Recap of Week 6

The Roxy 5 film groups  did themselves proud!  They had to make a presentation to staff members which outlined their film idea, the characters, theme and plot-line.  This was done with such clarity and confidence.  Any questions asked where answered in detail, and the students were open to suggestions for the path ahead.  The next step is to put some suggestions into action, create a filming schedule and let the filming begin!

Kapowai took a closer look at Raroa's  3 step method to help solve problems for ourselves.

Ext(reme) Writers enjoyed the poems 'The Magic Box' by Kit Wright and 'Prayer for the 21st Century' by John Marsden.  We continue to unpack how poets can create imagery successfully and use that knowledge to create our own.

The Springfire group looked into gifted intensities - what they are and what they look like in real life.  After chekcing out what our won might be, we looked into how to make the most of the benefits of each intensity and how to lessen the impact of nay challenges it may bring.

Mathletes in Team 2 began new teaching clinics in Statistic according to their next learning steps.  The group focus is also on the analysis of and drawing conclusions from COMPLEX graphs. Team 1 completed exploration of using tables to aid problem-solving and moved to Financial Literacy.  Other Mathletes began their teaching clinics in Number Knowledge, focusing on operations involving integers and proving any rules as well as other personal next learning steps. 

Also Mr B called for any students interested in ePRo8 - see him this week if you missed that meeting.

Have a great week - remember that Tuesday afternoon is a Paid Union Meeting for those teachers in the union.

Another Writing Comp

Enrichment Choices due on Monday

Raroa’s Enrichment Programme will commence in Week 8 of Term 1 so students need to choose the enrichments they want to be in now, if they haven't already.

To have a look at what enrichments are available for students click here.

Students need to fill in this form by 4pm Monday 11 March.  There is also a link on the school website on the Our Programme tab, under Enrichments.

Week 5 Rewind

What a week - the highlight had to be School Athletics!  

Great day, great fun and lot of pushing to the limit!

No Ext(reme) Writing or Mathletes for Team 1 this week but a new group 'Springfire' began for some Year 8 students.  This is a block course for 3-4 weeks which will be repeated over the course of the year so all GATE students can attend. The focus is to better understand ourselves: What does gifted mean? What does talented mean? What are the benefits of giftedness and how do I make the most of them?  What are the challenges and how do I lessen the impact of those challenges?

Mathletes in Teams 3, 4 and 5 are discovering if they have any areas in Number Knowledge and Strategies which they would like to develop and will then move into new Number Learning. Priority is given to using these to solve complex problems, including multi-step problems.

Team 2 Mathletes discovered how to read and create time/distance graphs in a variety of situations. Next week, we delve further into Statistical Literacy as we evaluate complex statistical investigations by:

• exploring and identifying patterns, variations, relationships and trends in multivariate data sets,
• interpreting statistical information, and
• making conclusions and communicating findings

Kapowai continued exploring stressors and their effects, calm plans and action plans. Script-writing and storyboarding kept Roxy 5 well entertained!

A pretty straightforward week coming up for the students. Teaching staff will be involved in Professional Development courses with other schools in our cluster over the next 2 weeks so will be an inspiring time.

Publishing Opportunity - artists and writers

Toitoi celebrates the ideas, imaginations and creative spirit of our young writers and artists. We believe that their work has purpose and deserves a wide audience.

We publish material with an original and authentic voice that other young people can connect to and be inspired by and that reflects the cultures and experiences of life in New Zealand. 

Our philosophy is to treat young writers and artists with respect, handle their work with care and produce a beautifully designed journal of high quality that reflects how much we value and admire them.

Closing date for the next issue is: April 12, 2019.

Click here for details on how to submit as a writer or an artist

Film Competition

Click here for details

Make a short film

Any genre you like
Any length up to 5 minutes
Anyone under 25 can enter

The challenge is to make a short film about sustainability.

The Entry Deadline in 2019 is 13 September.
You can make your film individually or in a team.

And it's up to you how you interpret ‘sustainability'. What does that word mean for you? 

Upcoming Writing Competitions

https://www.schoolforyoungwriters.org/competitions

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Open Junior Section

Prizes (Open only to entrants who are 17 years of age or younger on 31 May) First Prize: NZ$200. Primary/Intermediate Runner-up: NZ$50; Secondary Runner-up NZ$100. No entrant will win more than 1 cash prize. Up to 20 Commendations.

