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

Hauora - Wellbeing

Wellbeing is so important to us all at present. After thirty days in Auckland Level 4 Lockdown it seems that wellbeing is the top of the agenda for all. 

Last week I attended the Kahui Ako Within School Leaders Inquiry sharing day. Two leaders from a local school presented their Team Inquiry into Wellbeing. 

At the scanning stage, they surveyed both teachers and students about their wellbeing. 

Their hunch was that sound wellbeing practices were being used in the school, but their was no coherent pathway for all to follow. 

During the inquiry, they reflected on what wellbeing practices were operating in classes, what practices they wanted to keep or add, as well as what wellbeing practices were most relevant for the school and their community.

As an outcome of the inquiry, the staff attended the 'Pause, Breathe Smile' Professional Development and taught mindful lessons on a weekly, then daily basis.

This resulted in the same language and expectations being used in all classes. 

The teachers next step is to continue this mindfulness practice until it is embedded as part of everyday practice and expectations of the school.

Food for thought!

 

Our Peaceful Piece of Paradise

 

In today's world of Covid, the Taliban take over in Afganistan and the anniversary of 9/11, I try to focus on being in the present and celebrate the simple things in life.  

It's hard to imagine that our peaceful piece of paradise down under has been jolted by terrorism again. The attack in Lynnmall, last week, reminded me that we are so vunerable as a global community.

My heart goes out to the victims, the workers and the public who were present in Countdown that afternoon. Keeping themselves and others safe under Level 4 Lockdown, whether working or shopping is stressful enough without the fear of being attacked.

We need to remember be kind, be generous and embrace the small joys that Lockdown gives us.

                                              

                                                                     Sunset at Huia - a joy to celebrate

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Lockdown Storm

 Lockdown Storm

Reflecting back over the week, it's certainly been a week of contrast. Early in the week we had the storm that hit my place in Huia with vigour. We had torrential rain for seven hours, resulting in flooding, not just in Huia, but all over West Auckland. 

I woke to find thick debris piled up against my gate, with no access out of my property. Our road had been dug up ready for new seal the day before we went into to Level 4 Lockdown. As the rain poured down the road, the gravel was washed away and filled the driveways on its route down the hill. My dog couldn't figure out how to clamber over the debris at the gate to go for our usual morning walk. 

The road was so badly damaged in two places. One site outside my place, made a two hundred metre long and one metre deep hole. Auckland Transport attended by 10am and worked for five hours repairing it. 

The whole of the beach was covered with large trees and vegetation that had been washed down the rivers. The Kakamatura stream changed it's route and washed out all the carpark and part of the new walking track.

The huge bonus of all this was that the Huia and Nihotupu Dams are now full. There's always a positive at the end of the rainbow.

As the week went on, we had beautiful sunshine and Spring showed it's head.

Reflections on Google Meets - Week 2 Level 4 Lockdown

Ms Tannahill attended a few awesome google meets with classes last week. It's so inspiring to share my week with some of our teachers and their classes. 

Each class looked and sounded like a 'business as usual' at New Windsor School. I sensed the importance of using the New Windsor Way Values, the three R's and three C's throughout the meetings. Meeting protocol is quite complex, especially when you are only six years old and are learning to navigate computer literacy.

Meeting by distance every day is definitely our new norm. I wish to acknowledge the part our teachers, students and whanau play in making this type of learning manageable and successful.

One of my memorable moments was when the teacher asked the class to share a celebration from their week in lockdown. One student replied, 'My memorable moment was when I went for a walk with my family. We just enjoyed the sun and the outside'. 

This comment really depicts the simple things in life that we most value when faced with the complications of a world pandemic.

Kia Kaha everyone!

 Level 4 Lockdown at Huia 

This morning when I walked my dog, Koda, on Huia beach I thought about what a privilege it is to have such a picturesque place to walk around. I live two minutes walk from the beach, so it's very easy to wander around my neighbourhood safely. I like to watch the birds gather on the beach, then quickly take off in flight as soon as the dog and I get closer.

Last weekend I saw an Antarctic Fur Seal pup sleeping on the rocky outcrop beside the beach. Evidentally these can be very aggressive, so I had to take care not to startle it.

The teachers and the Leadership Team have been working hard to ensure your Distance learning sites are all ready. There is some very exciting learning available. I have attended a few class Google Meets and Zoom sessions, where both students and teachers are learning together.

I hope you are all staying safe and being kind to your family.

Choir Rehearsal Update

 Another entry that's full of celebration!

The New Windsor School Choir went to Papakura Primary on Tuesday of this week to join with other choirs in our first Regional Rehearsal. The other choirs were mainly from South. We joined their group for the first rehearsal, as the Central Regional Rehearsal group was scheduled to be on NWS Accord Day. 

Our forty- five choir members were inspired with the power of group.  The choirs sang in unison, in two,  three and four part harmonies with one student from another school singing a solo part. 

The choirs are all working towards memorizing the words of all the songs and mastering the discipline involved in singing as part of a mass choir.

