other out with their Inquiry, suggesting ideas and encouraging each other. It’s what we are all about and I’m one happy teacher.

COMING UP

• Tuesday 27 November – Orientation evening at Kuranui for year 8′s, 6:30pm
• Wednesday 28 November – Inter-School Athletics
• Thursday 29 November – Year 7 leadership with Doug Bracewell.
• Friday 14 December – Syndicate pool picnic at the Greytown Pools. $2:00 per student – note coming this week.
• Monday 17 December – Year 8 Leavers dinner. 6pm in the library.
• Tuesday 18 December – Final Assembly, 12 noon, Kuranui auditorium.

Week 6 …Conference was a hit!

LAST WEEK

The year eights went to Kuranui College on Monday for the inaugural “Movin’ On Conference” and by all accounts it was an amazing time had by all.  The students found the event very worthwhile and  the feedback was very positive.

Peace Poster
Congratulations to Greytown School student Elliot Hendry, who won the Greytown
Lions Club Lions International Peace Poster 2012 contest. The symbol of the white
dove and olive branch is universally acknowledged and Elliot has captured the spirit
of the competition with great sensitivity. Elliot’s picture is going into the regional
competition and we hope from there hopefully to the national one. Well done Elliot!
And thank you to the Room 14 students for submitting excellent work. More about
the competition is at http://www.lionsclubs.mobi/EN/our- work/youthprograms/peace-poster- contest/index.php (Taken from Kuranui Korero) Well done Elliot.

On Friday the Financial Literacy team presented their first donation.  The team decided they wanted to present it to the Grace Yeats Trust, to support Grace, who is suffering from a debilitating brain illness.  A lovely gesture that was gratefully accepted by a representative of the Yeats family.

The year seven EOTC camp was a great time with great weather, although the morning swim was Freezing.

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Year 8’s made photo presentations about their camp. Click on the link below to view Max’s one.

http://photopeach.com/album/1741rpb#http://photopeach.com/album/1741rpb%23

NEXT WEEK

Athletics day is on Tuesday and parents are very welcome to attend and cheer on their children.  This is a full day of events.

Year sevens get to present their application for Black Hats and school leaders on Wednesday.  This is an opportunity for the students to make a final bid for the next years leadership roles.  Good luck to all.

COMING UP

• • Tuesday 20 November – School Athletics.
  • Wednesday 21 – Year 7 present their Black Hat speeches.
  • Tuesday 27 November – Orientation evening at Kuranui for year 8′s, 6:30pm
  • Wednesday 28 November – Inter-School Athletics

Week 5…Settling down.

LAST WEEK

Assessments are almost complete and camps are done. What a busy time we’ve had.

The year 8 camp at Makahika was fabulous and Mr Mackay tells me that the year 7 Outdoor Ed course was equally successful. It has been wonderful to see the students grow in confidence and next weeks blog will have some photo presentations from each camp for you to see. It has to be said, we have great kids, and yes, they worked hard 🙂

NEXT WEEK

Tomorrow is Teacher Only Day for us. The year 8’s will have their Careers Conference at Kuranui. Please refer to the update I made last week for details about this event. Students should be at Kuranui by 8:45.

Athletics skills will continue as we head towards our school Athletics Day.

Celia Lashlie is coming to talk to the staff on Wednesday and is available to talk to the parents in the evening at 6pm .She is a renown speaker about teenagers and well worthwhile listening to.

On Thursday, Doug Bracewell is coming to build on the boys leadership skills. He did this course with last years year 7 boys and they found it very useful.

COMING UP

• Monday 12 November – “Movin’ On Conference”  at Kuranui College for year 8 students from the South Wairarapa. All year 8 students are expected to attend.
• Monday 12 November – Teacher Only Day
• Wednesday 14 November – Year 8 testing at Kuranui.
• Thursday 15 November – Year 7 boys leadership with Doug Bracewell.
• Tuesday 20 November – School Athletics.
• Tuesday 27 November – Orientation evening at Kuranui for year 8′s, 6:30pm
• Wednesday 28 November – Inter-School Athletics

Year 8 Careers Conference

 

Dear parents,

 

The final organisation for this exciting opportunity is now complete.  The students will join 130+ other South Wairarapa Year 8 students to hear an opening and closing address from inspiring speakers.  They will also get to take part in 3 Workshops from a choice of ten. Workshop titles include From Farm to Fork, Around the World in 80 Dishes, “So you think you can Dance”, Do Something Extraordinary, Get Firewise, Papawai Marae, 8 Steps to Success, Outdoor Academy and Where will the Defence Force Take You?

 

Conference date:                12 November

 

Conference Venue:            Kuranui College

 

Reporting Time:                  8.45 am

 

Finish Time:                          2.30 pm

 

Morning Tea:                        Provided

 

Lunch:                                   Please bring your own

 

Uniform:                                Yes

 

 

Although it is Teacher Only Day at school Year 8 students are expected to attend the conference. They will go directly to the venue on the day and be released to go home from Kuranui.

 

Hello November!

LAST WEEK

A lot of time was spent on planning for the camps, both year groups are readying themselves for a great experience.  We had our school photos taken, and looking at the draft for these, they are looking really good, I hope you all have your orders in.  The school band got to go to Wellington and perform in the Battle of the Bands and although they didn’t win a prize, the experience was reward enough.

