Smiling Mind App

We've been taking a look at the 'Smiling Mind' free app.  It is a non-for-profit web and app-based meditation program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring mindfulness into student's life.  Click here to find out more!

Mindfulness is a tool that can help you to:

• Reduce worries, anxiety and distress
• Enjoy more energy
• Create a sense of calm
• Learn how to relax and regulate emotions
• Enhance awareness and creativity
• Improve concentration and increase productivity
• Develop a sense of empathy and connectedness
• Enjoy better health and sleep

Tournament of Minds photos

Team off to Internationals!

Tournament of Minds: Two Teams Came second at Nationals and one is off to Darwin for the Internationals in 3 weeks!

Recently, 21 students represented Raroa at the Wellington Regional 'Tournament of Minds'. The three teams were given a complex challenge to solve over the 6 weeks before the Tournament, and they had to present their solutions to the judges and an audience on Tournament Day in a dramatic form.  In addition, they were given a Spontaneous Challenge on the day to solve on the spot in 5 minutes.  All of this had to be done WITHOUT any advice, feedback or direction from parents, teachers, friends, etc.  More details about the programme are below.

We are so proud of all these students, as each team demonstrated outstanding teamwork, problem-solving, risk-taking and creative & critical thinking. Special mention goes to the Language Literature Team and the STEM Team who won their sections and went on to compete at the National Tournament last weekend.  Both the STEM and Language Literature team came second in their divisions!

The Language Literature team is now off to represent NZ at the Internationals in Darwin, Australia, 11-14 October 2018.

This is an outstanding achievement as only four Year 5-8 teams from New Zealand are selected to attend.  We wish them all the very best. We know they will do Raroa, Wellington and New Zealand proud.  Kia kaha Matthew, Louis, Izzi, Tuhina, Daniel, Richie and Alex!

Tournament of Minds is a very dynamic, exciting programme with many challenges for the students, including:

• Unpacking a very complex challenge and criteria, creating a variety of solutions, and taking one of them to presentation level 
• Working in a team of 7 (even adults can find this challenging!)
• No advice, feedback or assistance in the 6 week prep period from any adults or other students (including teachers!)
• A limited list of allowable, recyclable materials for sets, props and costumes
• A virtual budget limit
• Production of a script 
• the identification of 2 presentation skills for additional consideration by judges

And all in 6 weeks... for the Regionals

And all in 3 hours... for the Nationals

Congratulations to all students involved:

Louis Oliver, Matthew Wallis, Richie Man, Izzi Anderson, James Lee-Guard, Daniel Soh, Tom Jacobsen, Guy Curry Stanton, Cameron Pryde, Sebastian Pratt, Tait Keller, Alex Hay, Nathan Stacey, Daniel Astwood, Tom Robinson, Milly Mathews, Simon Burrows, John Hyatt, Sophie Buick, Tuhina Sambhus and Ben Adamson.

Draft plan released by government

Subject: Disability and Learning Support Action Plan draft released

Dear All,

I am pleased to inform you that the Hon Tracey Martin, Acting Minister of Education has released today the draft Disability and Learning Support Action Plan.

This plan has great news for the gifted education community as it formally includes our gifted learners as a group of learners who often need a different pathway to reach meaningful success.

You can find Minister Martin’s press release here:

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/draft-disability-and-learning-support-action-plan-released

The draft plan is also available as a PDF at the link above.

The draft plan covers four priority areas:

·         improving the way children and young people are assessed for additional learning needs

·         strengthening the range of supports for children and young people with disabilities and additional learning needs

·         improving the way the education system responds to neurodiverse learners and gifted learners, and

·         ensuring that learning support is resourced for increased support and delivery.

Consultation on the draft Action Plan begins next week, and will run until 31 October.

Please download the pdf and feel free to email us back any questions you may like to have answered.

We will be in touch when a more formal channel of feedback is requested.

Kind regards

Deb Walker

Project Leader

Gifted Aotearoa

Extra Science Fair Photos

Tournament of Minds - Sunday 2 September

What a day it was for 3 teams from Raroa 

at the Wellington Regional Tournament of Minds day.  

After 6 weeks for preparation, the teams presented their solution to a complex challenge - all without any adult or peer help, advice or guidance.  This programme was a real life opportunity to put the ASPIRE values into action!

In addition, they completed a Spontaneous Challenge that could not be prepared for.  Scores from both challenges were totally for overall points.

