Teach and Tell 2012

Today the Senior Room had their first 'Teach and Tell' for the year.  Well done Liam for your informative Presentation on 'Ninjago Lego'.  If you don't know anything about this check out his presentation under the 'Teach and Tell' tab. 

Thank you National Bank

A huge thank you to the National Bank for their generous donation of books for our school.  We really appreciate your support.

News from Ms J and the Junior Room

The best lessons are those that are connected to meaningful experiences. This week the Junior Room's lesson ticked all those boxes. In their Math lesson on measurement and estimation they were able to measure liquids while making a cake and jelly.  They also had  to estimate which size cake tin they would need for their cake, this was very challenging especially when the tins were all different shapes.

Room One has made a fantastic start to school. They are all enjoying the Reading Programme and the variety of books in the classroom.  Keep up the great work. From Ms J



WELCOME

Hello to the students, families and friends of Waitahuna School.In the coming months we will be keeping you updated with our many activities in our busy classrooms.

Try to visit our Blog regularly so that you don't miss anything!
Please share it with all of your family and friends and remember we appreciate reading your comments and feed-back.

Christmas in the Park



Click the photo above to see a 'shortened' version of the
12 days of Christmas

Yesterday Waitahuna School held its end of year celebration 'Christmas in the Park'.  The children entertained a large crowd in the school grounds with 7 items.  Starting with a Maori welcome through song and dance,  then a bracket of songs about being a 'kiwi kid celebrating a New Zealand christmas', and finishing with 2 traditional carols. All children were awarded certificates for their achievements through the year, and our Year 6 leavers were presented gifts for the completion of their schooling at Waitahuna.  At the end of the concert the children showed the true meaning of Christmas and presented all the guests with truffles, shortbread and plants that they had baked and grown at school. 

Well done Waitahuna pupils you have made your community very proud! Enjoy a safe and fun-filled holiday with sunny days and a little bit of rain at night - (we have to keep those farmers happy)

Merry Christmas from Mrs Blackmore

Design a Christmas card winner

It has been fantastic to see the effort put into our 'Hands on homework' challenges this term.  Our final challenge was to design a Christmas card with a New Zealand theme.  We were very impressed with the entries and would like to congratulate our 1st prize winner : Jack Murray

Christmas in the Park - this Thursday 12am at school

At school we have been discussing Christmas and its true meaning.  We have discussed that Christmas is not simply about what we get, but more importantly about giving to others. The story below shows these values in a very real context.

We have all been very busy practising for 'Christmas in the Park' which will be held this Thursday.  Last Thursday when we were outside practising some songs we were very interested to see a vehicle drive slowly around the school block.  To our surprise the vehicle parked by the side of the road beside the tennis courts.  The children didn't let this phase them and continued practising their singing. As we watched a couple climbed out and started having a picnic while listening to the children singing!  In the true spirit of Christmas our Year 6 students carried over a plate of truffles that we had been making that morning and gave it to the couple to have with their picnic.  The children received some lovely feed-back on their singing, so we hope you are equally impressed with our traffic stopping performance on Thursday - We look forward to seeing your there.

Hands on homework - Our last for the year!

That's right. Our last 'Hands-On homework' challenge has been posted.  Look under the 'Hands-On homework' tab to see the full details.  The picture below may give you a clue. from Mrs Blackmore

Dairy Farm Visit

We had an interesting and informative visit to the Dairy farm at Telford.  If you click the link below you will be able to see a short video we made of our trip.
The Dairy Farm

Hands-On Homework ~ Week 6

We had a great response to last weeks Hands-On homework challenge.  Fantastic effort from the Junior Room with 3 pupils taking part and1 pupil from the Senior Room. Ms J , Mrs Blackmore and our biggest Blog fan 'An Interested Person' also took part.
  This weeks challenge has been posted under the 'Hands-On homework' tab and we look forward to seeing if the Senior Room can this week have more children taking part than the Junior Room!

Christmas in the Park (at School) 15th December 12.00pm

Hands on Homework - Week 5

This picture might give you a clue
of the next challenge!

Well done Waitahuna school.  Last weeks hands-on homework had the most interest from children and viewers to the Blog!  The photos of you helping in the kitchen are great, check them out under the 'Hands-On homework Tab.

This weeks challenge has been posted!  I can't wait to see who gives it a go! Check out the 'new' challenge on the 'Hands-on homework Tab.

