Huia 1 and Kea 1's camp at the Awhitu Environmental Camp

This is where we have been for a week.

and here.

Here are some random photos from our camp at the Awhitu Environmental Camp last week.


They are in no particular order but will give you an idea of some of the activities we did and the experiences we had.


There are still lots more photos to come.

There are some places along the road to Awhitu where you look right down into valleys and out to the west coast.




Fun on the rope swing - over a creek which got deeper as the tide came in and swept away Stanley's bridge and dam.


Red-billed gulls who shared some of our biscuits for morning tea on Thursday.


We went for a long walk to find the eels - and to entice them out of the water with some of our luncheon sausage. They got quite good at standing up on their tails to 'beg' for food after a while.




Recreating a scene from World War 1.


Some of us had a cold swim.


The zoom slide - getting wet and wild... and dirty. And, that wasn't only the students.

Well, you didn't think you'd get me on the zoom slide, did you?

At the light house at the tip of the Awhitu peninsula - investigating the Orpheus shipwreck.







A walk through the Awhitu Regional Park.



We found a nest of plover eggs in the paddock. (Mrs Whitehead knew they were plovers).


Hobo stove cooking - Master Chef-style.






And then we had to speak Spanish to say what we wanted for meals.





We went to the Orua Bay bird park - and fed the birds.








The men taught the boys how to light a barbecue.


We saw the sun rise and we had a beautiful full moon.

Camp Preparation

All the Intermediate classes are going to camp over the next two weeks.

I have had several requests for another copy of the camp kit list- so I will publish it here so it is available any time you need it: I know it hasn't printed well, but it gives you the main idea. It should also be available on our school website.

Camp Kit List 2010 All items named, please.
CLOTHES - School uniform is to be worn to and from camp only, and stored in a plastic bag in between times, ensuring one clean change in which to return your child.
2	warm jerseys
2	track suit pants / long pants
5	changes of underwear - minimum
2-3	pair of shorts
4-5	t shirts/shirts
4-5	pairs of socks
1	jandals or slip ons to get to ablution block /around camp and inside wear.
1	pair of comfortable walking shoes – most likely these will get dirty
1	raincoat or jacket (Suggest “disposable” raincoat as well, if jacket is short)
1	hat - sun cap /school cap OK
1 set	old shorts/top for a “Mud Walk” in the event of a very rainy day. Keep in a separate plastic bag.
1	sleepwear suitable for being seen in public on way to ablution block – or add light dressing gown
BEDDING
1	sleeping bag/duvet*
1	single fitted sheet or cover sheet for mattress.
1	pillow and pillow case
1 *	Light blanket or extra warm sleepwear if sleeping bag is summer weight.
TOILETRIES
1	soap in container – shower gel in plastic bottle/tube is easiest
1	face cloth – in plastic bag (recommend week’s supply of small Chux disposable cloths as alternative )
1	bath towel
	tooth brush and tooth paste (small tube or near-end-of-service tube from home is fine)
	small pack of tissues/handkerchiefs
	hairbrush/comb
	shampoo/conditioner (suggest in separate plastic bag – small containers recommended )
	deodorant - avoid excessively fragrant cans of aerosol
	any other personal needs
BEACHWEAR
1	beach towel
1	togs suitable for mud slide - can include Mud Walk clothes as above
OTHER
	plastic bags for wet clothes
	plastic bags for dry washing
1	water bottle with tight fitting lid
1	small torch and batteries
1	light day pack for hiking. (small school bag ok)
2	named tea towels
	pencil case, including colouring pencils and glue stick
	reading book/s
OPTIONAL
	Polyprop or thermal singlets for extra warmth or instead of an extra blanket
	Beanie hat – for warmth or if your child is prone to earache in the wind.
	camera – disposable camera recommended. For digital battery charger please name it and give to teachers once at camp to look after and oversee recharging batteries.
	playing cards or travel games (no battery operated games) or board games
	sun glasses
	insect repellent (stick or roll-on preferred), sun block, lip balm is a good idea
	aqua shoes(or old shoes/footwear suitable for getting wet) , jandals for shower
	bathing cap only if you don’t want to get your hair wet.
Please note: No cell phones including camera-phones, iPods (or other battery-operated technology), or personal food supplies are to come to camp. See note about camera battery chargers above.

Our School's Cross Country Competition

Every year most schools in New Zealand have a "Cross-Country" running competition. Our school is very close to Totara Park so this year, our PE teacher, Miss Griffin, organised for our entire school (students aged 5 - 13) to run our cross-country through this park.

Here are some photos of the Intermediate Cross Country from my marshall's station towards the half way mark of the course.

Sitting in house groups before the races start. All students are wearing their house colours.

The park is a farm as well. These cattle are obviously used to people passing through their home.

Now you see them....


'Now you don't....

This was one of my views while I was waiting for the next lot of students to run past. As you can see, the ground is quite dry. We desperately need some rain now.

Uphill and through the gate.....

To the far end of the tress and back again.......

I spent a bit of time talking to this guy while waiting for the groups of runners to come past.

Up the hill....

The view from the top of the hill.

Running .....
Running....


Arty photo of the downhill course to the finishing line.

Another NZ teacher in Argentina

http://www.holadekells.blogspot.com/

Check out this blog to follow the Argentine adventure of another New Zealand primary school teacher who is on a one month Ministry of Education AFS Immersion Award - to Argentina.

This time last year I was the one writing about my experiences and I'm enjoying (and somewhat envious) reading Valarie's blog. She is in a totally different part of Argentina from where I was but many of the things she wrote about seem very familiar to me now.

¡Felices Pascuas! (Happy Easter)
From Mrs Vincent