Monday Madness

Good afternoon,

Another mad rush of a day to try to get everything packed in was had here in Room 2 today.

Bit of this...



...bit of that...


...and a bit of the other...


...whilst trying to get our Listing completed for our Inquiry.

I won't be at school tomorrow, I have an appointment that was made ages ago, but I only remembered on Sunday night! Mrs Wynn will be back in the room.

I'm sure the children will have an excellent day.

CU on Wednesday,

Mr Grant

Oh, and don't forget to input your pedometer data.

More Chopper Clips

Good evening,

I came across these clips on the RNZAF web site while I was trying to get my head around our Inquiry questions this afternoon...




I have also added a couple of new Numeracy links to the right of your screen.

CU in the morning,

Mr Grant

Newsletter for Term 2, Week 7

Good evening,

Here is the newsletter for Term 2, Week 7.

CU Monday, fully accessorized,

Mr Grant

Horrah!!

Horrah!!

My baby is back!

Peter has managed to resurrect my tablet...by taking out the battery, unplugging everything...and leaving it to forget what it was so worked up about, for all of 5 seconds!

In my defense, I did take out the battery, but I had left it plugged in, so it still had power with which to mull over and sulk about...what ever was bothering it! Stup...silly thing!

Such a simple solution to that which had been vexing me all day!

So now I'm off to take my files off the Pod laptop and put it away again.

Ah, but it's ever so nice to have the tablet back again. I almost had to resort to using pen and paper to teach writing!

Mr Grant

Wet Wet Horrible Wet Day Friday

Yuk, but the weather's foul.

Good afternoon,

Today was a very laid back affair. Well, for the children anyway. My tablet's on the blink. Litteraly, it's just sitting there with the power light blinking at me. So I'll be using one of the school laptops until it's sorted out...one way or the other...sigh...ain't ICT grand?

But I digress.

We had Mass...


...what a fine looking bunch...


...some party food for Alison...




...and some free time.


We did try a little inquiry (asking slightly smaller questions to help figure out our big questions), but we'll be doing more of that (and trying to find out the answers - parents, ummm, any help Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons would be greatly appreciated!) next week.

Right on with trying to pick up the mess that is my digital life!

Mr Grant

The House in the Tree

Good afternoon,

Again,

Here, for your edification and delight is Green Reading Group's latest photo book The House in the Tree.

Bye for now,

Mr Grant

Wet Day Thursday

Good afternoon,

'Cept it ain't really that good. Trust me, I'm just back inside after doing crossing duty.


Anyway, late breaking news, that I had completely forgotten about until I was reminded this morning, Room 2 will be attending Mass tomorrow at 11:15. We won't be doing any of the readings, we will just go along and enjoy Mass without having the stress of doing anything for it. So, if you would like to join us, please feel free.

Right, back to today.

Did us a bit of reading...


Oh bother it, the recording of the story they were reading into the mike (beautifully, I might add) has not worked. Both files they created have been corrupted, though I don't know why. Bother.


...singing...


...and then quite a bit of Jump Jam at the movies, 'stead of soccer outside.





CU at church tomorrow,

Mr Grant

Wet Day Wednesday

Good afternoon,

Or should I say 'Glub glub glub' as Room 2 slowly sinks?


Anyway, the boys, the children and I still have a rather fun day here at school doing just normal school type stuff.

There was of course Jump Jam in the hall...


...(in the hall? Like, where else would we do it on a day like this?!) before some more Reading and then lunch inside.



After lunch and a bit of R.E. (please have your children recite to you the Sign of the Cross in Maori...)

Ki te Ingoa,
o te Matua,
me te Tamaite,
me te Wairua Tapu.
Amene.

I of course sent the children out for a run in the rain.



The children also got put into their Inquiry groups, and came up with their groups' names.

Right, tomorrow, yes, please come in your P.E. gear as normal. Who knows we may be able to use the courts sometime in the afternoon...? Leave the dress uniform at home.

By for now,

Mr Grant and the Boys.

No J Team Sunday Mass

Good evening,

One other thing that I was meaning to mention.

There is no J Team Mass this Sunday. Apparently the Sunday Mass that has been spotted in the newsletters of late is for the M Team, not us.

Just to clear things up.

Mr Grant

Do Whacky Do

Good afternoon,

Again,

White Reading Group would like to present, for your edification and enjoyment, Do Whacky Do


Mr Grant

Wet Day Tuesday

Good afternoon,

I am expecting that all of this week's posts are going to start with the words "Wet Day"!

