Gymnastics Display

On Friday, the whole school demonstrated their gymnastics skills in front of parents.
It was great to see the clever routines the senior children could do, and also to watch the younger students. We have some very talented gymnasts at our school!

RED DAY FUN

Today was RED DAY! The whole school dressed up in RED in support of the Blood and Luekaemia Foundation. We started the day with a parade around the netball court. Each of the classes got to take their turn at dancing around the court to some pretty cool beats. Everyone donated a gold coin.

Then the Student Council judged the two best dressed from each class. (That would have been a tough job because so many children put so much effort and thought into their clothes). The winners from Room 3 were Dylan and Briar! Here are some photos ...

 

 

 

Sewing Art

Over the past couple of weeks, Room 3 children have been focussing on creating Material Art.
We created sewing pictures by stiching black wool into hessian, then cut and glued felt material into the shapes to create 'zing!'

Miss Jeynes drew some pictures in chalk. We had to sew the stitches. Our learning goals were:
* Thread our our needle
* Tie our own double knot
* Sew even, tidy stiches (about the width of our finger)

Here are some of our beautiful artworks...

After our pictures were finished, we reflected on the learning goals using Thinkers Hats.

RED DAY COMING UP

Mini Commonwealth Games

Today the school was treated to a fun morning of Halcombe School Commonwealth Games.

Each class participated in fun events like ... an obstacle course that involved holding ice, running with a cup of water, while dancing and climbing over obstacles, a balloon popping race, tug-o-war, and much more...

Here are some photos of our fun morning.

We had so much fun. Thanks so much to the student council for organising this event.

Rap-unzel Show

Today the school was treated to a show in the hall called 'Rap-unzel'.
Three actors from The Playhouse Theatre Company (based in Christchurch) entertained and delighted us with their hilarious show.

Unlike the traditional fairytale, Rap-unzel ends up being locked away in a tower by the devious Simon Cow (who also robs her of her singing voice). She ends up escaping and rapping with Rupert - a young rapper-prince.

We thought the show was brilliant!
Thanks to the PTA for funding this special event.

Gymnastics Fun

We started Gymnastics this week with Room 4 and are learning how to perform ...

* vault routines
* walking across a balance beam in different ways
* turns on the high beam
* forward and backward rolls safely
* running, jumping and landing safely

As our confidence grows, we are trying to push ourselves and try more challenging routines.

It's great to have so many parent helpers. Thanks for helping out!

Welcome Back - It''s Term 3

It's great to be back at school - even though it's a bit chilly!

To kick of this term, Room 3 have just started learning about the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
We started off our topic by brainstorming everything we knew (or thought we knew) about the Commonwealth Games.

Once we started sharing ideas, we realised there's a lot we DON'T know about the games. So next we got into groups and wrote questions that we want to find the answers to.

Over the next 2-3 weeks, we will be following the games and finding answers to our questions by reading books, researching information on the internet and by watching some of the sports action!

Spreading the Word About Plastic Pollution

Yesterday Room 3 children braved the cold, and distributed pamplets around Halcombe. (And we picked up litter on the way).

We were shocked to learn that plastic can take up to 1000 years to break down! A lot of plastic ends up in waterways which flow to the oceans. Thousands of sea birds and marine life are killed every year by getting caught in plastic or eating it.

We put these facts into a pamplet and gave suggestions of how to re-use plastic bags.

Burger Day Comin Up

Dodge Ball

Today Room 3 and our buddy class (Room 5) got together to play a game of dodge ball.

It was great to see the older children passing the ball to the youger children on their team and 'going easy' on them when throwing the ball.

We're looking forward to our next buddy class session!

Soccer Fun

Today Room 3 children braved the cold, and pracised some soccer skills.

We dribbled the ball, stopped the ball with one foot, and practised kicking hard to get the ball in the goal.

We're looking forward to having a game soon!

A Special Day

Today we celebrated Jack's birthday. Jack turned 8 on Saturday. After singing "Happy Birthday" he showed us on his i-pad how his family sung the birthday song to him, and we watched him blow out his candles.

Jack was full of smiles. The only thing he didn't like was the lollipop Miss Jeynes gave him.
Sorry Jack!

For every birthday, we sing Happy Birthday in Maori, and count the years in Maori.

Here are the lines ...
Ra whanau kia koe
Ra whanau kia koe
Ra whanau kia ____________ (Jack)
Ra whanau kia koe

Tahi, rua, toru, wha, rima, ono, whitu, waru, iwa, tekau!
(In our class, we only get as far as 'iwa - 9')

Large Ball Skills

On Friday afternoon we practised some large ball skills: chest passes, bounce passes and lobbing.

