Curriculum Update - Our Learning Landscape

‘Innovative, Connected and Empowered learners, driving their passion for learning’

Kia ora tātou,

As term one 2019 is drawing to an end I was curious about all the amazing learning that has happened in the communities, so far this year. Normally I would share this at 'Celebration of Learning' on Fridays but as I took the opportunity to visit each learning area and ask our wonderful learners ‘What new learning have you learnt this term?

I was overwhelmed with the responses from our ICE DRIVER students. That I had to share it all!

• Kōwhai. We have learnt about the planets: Saturn, A sun is a star, Jupiter is the biggest planet. Writing about birthdays, rugby practice, going to fun places like Chipmunks, holidays, waterparks, writing is fun. Play-based learning (PBL) about: planets, bones. Maths: number of the day, counting circles, months of the year, telly marks for numbers, number frames and fans. Playing in the: sandpits, eagles lair and GaGa Pit. Sharing our Kowhai kindness- manaakitanga and being kind to each other. 
• Mānuka. Writing we are learning: 'WOW' words, spelling, word lab, writing about holidays, beaches and weekends. Creating kindness and being kind, mindfulness helps us calm, relaxing, slowing down and calmly breathing in and out. PBL workshops: ‘How to be a spy’ (Think I might sign up for that one), making not breaking, how to draw cartoons, dancing workshops. Having 'Discovery Friday' and celebrating birthdays.
• Tī Kōuka. Amazing learning happened at camp: working together, team building, encouraging others, taking risks and facing challenges. Show-n-Tell writing. Science: roadshow, classification. Maths collaboration with multiplication and division. Reading workshops on:  inferencing, visualisation and prior knowledge. QAR (question-answer relationship) strategies. PBL - ‘I see a purpose’ workshops and Swimming!
• Ngaio. Our painting for the Fête made me feel creative (I think they may be biased for me). Growing our confidence in writing with poems and anagrams, ‘Get NZ Writing’ programme and Got Ngaio writing too! Pobble for creative writing. 'You Cubed' maths.  New Games in FAB 5 plus great art about Frida Kahlo & Matisse. Celebrating Chinese New Year (Thanks, Chris.)  Cybersafety for BYOD. Dr. Smalley's science, I wonders & Hypotheses, observations and magnetic fields. What stereotypes are and how the brain works...
• Tōtara. Creating art from Matisse & Frida Kahlo ideas, ‘When the wind changes' work and origami. Story starters for writing, writing cards, interviewing each other, creative writing and ‘Get NZ writing’ programme. Having maths buddies for problem-solving. Reading ‘Holes’ by Louis Sacher , for chapter chat. Music, learning about different instruments, PE, learning new softball games. Creating stuff for the Fête, painting the canvases and making sherbet.  Our awesome 'Kindness day', having new roles in the school and learning sign language.
• WMI. Our investigations in the bus inquiry got another bus for tech. Quail Island EOTC experiences. Information reports based on passions and new interests, our earning of ‘Senior Privilege’. Challenge and problem-solving maths and sports with stats. Modern learning inquiry. Learning about E-learning environments.  Mr T’s spot quizzes. Frida Kahlo Art. Leadership learning about new roles around the school. New tech time at Hornby high with robotics, digitech, cooking. Learning about growth mindsets and positive attitudes.

How exciting to hear our school curriculum is so rich and full of engaged learners, well done and what great AKO!

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei

Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain

Kim Busch

Leader of Learning

West Melton Curriculum