Card Making

A big thank you to Sherryll Johnson who came to help the Rua team make Christmas cards.  

Community Constable Brine

Robbie Brine came to talk to the Rua team today about his role as Community Constable.  It was interesting finding out about some of the things the police do.

Brett from Special Olympics

We had an interesting visit from Brett who is a volunteer and a coach for Special Olympics.  We were surprised that there is no Government funding for the Special Olympics.

http://www.specialolympics.org.nz

Joy and Wesley from the Blind Foundation

Joy and Wesley came to tell us about how Blind dogs are trained and how they help members of the community.

Rangiora Vet Centre - Sophie Neilson

The Rua team were fascinated learning about a day in the life of a vet - what long hours they work!

St. John's

Paula from St. John's taught us how to ring the emergency services. Make sure your children know their address and phone number in case of an emergency💉

Agencies in the Community - Fire Fighters

Thanks to Barb Clarkson and Shane from the Fire Service who came to tell us about things they do in the Community to help us.

S.P.C.A visit

The Rua team had a visit from the S.P.C.A and Murtle the dog as part of our Inquiry on Agencies in the Community.

Disco-mania

Everyone had a great time showing off their amazing dance skills.

Keep NZ Beautiful

Lesley came to show the children in the Rua team where rubbish ends up and how it affects the planet.

It's worth having a look at his link!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qT-rOXB6NI

Then we collected rubbish from around the school and skatepark.  Yuk - what litterbugs there are in our school!!

The Environment - Sophia

We have many creative writers in our team. Currently we have been looking at Conservation and what this means to us all.
Sophia wrote this poem and I think it explains everything.

The Environment

The trees sway round and round
They should not get chopped down.
The trees give precious oxygen
And plants too.
If you chop down the trees, you will have no oxygen.

Water gives nice drinks
Nice cold water.
There is only 5 percent of fresh water.
Look after the water.
Look after the water.

You might not get any drink
For ever and ever.
So look after the environment
Look after the environment.

Ella-Jess

Another Rua team Entertainer. What a talented bunch of students we have in the Rua team. Watch Ella Jess go through her moves.

Entertainers

Our first Rua Team 'Entertainer'

Listen to the great rhythm Hayley has while she sings and plays 'The Cup Song'.

Year 3/4 Friday Night Hockey

First-Sticks for Year 3/4 Students
Fridays 4-7pm
A hockey skills programme incorporating a team coaching session followed by an instruction-based game.
• Coaching sessions are run by the NCSRT’s Primary School Sports Coaches • Each session is 40 min - approx 15 min of coaching + 25 min game time
• Some rules are adapted to suit players’ skill levels and encourage open play • Maximum of 8 players per team
• 6 weeks in Term 4 (30th October to 4th December 2015)
• This pilot competition is restricted to 8 teams
Cost $240 per team ($30/player for team of 8)

If anyone is interested please see Sandi Harnett or Leanne Adamson 

Swimming & Gym Term 4

Refer to Rua Team Notices to see the full letter relating to swimming & gym for Term 4.

The cost for the 4 sessions is $9.70. Please find the amount to pay for your child’s 4 Swim/Gym sessions and the 4 swimming sessions on the Thursdays. We have taken into account the $1.00 per swimming session that some students have already paid.

Amount due Wednesday 23 September.

            

Author Visit- Stacy Gregg

It was great to meet and listen to Stacy Gregg on Tuesday. She is currently one of the best-selling children's authors in New Zealand and recently won the Junior Fiction section of the NZ Book Awards for Children with 'The Island of the Lost Horses'.

Entertainers - Saxophone with Mr Grieve

We loved hearing about Mr Grieve's journey learning to play the saxophone.  We really enjoyed Yellow Submarine and The Rose.  Thanks Mr Grieve!

Change of venue for Miniball team.

Because our yr 3/4 team only has 1 year 4 player we have been given an exemption to play in the year 3 grade.  unfortunately this means all our games will now be at Woodend.  I am sorry about the change but feel the size of the opponents may be off putting for our children and we really want all players to enjoy the game and learn new skills.
This Tuesday 25th - both teams will be playing at Woodend at 4.30pm.  Please let Mrs Adamson know if anyone needs transport.

Miniball

Our 2 year 3/4 mini basketball teams started their competition today.  They did very well considering only one player has played before.  Max, Hugo, Chloe and Mia are doing a great job of coaching. The noise level was phenomenal at both New Life and Woodend courts; I'm not sure who had the most fun - the children playing or the parents watching! I know I'm hoarse!

Bubbles the Clown

We really enjoyed Bubbles and her friend Buddy when they came to entertain us. The children were fascinated when she swallowed the balloon.

I'm thinking lots of children will be asking for Bubbles at their next birthday!

