Blood Moon Comes to NZ

I've always been fascinated with the Astronomy, especially the night sky. I love watching sunsets and the moon rising. The phases of the moon remind me of the places I have sat and watched the night sky all around the world.

Stargazing has always been a hobby. I love to spot the two pointers of the Southern Cross and find direct South. When I lived in the Northern Hemisphere I stargazed at a different Star Constellation.

This evening there was a Blood Moon. It was a celebrated event as it hasn't occurred for 800 years. The moon rose earlier tonight and you could see the eclipse clearly in the North Eastern sky.

                            

It was a very long eclipse because the moon was at the furtherest part of its orbit away from the Earth.  It is s so far away from Earth it moves very slowly resulting in a very long eclipse. This is called a Micro Moon.

It is called a blood moon because during a lunar eclipse the Earth passes directly between the moon and the Sun so that the Earth's shadow falls directly on to the moon, making it dark.

At the mid-phase of the eclipse the only light falling on the moon is from all of the sunsets around the Earth so that is why the colour goes red. 

It was so spectacular to watch.

Did you see this phenomena in our night sky?

What is your Superpower?

Last week in Room 24 we listened to, then reread and discussed two texts about Kindness. Our focus was to make connections from texts to real life.

Here is Morton's synopsis of the story, 'How to Spread Kindness'

Today I learnt how to how to spread kindness. The first story was about spreading kindness being like us having an "invisible bucket" - the story told me that every one has an invisible bucket. 

The bucket is like water: when there is more water in the bucket its heavier, so when you fill your bucket you feel happy and joyful. But when your bucket is empty you feel sad and lonely. The way you earn water is if you're kind and helpful, it gives the person you helped or made happy more water in their invisible bucket. That comes back to you, so you also get water in your bucket from helping them. Sometimes you lose water by getting bullied or being mean to someone else.

Do you like to have a full bucket! I certainly do! It's good for my wellbeing.

One of the follow up create tasks, was for the students to create a poster about their Superpower as a friend. This is worth considering, because not only do we all bring special treasures to a friendship, we also receive them. 

Rieza made this from Canva. Have a look at his blog, he recommends this site to make awesome posters that you will be proud of.

Sarah made this from Wordart.

Saad made this poster.

Haadi made this poster.

Thanks for checking out our Class Blog celebrating some of our Learn, Create, Share Reading tasks for the week.

Creative Artworks

Welcome to the end of Week 3.

Room 24 learning continues to be linked to the theme Kaitiakitanga, with particular focus on being responsibile citizens of Aotearoa. 

This week we made artworks using natural items found outside. Many of the students created a self portrait made with a collection of leaves, flowers, bark and stones they found in their backyard or in the park.

Check out their blogs to see what they have shared!

It is lovely to see this type of learning being transferred from school to whanau activities. Some families who recently visited Huia, created these bivouacs from the logs and sticks left on the beach after a recent storm.

This gave both local children and visitors a chance to create more bivouacs alongside these and play for the day in the huts.

Can you make a bivoac in your backyard, or a hut inside? 

Have a great week of learning! 

Environmental Responsibility

This week Room 24 discussed the importance of being future ambassadors for the protection of our environment.

Some students created a pledge to Aotearoa for their future commitment to be guardian's of the land, or show Kaitiakitanga, pledging that they will take on the responsibility to be kaitiaki, or guardians, of the land and protect it for future generations.

When you read some of the student blogs you will notice this theme in their posts.

One of our Reading tasks this week was to read 'The Lorax' by Dr Suess. This story has a strong environmental message that linked our learning with being future ambassadors for protecting Aotearoa.

The students had to read, then create an interview with one of the characters, The Once-ler, whose actions, thoughtlessness and greed destroyed a pristine environment where nature was at it's best. This is also shared on their blogs.

The challenge to be set for the upcoming week, is to consider what impact your decisions have on our environment.

Kia Kaha!

Welcome to Room 24

The start of Term 4 arrived with the challenge of Alert Level 3 Lockdown in Auckland. 

As much as I enjoy working from home in Huia, I was pleased to work on site at school on the first day of term. I welcomed some of our students back to Bubble School, enjoyed connecting with a few colleagues and having the opportunity to seek out some resources for the new classroom.