Next week, we'll practice a bit more, and then get stuck into soccer skills.

Room 3's Class Trip to Palmerston North

Today our class met up with Cara and Manas from Horizons Regional Council at the Manawatu River. They talked to us about what causes pollution in rivers. It's not just litter!
Then we all pitched in, and picked up litter alongside the river walkway.

We were amazed at how much rubbish we found in the bushes!

Then (after a good long play at the Esplanade), we went to the Recycling Centre and learnt about how lots of everyday packaging can be recycled to be made into new items.

There were MOUNTAINS of compacted cardboard, plastic bottles, and even cars!

We had a terrific day and learnt lots.

REDUCE, RE-USE, RECYCLE!

Wheels Day this Friday!

Don't forget to bring your 'wheels' on Friday.

Learning About Pollution

Today we had a special visitor, Helen Thomas, from Horizons Regional Council. She talked to us about what happens to our litter when it ends up in our environment.

Did you know, that all stormwater drains flow to the sea? So much of litter on the street ends up in gutters and into these drains - which end up in the ocean.

Helen took us on a 'river journey'. We started at the top of the mountain where the fresh, clean water flows down towards the sea. As we travelled past farms and towns, we saw more and more pollution added to the river.

  Helen got a bowl of clean water, and as we travelled down towards the ocean, some children added various types of pollution that rivers end up with.

Wheels Day Coming Up

Days Of The Week in Maori

Do you know the days of the week? Practise saying these at home!

Haka in the Garden

On Friday, Room 3 got stuck into our garden. We pulled out the old corn plants, and replanted our garden with winter vegies ... broccoli, cauliflower, and silver beet.

Just when we were nearly finished, Mr Ricketts's class showed up. While they waited for us to finish with our spades, the boys practised the haka.
Even the Room 2 boys joined in.

Look at all these fearsome warriors! Well done boys. You're really getting into it!

Awesome Rugby Boys!

Yesterday the Halcombe Blue Touch Rugby team received a terrific trophy for -
The Most Improved Team.

The Room 3 and 4 rugby boys are very proud of their achievement. Well done Mr Te Whatu (Josh's dad) for coaching the boys and helping them win this trophy.

Well done Jack, Connor, Josh, Logan, Tommy, Kai, Cameron, Blake and Regan for this super achievement!

Te Reo Kori Fun

Today, Room 3 buddied up with Room 5 (our buddy class).
The wonderful Room 5 boys and Mr Ricketts taught our boys how to do the haka.

Meanwhile, back in Room 3, the girls learnt a Poi waiata, and performed the actions.

At the end of our session, we showed off what we had learnt.

Don't forget, children. The words you need to practise are in your KIT book.
Teach your parents!

Thanks, Mr Ricketts for taking these photos

Rakau

Room 3 children are learning to use rakau (sticks)  in time to the rhythm and beat of waiata. (songs)

Some of us discovered were 'naturals' at it! Some of us ... well ... we're getting better with practice!

Here's some of us having lots of fun co-ordinating our moves ...

Did you know that many years ago, Maori used used stick games  to help them train in spear fighting, to prepare them for battle?

Welcome back

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE

Term 2 has arrived, along with the rain ...
And now that the weather's colder, the wonderful student council have organised some yummy treats for these colder days. Check this out ...

Holidays!

Where have all the Room 3 children gone?

They're OUTTA HERE!
After a full-on 12 week term, everyone shot off at 3.00pm on the dot.

HAVE A GREAT BREAK EVERYONE. See you in two weeks.

Tessellating Shapes

In Room 3, we are learning about tessellating shapes. We experimented tessellating two shapes together to create some 'snazzy' shapes. We had to make sure there were NO gaps.

Spots and Stripes Day

Today was Spots and Stripes day. The whole school crazily dressed up in anything stripey or spotty. Some of us looked like we had the chicken pox!

We started of the day with a parade. All of the classes danced around the netball court to show off our 'get up'.

At lunchtime, we hungrily gobbled up some sausages. Delicious!

Thanks to the student council for organising this fun day

Eating Celery

Spots and Stripes Day Coming Up!

The Minstrel Visit

Today was a lot of fun! Apart from the monkeys that escaped from the train outside Halcombe School (ask your children about that one!) - we had The Minstrel visit us.

He sang songs about the importance of ...
* wearing a lifejacket
* not taking fish that are too small (or too big) from the ocean
* not fishing in marine reserves

Thanks for the fun afternoon, Mr Minstel. We learnt lots!