Senior News
By Beth Downie | Posted: Tuesday March 9, 2021
It is hard to believe we are halfway through the term and what a fantastic term it has been.
Class programmes are well established, group work is happening, maths and writing extension are in full flight and most importantly children are settled into routine and are comfortable in their classes.
We enjoyed a performance from the AirForce Band a few weeks ago. It was awesome to be a part of the audience at a big band concert. The tunes they played were a mixture of modern, NZ, and international songs. Toes were tapping and children were clapping along with enjoyment.
As part of our EOTC programme the Y5-6 students have enjoyed their time at Long Beach taking part in rock climbing and other beach activities. It is fantastic to see our tamariki challenging themselves, getting out of their comfort zones, and persevering even when aspects of the climb felt frightening. As always, a huge thank you needs to go to our parent helpers, many of whom are now sporting blisters from belaying for hours!
The whole school is about to embark on a unit of work about the untold story of early Māori migration to Aotearoa and the skill of the early navigators who planned their voyage from Hawaiiki to Aotearoa with precision and intent. We will be using a new resource put together called Mātauranga. You may have read the article in the Otago Daily Times last week about Sir Ian Taylor's involvement with the creation of this resource. All teachers will be listening to a presentation from Sir Ian Taylor next week that will help us in our teaching of this Voyagers unit. If you have an interest, connections with, or are able to help us in any way with waka design, astronomy, tidal patterns, bird migration Te Ao Māori - we would love to hear from you! Nau mai haere mai!
Year 6 Camp 2021 - The dates have been set for this camp as 23 - 26 November. I surveyed our parent helpers after our 2020 camp, many of whom have had older children attend camp previously and many have had been helpers before also. All responses were 100% in favour of camp in term 4 not only for potentially better weather but with meeting our objectives of camp, as a celebration of the end of Y6, and friendships are more well-formed. I will be asking for parent help at the start of Term 3 in order to allow time for police vetting to occur.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support, and please don't hesitate to get in touch if we can help in any way.
Ngā manaakitanga
Beth Downie and the Senior Syndicate team.
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