Congrats to all students who participated:

Louis Oliver, Matthew Wallis, Richie Man, Izzi Anderson, James Lee-Guard, Daniel Soh, Tom Jacobsen, Guy Curry Stanton, Cameron Pryde, Sebastian Pratt, Tait Keller, Alex Hay, Nathan Stacey, Daniel Astwood, Tom Robinson, Milly Mathews, Simon Burrows, John Hyatt, Sophie Buick, Tuhina Sambhus and Ben Adamson.

Special congratulations to the Language and Literature Team who came first in their section and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths team who also came first in their section.  Both of those teams have been invited to take part in the National Tournament to be held in Wellington on 16 September. 

All the best!

NIWA Science & Tech Fair: Prize-Giving

Prizegiving takes place on Tuesday 11^th September 2018 at the Te Toki a Rata, Lecture Theatre 1, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Campus. All prizewinners, families, friends, teachers and exhibitors are welcome to attend. Prizewinners should be there at 6.30pm and will be seated in designated seats to facilitate the proceedings. Attendance is optional for Highly Commended exhibitors. The Prizegiving will run from 7-8pm.

NIWA Science & Technology Fair - Project List

The many and varied projects from Raroa students at the NIWA Science & Tech Fair

Birds produce preening oil to aid buoyancy. Can the buoyancy effect of preening oil be replicated using materials with similar qualities?

The 'perfect face', has been determined by some, by using the Golden Ratio. This project uses maths to challenge this theory by analysing the faces of NZ models compared to non-models.

Is there a correlation between the job of a teacher and a personality type? Using NERIS type explorer, teachers and non-teachers are analysed to determine if there is a personality type that teachers are more likely to have and comparing that to non-teachers.

To find out if the type of acid used in casein glue production affects its strength. A variety of non-toxic casein glues were produced using various household acids and then strength tested and compared to the strength of PVA glue.

Manuka honey is believed to have anti-fungal qualities when topically applied. This project tests if the UMF rating of the honey affects the potency effectiveness of the anti-fungal properties.

Do rabbits have an innate response to predators that they have not been exposed before?

This project investigates whether used coffee grinds are actually good for plant growth or if it is just another faked ‘life-hack’. Tests are done with various ratios of coffee/garden mix to discover any correlation with plant growth.

Is it possible to recreate the ability of Wily Coyote, in the "Road Runner' cartoon, to remain airborne without falling? Using physics, maths and engineering we investigate the possibility of a human being able to hover for 4 seconds.

The smoking point of various cooking oils is investigated to reduce the risks of cancer development. This is because at smoking point, carcinogens are released and these are known to mutate cells which can lead cancer.

To investigate the development of edible gluten-free cutlery to reduce plastic waste and for the good of those with gluten intolerances.

To find out what natural alternatives there are to using commercial toothpaste to remove plaque from human teeth. And also, to test the effectiveness of these alternatives.

When and where might the next tornado occur in New Zealand? Using the data of past tornadoes, this project makes a prediction of the most likely scenario for the next tornado.

Testing to see what effect common everyday drinks have on the enamel of human teeth. This has been explored through the use of simulated teeth (boiled eggs) to educate the masses.

To see if cardboard tubes amplify sounds and if the length of the tube is a contributing factor. This knowledge can then be used where no electricity is available.

Raroa @ NIWA Wellington Science & Technology Fair

Raroa would love to acknowledge the following students for representing the school so admirably at the NIWA Wellington Science and Technology Fair: 

Izzi Anderson, James Lee-Guard, Michael Ling, Eva Ablett-Hampson, Daniel Soh, Jan Munro, Guy Curry Stanton, Sebastion Pratt, Alex Vannucci, Nathan Stacey, Trijal Pednekar, Arabella Tries, Ellen Hammond, Hayley Chung, Nathan Adamson and Tuhina Sambhus. 

The school entered 14 projects into the Year 7 and Year 8 competitions, 

which had a total of 233 entries this year. 

Huge congratulations to the following Raroa students who won prizes 

in a very competitive competition:

The Doreen Gates Memorial Prize for a project displaying enthusiasm and innovation: Tuhina Sambhus

NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology Prize for a project which relates to food: Tuhina Sambhus 

Highly Commended: Hayley Chung

The Cancer Society of NZ(Wellington Division) Prize for a project which relates to prevention of cancer: Sebastian Pratt

Third for Year 7s: Trijal Pednekar

Measurement Standards Laboratory, Callaghan Innovation Prize for the application of measurement: Trijal Pednekar

More photos to come: