Music Makes the World Go Round

I hope you've remembered to give your notice to your family so they know to mark the date 24th June on their calendars for the singing performance in the hall at 6.30. They'll be sorry if they miss out! (By the way - who do you think the dude in the front row with the moustache is!? Maybe it's just someone with a bit of marmite left over from morning tea.)

Kapa Haka

Today we went to kapa haka for the first time. We learned the Ōtautahi Haka which is all about rising up and being strong here in Christchurch.

If you click this link you'll be able to practise the words for the super haka.

This link shows the actions for the kōtiro (girls), if you are looking for the actions for tama (boys) they are here.

KidsFest Reading Tonight

Hooray, the KidsFest booklet is out! The noise level as you read through it this afternoon was the opposite of strangely silent that's for sure!
Anyhoo have fun planning what you'd like to do during the next school holidays (hmm that has a nice ring to it).

Theo found this great sounding Superhero Training Academy. That reminded me that Flat Man came to his house and delivered him a goodies package. He thinks it is because he created his own superhero called Minus at the Papanui Library. If you'd like to check out the City Libraries' Website then go to the link at the side of this post.

Strangely Silent

I am sitting writing this as you are all writing about our Farewell Autumn - Welcome Winter Walk today. It is a strange thing not to be helping you write and, I might add, that you are all so silent!!

New Art Displays

We've freshened up the displays in our room. Art that has been waiting for its turn to impress is now up and glowing.

The Doubles

Have you learned the doubles off by heart? It is so handy to know these basic facts. I found a video we made in 2012 when the then Room 17 went to Room 9 to help them learn the doubles song. I can recognise some of this year's year three children in the group. I have posted it to the Room 17 Maths page.

Happy Birthday Evie!

We hope you're treated like a princess on your special day!

Will It Be US?

Which class in the Year Three team is going to have all the permission slips back first this time? Will it be us? I hope so!!

Water Experiment

Today we carried out an experiment that demonstrated something interesting about water.

Can you remember what it was so you can tell your family?

Maybe if you have some food colouring you could do the experiment at home?

We will do another experiment tomorrow to see what happens when we have water of different temperatures.

Wombling With Our Buddies

Today after lunch we went wombling with our buddy class. Can you see how much rubbish we found? We felt disappointed about that. The name wombling comes from a t.v programme I used to watch when I was little.

These are the words for the Wombling song. They might give you an idea about why what we did today is called wombling.

THE WOMBLING SONG Underground, overground, wombling free, The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we. Making good use of the things that we find, Things that the everyday folks leave behind. Uncle Bulgaria, He can remember the days when he wasn? behind the times, With his map of the world. Pick up the papers and take them to Tobermory! Wombles are organised, work as a team. Wombles are tidy and Wombles are clean. Underground, overground, wombling free, The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we! People don't notice us, they never see, Under their noses a Womble may be. We womble by night and we womble by day, Looking for litter to trundle away. We're so incredibly, utterly devious Making the most of everything. Even bottles and tins. Pick up the pieces and make them into something new, Is what we do! Underground, overground, wombling free, The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we. Making good use of the things that we find, Things that the everyday folks leave behind.

Mr Fox on the Mend

I am delighted to report that Mr Fox has made a full recovery from leg surgery. Here he is with his mate Claude!

Skipping

Now we have all completed the Cross Country so successfully we are moving onto skipping for our fitness.
Skipping is excellent for cardio fitness and coordination. You won't be developing strength so much but you are working cooperatively and encouraging each other so effectively.
Remember to check out our new skipping page for tips and video updates on how everyone is getting on.

Treasures Indeed

We are really enjoying finding out about the different things families treasure and the reasons they do. If you'd like to look at those things again and tell your family what you have learned check out the new page up above.

Assembly in Room 14

It was fun to meet up with the other Year Three classes today to reflect on all the amazing learning and achievements we've had this week. Thanks Room 14 for leading this today. Congratulations must also go to Room 19 for Winning the Heather Trophy. I'm sure they'll be sneaky spies checking up on our cloakroom and noticing if we have turned off the classroom lights at play and lunchtimes.

Congratulations to these learners who got certificates today.

We were pleased to formally welcome Blaze to Room 17. We love having you learning with us Blaze - you're a star!

Fant-iddily-astic!

Before - we're excited and a little bit nervous.

After - we're relieved and proud too!

It was so good to do the cross country today. Everyone was well prepared and rearing to go. Different people had different expectations and goals for the race, but we were all determined to make it the best race we'd ever run and to be the best we could be... AND WE DID AND WE WERE!!!

We are especially proud of Sophie, Makenzie and Riley for getting a placing - congratulations!

Orana Park - Here We Come!

It was so exciting to get on the bus and go to Orana Park this morning. We couldn't have had a more perfect day for it! All that finger crossing you did worked.
We split into five groups and worked with an educator from Orana Park to learn all about loads of animals. We had a theme of Wonderful Water and Its Effect on Wildlife.

Orana Park on PhotoPeach
These photos are all of Group Three.
Group Five's Photos

Happy Mothers' Day

Mothers' Day Fairies
Unfortunately some children were working with Mrs Hunter when we took the photos - it's pretty hard to be secret squirrels!

I hope you've got your fingers crossed for fine weather for tomorrow!! Orana Park here we come!

Happy Birthday Gabe!

Hope the sky is this blue for your big day!

Arts Interchange

We are having our turn working with the clever Ms Emeleus at the moment. She is an amazing singing teacher and the sound she teaches and encourages you all to make is beautiful. This clip is just a snippet of you singing a warm up song. I love the way you can also see some of the community quilt hanging on the walls around you.

Cross Country on Tuesday

Treasure!

Did you see this great photo in the paper this morning?

What have cones and coins got to do with running? Well our cone and coin running trails have helped get you fitter. Now it's nearly time to put all that training and hard work to the test. There are four sleeps till the Cross Country. It was helpful to walk the course today and notice the changes from last year and work out strategies for having a successful run.

Remember - when you're going uphill make your steps smaller and DRIVE with your arms.

Here are some tips other children in Room 17 have come up with over the years.

If cross country isn't your thing - remember the running bit takes less time than playtime does. That's not a very big part of one day is it?

Drip, drip, drip

What a fun day we've had today all based around water. We worked with people from our class and our buddy class who were in our House (or one other House). Whero and Kowhai  worked together and so did Kahurangi and Kakariki.
The first activity we did was building sand structures in the sand pit. Our aim was to create a structure that would be mostly the same after a "flood" poured all over it.

Welcome Back!

It's great to be back together for another fun filled term of learning in Room Seventeen. There are three extra exciting events happening in the next week.

drip, drip, drip science topic ignition day

Wednesday 7th May at school

Orana Wildlife Park trip

Monday 12th May (bus LEAVES at 9)

Cross Country

Tuesday 13th May at English Park

I think it is time for us to have some sunny, fine, calm weather so we can enjoy these events. Please keep an eye and an ear out for more details coming home in notices.

Happy Birthday Talan!

We are looking forward to hearing all about it on Monday!