The year certainly is flying past and it is great to see our students making the most of the varied learning opportunities that have been available to them.
Weedbuster Day
We would like to thank Mr Esson, Mr Gallagher (Horizons), Todd (Horizons), Jock, Mrs Minaar Mr Gillespie and Yvonne for helping make this day such a success. Watch the paper for our Apiti Weedbusters Press Release.
As we staggered off the bus we scurried off to help carry gear up to the bush.
All of us skipped up to the fence “The fence is electric ... the fence is electric!” repeats Mrs Cuming. Slyly slipping our bags under the electric fence Mrs Cuming starts to repeat “The fence is electric ... be careful,”
The commotion got louder as all of the kids wanted to go off around the bush! Our whanau group, the waste busters, carried on with our journey closer into the bush.
“You guys can go climb onto the hebe mountain but DON'T squash the hebes,” Mrs Minaar exclaimed.
As we examined the pieces of paper that Mrs Minaar shoved in our faces, the activity seemed pretty clear. She divided us up into two groups, Brooke, Logan and Chloe in one group
and Hannah, Marrack and Tyler in another group. We scurried off into the deep dark green bush. The different groups were escorted to follow different paths. Our brains got filled with bush science, the magnificent greens caught our eyes as we drove our bodies past.
It was like a stampede of elephants scurrying to find the nearest exit. Learning about the bush house was a great experience. Sitting on the hebe mountain waiting for the other group was getting pretty boring.
“ whhhhhh” whhhhh” The whistle blew. We sat down to munch on our lunch.
“Be careful. The fence is electric,” Mrs Cuming repeats for the 100th time.
After our quick break, we scrambled back into the bush, “10 minutes free time,” the teachers yell.
Without thinking all of us sprinted into our area of the bush. Running and screaming some of us got lost in the bush; turning the corners, looking for the patches of light, we make our way to the exit.
Closely watching the man handling the bugs, we sucked them in with a tube.
“Ahh don't swallow the bugs” David shouts.
The day slowly crept away from us. It felt colder and its appearance was darker.
Suddenly the whistle blew and it was time to leave.
Again Mrs Cuming escorted us to our cars and we drove back to school! - Waste Busters.
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Bush Stories - First we got into our Whanau groups. But Stanley wasn't in our group because he had to spray the trees with poison spray. Derek, Sarah and I had to do lots of steps, we did 190 steps. After that we were sweating. Because we did measuring of the area. It was a programme, so we had a plan. - Alex.
Straight away I jumped out of bed and got my breakfast ready. I zoomed to the bus. When the bus picked us up, we zoomed up to the bush, it was a mission to get out of the bus. When everyone got out of the bus we ran to the bush through the paddock. When we got there, my group did activities, we did a thing that you had to look up and look down. The other activity was we found some bugs. I had a big butterfly net and we caught two butterflies, they were white butterflies. - Tyler.
Up at the bush we learnt about bugs and it was fun. We did steps to measure. At the bush, we got to have a picnic. - Chloe.
I ran up and down the track and I played with Ben. Ben and I put the umbrella under the trees and I hit a tree and heaps of spiders came out. - Derek.
Squeak! Squeak! sounds the wheel of the wheelbarrow.
“Man this is a heavy load!” Cole exclaimed. The group finally arrived. We dumped our bags by a fence. Be careful! That fence is electric,” Mrs Cuming screams.
We rush to the gate and take our first steps at the bush. Mrs Fielder explains all the rules and then sends us off. She tells our group to stay behind though. She moves her mouth which form words and those words come out as ‘You'll be taking care of Mr Esson, the Bugman.”
“Bug man?” David said,
“Yes, Mrs Fielder says. “He is a special scientist that looks at bugs and insects.”
“Yay!” David yells in excitement. “He'll be here any minute.”
“So was that his stuff I hauled to the bush?”
“Yes.” Mr Esson arrives and the group gets started on the examination of bugs. He tells us the trick to catching bugs ...
You lay out an old sheet, dig up some dirt, spread it out and with a stick, turn it over and wait.... “Wow! What was that?”
“A bug.” Mr Esson replies. ... There goes another one!
“Quick Ben catch it!”
Ben hands the jar over to Mr Esson with the bug contained in it.
“Ohh, that’s a lovely moth,” he answered. Soon Ben, Cole, David, Lacey, Danni and finally Ryan all had a bug. We had worms, flies ,spiders and moths.
We all had an awesome and amazing day and we learnt how to find the most basic bugs in the most basic places. - Community Creators Group.
Zero Waste
I enjoyed making the compost bin and learning how to do it. I learnt that nitrogen is green and wet and that carbon is brown and dry. - Cole.
I enjoyed making the compost bin. I learnt how they built land fills and I learnt what the steps are for the carbon and nitrogen. - Stanley.