Case in point, here we are on the way to Jump Jam this morning.


'Course that didn't stop me getting them to run to the hall and back, and to the hall again and back again, after lunch. They needed to stretch their legs.

That was after an entertaining R.E. lesson where the boys and girls faced off to see who was able to recite the Hail Mary the best.


I'm sorry to say that the girls were the clear winners!

We also Listed our Big Question this afternoon. Here they are...all at once! I'll go through them and see which questions are similar, and try to sort out co-operative groups accordingly. Still not sure how to work out the mechanics of it all, vis-a-vie working alongside the Year 1s...

You would have received my e-mail (if not, read the last post) about the pedometers. Basically, fill in the children's number of steps at home. But above all, don't fret about it!

Forgotten the passcode? It's written on the back of the pedometers (should be one long line, no gaps, but I had to break it into two 'cause there just wasn't the room).

Any questions, please send me an e-mail.

Bye for now,

Mr Grant

Pedometers

Good afternoon,

Just before I get into another meeting, I have just sent all of you this by e-mail. I was supposed to hand out notices this afternoon, but I forgot!

25 May

My Greatest Feat

The programme kicked off yesterday with great excitement at OLA. All children have a pedometer and are trying hard to get as many steps as possible.

Each child has a user name and password that will help them (perhaps with your support) log onto the website and enter the number of steps each day. There is no set time that this has to be done, just whatever fits in with the family. Once you have entered the steps reset the pedometer back to zero.

If you have no computer access at home please let us know and your child will be given a buddy at school who will help them enter their steps using the computers as school. If a pedometer gets broken or lost please let your child’s classroom teacher know as there are quite a few spare at school for this purpose.

This is a chance for your child to learn about and demonstrate responsibility. Encourage them to remember to bring the pedometer to school each day. If they should forget it will just mean that they have less steps recorded for that day. Encourage our children to be active and to keep up with the news of the All Whites as they travel to South Africa.

Thanks for your support with this,

More later,

Mr Grant

Wet Day Monday

Good afternoon,

Oh what a lovely day!

And that's all we have to say about that.

Umm, didn't get our Big Questions written down for our inquiry. We ran a little late with R.E and handwriting...and I got distracted by playing this...


...and this!


The children did at least start thinking and verbalizing what they might like to find out about our Defense Force.

I would encourage you to talk to them about it at home, just to stir the thinking pot, so to speak. Ideally, we're after Why, How, Who questions, but What questions should be ok too. So long as they don't have an easy or quick answer! "Why did New Zealand fight in WW2?" is a good inquiry question. "When did WW2 start?" is not!

As I said in the newsletter, I'll be working closely with the Year 1s, the Year 2s will be in small groups and trying to go it alone!

Other than that, tomorrow looks to be much the same as today. No P.E. tomorrow, P.E.'s on Thursdays now.

Mr Grant

Oh, and Pedometers / My Greatest Feat journey/exercise/thingie. We'll be keeping track of the children's numbers here at school, rather than for you to do it at home. Each Room 2 child has been assigned a senior to do it for them. Please remind your children to bring them to school.

Newsletter for Term 2, Week 6

Good afternoon,

Here, in all it's multi-functional glory, is the newsletter for Term 2, Week 6.

CU at First Communion, 11 a.m. tomorrow,

Mr Grant

Flat Out Friday

Good afternoon,

Well, that was another busy end to another busy week.

We headed out for a bit of Jump Jam...


...and did a spot of bird watching on the way back.





After Mass...


...we did a spot of NZDF history, before assembly, free time/kapa haka and home. To which half a dozen children merrily trotted off without their sports shoes!

Ah well.

Next week looks to be a little more routine...

Mr Grant

Mum Chums

Your official invitation/welcome to
"Mum-Chums"
(the awesome group of " OLA SCHOOL MUMS" who get together for fun times)

Thursday 10th June 2010

Old Vicarage Halswell
730pm...wine...coffee...dessert


When I was little,I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, You would be shown the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mum.
Another will sit beside you at school as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,' Another , 'Let's fight together,' Another , 'Let's walk away together.'
One friend will meet your spiritual need, Another your shoe fetish, Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion, Another will be your clarifier, Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life, On whatever the occasion, On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself. Those are your friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one person,But for many, it's wrapped up in more.
One from primary school One from high school, Several from the college years, A couple from old jobs,
Some your childs friends mothers , On some days your own mother, On some days your neighbour,
On others, your sisters, On others, your nieces, & aunts,
On others, your neighbours
And on some days, your children.

