When you want to play beach volleyball but you're still at school?

 

My...Why Poem

Summer Learning Journey Has a New Format!

 This year the Summer Learning Journey has a different format. Below is a little teaser to try and see if you would like to be a part of this summers adventure!

Kick Start  Art Colouring Book: choose an image to colour. Dig Deeper  Watch: colouring time lapse Share  Upload your Art and a screenshot of the original and label each image. Describe why you chose a different colour for one of the objects in the painting. Watch: create your blog post.

Step It Up  Art Colouring Book: choose an image to colour. Use the Zoom Tool Look closely at the original image you chose to colour. What do you see? Dig Deeper  Watch: Elements of Art Read: Elements of Art Share Upload your Art and a screenshot of the original and label each image. Describe the image using as much detail as you can. Watch: create your blog post.

Mission Day

This year Mission Day was a bit different... instead of stalls we had 'A-thons.' Room 8 had a NZ A-thon where we had to learn 50 places in NZ over a 2 week period. Our knowledge was then tested on Mission Day. As a school and community, we raised a lot of money for the Holy Angels Orphanage in India. We hope we are able to help and support them as this year has been extremely hard for countries like India where the pandemic has been particularly ruthless. 

 As part of our day we had a raffle which was drawn just before we left to go home. 

Apple Crumble Time

The wonderful smell of apple crumble cooking was enough to have anyones mouth water! 

Room 8 Yr 8's did a great job of creating a crumble recipe to make if you have 'unexpected' guests. 

Delicious and fast to make! 

Their next design brief is... Your local school is holding a Gala for a swimming pool and all of the landscaping and fencing. You have been asked to supply a loaf to be sold at the Gala...

They must also design the packaging for the baked loaf. 

Let's see how we go next week!! 

Aroha's Role on the Wall

What were the external factors that affected the way Aroha felt on the inside? How was she able to cope with the fears that tied her where she stood? It took us a few days of discussion and a few colour changes of pastel, to lay it all out---giving us the language we needed to express ourselves through 'Aroha' and the written word.

The darker written words are the negative forces and feelings while the bright colours are the positive forces and more optimistic feelings. 

Giselle reads her poem and the class gasps...

 

Aroha's Unique Way

 Unique 

In a world where I live, perfection is all it is

Beautiful white smiles, no hair looking wild

All boys slick hair and games

All girls dressing the same

Everyone being perfect and pleasant  

but no one is

being who they are and different

but

I stand up and try to be different 

put uniqueness in peoples

hearts

but just one look 

the protest starts

A world against one

 I close my eyes and give up

that one heart is now done

she becomes the same just like all

a perfect world with no one appalled

walking home her smile dropped, her heart broken down and popped

she rips the bows off her hair, wipes off the make up with her tears

looking at the mirror she sees the girl she once was

her heart had that little warm fuzz

the next morning

she wore what she wants she didn't dress the same 

  like a type of font

Once again its a world against one

she looks at all and says

you don't have to be perfect and the same

the world looks at me with so much shame

but Aroha knows

she doesn't need a tweak she's perfect the way she is and 

she is

UNIQUE

By Giselle

(a poem in response to Aroha's Way and our work with 

Te Rito Toi)

      

Role on the Wall

 After two weeks studying 'Mophead' by Selena Tusitala Marsh Rm 8 were able to develop a Role on the Wall looking at the 'before and after' changes that took place for Selena. Those outside influences that shaped her into the awe-inspiring Poet Laureate she is today... those influences that allowed her to believe in herself and to know it is OK to be different!  

Roneeza's Diary entry...

This is a piece of writing in the form of a diary entry based on a book called Mophead by Selina Tusitala Marsh

Dear Diary,

My gosh, I hate the kids at my school. I want to ask my parents if I could move schools but they'll ask why. I don't want them to get involved with all the bullying happening outside of home. It's annoying... Oh no, mum said the principal had called her to say that we had to go back to school and have a Restorative Justice meeting, whatever that means... We were the first to arrive. A few minutes of waiting later my bully (the one whose patronised me the most and the longest and says the meanest retorts) comes in with her parents and sits across from us. My bully and I made eye contact, and just when I thought someone was about to speak, the principal opened her office door, welcomed both families, thanked us for coming to the meeting, and invited us inside her office. It was pretty cramped and the cold, dense atmosphere made me feel like a person diagnosed with claustrophobia. Then the Restoration Meeting began... My parents and I have jut come back from the extremely long meeting. When I first heard about the meeting I had thought my bully (Regina George) had made up another lie so that the principal could tell my parents about it, but, no. I later found out we were there to discuss the bullying that's been going on. We talked and I shared about my experiences I've had with the countless bullying. The pair on the other side of the room apologised on behalf of her daughter, and then she apologised. I accepted their apology, but didn't forgive them. I don't think I'm ready to forgive Regina and the rest of her followers yet. Until next time, dear diary... 

  To check out more Diary Entries go to our individual blogs listed on the right side of the Blog!

Fluffy Egg Nest

Today at Tech we continued our quest to make the best breakfast! Today not only looked delicious but smelt divine!

Cooking cookies with Chef Augustine and his siblings!

