We are really excited this week to be using our new Senior Playground where the Spider Pyramid currently reigns supreme. The students have been eager to use it and make their way to the top during morning breaks this week.

Welcome to the Spider Pyramid in our Playground.

We are very grateful to our BOT and PTA for helping to fund the addition of a Spider Pyramid to our school playground. It opened officially on Monday after our team established some rules for The Yr 5-8 students to guide them to use it safely.

We have  rules like:

Literacy - Mrs Patten's groups have been reading a story called Iron Tamariki which tells the story of a young boy who decided he wanted to enter a triathlon and the journey he went on to do this. He was inspired by Richie McCaw. Mana (the main character) worked with his dad to create a training programme to get fit for the event and 3 months later he was successful in completing the triathlon. Part of the learning was for our learners to develop a fitness plan for themselves that could improve their fitness. They then tried the programme out with a peer to see how it was.

Here is an example of one student's plan and some photos of them trying out their fitness plans.

Zoom Huis and Lessons - it has been great having some of our students who are learning at home, joining us at our Huis and Circle Times this week. We are also enjoying seeing their learning being turned in on Seesaw. Remember that all your learning can be found through Seesaw. Please contact us at komingo@oaklands.school.nz or through the Seesaw message function, if you have any questions.

Top Team event - this will now take place on Monday 14th March. Students should come in sport mufti - with HOUSE colours strongly encouraged. Students can earn house points for their house. A couple of the activities involve the use of some water, so it might be a good idea to pop in a spare t-shirt.

Write On - The MIghty Write 2022 competition

This is a writing opportunity for 9-11 year old students from around the world.

A number of students are giving this a go and are currently in the drafting phase.

For more information, here is the link to the website.

Friday 1st April: Submission deadline

Kākāriki Tīma (Green Team)

We have had an exciting week, weeding our planter boxes and planting our first of many veggies! The carrots have gone into the ground and week by week we will be planting another lot of veggies to fill up our gardens. We are also planting swan plants for our monarch  butterflies and lots of marigolds etc for our bees!

Student Voice:

Jeana: I like it that we are going to be planting lots of carrots and swan plants. I have enjoyed digging up the soil and watering the seeds. 

Aidan: I like it that we can have our own and water our own seeds. i am looking forward to when our carrots grow and we can eat them.

Sam: I am having fun planting carrot seeds and watering them. I am looking forward to planting other seeds and making the garden produce vegetables.

Jancke: We have our own planter box, we have planted carrot seeds. I am looking forward to planting swan plants because they help the environment by attracting Monarch butterflies.

Swimming - This week our students have been practising water rescue skills using ropes.  One student was on the side of the pool with a rope at the ready and another student was pretending they were in trouble in the water and needed rescuing.  The person outside the pool threw the rope to their partner in trouble and then pulled them into the side of the pool and safety. They did a great job at this.

Home Learning Update

Welcome to the Kōmingo Book Bingo.

Our Reading Home Learning activity is ready to go. Students were introduced to this today. Students are challenged to read different books and sometimes in a different way eg read aloud to another person in order to mark off the challenges. There are 3 levels of challenge - Bronze, Silver and Gold. Completion of each stage earns a certificate and CARE ticks at Bronze and CARE Challenges at Silver and Gold levels.

All students will start with Bronze which most will complete this term. It is important that students are reading books at their reading level to get the most from this challenge.  Once this level is completed they will have the Silver Level released to them. The resources are kept in a Google Classroom that students have access to. Here is a link to the Bronze levels challenges for your information.

Student Council Applications

We have discussed this matter with students this week. 

We are able to have 2 representatives per Pastoral Care class

Steps to take:

• Put your name forward by Monday by emailing your Pastoral Care teacher.

• Prepare a short speech about why you want to do this - up to 1 minute.

• Present this to your pastoral care class next week - Thursday 17 March.

• A majority vote will decide on representatives.

• Students at home can share their speech via Seesaw to be shared with the class.

Timetable for Week 7

Have a great weekend and stay safe.

The Kōmingo Teachers - Trish, Grant, Danny, Sarah, Rebecca and Caleb.