Bits and Pieces

 It's been a while since we posted any blogs so here's some photos of things that have been happening in our team and class over the past few weeks.

Anyone have any idea what kid of spider this could be? Mrs Dobson found it on the wall outside the library. We didn't think to put something alongside to show the comparative size - but Mrs Dobson assures us it was big. 

Trolley Derby - with trolleys modified from the last trolley derby two years ago.

Karnjeet and Kylah.

Rudadiso and Glenton.

We lost the olive tress over the holidays. They had to be taken out because they were dropping too many leaves on the asphalt and were getting too big for the space they were in. It's time to weed the garden now that all the caterpillars have gone.

Research for science fair.

Working on the science fair boards.

 

 

 

Danny is really enjoying reading.

DC loves reading.

Jackie, Flynn and Tonu enjoying their reading.

Trent and Hoani working on Mathletics.

Acrostic Poems 1

 This term, we are learning about poetry, plays and performing.(Did you spot the alliteration there?) We  have started with acrostic poems. An acrostic poem uses the consecutive letters of a word as the first letters of words to describe the chosen word.

To make it a poem (and not a shopping list) words should be  selected  and sequenced for the sound and rhythm they make when read aloud.

In the following poem, we chose our class's name - Huia 1 - and everyone suggested words to use for each letter. To make it more specific, we used only nouns which had some relevance to us. Some words were discarded is the editing process.  If you know us well, you will understand why we chose these words.

Happiness, history, homework, help

Unity, ukulele, unanimity, unique

Identity, Ireland, iPad,  integrity, Intermediate, Internet

Awhitu,  anthology, ability, acknowledgement, achievement, ANZAC

Opportunities, organisation, orchestra, onomatopoeia, opinion, ourselves,

Narratives,  nature, novel, nationalities, neatness, notebook,

Español, etiquette, education, environment, excellence, effort 

                                      ~oO000Oo~

                                     

                                   

 

Muchas Gracias from the Year 8 Awhitu Camp

We would like to thank all the following people and businesses for their help and contributions towards our fabulous,  environmental, Spanish, educational, inspiring, enjoyable, breath-taking, early-waking, mouth-watering, zoom-sliding,  friendly, scenic, country, muddy, hard-working, healthy, helpful, successful camp:

Camp helpers: Mrs Garthwaite, Mrs Tofilau, Mr Rouse and Mr Cheng for making it possible for the camp to go ahead. We couldn't have done our camp without your help - especially  helping with transport to and from the Awhitu Fire Force and Hamiltons' farm, helping with orienteering, serving food, cooking on the barbecue, teaching us how to clean a toilet and going on long walks with us, and teaching  us CPR.

 

Mrs Lee and Julian for the mouth-watering, delectable and  irresistible cooking. You should be on Master Chef.

Harker's Passenger Services - especially bus drivers  Adrian and Conway for their safe driving, helping pack and stack the bus,  and helpful information about the Awhitu Peninsula

 

Waiuku Museum helpers - for teaching us about the olden days, including schools, entertainment, jails, dairy tools, local history, dental clinics and transport.

 

  

"I learnt a lot about the past. My favourite part of that was the school. You guys made me feel sorry  for the people at school in the 1920s. I never knew about milk bottles and dairy uses. The jail was very dark and  it was not very easy to get used to." Trent O

 "I learned how not to talk or laugh in the old school. I also learned that they used newspaper for toilet paper." Jackie

Mr Dillon at New Zealand Hothouse for the kind donation of cucumbers and tomatoes. They were crunchy and crisp juicy. We will look out for your vegetables when we are at the supermarket.


Bhanas' Food Market at Matakawau - for the  appetising, luscious, scrumptious  fresh fruit and vegetables. Our favourites were the huge, sweet, crunchy apples and the juicy oranges.

Mr and Mrs Hamilton and family for teaching us about dairy farming and how early you have to wake up to milk the cows - and that you don't get paid for a while.

Paul Dixon from the Manukau Heads Lighthouse for telling us all about the Orpheus shipwreck and the restoration of the lighthouse. Also, for  choosing us  for the premiere performance of his play about the  Orpheus shipwreck. We enjoyed re-enacting the sinking of it and learned a lot more by being part of the play. 

"When we did the re-enactment of the HMS Orpheus' last hours, it  gave us an insight into what took place nearly 150 years ago. " Rudadiso

 

Mr Patterson from Orua Bay  and Anna  Mc Naughton for providing us with the opportunity to plant trees to help regenerate  natural vegetation at the beach. We learned how to use a spade and how to work a little bit harder than we thought we could.

