Conor & her mum made the pizza dough - fantastico!
OUR DELICIMO PIZZA!! with fresh rocket that we grew from seed.......
YUMMY
TERM 1
Warm greetings and welcome
back to all old and new students and parents of Ruma 4 for 2009. I hope you have all had an enjoyable
break.
Getting Started - by Miss Mareta
I’ve been fortunate to have
this opportunity to teach these children again, after having taught most of
them as ‘newbies’ to Richmond Road School. The students taught me many valuable lessons, particularly
of how to be an effective and a reflective teacher on the unspoken
organisational rules. Their
probing questions and curiosity have constantly challenged my entire career.
Their fun-loving manner has inspired me to make learning more enjoyable by
providing a rich, inviting learning environment.
First Day
When I walked into the
classroom for the first time, I felt welcome because it felt like a classroom. There were learning games, books,
posters and poems on the wall. I
saw big maths charts, writing charts, computers, white boards and tumbles. Everything came back to me, hard work
and a timetable – but most importantly, there was lots of noise. It is just another school year. (Conor,
8yrs)
When I first walked into my
classroom I felt like I was going to have a great year. (Hinemoa, 8yrs)
When I walked into my new
class, music was playing and I felt welcome. My classroom looked amazing! (Toby, 8yrs)
My name is Aiyana. I knew after only two days that by the
end of the year I will be really ready for Ben’s class. I like Miss Mareta’s class because it
is a very funny, happy and an enjoyable class.
Second Day
The swimming lesson at Youth Town
on our second day back at school was a big treat. Children arrived with packed
changing gear, togs and big smiles. Swimming will continue on through the year,
as the students will have 5 swimming lessons this term and 5 more for summer in
term 4. Miss Mareta.
Our stories:
We go swimming every
Thursday. Today was our first
lesson. I was in the first
lane. First, we did the basic
strokes. Then we did torpedo kicks
and backstrokes. Then we did
diving. I felt scared at first but
then it felt fun. When we got out.
I didn’t want to go. (Felix, 8yrs)
It was boiling. I wanted to dive into a pool and that’s
what we did the next day. I loved
it. My name is Sifiki and I am
8. I am learning how to swim
now.
TERM 1
TOPIC - Relationships and
Belonging
We take pride in all our
school cultures and hope to instill in the students the many diverse values in
our community, such as showing integrity, respect at all times for themselves,
others and the environment.
My class is a place where
everyone has a friend. They are
kind and caring. I only had 3 friends when I first started. They are Croi, Conor and Aiyana. Now, I have Poppy, Ruby, Donald, Noah,
Toby and…. I could go on and on.
Did you know that all summer I was looking forward to this school
year? I felt that this year was
going to be different in a new classroom with a new teacher – well, a teacher
that I haven’t had for three years.
My class is a room full of surprises. When I walked into this classroom, it just felt
different. Then I realised that it
wasn’t going to be a different year – it was going to be an awesome and
spectacular year. (Caitlin, 8yrs)
My name is Croi. I felt a moment of fear when I walked
in, but I got over it soon. I had
a look around and thought it was strange to be in a new classroom. The teacher called us to the mat and
guess whom I saw? Jake, Toby and
Remy. Then my fear was gone.
I looked around and before I
could say hi to all my friends, Hinemoa ran up to me and gave me a big
hug. Then I looked around and saw
every little bit of the class looked good. When the bell rang, my tummy was like a jelly and all I felt
like doing was going home. But I
knew I would feel better soon. So
I sat on the mat and let the day go on…(Poppy, 8yrs)
Our Culture & Heritage
We have been learning about
our grandparents and how they used to eat and how they invented
telephones. In the olden days,
they used to eat paw paw and mangoes.
(Cyprus, 8yrs)
TOPIC STUDY (Culture & Heritage)
Learning for this term is to provide
our students with learning experiences that explore who they are and their
participation and contribution to the wider community. Children will experience the changes
from the early Polynesian and British migrations to NZ. They will learn to understand how
cultural practices reflect and express people’s customs, traditions and
values. This week has been
interesting to hear all the stories students shared from what their parents and
grandparents told them about their lives.
·
My grandfather took the
boat from England to NZ
·
Poppa was in the war
·
Great-grandma used to
ride a horse to school
·
Grandma did her washing
in the river
Our Ropu will celebrate our
cultural diversity by having a Grandparents Day next week on Friday 20th February from
11.30-12.30pm. Our children will
be busy baking scones again for afternoon tea. We hope to see you all and to hear your stories. One of our
renowned grandparents and a lecturer at Auckland University, said it was his
first invite to such event from any of his grand childrens primary schools.
Education outside the
Classroom
Part of our outdoors learning
this term for seniors (Y5 & Y6) is
Camp at Totara Springs for a whole
week in week 7. Fifteen students will be going with me and Michael
Kerridge will teach the rest of the class.
Words from Michael
I have the privilege to be working for Mareta this year in Ruma 4 every Wednesday. I have been
teaching at the school since 2004, my first job being working with
Mareta’s junior class, so we have
a great working partnership, and hope to make Ruma 4’s year an enjoyable and productive
one! I will be primarily following Mareta’s exciting learning programme in all
curriculum areas, and making sure there is coherent flow in the programme, as
well as also having creative input into the children’s learning along the way.
I look forward to working in
the class and meeting you all this year!
Michael Kerridge
(English teacher, Wednesdays,
Ruma 4)
Homework is set weekly according to the needs of the students
and to revise what is happening in class.
It is impressive to see that some students have maintained a hard
working attitude and some are willing to step up to senior role. It is exciting to see my once-were
‘newbies’ becoming independent.
Therefore, my next focus is to promote them to become life-long
learners.
If you have any questions,
please come and speak to me before or after school. You can also write me a
note and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Mareta Hamilton
Ruma 4 Class Teacher
& Kiwi
Connection Ropu Leader
