Student Learning
Junior School
Room 20 has enjoyed their swimming sessions this term. As well as loving cooling off in our Summer afternoons, we loved the pool because there were lots of successes that were celebrated over our swimming time.
One of the major learnings that many of us worked on before even getting into the water, was keeping track of our belongings and being able to get changed and dressed independently! For some of us hopping into the water, knowing how to enter and exit the water safely was something that we got better at doing. It was very exciting seeing some of our friends be able to leave the side of the pool for the first time and be able to confidently move around and even put their face in or go under the water for the first time. Others of us worked on being able to float with the aid of a flutter board and it was something to celebrate when others could swim just by themselves from one side of the pool to the other. Through all our swimming sessions we focused on enjoying the water, having fun, being water confident and trying new things. In our groups we all improved on the skills that we started with. Our games in the pool promoted team work, coordination, and social skills like communicating and following directions.
There were so many reasons to be proud of ourselves. Please enjoy some of the children in Room 20’s swimming pictures and self assessments on where they think their swimming learning has grown.
We can’t wait for Term 4 to get back in the pool again!!
Middle School
Last Friday the Middle School held our Swimming Sports Day with all the 8 and 9 year old students competing in a variety of width and length races. Everyone had the opportunity to complete in 3 events, some of which include streamline kick, freestyle, backstroke and breast stroke.
After the races, students could order sausages and juice to enjoy as part of a fundraiser.
It was great to see everyone giving their best shot in their races and being fantastic spectators too.
Here is what Tate said about his experience:
Senior School
Swimming Sports
Splash, a frigid, nervous feeling flicks through my body as I manoeuvre through the water. A firm death stare sits upon my opponent's face across from me as we move symmetrically down the pool. A wave of hesitation ran through my body as I kept pushing forward to the end of the pool. I slowly glanced to my left as I was losing sight of my opponent as I glided past him. My body kept pushing forwards as my legs smashed through the water. Suddenly, a rush of unexpected triumph burst through my body. I won! I won my race! I breathlessly strutted to Miss T and claimed my 2 house points for Kauri. I happily skipped back to my house and celebrated with Donny and my friend Jay.
Rambunctious Writers Writing Group
Harlyn
Pūkorokoro Shorebird Centre
On Thursday the 6th of March rooms 8, 22, 23 and 24 took a bus to Pūkorokoro Shorebird Centre. Room 23 and 24 travelled in the same bus together and Room 22 and 8 travelled on the other bus. When we arrived at Miranda after an extremely long ride we ate morning tea with all four classes under a huge gazebo and then we split off into our bus groups.
First rooms 23 and 24 stayed at the Shore Bird Centre with Chelsea, one of the hosts and amazing expert, while the other two classes went down to the Robert Findlay Reserve to see the birds in real life. Chelsea gave us a talk about all the birds, our main focus was the kuaka, the bar-tailed godwit. We learned that the female godwit stays white and brown but the male turns an orangy red colour during mating to impress a partner. We also learned that when they migrate north they fly all the way to Alaska and only have one stop, but when they fly back to New Zealand they don't stop at all, and it takes them nine whole days!!!
The second activity that we did was down at the Robert Findlay Reserve. We saw heaps of awesome and cool birds like the pied stilt, female and male godwits and so many more. We had awesome tour guides that kindly set up their telescopes so we could see the birds closer up and get a better view of them. We also got to see the godwits shifting spots when the tide was coming in.
After an amazing day of learning about birds, we went to Kaiaua Beach and played on the playground, explored and had a swim. Mr Mason and the teachers had secretly organised some delicious hot chips from the fish and chip shop which were so yum!! Then we got all packed up ready for our long drive back.
What an amazing day!!!