How children grow up?

These pictures have surfaced of some of the M team children in their younger days. As they leave the M team at the end of this year and enter the A team, you must think where have all the years gone. But don't worry, the years are coming where you can pull out those photos that they forgot about and post on the classblog. It's not embarrasing, but if they don't behave...

The ITM Cup and Ranfurly Shield Visits O.L.A

King's Swimming Term 4

The children in Room 8 are swimming this week and next week at King's Swim School. The children have thoroughly enjoyed their time at King's and they have been having a lot of fun. Some children have made their own fun. Currently the fashion is to use your goggles as a head band to make your hair stick up, as you can see from our Rm 8 model.

The children are on their best behaviour at King's all the time. They're pretty impressive!

Mister A

Kids for Kids Concert Photos

Naghol – Pentecost Land Dive

Naghol, a kind of primitive bungee jumping, involves men and boys leaping from a great height, with only a vine tied around their ankle. Young males are encouraged to jump before they can walk and they learn by jumping from rocks into the ocean, or off small towers. Boys can only take part in the naghol after circumcision, which occurs when they are seven or eight. After their first jump, the boy's mother throws a baby blanket into the air, signalling her son's childhood is over. It'll come as no surprise Pentecost Island is where AJ Hackett got the idea to introduce bungee jumping to the world.

Each April, when the first yam crop is ready for harvest, the people in the south of the island begin building enormous towers from lianas, branches, vines and tree trunks.

After about five weeks, when the tower is 20-30 metres high, local males very carefully select a vine. Its size is of utmost importance. A vine just 10cm too long could mean death or serious injury.

In April and May, when the vines are strong and elastic, the men make many jumps. As they near the ground, the jumpers curl their heads under themselves and let their shoulders impact with the earth. Their belief is this will make the ground fertile for the following year.

http://getaway.ninemsn.com.au/fspacific/vanuatu/17320/pentecost-land-dive

Willowbank Visit

Today the children in the M team visited Willowbank Wildlife Sanctuary. The children explored the various animals and most of the children had their favourites sorted by time we left. Joshua K loved the 'dancing otters' and if you scroll down their is a short video clip. Phoebe received a slight fright from most animals, however she jumped the furthest when the otters leapt at her. Brooke did warn her. Roger took five children on an extended tour with him. Losing a parent on a field trip would be a first. Roger showed some children how to get the birds to land on their arms. Jonty and Ricky were the most successful with many birds landing on them. Check the photos out. The group of children who explored Willowbank with Mr Lane and I thought the Ring tailed lemurs were doing yoga. They had a strong pose and were meditating.(Blocking out the children). The children had the opportunity to touch the Finned eels that are endemic to New Zealand, and also saw the NZ Falcon, Kiwi and Tuatara. The children learnt so much and their enthusiasm will allow for some fantastic inquiry questions. Mister A

Ricky with his bird on his arm.

A ten year old tuatara. The children patting the finned eels.

Skipping: Skip Rope for Heart

Ricky showing his awesome skipping skills.

Brooke and Olivia waiting to jump.

This term the children have been exploring their skills in skipping. The children have been learning to skip in a variety of ways and have started exploring the long rope. Some children have shown their excellent skills at skipping and I caught some on camera.

These children slightly struggled.

Enda and Luc showing the girls how to skip.

Mister A

Freaky Friday

The children looked absolutely funny in their Freaky Friday outfits. For some reason all the children asked if I was Elvis Presley, not sure why. The children wore wigs, pyjamas,masks and much more.
The children enjoyed themselves, but were worried when doing fitness that their costume was not appropriate. The funniest part was every time Ellie was skipping her slippers would fly off her feet.

Animal Inquiry

This week the children in Room 8 have been absorbing information about animals. We firstly looked at the polar bear and were amazed at how is is the largest land meat eater and largest bear in the world.
We viewed some YouTube clips of some interesting characters jumping into the zoo enclosures to have a closer look at these amazing creatures. The purpose of the clips were to show the children that the animals are not dangerous, but humans put themselves into dangerous situations.
In Room 8, we also learnt that Americans fly to Canada and pay up to $37,000 US Dollars to hunt a polar bear. These Trophy Hunters are not allowed to hunt polar bears in Alaska (a US State) and therefore cross the border. The clip we watched was asking for the protection of the polar bear. I think it would be a great idea for these creatures to be proteccted as numbers are continuing to deccrease.
The children also learnt about mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds.

Post a comment about your favourite animal.

Children enjoying their ice-blocks.

The children enjoying their ice-blocks.

SmartBoard Fun

The children have been learning to use the SmartBoard, as well as Mr A. It is great fun!

First Holy Communion Pictures

Here are some pictures from the children's First Holy Communion. Well done Year 4s.

Air Force Museum Visit

Today, the M team went to the Air Force Museum. The children of Room 8 had a fantastic time and many thanks to the parents who helped on this outing. The above photos are a snippet of the fun the children and the teacher had.

The bomb raid gave the children a chance to experience what it was like in the Pacific during World War 2. The children also experienced the role and responsibility of the Air Force in New Zealand today.

Ask your child what they enjoyed the most. It would be a great family outing and they can share some history that they learnt about the aircrafts.

Mister A

Serving Our Country Wall Display

Thank you to all the families who have been able to send some photos of loved ones who have served their country.

The wall display has started and the holidays are a great time to look through photo albums so we can add to the display.

Thank you to Zanthe, Olivia and Claudia for the photos you have shared with the class.

Enjoy your holidays Room 8 and parents.

The Burmese Python