Learning Updates

Outstanding Niwa Science Fair Results

Well done to our ākonga from the Ranginui Syndicate who participated in the NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair last week. We are all very proud of you for the effort you put in. The entries were judged on: Scientific Method and Originality; Thoroughness and Effort; Technical and Graphical Skills and Presentation. 

Huge congratulations to those learners who received prizes this year for your entries:

• Frankie Hakaria-Brunt - Second in Class and the Society for Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions Prize for their investigation: Does the lunar phase of the moon affect the possibility of drowning? 

• Tom Kirton - Highly Commended and the Engineering New Zealand Prize for their investigation:  Welly Water Wastage

• Anika Fyfe - Highly Commended and the Wellington Medical Research Foundation Prize for their investigation: My fight to eat cake!

• Eva Stockler - Highly Commended for their investigation: Which battery lasts longer?

• Ella Willard - Highly Commended for their investigation: Does honey go funny?

Check out some photos of the awards ceremony down below in this edition of SFDS News. 

Living World: Animal Inquiry

As part of their science inquiry this term, our papatūānuku students are completing reports about a chosen animal, including facts about appearance, diet, habitat, behaviour, life cycle and other key facts. Our Year 4-6 learners braved the weather to visit the zoo yesterday as part of this inquiry, and our senior ākonga will be doing the same next week.  

Catholic Character

Next Grandparents Mass will be in 2025

Just a heads-up that this year we celebrated a school Mass earlier this term on the Feast of the Assumption instead of the Feast day of Saints Joachim and St Anne. Therefore we did not hold a specific Mass for Grandparents this year. The next Grandparents' Mass will be in 2025, and we will give you plenty of notice so that you can invite your whānau. Grandparents are always welcome to join us for other school masses too.

Sport

TOUCH RUGBY TERM 4 

Total Touch are running a touch rugby competition at Wakefield Park this term,  Wednesdays between 3.45pm and 6.30pm. Start date is Wednesday 30 October ending on Wednesday 4 December. There are leagues for year 1/2, 3/4, year 5/6 and year 7/8. All grades are open to both boys and girls.

To register your child for touch rugby, please go to our KINDO shop from our school website – www.sfds.school.nz. The fee to secure your child’s place in a team is $30 and must be paid through our Kindo shop when you register. 

We require player confirmation and payment by Friday 20 September to ensure we have our teams registered on time. Please consider your child’s registration carefully as once we have registered our teams we are unable to provide a refund. 

FUTURE FERNS JUNIOR TERM 4

Motu-Kairangi Netball is running their ANZ futureFERNS Junior Netball Season for children (boys and girls) in years 1, 2, 3 and 4. This programme was first offered by Motu-Kairangi in 2015 and it continues to be extremely popular and successful. Start date is Saturday 19 October (no games Saturday 26 October - Labour Weekend) and finishes Saturday 7 December at Evans Bay Intermediate School courts

Year 1 and 2: 

A 45-minute session at either 9.30am or 10.30am (time TBC depending on the number of registrations). Each week the players will receive a skill development session and a game of two 8-minute halves. Each team requires a “Star Helper” to assist the players on the day. They will supervise a small group of children under the guidance of the ‘Junior Coordinator’ provided by Motu-Kairangi Netball. “Star Helpers” need to attend a training course and be available each Saturday. More information about the Year 1 and 2 programme is available on Kindo.  

Year 3 and 4:

A 60-minute session at either 11.30am, 12.45pm or 2pm (time TBC depending on the number of registrations). Each week the players will receive a skill development session and a game of four 8-minute quarters. Each team requires a “Coach” to assist the players on the day. They will supervise a small group of children under the guidance of the ‘Junior Coordinator’ provided by Motu-Kairangi Netball. Each “Coach” needs to attend a training course and be available each Saturday. More information about the Year 3 and 4 programme is available on Kindo.  

There will be  a Fun festival day held Saturday 7 December for both year groups.

Registration

There are two steps for registration:

1. To register your child in a school team and to pay,  please go to KINDO at www.kindo.co.nz  The fee to secure your child’s place in a team is $40 and must be paid through Kindo when you register. You will also be able to indicate your availability for being a ‘Star Helper’ or ‘Coach’ through Kindo.

We require player confirmation and payment by Friday 20 September to ensure we have our school teams registered on time.

2. Please also register your child/ren with Motu-Kairangi Netball using this link: http://www.mknetball.co.nz/registrations-1/School-List This will register your child/ren with the organisers.

FUTSAL

Keep an eye out on Hero and Kindo for term 4 Futsal information 

SOUTHERN ZONE SWIMMING

We are still looking for helpers! If you child has qualified and you are able to help please email Sarah on sarah.fountain@sfds.school.nz if you are able to help.