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NEXT WEEK

CAMP, CAMP, CAMP!  The kids are just as excited about this as we are.  Both camps will be an amazing experience for each year group.  The year eights leave on Wednesday.  The year sevens have a leadership day on Wednesday and leave for camp on Thursday.  Both groups return on Friday afternoon, and they will be exhausted so try not to have to much planned for the weekend.

Assessments start this week with both classes beginning the final round of testing.  This is an important time for all students as it follows them through to the following year.

COMING UP

• Wednesday 7-9 – Year 8 camp
• Thursday 8-9 – Year 7 Outdoor Ed. Course
• Monday 12 November – “Movin’ On Conference”  at Kuranui College for year 8 students from the South Wairarapa. All year 8 students are expected to attend.
• Monday 12 November – Teacher Only Day
• Wednesday 14 November – Year 8 testing at Kuranui.
• Tuesday 20 November – School Athletics.
• Tuesday 27 November – Orientation evening at Kuranui for year 8′s, 6:30pm
• Wednesday 28 November – Inter-School Athletics

Week 3…What an amazing Pet Day!

LAST WEEK

We had an outstanding Pet Day. More pets than I’ve ever seen and a really lovely atmosphere all round. Well done to all of our students who stayed behind to help with the clean up. Here’s Luke & Luka being creative with their cone gathering.

Our Financial Lit. group were contracted by Mr Mackay to supply sausages for the unveiling of the Pou, carved by the carvers at Rimutaka Prison. It was a ceremony attended by many personnel of the prison, Papawai and school. Our team arrived at 6am to begin cooking for our guests. It was a freezing morning and not a complaint from them. Now they just need to make an invoice for MrMackay.

NEXT WEEK

Preparations for camp are in full swing this week. Excitement is mounting about all the great challenges that are coming their way. Please remember that camp fees need to be paid prior to the camp. Talk to Brigid if you have any questions, or Brodie for the year 7 camp.

Also, we are coming up to November assessments, so all students should be doing some revision as their homework. Students have been evaluating their achievements so far and are working on what they need to do.

TO NOTE:

The South Wairarapa Principles Association have done a great job of putting together the “Movin’ On ” conference. This is to give students a focus on the possibilities that are ahead of them. All the year 8 students have selected their workshops and are expected to attend this inaugural conference for kids.

COMING UP

• Tuesday 30 October – School photos.
• Wednesday 7-9 – Year 8 camp
• Thursday 8-9 – Year 7 Outdoor Ed. Course
• Monday 12 November – “Movin’ On Conference”  at Kuranui College for year 8 students from the South Wairarapa. All year 8 students are expected to attend.
• Monday 12 November – Teacher Only Day
• Wednesday 14 November – Year 8 testing at Kuranui.
• Tuesday 20 November – School Athletics.
• Tuesday 27 November – Orientation evening at Kuranui for year 8’s, 6:30pm
• Wednesday 28 November – Inter-School Athletics

Week 2, Term 4

Last week

The first week back seemed just as busy as if we never had a holiday, as we quickly got back into work for the term.  With the initial early assessments to establish learning group to our inquiry topic “organising our lives” kicking off with a very exciting careers expo on Friday.  A huge thanks to Nathan (Chopper) Couch, Richard Hendry, James Smallwood and Andy Eldred for giving up their time to share their careers experience with our syndicate, and also to Mr MacKay for sharing his views on careers and leadership.  Athletics training began, gearing up for our athletics day on November 20.

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This week

We continue to consolidate the years learnings, ready for end of year assessments coming up in a few weeks.  Our inquiry turns to the students developing their research questions.  Wednesday is Pet Day and our year 8 students will be assisting the teachers on the day.

 

Coming up

• Wednesday 24 October – Pet Day – students go home after the parade at 12:00.
• Tuesday 30 October – School photos.
• Wednesday 7-9 – Year 8 camp
• Thursday 8-9 – Year 7 Outdoor Ed. Course
• Monday 12 November – Careers expo at Kuranui College for year 8 students from the South Wairarapa. We strongly recommend our students attend.
• Monday 12 November – Teacher Only Day

 

Week One, Term 4…lot’s on this term!

Hello and welcome back to the last term. Assessments, reports, camps, pet day and athletics all make for a busy term.

This term, our Inquiry is”Organising Our Lives,” which has a focus on careers and leadership. We are having a mini expo on Friday where we have some parents coming to talk to us about their careers. We appreciate those parents giving up valuable time to talk to our students.

Maths is Number & Algebra and our Literacy  focus is on non-fiction reading, response and procedure writing and poetry.

Camp is coming up and we will advise you by the end of the week of final costs.

The “Super Sizzling Sausage” company is back on this week, with our two classes having their turn to purchase sausages. Orders in by Tuesday please. Students were given an order form at the end of last term. If they have been lost, more forms can be gained from room 14.

End of year assessments are coming up in November. All students have access to sites where they can practice skills learnt and build their knowledge. Please check with your child that they are doing some homework on these sites.

COMING UP

• Friday 19 October – Careers mini Expo.
• Monday 22 October – Labour Day.
• Wednesday 24 October – Pet Day – students go home after the parade at 12:00.
• Tuesday 30 October – School photos.
• Wednesday 7-9 – Year 8 camp
• Thursday 8-9 – Year 7 Outdoor Ed. Course
• Monday 12 November – Careers expo at Kuranui College for year 8 students from the South Wairarapa. We strongly recommend our students attend.
• Monday 12 November – Teacher Only Day