The Lucky Dip

Last week when the Orange group read 'The Lucky Dip' they had their own lucky dip!
They were excited to find out what was in the parcels.
Now they have their own story, made with youblisher.com



Have you ever had a lucky dip?
Were you excited?
What did you get?

Pet's Day is coming up soon!

B4 children, what are you bringing or making for Pet's Day?

Do other schools have a day like pet's day?

Starting School

Mrs W@Harston in Victoria, Australia and I were having a conversation last week about the education systems in different schools and countries.

I was particularly interested in how and when schools start the children who are just beginning school.

This is what we found out:

Harston:                                                          

Prep students all start in January if they turn 5 by 30 April. Or they can wait until the intake the next January, if they prefer, when they are 5 and a half.

New Zealand:

Children start school on the day that they turn 5.

At our school if their birthday is before May 1 they will be a Year 1, and the following year will be a Year 2.

If their birthday is between May 1 and December 31 they will be a Year 0, and will be Year 1 from the following January.

I wonder what happens in other schools around the world?

It's A Boy

Congratulations to Mrs Wistrand on the arrival of Jamie. 
We hope we see you both for a visit at school soon, we can't wait to meet him.

Labour Day

On Monday we have a public holiday for Labour Day.
Labour Day was first celebrated in New Zealand on 28 October 1890. It commemorates the struggle for an 8-hour working day.

Some people like to get their garden planted.
Some families like to go away for a short holiday.


What will you be doing for your long weekend?

Learning to Use html

This w☆☆k I have had fun learning to use html code to add shapes to my p♦sts and comments.
I have used the helpful advice from Mrs Yollis in California and from Miss McGeady at 2KM  in Australia.

♥ ♔ ★ ☆

Thank you ♥  Mrs Yollis for the codes:

Can anyone tell me why my codes for smilies don't work?

What are your favourite shapes?

Not Me!

"Who are the owners of all these socks?" questioned Mrs McKenzie.

"Not me," declared every child in B4.

Hmmm, really?

Family Challenge

The annual family challenge was held at school last night. Many of the fun challenges were based around the theme of 'Shake, Rattle and Roll'.
Among them were: deciding on items for an emergency kit; rank important NZ earthquakes in order of magnitude; and answering 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' type questions about earthquakes.
Watch out for these other challenges in the video: make a bird mask and use it in the birdie dance; get two team members across the floor staying on two small pieces of paper; make a little cart that can carry 3 marshmallows up and over a ramp; and bird mask hockey.
Thanks Mr Wright for organising another great family challenge!

Were you at the family challenge?

What was your favourite game?

Hope to see you there next year!

The Kiwi

This week JiaJia and Tristan have made their very first glog. We hope you will learn something about the Kiwi.
They read and researched about the kiwi at reading time this week. I think they have done a great job, and they co-operated well with each other to get the task done..

Click here to read it

Lunch Boxes

We photographed our lunch boxes today because the P3-4-5 class at Innerwick School in Scotland made a post asking about school dinners around the world.
Most children at our school bring a packed lunch.
Some children go home for lunch, and sometimes children order lunch at the office, which is then supplied by a local shop.

On fine days we eat lunch on the veranda and on wet or cold days we eat in the classrooms.
After 10 minutes we are allowed to go to play if we have finished eating.
Lunch time is from 12.30pm - 1.30pm.

Our school supplies fruit to the classrooms so we have our fruit just before morning playtime.

Our lunch boxes:

Co-incidentally Room 8@Melville Intermediate and Miss Tyler-Smith's class in South Africa have posted about lunches, so we will get a really good idea about lunches in other places.

They might also like to look at the Ugandan Project blog link that schools in America, Australia, China and Uganda are contributing to.

What is your favourite lunch?
Who makes your lunch for you?

Numeracy Time

B4 children were very busy at numeracy time today.
The Squares learned to play a new game counting back from 50.

Before Teacher Time, the Circles were playing a counting on and counting back game on the interactive whiteboard called Test the Toad.

The Triangles were playing Pig in the Middle, with 10 + numbers.

And the Diamonds were choosing maths games from the blog page links.

What are your favourite maths activities?

Do you prefer to learn alone, or with a buddy?

Celebrations and Traditions

Mrs Szalay's Grade 2/3 class in Ontario asked us about our Celebrations and Traditions.
We brainstormed this morning and decided that there are some days that we think are celebrated just in New Zealand, and some that we think are celebrated around the world.

More Changes in B4

We say goodbye to Mrs Wistrand for awhile, as she is on maternity leave, and a big WELCOME to Miss Robinson who will be teaching in B4 at the times that I am taking Reading Recovery.
Miss Robinson is finishing her teacher training this term and I am sure she will enjoy working with the great kids in B4.

Because of a rise of numbers in the Year 0/1 class we also have Paige, Tyla, Nathan and Matthew moving into B4, and we are saying goodbye to Myah, Krystal, Adam and Tessa who will be in B3.
Now we have Year 1, 2 and 3 children in B4 and the ages range from 5-8 years old.

We are looking forward to a fun and busy term!

Fish and Chips and Vinegar song

Mrs Yollis from California enjoyed the year 6/7 ukelele and guitar playing and has asked for the words to the song.

Fish and chips and vinegar, vinegar, vinegar,
Fish and chips and vinegar,
pepper, pepper pepper pot.

Don't chuck your muck in my backyard, my backyard, my backyard.
Don't chuck your muck in my backyard,
my backyard's full.

One bottle of pop, two bottles of pop, three bottles of pop,
four bottles of pop, five bottles of pop, six bottles of pop,
seven bottles of pop, POP!




It's a good song to sing as a 3-way round.
What other songs do people know of to sing as rounds?