Rangiora Musical Society Costume Hire

The Rua team are learning about 'Entertainers' for this term's Inquiry.  We had Little Red Ridinghood talking about how to make costumes and showing us costumes from some of the Musical Society shows.

Lots of children got to dress up as the animal cast from Footrot Flats.

Kahurangi Culture Group

The school was fortunate enough to have the Kahurangi Culture a Group from Hastings perform their show 'Taonga - Treasures from the Heart'.  

Black Peach Theatre

We were fortunate enough to have a visit from the Black Peach Theatre Group to teach us about drama.  This complements our Arts Inquiry about being 'An Entertainer'.

Rua Writing S4/S5 using S.O.L.O Taxonomy to unpack descriptive narratives.

Our writing groups are learning to use S.O.L.O taxonomy to unpack narratives so that we can write our own great narratives that have

- a setting

- interesting characters

- a complication / problem / plot

- a solution / resolution

Today we read Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (this is a link to a child reading the picture book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inG6_DFMaMQ) and completed a S.O.L.O describe map.

We then read another version of Lost and Found that was expanded on for an animated movie.  We used a S.O.L.O compare and contrast form to look at the similarities and differences between the 2 books.  We decided we preferred the script of the movie version because it had more adjectives and more detail.  Click this link to watch the movie Animated Movie Link

We then read Toad by Ruth Brown.  This is a delightful picture book that is a descriptive narrative about a Toad that gets eaten by a Monster. But, because he spits poisonous venom, the Monster spits him out.  (Story link read on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9xm8H3Viag)

We completed a Describe Map then identified all the adjectives in the story.  This is helping us plan our descriptive narratives on a reptile of our choice.  

We then used a describe map to plan our own story.

New Zealand Song Week

Watch the Rua Team singing Toheroa Twist as part of our school celebration of New Zealand Song Week.

Wings Wheels and Transport

Today the Rua Team had fabulous fun in their co-operative groups learning about simple machines: inclines, screws, pulleys and wheels.

Recount Cross Country

Cross Country recount by Harriett Neame

In the morning when I woke up I felt nervous. I jumped out of bed to get dressed into my uniform.

When I got to school I felt even more nervous than when I got dressed.

At lunch it was really scary because the race was so close. When we were warming up it was so nerve wracking. We got to the starting line, it was so close to start.

The banger went bang, we all started running. When I got to the hay bales I was way  behind. When I jumped over the hurdles I leaped over them like gazelle.

At the tyres I thought I was going to fall over. Near the bridge a teacher was cheering me on I felt so good..

Where the adults were standing I saw my Mum and Mrs Harnett, I felt even better because the finish line was just up ahead. I was surprised that I came 9th.

I found my Mum and ran over to her, I told her that i came 9th. After that I ran as fast as I could. ( Which was not very fast) to get my drink bottle, I was so thirsty that I almost drank it all. My legs were so tired I could hardly walk.

I felt so good when i crossed the finish line because I completed the cross  country running all the way.

Cross Country recounts

Here are a couple of amazing descriptive recounts from two students in S4.

Cross Country by Ella Jess

When I woke up I felt like I didn't want to go to school.

When I got to school right when school started I was super tired. i was scared that I would lose and be called a slow coach and silly.

So first I lined up in the 7 year old girls. When it was time  we started with warm ups, star jumps, jogging on the spot and breathing.

After that we lined up and bam! We started running. I was a bit slow, but still in the top three. The next person nearly bet me, it was very scary.

After that the hay bales slowed me down and 15 people past me and I was running as fast as I could. Then I past 5 more, how I was puffed. I got 10th in line, after that I past 3 more people because they knocked down the hurdles and went back to pick them up. Now I was 7th in line and just past the bridge.

Next netball courts, I ran so fast now so nobody could pass me. It was a bit annoying because a teacher took a photo right in the face! I hated it.

After that my eyes started hurting and I slowed down. it was okay because lots of people were puffed. Then I went faster and crossed the finish line and I fell over because I was so exhausted.

My number on my hand was 17th, I was very happy because I had finished the race running all the way.

After I got a drink and played on the skate park for 10 minutes. i went home with my Mum and went to Dudley to celebrate the cross country by having a swim.

Air New Zealand & Wigram Airforce Museum

The Rua team are really looking forward to their visit to the Wigram Airforce Museum and Air New Zealand Hangar as part of our Wings and Wheels Inquiry.

S5, S7 and some children from S6 - Friday 5th June
S6 and remainder of S6 - Tuesday 9th June

Please ensure children have covered in shoes as they will not be able to enter the Air NZ Hangar in sandals.

Swimming Lessons

S4 are becoming very confident in the water. The students are all able to stream line on their fronts blowing bubbles. Many of them can float on their backs and a small group can do a length of freestyle back stroke and breast stroke.