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!

Sketching Insects

Today some of us viewed insect body parts under a magnifying glass.
It was amazing to see the scales of a butterfly's wings close up.
Some of us studied a cicada's legs.

We had to sketch EXACTLY what we saw ...

Here are some of our sketches ...

Playing Tennis

Yesterday, we had our first tennis coaching session. Wilton got us to practise holding the tennis racket correctly and bounce a tennis ball on the ground.
It was tricky! The balls went everywhere to start with, but the more we practised, the better we got.

We had turns at hitting the ball over the net. For some of us, it was our first time ever holding a tennis racket!

We are looking forward to next week's session.

Produce from the garden

Today, just before home time, we had a special treat. Miss Jeynes took us outside under the tree, and we had freshly made sandwiches!

On our sandwiches we had ingredients that came from the class gardens ... cucumber, lettuce, beetroot AND boiled eggs (thanks to the chooks).

It's great to eat treats that we grow. Now we're just waiting for Room 3's corn to harvest.

What a nice way to end the day!

Buddy Class

On Friday afternoon, Room 5 (our Buddy class) taught us how to play Rounders.

It was good fun hitting the ball with the tennis racket. We had to run around the cones and stop at one before the pitcher called out "Stop!"
Some of us got out, but a lot of us made home runs.

Thanks Room 5 for working with us as a team.

Constable Cree Visit

Constable Cree came to visit Rooms 2 and 3 last week. She talked to us about the emergency services - FIRE, AMBULANCE and POLICE.
We practised using old cell phones to make a 111 call. We had to say our ful name, address and phone number.

We watched a DVD called Brian And Bobby. Poor Bobby (the dog) was lost in a mall and began to panic. But then he remembered what to do...
STAY CALM
GO AND ASK A SHOPKEEPER FOR HELP

We learnt about What Is An Emerency - and when we should OR shouldn't ring 111.

Thanks Constable Cree!