I welcomed Room 24 to their new classroom space via Google Meets. An online introduction to your new classroom and your new teacher was a little daunting for some! 

Fortunately at New Windsor we aspire to be the best we can be by using our School Values - Confident, Collaborative, Creative, Responsible, Respectful and Resilient. Room 24 presented themselves well at our first online Meet and Greet.

For our Year 6 students it is their last term at New Windsor School. We look forward to making their term full of great learning and good memories. 

Hopefully we will be back on site at school soon to work face to face and celebrate our lovely new learning space.

 

Kahui Ako Student Leaders Wellbeing Lockdown Special Hui Toru 😷🙏

Last Thursday the Student Leaders from Kahui Ako Schools meet via zoom to continue with their Student Leaders Wellbeing Huis. I was one of six teachers at the meeting supporting their students. The Kahui Ako Hauora Committee organize these student led huis to gather student voice around the support they need for their wellbeing.

This was the third of four hui our Student Leaders, Nicole, Buster, Ehsani and Isla have attended this year. We have met face to face at Lynfield for the other huis. The students discussed their school values, feedback from the Student Wellbeing survey and how much has been gained as a collective group to move forward with the Hauora Website.

The huis are facilitated by a team of Student Leaders from Lynfield College. They are outstanding young people who work alongside our students with passion and enthusiasm.

The Facilitators presented the Design Theme 'Voyage' for the upcoming website, then showed the students what it will look like.

The goal is to design a website that encompasses the collective ideas from all the schools in Kahui Ako.

During the zoom meeting we went into break out rooms to connect with students from other schools, have a few games of picker wheel and generally have fun.

The meeting was wrapped up with a game of Kahoot.

The ten questions clarified the student learning and contribution so far:

1. Why do we have huis? To create a website.
2. What do young people need? To be happy, healthy and motivated.
3. What shape were the website buttons? Bubbles
4. What is the theme of our upcoming website? Voyage and Waka
5. What school are the huis at? Lynfield College
6. What are some of the values that the schools have in common? Respect. responsible, confidence, leadership.
7. What did we get to eat at our face to face student hui? Pizza
8. What do we want to do with the website? Making wellbeing accessible for all. Empowering students.
9. How many schools came to the hui? 10
10. Which of the wellbeing frameworks were mentioned in the first hui? Fonofale, Te Whare Tapa Wha.

The only disappointment for our students at this Lockdown Special was the lack of shared kai at the end of the hui. Do you think Ms Harland may owe our Student Leaders a Pizza?

At Last - Alert Level 3

Initially I was feeling quite wary about the change in Alert Levels. It feels like Auckland has been at Alert Level 4 for a long time but we needed to stay safe. Auckland is still at risk from Delta, so hopefully we will all continue to be vigilent and keep our bubbles safe.

What I have realised, is for most whanau, Alert Level 3 is not much different than being at home at Alert Level 4. Yes, we have more freedom to choose to extend our bubble just a little. In addition, we can opt to buy some takeaway food, but generally most of Aucklanders are still working and learning from home. 

Living at Huia doesn't look and feel any different, except the roading crew are repairing the flood damaged roads and the council workers are mowing the park.  

I'm aware we need to celebrate the small wins. My son, daughter in law and grandchildren are part of my extended bubble, so it meant that we could celebrate my birthday with a family bubble dinner. I felt like I had been out to a restaurant, as I've had to cook for myself since the beginning of Lockdown. 

My Mum who is 97 and lives alone, was taken out for a drive around her neighbourhood by her bubble family. She hadn't even been down her driveway, so she felt a huge sense of freedom just to see the world for a bit.  

I keep hearing from friends and family how much their children are missing school. It will be a relief for all when we eventually return to Alert Level 2 and Auckland students can be back at school like the rest of the country. I think all the parents will love this as well!

Some of our students, whose parents are essential workers are attending bubble school at present. There are two very small bubbles with two teachers, Learning Assistants and a Principal on site. There are strict health and safety protocols in place, so it doesn't look like normal school as we know it at all. It has been awesome to hear fom Ms Siohane how many of our parents have been to the school gate over the last two days to collect learning packs for their children. 

I'm looking forward to making the most of the weekend and having a break from being constantly on my computer.

Nga Mihi