2023 has been a busy and varied year of learning and outside the classroom events, for us all. We are a class of 32 students and our teachers are Mrs Patten and Mrs Stinson.

As we come to the end of our school year we take time to review our year and share what we have learned and enjoyed, and been grateful for during the 2023 School year.  

Liam P: I enjoyed doing a Passion Project because I was able to play Minecraft and build a secret base for fun.  I am grateful for my friends who are funny and play with me.

Marc: My highlight of the year is going to Minecraft Club because I get to play with my friends. I am grateful for my friends because they play with me.

Mahek: i enjoyed Winter Sport because in my netball team we won most of our games. I am grateful for my friends as we have  good times together.

Lucy: My highlight has been looking after the chickens because it has been fun although it was really sad when Bob died. I am grateful for my friends at school.

Gary: i enjoyed Winter Sport because I was able to play football at Hagley Park. i am proud of representing Oaklands Te Kura o Ōwaka at the South West Zones competition.

Benji: My highlight was Athletics because I know I am good at it. i am grateful for my friends at school.

Oscar: My highlight was Minecraft , the Water Park that I created for my Passion Project because I got to build and it is fun. i am grateful for the teachers for teaching us.

Liam H: A highlight for me was when our rugby team came 3rd= at the South West Zones Rugby Tournament. it was fun and we've all got a really good bond together. I am grateful for my friends because they are always there for me.

Nerio: My highlight was being able to use Minecraft and Scratch as part of my learning because I enjoy these things.

Charlotte: My highlight is the Senior Choir because we went to the Music Festival and on the last Tuesday of the term we are singing Christmas Carols with the Community. I am proud of our team's win at the Christchurch Literacy Quiz.

Caleb: My highlight for this year was finishing my story called "The Apocalypse" because it was going to take me a while to do but thankfully, I finished it. I am proud of performing at School Assembly many times this year.

Sebastian: My highlight for this year is a Scratch animation I have been working on in term 4 which is based on a popular video game called "Five Nights at Freddy's" because It has been really easy for me to code and make on Scratch because of the simple controls/Icons. I am proud of how my animation looks right now. I am proud of a story I have been making called "Kermit's Holiday" because of all the effort I have been putting into the story and writing.

Ariel: My highlights for learning are the Christchurch City Landmarks and the Integrated Learning Art Gallery trips because they were fun and also it is great to learn new things.  I am grateful for Naomi for being a nice friend because she is always kind to her friends.

Naomi: My highlights were the Landmarks and Art Gallery trips also the museum in Integrated learning because we went to lots of places and we got to play on Margaret Mahy playground. It was really interesting when we did the Matariki dance.

Zooey: My highlight was learning about cultures because I learned so much about the cultures of different countries.  I am grateful for my friends (my friends are Ariel, Naomi and Ruby)I am proud of myself for being a good girl for this year.

Mogeon: My highlight for this year was the Gala Performance that the Year 5/6 team worked hard to get it the best as possible. The Gala Performance was my highlight for this year because the whole Year 5/6 worked as a team and made the sound very good for the people who were watching the Gala Performance. | am grateful for having good friends at school and having fun playing football with my friends at morning tea and lunchtime.

Dhruti: I enjoyed being in the Senior Choir because there's lots to do with the choir for example the Music Festival. I am grateful for my friends for keeping my trust.

Nimrat: My highlights have been Drama lessons and Bee Club as I have learnt a lot of new skills. I am grateful for Ellie Grace for being the best friend to me this year.

Ellie Grace: My highlight is Jump Jam because it was so much fun because we were preparing for a competition and at the same time hanging out with our friends and getting exercise too.  I am grateful for one of my friends and her name is Lily Redding. She has had my back all year and although we have had a a few disagreements she is a really good friend and I am lucky to have her as a friend.

Mason: My highlight as a Year 5/6 in 2023 was the Art Gallery Trip. This was my highlight because I thought the information was interesting there. I also liked playing at playground there and overall, i had loads of fun.  I am grateful for Marc for helping me with Integrated Learning.

Lily: My highlight for the year was Jump Jam because we trained hard for the competition and did really well. I am proud of the progress I have made with my learning this year.

Emilio: I have enjoyed playing sports like basketball because it was fun doing games with my friends. I am grateful for my friends letting me play touch.

Zyen: I have enjoyed sport because I am a sporty person. I am proud of my learning because I did a good job.

Arioch: I have really enjoyed being part of the Kapa Haka group as I have learned a lot of new skills.

Miya: My highlight for this year is the School Production of Matariki because it was really fun and I have never been at school at night before. I'm proud of my singing at the GALA because I was really good at it and I remembered the song lyrics really well.

John: My highlight has been using Matific to help my Maths. Matific is fun and it helps my Maths by practising things I have learned in class and then I can get better at Maths.  I am proud of my performance with the Kapa Haka at Tūhono and the School Gala.

Harseerat: My highlight was choir and we went to the Music Festival. I am proud of my Jump Jam participation because our Year 5/6 Freshman team came 3rd.

Carmelo: My highlight for this year was my iTime project because I was able to learn more about my interest in cooking.

Mrs Patten: I want to thank all our whānau for their support during the year and supporting us to help grow your young people into great citizens in our community. We have had many highlights as mentioned above, and as always the trips outside the classroom are always memorable but the learning progress within the classroom and the growth of social and emotional skills is always a pleasure for teachers to witness. 

I want to wish all those students staying at Oaklands Te Kura o Ōwaka for 2024, or those leaving us, the very best in their future endeavours.  Remember to get involved and make a difference in the communities you are in. 

Kia kaha.