Term 2

Welcome to Term 2! We have got off to a great start. This term we are learning about space and the planets as part of our topic "Reach for the Stars, A Journey into Space". We are also going to learn about Matariki as part of this topic.

Yesterday we were really lucky to have the Duffy Book Show come to our school. It was really funny and entertaining - we love being a Duffy School! The show was about how some libraries are getting shut down because not enough people go. So we are going to go to the Masterton Public Library for a visit tomorrow. Duffy books also gave us some reward cards for the Library. If you visit 5 times and get a stamp on your card each visit you will get a FREE book! We will all get our first stamps tomorrow.

Have a great week!

Healthy Lunch!

On Thursday Room 9 made healthy wraps and sandwiches in class. We all paid $2 and Miss Chapman bought all the food - meats, salads, eggs, cheese, bread, rolls, wraps - even pickled onions and sun dried tomato hummus! We all helped to cut up and prepare the ingredients. Then we all lined up and made our lunch. It was so yummy! Even Mr H came along and made a sandwich too!

Halfway

Wow we are now into the second half of term 1. Room 9 has started some new topics. For maths we are learning about addition and subtraction, and for our topic is called Healthy Inside Out. It is all about being healthy by eating the right things, exercising and keeping ourselves clean. We will be doing lots of neat activities in this unit. Swimming is not finished until term 4 but we are doing daily fitness drills with small balls, and weekly games like longball, tee ball, cricket and patter tennis.

Finally, a big thanks to the Room 9 parent helpers at the gala on Friday. It was great to see so many of you and we couldn't have done it without you. Have a great week :)

Swimming Sports

We had a great time showing off our swimming skills on Thursday!
Here are some pictures of Room 9 and the rest of the Junior Middles in action!






On Friday we had a mufti day where we dressed in red and black to raise money for the Christchurch Earthquake. Here is a photo of us:



Here are some photos of us enjoying Golden Time today:














Have a great weekend!

Week 4

Week 4 or Term 1 has been one none of us will ever forget. Room 9 has been shocked and saddened by the tragedy in Christchurch. Going about our usual routines seems somewhat trivial in the midst of such a disaster. It is important that we talk about these events as much as possible, and think of ways that we can help. Whilst we continue to learn and have fun at school, we remember the thousands of children in Christchurch whose lives have been turned upside down, and who may not be at school for some time. It was heart-warming to hear that Rathkeale College is taking in a number of students from Christs College for several weeks so that they do not miss out on so much school. Our school is certainly considering what we can do to help also.

The earthquake should also serve as a wake-up call to us - we also live in an area where earthquakes are common. Are you and your whanau prepared should one happen? I encourage you to check out http://www.getthru.govt.nz/web/GetThru.nsf/web/BOWN-7GZTZF?OpenDocument - it has all the information you need to get prepared.

On a brighter note, it was great to meet some parents at our 'open classroom' afternoon. If you were unable to make it, please know you are welcome to drop in anytime. In week 5 we are looking forward to swimming sports - the Junior Middles have been practising hard over the last few weeks and I'm sure all the effort will pay off on the pool. Swimming sports are on Thursday at 11am - we would love to see you there!

2011 is well underway!

Wow, we have been so busy learning and having fun that we have forgotten to update our blog!
So, welcome to Room 9's blog for 2011. We are a Year 3/4 class with 9 girls and 15 boys.

So far this year we have been focusing on 'Working and Learning Together'.

We made 'Co-operative Kids' - to create them we had to work in co-operative groups. Everyone had a different role like 'Hair Stylist' or 'Colour Co-oridantor'. We brainstormed together but then each member made the final decisions for their job. We sketched in our ideas, then went to the art room to paint them. Finally, we used a vivid to go over the outlines, cut them out and made a name label for them. Miss Chapman put them up on the wall as a reminder of how we worked as a team.

Here are some photos of us working together to create the kids:




Here is the final result!




A reminder that on Thursday there will be an 'open classroom'. This is an oppourtunity for parents and whanau to see for themselves what we are learning about in class. Our self-portraits are a must-see!

Have a great week!