Bridget McDowall — Oct 26, 2023

Our senior team has kicked off the term with a bang, featuring thrilling artist visits, adrenaline-pumping physical games, and essential first-aid training. But hold onto your seats because the excitement doesn't stop here! We've got a jam-packed schedule ahead, including an exhilarating athletics day, an unforgettable camp experience, a fun-filled activity week, a heartwarming leaver's assembly, and a whole lot more. Get ready for an action-packed term ahead!

I would like to warmly welcome Paige Van Gorp, who is joining us as our second-year teacher trainee.

What's On?

Senior School Swimming

Lesson dates- Monday 30/10, 6/11, 13/11, 20/11, 27/11, 4/12.

Our students are making a splash as they learn a wide range of swimming techniques, from floating and treading water to mastering freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and essential water safety skills.

We will be having our water safety sessions on the following dates.

Children are to bring clothes to swim in for Water Safety lessons.

High Five Programme with Siale

Our senior students participated in the Otago Highlanders High Five programme this week. This programme aims to explore and strengthen the FIVE dimensions of Māori wellbeing. On Wednesday, we explored the Te Whare Tapa Whā wellbeing model based on Taha Tinana (physical wellbeing), Taha Hinengaro (Mental and emotional wellbeing), Taha Whānau (social wellbeing), and taha Wairua (Spiritual wellbeing). They are connected to and support each other, just like the four walls of a house. We also explored Whenua (connection to the land, our place, and our roots), the foundation of the Te Whare Tapa Whā model.

Art in Schools Programme

Kirsten Parkinson from the Art in Schools programme visited our school this week to tell us about the journey of Rākaihautu and our connection to the Kaikarae stream. Rākaihautu and his party stopped at the mouth of a river to eat while traversing the land, naming the lakes and streams. Their food was a seabird known as a karae, so our location and the river was called Kai-karae. This is now the well-known Kaikorai Stream.

The purpose of this visit was to collaborate with us in designing some murals for our school. This was an exciting process to be part of, and the children came up with many fabulous ideas.

Bruce Mahalski Visit

Bruce Mahalski came into kōrero about the history of street art. Bruce has produced murals and street art in New Zealand between Dunedin and Whangarei in the north, with a particularly large number of his works in Wellington. We appreciate Bruce for giving up his time to share his extensive knowledge of street art with us. 

Wool in Schools

The mobile "Wool Sheds" was at school for the first two weeks of this term. The containers were packed to the brim with wool resources and activity planners to help teachers direct learning for their classes. Our students learned about wool processes, innovative thinking, design, and technology.