Think

What are all these people actually thinking about?  Find out in Term 4.

27 September until 12 October, we are on holiday.  What are you doing? Are you relaxing? Having fun? Sleeping in late? Studying and getting ready for term 4?

While you're on holiday I hope you're enoying time with your family, reading for fun and honing your basic facts skills.  Take a little time to prepare for term 4, it's our last term together and we have a lot left to achieve.  Year 6s, there are 20 of you.  You are 10 weeks away from being Year 7s and studying at an intermediate school.  That's super exciting! Are you ready? First, do you know where you're going?  Second, are you on track for success?

I'll miss you when you're gone but I look forward to seeing you fly.

Year 5s, there are 7 of you, you are now 10 weeks away from being the undisputed, champions of New Windsor.  Are you ready to step into your leadership positions? You'll have some big shoes to follow once our year 6s are gone.  I look forward to seeing each of you take your next step.

While I'm on holiday, I'm playing with Inez, sleeping in late, relaxing with my family and friends and celebrating my birthday.  I'm looking forward to hearing all about your breaks and finding out what you've been thinking about.  During this break I'll be thinking about more interesting learning experiences for us all and making a plan to achieve my new goals.

Royal Roar

What an amazing performance everyone! I'm so proud of you all.  You created your moves, practised hard and executed your dance so well! Besides doing a great job, I really liked the way you watched all the other classes, cheered on our buddies and gave compliments to other dancers.  Well done to you all! Tino pai! 

One Week To GO!

There is one week left of school.  As term 3 closes please remember to return all your library books and any other books, like journals or readers which belong back at school.

It's a good time to clean out your desk or take home any work you have which needs to go home.

Tick Tock ! September 26th is our last day of school. 

September 27 - October 12 - Enjoy your break.

I like to move it, move it . . .

We have two whole days left to perfect our class dance.  Some of you are looking especially good.  Some of you need a bit of polishing and some of you might need to rethink a few of your moves.  If you're stuck have a look at these videos.  They might help you develop a move, get on the beat or add that little extra pizazz you're searching for.  Good luck, show time is Wednesday morning.

The 'Compliment Chain' is slowly creeping to the carpet.

Our compliment chain is very, very s l o w l y reaching the floor!!! How exciting! How many do you think are on the chain now?  How many more do you think we need to get it to the ground?

Koloni and I were discussing the compliments the other day, we both think that he's received the most compliments this year.  Koloni asked me, "Why have I gotten the most compliments?"  Why do you think he's gotten the most compliments.  Owen thought that it was because his behaviour has changed a lot this year while other people had remained being their usual awesome selves.  Why do you think that Koloni has scored the most compliments so far?? Do you have any on the chain?

What's the best compliment you've ever received?  What compliment do you feel that you most deserve to hear about yourself?

Te Kupu o te Wiki

Each week we are learning a new Maori language word of the week or Te Kupu o te Wiki.  There are videos which have been produced with NZ Post which accompany each word of the week.  They are quite funny, sometimes a bit cheeky but very helpful when trying to learn the new words and to listen to the pronunciation. When you have the chance check them out.

Thanks to Countdown we've also got an awesome display of a range of Maori language words.  Tino pai!

Matarawa Cats

The construction has been moving along very slowly this term.  Some people have made progress sticking and painting.  Others are still making progress.  Here are some of the cats taking shape.  As you can see, we are still mastering the skills needed to paint.  Some of our cats are clearly recognisable as cats some might look a wee bit canine.  Some have eyes and some have none.  It will be interesting to see how they end up.  None of them are fully completed, this truly is a work in progress.

Royals vs. Roar

We are getting closer to our dance performance.  Are you ready? We had a great practise today and it's all starting to come together.  Have a listen to our song and practise your steps and get to know your cues.
The school perfomances take place on 24 September.

Being a Leader

What do you think makes a person a good leader?
This morning during circle time, people in Room 15 came up with quite a few ways in which people show great leadership.  Have a look at our movie and see if you agree with our ideas.  Are you a good leader?

The music from this clip is called Swing Vagabond by Quadro Nuevo.  I think it's lovely.  What instruments can you hear?  It makes me feel happy! What about you?

Dance Dance Dance

Our dance recital is fast approaching.  Please let yourself become creative and design your own dance move.  Think about high and low moves.  Angry or happy moves.  Fast and slow moves. Don't limit yourselves.

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby

Check out Hamo's review of the book he received as a gift.  Have you ever received a book for your birthday? What's the best book you were ever given as a gift?

Look ahead . . . what are your next steps?

Where will you be going to school next?

We are now at week 8.  That means you have 12 weeks of school left before we finish for 2014 on December 16th. If you are a year 6, you should be seriously thinking about what your next steps are for your education. Where will you be going to school next year? As a New Windsor student you have many choices and options, you've just got to choose what will work best for you and your family.

As of today, it looks like thirteen of our year sixes are going to Blockhouse Bay Intermediate and three of our year sixes will be attending Wesley Intermediate.  There is mention of Mt Roskill Intermediate as well.  Where ever you decide to go, make sure you enrol now.  The more time your new school has the better it can prepare for your arrival.  If they don't know that you're coming, they can't properly welcome you.  Be proactive and MAKE A PLAN!

Rugby Book Review

Jamal read this book by Clive Gifford.  He thought it had a lot of tips and lessons to teach.  Check it out. 

Annoying Orange

Fardeen gave this book 5 out of 5.  Do you agree? Is the Annoying Orange interesting or funny?

Assembly

We had our assembly on Friday with our buddies Room 15. Our buddies performed 'The Rainbow Song' and we did Matarawa Cats by Rhondda Greig.

Geronimo Stilton

These reviews are all based on the books of Geronimo Stilton.  Have you read any of these books? Do you have a favourite book in the series?  If you haven't read any of these books, why haven't you?

Calendar Art Day

Today's challenge was to start and complete one piece of art.  These pieces may be used in a fundraising project.  The art work can be used not only for a calendar but it could be used for a card or a diary cover.

Being in Auckland, we are naturally affected by the amount of rain.  We get a lot of rain.  But, we are also lucky that our city is so pretty and that our view here at NWS is so awesome and as William says, the sky tower, "is the star of the show."

First we used white crayon to create the look of rain, then we took turns dyeing the papers grey. (Miss Skipper really likes the colour grey.) Then we had to let that dry most of the day.  After the dyeing was underway, we looked at famous city silhouettes.  We studied the Auckland skyline next.  Then we went outside to look at our view and to make sketches, to consider what we would and would not include and just the overall impression of the view.

Sketching the cityscape

Creating our view

 After sketching we came back inside and started cutting out shapes in newspaper.  Once we were satisfied with our shapes and sizes, we outlined our structures in sharpie.  Then we practised laying out all of our buildings trying to create perspective and a shape that was pleasing.  We also selected a quote based on creativity to add to our piece.  Next we fitted everything together and glued it all down.  Voila! Our finished work.  What do you think??

Some of our finished works

Hopefully, some of these will be made into a calendar for 2015.

Lessons in Chinese

We were lucky enough to be selected to host three foreign trained teachers.  Each teacher was from China and were keen to learn and practise their English.  In turn they gave us a Chinese language lesson while instructing in English.