Camp Kaitawa (Waikaremoana)

Well what can I say.. Week 6 of Term 4 we had an adventurous week up at Waikaremoana, the children enjoyed being together at Camp Kaitawa. They loved kayaking and the short walks but did a lot of moaning on the long walks. Needless to say their efforts were amazing and they completed some very hard walks. The look on their faces when we reached our destinations in our walks were priceless! The views around Lake Waikaremoana were spectacular and breath taking and well worth it! The children created memories together that will last a lifetime. Thank you to all the parent helpers who joined us on our walks and to our cooks who cooked some beautiful kai. Our camp couldn't have been as successful as it was without you all. We hope you enjoyed your time with us at camp!!

Camp Kaitawa

 







Lake Waikare-iti Walk

Black Beech Walk







Panekire Walk






 




Lou's Lookout walk

 






Swim at Tuai

A busy term for Te Mahia School

What a busy week we have had last week. Week 7 consisted of our Eastern Zone Athletics first up on the Monday, Year 7 and 8's had tech on Wednesday, our school bbq was Thursday and Friday we rocked out Water Safety Day down at Whangawehi!!

I was so proud of our Te Mahia School tamariki and how they applied themselves in each event at athletics last week. Everyone participated, supported and encouraged one another. Thank you to all those who supported our children and were able to join us on the day.

                    

 
Our school bbq was a success, a great turnout from whanau, friends and the community. The Year 8 speeches were excellent. They really stepped it up and proved to themselves that they can be confident speakers.

Waikawa - Jack & D'Magio

Portland Island – Trip Of A Lifetime

Te Mahia School is involved with the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group and is also a Bronze Enviro–school.  During the year, the school has had workshops both at school and in the local community. These workshops have focused on sharing the knowledge and skills of local kaumatua and kuia in the Mahia community. Their children act as kaitiaki by acting locally and thinking globally.

As part of a year long challenge, two students were selected to travel with the Department of Conservation to spend a week on Waikawa, (Portland Island).  Jack Delaney (Year 7) and D’Magio Karangaroa (Year 5) from Te Mahia School, Helen Jonas, Eru Karangaroa & Joan Ropiha left Mahia Beach last Tuesday by boat and travelled to the island. 

On the island, conservation work such as trapping for, rats and stoats was undertaken.  Tracking tunnels had peanut butter inside to entice pests to walk over the ink. This was used to determine which animals were on the island.  Small Darwin ants are on the island, a survey was done to find how wide spread they were. A green paste was used to lure them to eat it in little containers. If there were ants in the containers, lids were placed on them. The Darwin ant is bad news for the native wildlife.  The NZ shore plover (a critically endangered bird) is on the island and a goal of DOC is to increase the population of these birds. Also the NZ Dotterel (another endangered bird) is on the island as well.  The group observed these birds and were trying to see if there were chicks and nests. One NZ Shore Plover chick was caught, weighed and metal banded. 

Staying at the woolshed during the week was a comfortable base for the group. Meals and dishes were prepared and all mucked in to have a very enjoyable week.  This really was the opportunity of a life time for the 2 students as so many Mahia locals have never been to the island.  They are very grateful for the opportunity and learnt so much. Many thanks to the Tawapata South Incorporated committee for allowing the two students to travel to the island. Also to Helen Jonas who went above and beyond with making this opportunity happen for the two boys.

(Written by Jack and D'Magio)

Kapa Haka 2014

Term 4 - Exciting things happening!!

We have definitely had a busy start to the Term with Enviroschools and Pet Day, the Year 7 and 8’s travelling to Wairoa College for woodwork and cooking.

We have lots going on with the Whakarewa Run tomorrow, our Enviroschools Thursday at Kinikini Reserve and the Wairoa District Schools Kapahaka Festival at Mohaka School Friday. I so cannot wait to see our talented tamariki perform on stage. They have been practicing really hard with their tutor, Grace.

Next week we head off to Camp Kaitawa, it is going to be an amazing time and an opportunity for the class to work together in the outdoors, explore the surroundings and have fun. The tamariki will let you know how our ventures go!!

An example of Persuasive Writing

Here is an example of persuasive writing the children looked at in the classroom. They had to identify the topic of the writing, the emotive language used and the ideas in each paragraph. It proved for great discussion in class as some of the children were counter arguing the points made in the persuasive text. It made for a great debate!

NO MOBILE PHONES AT SCHOOL!

Mobile phones have no place in a school. And that’s that! What good reason is there for allowing students to bring an object capable of so much disruption into a school?

Firstly, lets look at the amount of mobile phone footage on youtube: we can see both teachers and students being humiliated in front of a worldwide audience.

It is appalling that people should be made to suffer in this way!

Some people may argue that students need to contact their parents. Newsflash schools have landlines that don’t suffer from poor reception, that don’t run out of credit and don’t disrupt learning. A member of staff will also be better at delivering any distressing news.

