3D Cube Drawing Workshops

Some students in Matariki and Mahutonga were so inspired by their Maths learning that they ran a workshop on 3D shapes with Tautoru kids.

Megan: We taught year 1s, 2s and 3s to make a cube tower. They did it really well. They persevered a lot. It felt weird to see how tricky it was for them but it was cool when they finally worked it out. It made me feel good that I could help other people and give back to the school.

Ruby: The kids were really nice and did their best! I had to use perseverance and kindness. Sometimes the kids (and sometimes me) found it challenging. It can be quite hard to explain. I had to use courage because it can be nerve wracking. I thought that they might not listen. It was fun and would love to do it again. It is good to help others to try new things.

Christmas Talent Competition

Molly, Mia, Nell and Isabel were the judges. We saw each act by act. We judged them on how much courage they had, teamwork, their ideas, their costumes and their performance. All of the performances were awesome. We could only choose one winner from each space.

Autahi

1st place: Zane
2nd place: Charlie
3rd place: Eva

Tautoru

1st place: Coco
2nd place: Marnie, Greta, Rosa and Jasmine
3rd place: Zach, Cooper, Nye and Evan

Mahutonga/ Matariki

1st place: Jessie
2nd place: Edward
3rd place: Ruby

What a great show.

By Nell and Isabel

What a great show!

Carnivorous Plants

Today William and Alexander showed us their carnivorous plants. The plants eat flies and other small creatures. Some fly traps attract insects with a poisonous liquid. Flies and other insects use up all of their energy trying to get out. Don't put your fingers in because that will use a lot of the plant's energy. The plants are green and green attracts insects. Venus fly traps go black when they are dead. 

By William, Alexander, Mitchell and Yoshi

After learning about the plant we did some close observational drawings. Greta said that this is a great way to learn. 

Wet weather lunchtime: Thanks to our amazing PALs

The PALs (Playground Activity Leaders) have been doing a great job in Tautoru. Thank you for teaching new games to the younger students. 

Spanish at Assembly

We have been practising our Spanish song, "Soy Una Taza." We would like to share this at our next assembly. We love how our learners choose to learn Spanish every Friday afternoon.

Assembly 28.11.16

Thank you to our great presenters demonstrating their character strengths of bravery and leadership!

Speaking beautifully about becoming a published illustrator

*Becoming* an illustrator *by Liam*

My teacher at art class (Stephany Woodman) told me about this Toi Toi magazine for kids.

It was created by NZ kids and to be selected I had to submit a few drawings that I felt proud of.

So I drew some practise pictures and found some awesome drawings from the past.

 I asked mum and dad if these drawings were good, they said “Yes, they look good’’,

But that’s just the start of it. There's heaps more to go.

A few days later it was art class again, Stephanie woodman asked “Did you submit some drawings to the Toi Toi magazine”? “Yes, I did.” I said quite nervously. “Oh, good, because there’s been 800 submissions.

“800 kids’’! I whispered to myself. Weeks had passed and I was still waiting for the answer, will I be selected or not? I wondered.

  After school one day mum drove me and my sister back to our house,on the way mum

Said to me”I have a surprise for you” “a surprise, please mum can you tell me”

“ sorry, but not yet”.

   We arrived back home, Dad had the computer ready. An email from Toi Toi said “Dear Liam Struthers, 800 people have submitted. You  were one who was chosen to become an illustrator for Toi Toi magazine, your story is called Rugby in the Mud The deadline is 2 weeks. From Charlotte"

I did two practise pictures and then dad said ”maybe this could help you” he lifted a    

     Big, heavy, book it said... Rugby history I was sketching the picture really carefully

     On page 46.

I was pleased with the final version, so I sent my picture to Charlotte. Now I was going to get published!

I checked through the post. No sign of the parcel.

That's when I come to school. Jude comes walking through the class. We were in the middle of literacy. She had a yellow book in her hand.She spoke ”Hello Tautoru” she said quite excitedly “I looked in the post today and I opened it.” “It was a yellow book it said on the front it said Toi Toi kids becoming artists all over New Zealand” I felt nervous inside is it me or is it not me?

She kept on talking “And I looked through and I looked through...and I saw a cool piece of art I read the writing was very cool too, but when I looked who the illustrator was” she paused for a moment is it me or is it me or is it not me? She said ”Liam S...” uh oh, time to come forward and speak to the class. She said to me “now, Liam how did you really become an illustrator”?

Now everyone Knows and I get to keep the magazine.

Well done to all of those students who got a principal award!

Spanish and Friday Choice Afternoon

On a Friday afternoon, students can choose what they learn. This year we have been very fortunate that Maria has given up her time to teach us Spanish. These students chose to be part of this group. 

Today we learnt about things in the kitchen through song and dance. 

Here is the song that we learnt:

Students have also started to run their own workshops. Last week one of our students ran a workshop about how to draw a superhero.

Today a couple of our students ran a gymnastics workshop.

We are loving the learner agency. It's very exciting!

Continuing learning at home...

We are really excited that our students are continuing their learning at home. We share learning on the blog, seesaw and the newsletter so that these learning conversations continue at home. This has helped us to have deeper conversations with our students at school. Just amazing!

Blakey (the sheep) and his friend have been growing plants at home. They are preparing for our growing/ planting Inquiry.

These students went home and made a healthy cake for an athlete after writing a recipe for a healthy snack.

And some more healthy snacks below... 

... And we love the rollerific marathon balls!

Please keep asking questions and talking about your learning at home! 

Student Led Conferences Photo Gallery

Students have been sharing their learning with their parents at their student led conferences. It has been great to see our learners being so confident about sharing their thoughts and reflections about what they have been doing at school!