Hope to see you there............ everyone welcome!

Cheers,

Leanne (Brooks)

Thursday Soccer Day

Good afternoon,

Well, we did a bit of writing this morning...


...a bit of reading...


...before heading out to lunch.


After lunch we practiced in the church for tomorrow's Mass...


...before chasing a ball around the paddock.





All in all, a good day was had by all.

As for tomorrow, the children are to come to school in their Fitness gear as usual. They will change into their 'dress' uniforms before morning tea.

CU tomorrow,

Mr Grant

Please feed the rats

Tuesday Something-day

Good afternoon,

Best I be quick, got to get to the Air Force Museum to drop off those photos that I took of the children during their visit (DVD burner doesn't seem to want to play ball).

Jump Jam in the morning...


...with R.E....



...and Topic in the afternoon.


Once again, the children have taken home their Topic books with the intention that they should share their learning with you at home. Please ask them to explain their storyboard, just as they did with their storyboard of Moana Ngarimu's actions at Tebaga Gap.

Well, got to fly (ha! Get it?!). The Air Force Museum is on Air Force time - they shut shop at 4:30!

Mr Grant

Miss Shaw is Famous!

Good evening,

I was too late home to catch Ryan Nelson's visit on One News [Live] tonight, but after some searching, I did manage to find it at the end of Chapter One of tonight's broadcast on the web.

There were a couple shots of Room 2 children, but Miss Shaw featured significantly.

Do you think she'll give autographs?

Mr Grant

And Just To See If You Were Listening...

Riley's Polar Fleece

Good evening,

Again,

One other thing.

Has anyone seen Riley's polar fleece? Please check to see that the one you've brought home is actually yours!

Mr Grant

Mucky Monday

Good evening,

Well, we had a bit of a mucky day today.

Started off with a Values Assembly, where Room 2 displayed the value of Respect very nicely indeed.


Which kinda meant no maths. That's fine, we went over the National Anthem again instead.

E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarangona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa

God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.

(Click here if you want to sing along with Frankie Stevens!)

Room 2 Readers missed out on Jump Jam, as I kept them in for, well, reading, seeing as we had an early lunch. Blue Group did a splendid job of today's text A Lolly Pop Please



The big event of the day was of course the special assembly for Ryan Nelson, complete with TV1 News camera and Press photographer. Watch tonight's TV1 news (sports segment?) so see if we get a looksee. (I wasn't allowed to take my camera, so, sorry, you'll just have to do with the national news!)

R.E. was a bit mucky too...we need to produce some artwork for the J Team Mass on Friday, with the suggestion being that the children draw their own faces that will be pasted onto a poster to be displayed at church. Well, I didn't have any paper cut up, so...


...I took these, with the view that I'll print them off in black and white, and the children can colour themselves in...at some point...before Friday morning...hmmm...

As for the topic lesson that I had planned, well, we really only got the discussion of the event done, not the map pasting, nor the storyboarding of the event, so that'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Then it was off to the inflatable soccer pitch in the hall for a kick around.




This posting was brought to you by McDonald's.


Try our new Say Cheese burger...

Oh, which reminds me, everyone got a pedometer this afternoon. (Rowena, Tyron, I've got yours here). Everyone also got their personal log in (FirstnameLastname - just like that. Like NickGrant) and password for My Greatest Feat.

The idea is that when it kicks off next Monday, everyone (even me) will log in and input the number of steps done per day (? I'm not sure), and so partake in a virtual journey to South Africa along with the All Whites.

Anyway, have a look at the site to find out a bit more about it and practice logging in (though you can't do much else at this stage).

Bye for now,

Mr Grant

HMNZS Achilles

Good evening,

This week as part of our Serving Our Country unit we will be having a quick look at the navy. Probably on Tuesday we'll be looking at The Battle of the River Plate, and I found a couple of interesting clips on You Tube...



But the first stop will be the Pacific...


CU in the morning,

Mr Grant

Newsletter for Term 2, Week 5

Good evening,

Here is the newsletter for Term 2, Week 5. Enjoy.

Mr Grant

Friday Here-But-Not Day

Good afternoon,

Another week down, seven more to go...

I was mostly out of the room today, catching up on stuff that other, more efficient teachers (yes, ok, read "women") have already done, but from what I saw, the children had another fun day at school.









Thanks Elliott and Eliza for some cool pics.

Bye for now,

Mr Grant