I enjoyed making our compost bin. I learnt about all the things that need to go into a compost bin. - David.
I liked looking at the worms. - Travis.
I enjoy making the composting. I learnt to pot the layers. I learnt that a months rubbish can fill a 30 story high building - Jack.
I enjoyed making the compost. Did you know that a months supply of NZ rubbish can fill a 30 storey building. You can also use compost on your garden. - Tom.
I enjoyed making the compost because it was fun. Tiger worms have 5 heads. Compost needs carbon and nitrogen. - Bailey.
I enjoyed making compost. Facts: Carbons are brown and dry, Nitrogens are green and wet.
- Huntah.
I enjoyed making the compost bin. I learnt about carbons and nitrogens. I learnt about a landfill.
- Hannah.
Worms have 5 heads. Worms don't have arms, legs or eyes, they are very sensitive. I enjoyed doing the play. - Charlotte.
The play and building the compost was cool. - Ben.
Facts : Worms have 5 heads. You can tell which end is the front because it has a saddle close to the front. I really enjoyed making the compost bin. - Brooke.
Reminders for our up and coming learning opportunities and events
The ear and eye specialist will be at school tomorrow at 9am to test a group of students.
This Thursday we are lucky to have two visitors at our school. Both are experts in their fields. Heather Bell will be working with us in ICT and Jim Essen will be working with our insect and pest group to help identify the insects and moths they have trapped in the bug catcher Mr Essen has designed and kindly loaned to us.
Board of Trustees
At the recent Board meeting, the Assessment and Reporting Policy (NAG 1:2) and the Self Review Policy (NAG 2:1), were reviewed and approved. If you would like to view these policies, please click on the Policies and Procedures tab above.
The next Board of Trustee meeting will be on Monday night the 10th of December. To view the minutes and reports for the previous meetings, please click on the BOT tab above.
Swimming Lessons
The final swimming lesson is tomorrow (Tuesday the 27th). Please check your Parent Notice 21/11/2012 for the transport details.
Oroua Group of School Athletics- Friday 30th December
These sports are happening this Friday, the 30th November (pp. date: 7th December), at Timona Park in Feilding. For these Oroua Athletics, you will need to be at
The
juniors (5,6 & 7 year olds), will be dismissed at lunchtime (from 11.30
onwards) and then become the responsibility of their parents or caregivers.
The day
is expected to conclude with the relays and prize giving at about 2:00pm for the senior students. However this is only a guide and parents
should return to the park early in-case the programme finishes early. Senior students lunch break will be about 12.05 to
12.35.
Parents
will need to provide transport for their own children and the bus will not run
at all on this day. If transport is
difficult, please contact the school. If
this event is postponed due to weather conditions, an announcement will come
over the radio from 7am onwards and the phone tree will operate. St
John’s
- we continue to practice athletics daily (weather permitting) in preparation for the Oroua Athletics Sports.Campbell Live
To view this programme, please copy the address below to your browser.
Tennis Accounts
Thank you to those parents who have paid for their tennis lessons, but those of you who still need to pay, Kurt would like these accounts settled as soon as possible please.
Oroua Leavers Dinner - This is an evening, held at the Tavern on the 3rd of December, especially for our year 8 leavers and their parents. Stephanie Dickins will be the guest speaker, we look forward to hearing from her about all her recent achievements.
Rangiwahia School Concert
On Monday the 10th of December the whole school will be travelling to Rangiwahia to view the dress rehearsal of their annual production. This is a great opportunity to observe the achievements of another local school and to glean ideas to further improve our own productions and each students contributions to this. We also appreciate it when Rangiwahia attends our dress rehearsal to give us a real audience.
We hope to organise another activity in Rangiwahia on this day as well. More information will be sent home prior to the day.
We will need transport to travel to and from Rangiwahia please, so please let Mary or Nicki know if you are able to help.
School Uniforms
Could all school uniforms be returned to school after the Oroua Athletics, but then as soon as possible before the end of the year please.
Library Books
All library books will need to be returned to school as soon as possible, so we can do a stock take. Students may take library books home during the holidays after this has been completed.
Social Skills
We are a small school where we continue to help students learn the skills to be caring friends and to empower them positively to be part of many different groups, both through the school and in the wider community. A reminder : There is no place for 'girlfriends' and 'boyfriends' at this school. We place value on our students learning the skills and strategies to get on with a wide variety of people all ages and stages. These are strategies they will take and further develop through life.
Thank You
A huge thank you to the Beard family who have raised a calf for the school that was donated to the school from the Hopkins Group.
End of Year Assembly
Our end of year assembly will be held on Friday the 14th of December at 2.00pm. We look forward to seeing you all here.
School will finish on Thursday the 20th of December at 3.00p.m.
Happy Birthday to the following students, we hope you have a great day!!
Charlotte - 27th November. Lauren - 1st December.