Entry fee is NZ$2.50 per poem. 1 free with every 5 entries (ie pay for 5 get 6 entries, pay for 10 get 12 entries).

Junior Haiku Section

Open to entrants who are 17 years of age or younger on 31 May.

Prizes: Primary/Intermediate: three prizes of NZ$50; Secondary: three prizes of NZ$50. Up to 20 commendations. No entrant will win more than 1 cash prize, except that the best of the two 1st prize winners will be awarded the additional Jeanette Stace Memorial Prize of $100.

Entry fee: NZ$1.00 per haiku. 1 free with every 5 entries (ie pay for 5 get 6 entries, pay for 10 get 12 entries).

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Writing Competition

The Top Outdoor Spot competition, held annually, invites children from around New Zealand to share their favourite outdoor place.

Competition details

The competition runs throughout terms 1 and 2, and encourages students to send in a photo, drawing, short poem or story of their favourite outdoor spot. The top three entries in each category win a prize pack for themselves and/or their school. The three categories are: 

1. Best Photo
2. Best Drawing, and
3. Best Story/Poem

Any student enrolled in a New Zealand school is eligible to win the Top Outdoor Spot competition. Entries can be made from now until 6 July 2019

Prizes

FIRST PRIZE for each category is, from Kiwi Camping: an EPE Cloud Adventure Day Pack with Koru sleeping bag, emergency blanket, emergency poncho, Dynamo LED torch, Kubb game, towelling hat, and bird stickers. And from Skellerup: Red Band gumboots.

 

The school of the winning student also receives a copy of Animals of Aotearoa, by Gillian Candler, illustrated by Ned Barraud and published by
Potton and Burton, and a $300 voucher for a school day trip to a nearby outdoor walk or trail plus trip advice from our local Walking Access
Commission Regional Field Advisor.

SECOND PRIZE for each category is, from Kiwi Camping: an EPE Cloud Adventure Day Pack with an emergency blanket, emergency poncho, Kubb
game, towelling hat and bird stickers. And from Skellerup: Red Band gumboots.

THIRD PRIZE for each category is, from Kiwi Camping: an EPE Cloud Adventure Day Pack with an emergency blanket, emergency poncho, towelling hat and bird stickers. And from Skellerup: Red Band gumboots.

Please join us

We would like your school to be involved in the 2019 competition. Teachers at your school can submit their students’ entries at www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/tos

Warhammer Club says Thanks!

Raroa's Warhammer Club gives a big shout out to Games Workshop who donated a School Alliance Kit to the Club. It contains: a 'Storm of Sigma Sigmar table top game with step-by-step guides, figures to be made and painted, paints, brushes, clippers and numerous booklets. Thank you so much!

The Warhammer group was formed at the end of last year by a very enthusiastic group of students and is a place where any students can come and chat about Warhammer, play games or just find out what it is all about. The students meet every Wednesday at lunchtime in Room 9 and any students are welcome to come along.
The club would welcome any further donations:

• If any families have any old Games Workshop figures or hobby materials, e.g. model paints, tools, etc that they would like to donate to the Club, please contact Lynne Dunn l.dunn@raroa.school.nz. As the Club is just starting out, it would be great to have some figures, etc that those without their own could access each Wednesday.
• Also, if any adult Wargamers would be interested in coming to a meeting, please contact Lynne Dunn, l.dunn@raroa.school.nz . It could be to show some of your models, show a painting technique or just to come and 'talk the talk' with an enthusiastic group of students.

Thanks again Games Workshop!

A busy week ahead....

... with Athletics on Tuesday at Nairnville Park - remember to go there in the morning, not to Raroa.

... with the Community Walk on Sunday - see you there!

... Monday:  NZ Cricket working with the girls who didn't go on Friday

... Summer Sport programme starts on Thursday afternoon

... school photos on Friday


With Overnighters behind us ... more programmes will be underway from this week on.  There will be Block Courses in Philosophy and Springfire (What is giftedness...the benefits and challenges).  The Springfire course will be repeated throughout the year and will start with a group of Year 8s.  Philosophy will be offered to all GATE students and will also be available throughout the year.

Students should watch their emails and announcements for details about these.