It is impossible impossible for students to concentrate on their learning when they are receiving a text from their friends and studies have revealed that they lead to poorer literacy as students learn text abbreviations. Sir John Dove in his recent government report recently said, “Schools that have a strict ban on mobile phones achieve, on average 20%, higher exam results than the schools that do not.

Can a teacher really compete with the latest gossip on facebook? Will a principal be able to intercept a bully texting their victims all sorts of malicious insults? Can a student justify bringing their mobile phone into school?

The answer is quite simply “No”.

What are your thoughts?

Persuasive Writing in Room 1

The children in Room 1 are learning how to write persuasive texts.

·    The are learning to:

• Identify what persuasive writing is.
• Use their writing to persuade others.
• Include an opening statement that identifies the topic or issue to be examined.
• Include some background information (Research skills).
• Arrange points in order of strength of persuasiveness and includes connectives and other language opinions.
• Support their opinion with evidence or examples.
• Include a supporting statement that sums up the argument.

Success Criteria

They will know when they have learnt this by being able to:

• Explain what persuasive writing is.
• Persuade others with their writing.
• Identify the topic in their opening statement.
• Include background information in their exposition that supports their position.
• Sequence their work in order of persuasiveness.
• Provide evidence that supports their position
• Sum up their ideas in a conclusion. 

·

Te Mahia School Gala Day 8th Nov 2014

Gala was amazing!!! The weather was lovely, who could have asked for a better weekend. We had an excellent turn out of people too. Our Te Mahia School Gala is our major fundraiser. It was a wonderful family event and a bargain hunter’s dream!

There were so many stalls to visit including coconut shy, bungee grab, darts, crayon canvas artwork by Room 1 children, tag my name, multi raffles, a library full of clothing and linen, and many more!

You wouldn’t go hungry at our gala, there was food galore; haangi, sausage sizzles, seafood chowder, chop suey, bbq, hot chips, waffles, and cakes and slices from our cake stall.

A big thank you to everyone who helped prepare and set up for the gala, donate items and prizes, man the stalls on the day, and helped with the big clean up at the end.

A massive weekend enjoyed by all!! Awesome work our Mahia Community, you never fail to deliver!!

Inquiry Learning - Guitar Heroes

Room 1 tamariki learning and practicing their chosen song or piece of their chosen song played by their favourite guitarist.

It is incredible to see the amount of energy the children are putting into their inquiry learning. They bounce ideas off each other, support each other and collaborate together, learning guitar chords or guitar tabs. I cannot wait to hear their individual and group guitar performances, and looking forward to their debates.

Term 4 Inquiry 'Watching and Looking' - GUITAR HEROES!!!!

This term Room 1 children are looking at 'Guitar heroes', for their inquiry learning. They are to research and present the following:

1) Select their favourite guitarist.

2) Watch and look at videos of their guitarist, playing the guitar.

3) Write down 10 questions that will form the basis of their research. Answer their questions about   their chosen guitarist (information report).

4) Learn to play a piece of music (by chosen guitarist). The children get to choose the length of the played piece and if they are playing chords/tabs.

5) Debate - Persuasive writing about their guitarist, informing the audience on why their guitarist is the best. The children know persuasive writing consists of and that they need to engage the audience and persuade them that their guitarist is the best! Their information reports will help support their persuasive writing.

JENNIFER BATTEN

Jeniffer Batten is undoubtedly my favourite guitarist! 

She could quite appropriately be dubbed the undisputed Queen of Shred, and one of the genre’s finest guitarists—male or female.

The “shred” classification is, however, too limiting a name for a player of such exemplary technique, inspiring talent, and amazing versatility.

At the age of eight, Batten began playing guitar, influenced by the Beatles and BB King. She later attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, becoming the school’s first female graduate in 1979. She was noted especially for her technical prowess and impressive two-hand tapping style. At the time, the eight-finger tapping technique Batten had mastered was a feat of complexity practically unheard of in guitar circles, and established her as a talent well ahead of her time.

Playing in various fusion/rock bands, Batten also taught at the Guitar Institute of Technology, and published two instructional books; Hal Leonard’s “Two Hand Rock” and “The Transcribed Guitar Solos of Peter Sprague.”

She was also asked by Michael Jackson to audition for his band. He picked her from a large number of qualified candidates to take on the guitar responsibilities in Michael Jackson’s band for the Bad (1987-89), Dangerous (1992-93), and HIStory (1996-97) world tours, as well as Jackson’s 1993 Super Bowl half-time performance (which was viewed by 1.5 billion people in 80 nations).

If you’re a guitar player, or a fan of shredding, you owe it to yourself to check out the “Queen of Shred.”  Regardless of your style, Jennifer Batten will undoubtedly prove an inspired addition to any playlist!