Remember to share the Blog address with Grandparents, family and friends.  We all enjoy hearing feed-back on what we have been learning.

Check out the 'our Garden' tab, which has been updated today.

Check out the Hands-On homework Tab

Look at the fantastic photos I have been sent of our children taking-on the 'Hands on Homework Challenge' - great work Waitahuna pupils.  Check out the photos at the
HANDS-ON HOMEWORK TAB

Hands - On Homework

 For the rest of the year we will be posting a 'Hands-on homework' challenge for the students at Waitahuna school. We are hoping to put a new challenge up every week and some of these activities may require help from parents.Please look at the 'Hands-On Homework' tab if you are interested in trying this weeks challenge! Hands-on homework isn't compulsory.

Book Launch ~ It's OK!

Congratulations to Jo Heslop for the launch of her book "It's OK!' We look forward to hearing of its success and the role it plays in teaching children that it is OK to be different.

 It’s OK ~ Written by Jo Heslop, Illustrated by Annie Roska
One day a little boy named Brody starts at a new school.  Brody has special needs and this story tells how his classmates come to realise that “It’s ok to be different!”

If you would like more details about purchasing the book please contact the email address below.
clare.waitahunaschool@xtra.co.nz
Click here to print an Order Form

Check out the 'Our Garden' tab
which has been updated today!

Waitahuna Goldrush 150th Celebrations

Waitahuna School pupils were centre stage on Saturday as they entertained the huge crowd at Waitahuna Gully. Their fame did not end there as they were invited by Mayor Brian Cadogan to unveil the plaque commemorating 150 years since the discovery of gold in the gully. Well done to all the pupils who made their Teachers and Parents very proud.

Waitahuna School walking down the Gully Road

Charlie, Abby & Danielle

Olly looking very 'dapper'

In fine voice

Hannah

Unveiling the plaque

Olly and Jack at the Sluice



If you haven't had the opportunity to read todays 'Otago Daily Times'

click on the photo below to go to the article online.

ODT Photo ~ 31st October 2011

Gardening at Waitahuna

We have an exciting new learning opportunity at Waitahuna School.  If you would like to find out more about it check out the 'tab' above that says 'OUR GARDEN'.

Winners at Waitahuna

We have had our own competition running during the Rugby World Cup.  Miss Goss took it in hand to organise a 'Kicking Competition' to see who could kick over the goal post.  All the pupils were encouraged to enter and then through a process of elimination the kicking skills began to show through.  This week we were proud to award the following prizes.
Waitahuna Rugby World Cup ~ Kicker of the Year 2011 = Jake Lyders
Runner-Up = Olly Bugden
Highly Commended = Bradley Benington, Josh Allen & Jack Murray

During the World Cup we held a competition to see who could guess the Winners of the RWC. Today we were proud to award
Taylor 1st prize for choosing NZ to win, France 2nd and Australia 3rd.
Danielle was 2nd choosing NZ 1st and France 2nd. Well Done

From October 21, 2011

We are the champions

What a fantastic Rugby World Cup!

We are the champions!

Hard work + Practise = Success

News on the Wind Farm

I am sure all of our followers have read the latest news on the Mt Stuart Wind Farm in the Otago Daily Times today.  If not click on the photo below to go to the article online.

Holiday News

Hi Waitahuna School pupils,
A few changes have taken place on the Blog with the addition of a page for the 'Senior Room Teach and Tell' and also some RWC Acrostic Poems on the Senior Publishing Page.  Please take a look.
I hope you all have a well earned break during your holiday. 

Visiting Mount Stuart Wind Farm

Yesterday Pioneer Generation invited Waitahuna School up to the Wind Farm at Mt Stuart.  We were joined by some of the 'Friends of our School' and Grandparents who were interested to see what has been happening at the wind farm.  The weather up at the wind farm was really windy and we could see why they were building a wind farm up there.  The staff from Pioneer Generation said it was the windiest day they have had while constructing the wind farm.  We were really surprised at the progress that has been made since our first visit.  One interesting fact that we discovered was that there is only going to be three red 'aircraft warning beacons' shining on the wind farm at night.  One pupil from the Junior Room described these red lights as 'More beautiful than the stars' and then added "and you do know the wind farm produces Renewable Energy!". 

Thanks again to Pioneer Generation for their support.