Pilot Practicum

A big thanks to our students Akira, Caitlin, Maria and Sarah! Practicums can be hard at the best of times but doing it online, following a brief, must have been extremely tricky. However, the biggest test of all, when designing activities, is the activation with the chosen audience. On Tuesday, the last week of term, Room 8 Delta's had the pleasure of testing out a Site and activities made specifically for them with the actual designers!

I think when you hear comments like, "I don't want to go to lunch, I want to keep playing this game" and "When I heard the students were coming in I was scared as I didn't think I would understand but when I asked them to break it down they did and now I understand and it's easy and fun!"
The other students in class were a bit miffed they weren't able to participate in the fun and learning... THAT is truely the sign of a successful lesson! Not to worry they will get a chance next term!
Well done, Akira, Caitlin, Maria and Sarah!

When you have other teachers in your classroom it's a wonderful opportunity to learn and see a different perspective. Teaching is a collaborative profession and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to support, share and benefit from this great opportunity!
Many thanks to Akira, Caitlin, Maria and Sarah!

Hoping you can all visit Rm 8 again!

Science @ Technocraft

Nothing like finishing off the term with some real specimens! Yr 8's found out all about the importance of docking our sheep... all because of flies! Class were in shock!
And then along came the mummified possum!

Art @ Technocraft

   

 

Our last day of our Yr 7's doing Art at Pakuranga Intermediate. The focus this term was on contrast, tint and tone! Some amazing pieces of art... hoping some of them might be left at school for our class walls. Fingers crossed!

Science and Measuring

The importance of measuring for success especially in science experiments. Measuring according to ml on a beaker and a measuring spoon... 2 different applications but same measurement system. How has the level of the beakers changed since adding the contents of the spoon? What about the coloration of your liquids? So many things to consider and comment on using scientific observation and language.

Practicum Problems

The gift of Covid has allowed our universities to rethink learning and practise. Room 8 has had the privilege of having four future teachers work with us, assisting our learning by designing activities to support our understanding of LCM in fractions. These wonderful students have built a Google Site which includes quirky video instructions, games, fun worksheets and interactive quizzes. Also included is a feedback form for the students to fill in. With the thought and preparation that has gone into their Site I feel our future generations will be in good hands! This coming week Room 8 will test drive the Site and hopefully get to meet the creators!

Drama to Rebuild and Heal

Room 8 has just completed a piece of Drama through Te Rito Toi as part of our coming back to school following Covid 19. We ditched our devices for a few weeks and focussed on Drama to re-build our relationships (face to face), to speak without speaking and to share without sharing... in reality to Heal! By using Drama, specifically set around the tale 'The Green Children' we were able to address our fears, concerns and beliefs and relate these not only to ourselves but also to current events/issues the world is facing today.

And now there is a rash...

More news has been reported from another family in the village...

Those Green Kids...

After much debate and discussion in family groups a reporter was added to write an article about how the families felt about the Green Children and their appearance in the village.

Te Rito Toi

Thanks to Stacey and Caitlin from Applied Theatre, Te Rito Toi, Professor Peter O'Connor and Selina Tusitala Marsh for leading, supporting and sharing their wisdom and creative ideas.

This week in Room 8 we DITCHED DIGITAL to focus on the Arts for meaning making and the renewal of hope. As Peter O'Connor says "Grounded in Papatūānuku, Te Rito Toi is at the centre and soul of healing, for even amongst the chaos of seasonal transitions, elemental effects and changes, Te Rito remains strong as the heart of the kōrari (harakeke).

 Our focus over the past week has been building 'My Why' Poem (Selina Tusitala Marsh) and a drama around the Tale 'The Green Children' (University Melbourne).

 This week;

I have heard laughter, discussion, chat and the sharing of personal insight...

I have seen smiles, collaboration, compassion and determination...

I have felt a sense of belonging and pride.

I see our Hope Soar and I feel our are Souls Healing!

Welcome Home St Patrick's

Shiny Day

Another day to Zhuzh... this was a challenge from our in-school juniors! We had to come to school/hangout in our 'shiny' or in other words 'sparkly' stuff! Thanks to all of you who participated! We had sparkly clothes, hats, ornaments and even a shiny foil face mask! BUT ...drum roll------ the winner was.... Harley!

Thanks Harley (and Mum) for making us all smile! What a treat for us to have a countdown and then the Great Illumination!!

Direction, position and Orientation During Lockdown

Hangouts can be tricky so there is always a need to Zhuzh them up.
Yesterday was Oral language Zhuzh day... I speak, you draw and I hope like heck my directions are understandable!
It was fun and I'm thinking successful as the drawings were fairly close to the oral directions--- not bad for Virtual Listening!
And the winners were: Aleenah and Christian (who also added in perspective!)

We also had some other great instruction followers: Mrs Collins (who was also our Judge and Jury)

Mo'ona, Summer and Kyle! Thanks for sharing your work and listening so carefully to all those instructions!

Caring For Our Environment At Home

What could be better... caring for our place and having fun at the same time! Well done Ripata Whanau!

Animae and Covid 19

Kahoot day on the block! We started with an Animae and ended with Covid-19.
And the leaders were......

Thanks Room 8 for making me smile every morning! Missing you all!!