New Windsor students were able to rise to the challenge positively by using their New Windsor Way Values in an exemplary manner.

Our students are already deciding which of the songs is their favourite. It's a fine line between 'See You Again,' 'Memories' and 'On With The Show' at this stage.

What a joy it is to be their Choir trainer!

  😎 Community Service - Vision Screening 😎

Yesterday twenty Auckland University Ophthalmology Graduate Students came into school with their Tutor to do vision screening on all our Year 1 & 2 students and some Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 students who were identified by teachers with a possible visual impairment. 

 

New Windsor has welcomed their visit for the past six years and many families have benefited from this service. This annual community service is offered to our school free of charge. Unfortunately in 2020 this had to cancelled due to Lockdown.

The idea behind this service to give the university students experience working with young children. The students who came yesterday were lovely with our little people, and all our children enjoyed the experience. It was amusing to hear tales of which cool glasses they had to put on. One of our Year 5 students told me he got to wear the little pink glasses with the cute red bows on the side. He was very pleased to have an eye examination.

The assessment is followed up with a letter home next week, to let parents know if their child passed or failed the vision testing. For any child who has failed the screening a full examination will be offered at the eye clinic in Grafton. Parents just need to phone or email to make an appointment.

The first time we had free screening from Auckland University, in 2015 they screened the whole school, 550 students over three days. The Graduates picked up 80 children with a visual impairment, some mild, some extreme. 

I make a point of following up with parents so our students can be the best they can be. It's very hard to succeed at school when you can't see properly! 

 

Cross Country 9 Year Old Girls and Boys 🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃

It was my privilege to be the Senior Leadership Team member to support the 9 year olds Cross Country race last Thursday, 27 May. 

The turn out from parents, grandparents and extended whanau was pleasing. It was heart warming to see these families come to school to support their children on a cold, south -westerly day.

The students participated in the race in an exemplary manner. They showed respect, responsibility, resilience throughout the race. 

The Cross Country was loved some students,  whereas others found it very hard

The crowd support was appreciated by the runners. The spectators supported building confidence for all students to participate and be the best they could be.

The top ten students will attend the Zone Cross Country soon.

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                    🎸 🎵  Musiqhub 'Have A Go Day' 🎶  🎹

On Wednesday morning the Music teachers from Music hub ran a 'Have a Go Morning' for our interested students and their parents. 

There was a big turn out of eager students to listen to the music teachers talk about learning to play an instrument. Ms Tannahill thought it all sounded very exciting. 

Both teachers demonstrated their playing skills. Lih, the guitar and ukulele teacher, played 'Day Dream Believer' on guitar, followed by Shirley on keyboard with the theme song from 'Star Wars'.

Then the students had a chance to have a go. Some opted to try the guitar and ukulele, while others enjoyed their chance to play keyboard.

The Musiqhub run lessons at school on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

See our school newsletter for contact details.

 Choir 2021

Our New Windsor Choir have had two rehearsals this term. It was pleasing to have so many keen Year 5 & 6 students turn up to the first meeting. Last year the Music festival had to be cancelled due to Covid, so the schools are all looking forward to performing together this year.

The Choir meet once per week for Choir Rehearsal to train ready to perform at the 2021 APPA (Auckland Primary Principal Association) Music Festival at the Town Hall. 

This is true celebration of Music, Dance and Song! Our performance is in the evening on Tuesday November 2.

The choirs we perform with are from ten different Primary and Intermediate Schools from Central and South Auckland. In total there are about 500 students students at the performance. 

We have two regional practices with half the schools, then meet for two full rehearsals with all the schools, then have a Dress Rehearsal the day before the performance.

To be a member our School Choir students need to attend weekly rehearsals at school with Ms Tannahill, learn all the songs, memorize all the words, attend all regional and whole choir rehearsals and the evening performance.

The choir is an opportunity to work hard, celebrate music and have fun. 

Brick Club Professional Development

 Brick Club 

Last Friday Lisa B and I went to Lego Therapy workshop to learn the theory behind Brick Club and how to facilitate Brick Club in schools. We are life long learners just like all our students at New Windsor. 

Our group agreed to make this Toy Story Lego following the instructions. 

Brick Club is a social skills group targeted for neuro diverse students who meet weekly with a facilitator to socialize with each other and build Lego together. 

Brick Club is very different to New Windsor School's lunchtime Lego Club, because Brick Club is run by a trained facilitator working with only three students at a time. It's run in class time and encourages participants to cooperate, communicate and collaborate together. 

Our facilitator chose our group's freestyle bricks as the most creative. 

                            

During the Brick Club sessions students collaborate to select their Lego of choice to build, then they decide which student has each of the three specific roles to get started. These roles or jobs are the Supplier, the Engineer and the Builder. The group agree on a time limit for the roles then swap once the time is up. They participate and contribute to the group in a polite and encouraging manner so all the members of the club feel valued.

The roles of the Brick Club support cooperation, communication and collaboration.

We are considering some fundraising ideas so we can purchase resources and run Brick Club at New Windsor School soon. 

Another group made this Frozen Lego using the instructions.