The Awhitu Fire Force to teaching us how to read and use a fire extinguisher, and how to roll up a fire hose, and how to hold and squirt a fire hose. We also learned how to line up for a roll call. 

  

"We were all fascinated by the equipment you use, from the water pumps to the very long ladders ... We got a really good work out and understood what it takes  to be a real life hero." Rudadiso 

Mr and Mrs Shuker for the use of orienteering equipment. Without the equipment, (and Mrs Whitehead's expertise) we would not have had so much fun running around the park.

To Wai care Kate and Paul the fish man for joining us for the walk and teaching us about eels and other interesting things that live - or die - in the water at the park.

To The Gardens School GST (PTA) for your support in helping fund some of our camp. It was much appreciated and we will all buy an extra sausage at the next sausage sizzle to help support future camps.

Narrative Dress-up Day

To help support our understanding of narrative writing, The Gardens School held a dress-up day where students could portray a character in a narrative story.  We had been reading and rewriting Aesop's Fables, and had a challenge to represent an Aesop's Fable character using a mask made from a paper plate and/or a dust mask.

Here are some of our class's efforts:

Spot the student not in correct uniform ... 

Glenton is either a lion (from Aesop's Fables) or a vampire - from our Gothic horror narrative writing ...

Creative uses for dust masks. 

La Comida del Campamiento

Tegan: Me gustan comer las hamburgesas con carne, zanahorias, pepino, queso y salsa. Me gusta más el chocolate caliente cada noche. 

Lauren: Me gustan comer los nachos con carne molida y queso. Me gustan más las salchichas en pan con salsa. 

 

Caitlin: Me gustan comer las tapas, especialmente las albondigas en salsa tomate.

Tapas

Sangria

Empanadas

ANZAC Day Assembly

We have had such a busy start to the term. Week 1, the Intermediates were busy researching, preparing and practising for our ANZAC assembly on the first Friday of the term. Then, Week 2,  we were very busy preparing for our camp at Awhitu. Week 3, we were away at camp, and now, Week 4, we are busy catching up on everything as well as doing after-camp follow up - including writing many thank-you notes to all the people who helped make out camp such a success.

Meanwhile, here are some of the class's comments and a slide show about our ANZAC assembly:

Here is a link to the You Tube video of the Flanders Fields music 

Today at the ANZAC assembly, the choir sang Flanders Fields and Abide with Me. The speakers were Shayla, Kobe, Bhaban, Jack and Tegan, and the introducers  were Leon, Mannat and Selena.

Members of  the Manurewa RSA came to our assembly. Some people had tears. Some people were wearing family's or their own medals. Today was very cool. The RSA  president said we probably knew more than he did. He also said that we would be very good leaders.

 The RSA had morning tea with guests and some students. Renae, Laura, MAddy and I did the dishes after they all had finished.All day, poppies were worn. ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps. Kylah

I felt the poem "The Soldier Dream" had a real impact on the RSA members who fought in Vietnam. The ceremony brought tears to the RSA members' eyes. I thought the ceremony was very effective and improved a lot from last year. Caitlin

The RSA members were really nice. I felt scared I would mess up my part and say the wrong thing, but I got through it and wasn't scared anymore. My Mum and Dad and Nana came and I was so happy that we brought tears to their eyes. Tegan

I learnt so much about ANZAC Day today. It was really interesting to know that people who have gone through a lot of bravery to fight for their God and country. I also loved singing those songs that soldiers wrote and sang. I learnt that it doesn't matter what kind of poppies people wear - it means the same thing. I didn't do much at the assembly but sit in the audience. I'm going to take part in speaking next year. I liked the way the RSA speaker said we knew more than they did. Alisha

Here is a link to our previous ANZAC blog post - with pictures

More Camp Photos

I'm looking forward to seeing students' photos - especially of the cowshed and milking cows, orienteering and the visit to Crab Island - because I have none of those.  Year 8s might like to upload your  best photos onto your kidblogs so your own class can also see them 

Learning to use a fire extinguisher.

Practising using a fire extinguisher. Note the cattle  in the background - authentic evidence that this is a rural fire force.

Running out a fire hose

Using the fire hose.

Rolling up a fire hose. 

Volunteer fire fighters

Spanish night - 12 different tapas to choose from. Muchas gracias  señora Lee.  

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Sangria - non-alcohol version.

Sunrise on the last day at camp - looking towards Manurewa.

Matakawau Point when the tide is in. This is in the paddock beside our camp.

Relaxing before heading back to camp to catch the bus. Note the danger sign. (We were on the safe side of the danger, by the way ... )

Beach-combing treasure,

Investigating trial and error.

Fun in the sand.