Breanna Places 2nd in the Middle School Poetry Competition

Vector visit teaches us to be safe around electricity

We were all in amazement as from Vector Energy shared with us the dangers of electricity in our home and the community. Tracey from the Stay Safe presentation covered how electricity got to our school and home, electrical hazards and introduced us to the concepts of conductors and insulators.
The main aims of the presentation were to;

• Identify electrical risks and their causes, and describe safe practices to manage these
• Access and use information to make safe choices around electricity and electrical equipment, at home, at school and in the community
• Understand responsibilities and actions, using simple guidelines and practices, to ensure personal safety and the safety of others around electricity

Some highlights of the presentation were naming 9 electrical dangers and seeing some children dress up and linesmen to work on power lines.

Team 3 were also treated to some amazing booklets and pencils made from recycled newspaper.

We would like to thank Tracey for her time and teaching us how to be safe around electricity.

Some Dates to Keep Free

Hello Parents
Here are some important dates for Term 4. It is a busy term so I wanted to make you all aware in advance.
Wednesday 24 October- Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday 25 October- Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday 1 November- School Athletics Day
Week 4- Testing Week
Tuesday 6 November- Silver School reflection day
Thursday 15 November Art and About evening 4-8pm
Monday 19 November- Swimming Starts
Sunday 9 December- Boston's 1st Birthday YAY!!!
Tuesday 11 December- Year 3 EOY Concert
Thursday 20 December- Last Day of School for 2012 :)

End of Term Three

Dear Parents and Students of the most amazing class Room 31!

Wow I cannot believe it is already the end of term three and we are coming into the last term of 2012! I can honestly say in my many years teaching I have not had a more exciting, enjoyable year and I know it's just going to get even better.
The children have learnt so much and it is great to see every child's thirst for knowledge. If I can instil one thing in them before the end of the year it is to be aware of their potential and have high expectations of themselves. Hopefully through this, they become life long learners and continue to achieve fantastic results in all they set there mind to.
I would like to thank all the parents for their ongoing support, your kind words and gestures have helped me on some pretty sleepless nights because of my own children. :)
Next term we have parent/teacher interviews, Grandparents Afternoon, Art and About Day, Athletics and Year 3 Production so I know Term 4 will fly by and we will be saying goodbye on the 20th December before we know it!
Most of all have a fabulous holiday and enjoy time with your family.
Kids, read lots and keep up with your basic facts!!!

All the best

Mr B:)

Mr Barrett's School Report- By Caleb

Mr. Barrett is the best teacher in the whole world and very, very good at math.

 Mr. Barrett is really funny. Mr. Barrett can teach Room 31 year 4, 5 and 6 math because year 3 math is like three plus two so that is why Mr. Barrett can teach Room 31 anything. 

Mr. Barrett also takes the rugby team. I thought Mr. Barrett played rugby but he doesn’t play rugby. Mr. Barrett is also good at modeling and is really good at fitness. Room 31 is really brilliant at spelling thanks to Mr. Barrett. Mr. Barrett has the best reading games ever.

I wish Mr. Barrett wouldn’t wear black shirts on sunny days.

Room 31 Contestants Compete in Speech Finals

Eshaan, Ella and Ayla compete in the Middle school speech finals and all did an amazing job. I am so proud of the confidence they showed, speaking in front of such a large audience of teachers, students and parents. Eshaan came away with a 2nd place and Ayla and Ella both got a highly commended certificated. Well done team!

Focus on Telling the Time

How to Tell the Time

Room 31 is visited by Professor Rainbow

This morning we were visited by Professor Rainbow, an amazing scientist who was shwing us what seemed to be magic!
Over the next few Friday's we will be focusing on Science and its many branches. For homework Room 31 must try to find a good definition for Science and list as many branches of science they can find.

Next week the children have been asked to bring a half teaspoon sample of a chemical they have at home. This could be vinegar, water, salt, flour or anything in the kitchen suitable for school.

Apparently the class found this work EASY!!!!!

This Week's Acceleration

This is a great site Team that explores the Universe in all its glory. I personally LOVE looking at this site and seeing what it has to offer.
The Scale of the Universe

Room 31's Imaginative Writer

In Room 31 we have been learning to describe a scene using our senses to add imagery in the mind of our reader. Isabella wrote an amazing piece after seeing a picture of an old house. Please use read this piece and constructively comment team.

A Description of a Picture

As I stood in front of the old house I used to live in, it reminded me of a spooky story.

As I walked up to the front door. I could hear the crumbling of the stones underneath my feet. I walked up the steps up to the door. I rang the doorbell but there was no answer. I looked through one of the cracked windows I was shaking all over. Suddenly I heard a creaking sound. I looked at the front door it had been opened. I went inside I saw a black cat and a broom.

Now I was terrified. I heard a chuckle, it sounded like a witch. I opened a door in the passageway and saw a witch. It looked at me right in the eyes. I wanted to scream and run away but I couldn’t. I was frozen. I was as stiff as concrete.

The witch was making a potion. Now I was horrified. I was about to call out for help when I heard an “Oooohhh!”

 It was coming from behind me then I felt something touch me.

I vanished... I was never to be seen again.

By Isabella    

Equivalent Fractions Video

Here is our learning for the next few days if you want to get a head start on the rest of the class
equivalent-fractions

Is that Sarah Walker?...

Today Laura brought along to school her BMX riding gear. She was wearing her helmet that protects her head and her riding kit that she wears while racing. In her quest to be the best she has set goals to ride as much as she can. Laura has already raced at Pigeon Mountain BMX track and came third.

Mr B's key to teaching the fabulous Room 31

Recipe:

Take a very bright, enthusiastic child.

Add an interested parent or two.

Introduce them to other similar children and parents.

Stir in a heap of stimulating ideas and a never-ending supply of balloons, straws, bubbles, paper and pencils.

Add a heap of books and equipment.

Pour the mixture into an adequately-sized space.

Toss in a motivated teacher and a “theme” for the day.

Add questions, discussions and activities.

Have fun with the result.

N.B. (Allow for contagion). This recipe will expand.

Extra for Experts

Eshaan impressed us all today by creating his own Learning Intention and spending time exploring new and exciting words and placing them into sentences so he could understand them better. It is so much fun to learn big words and even more fun using them in everyday conversation.

Room 31's Theoretical Framework for Achieving

Tribute to Room 31.. The Quest to be the Best

General Hilarity at Middle School Assembly

Room31 Shares their famous American Historical Figure's Quote

Room 31 Sing in Front of over 900 People!!!!

You made us both so proud today Room31, as the stand out performance of the International Day Concert!

Mr Smith and Mr Barrett Sing for International Day

Room 31 Rock it at International Day

It was a fantastic occasion as all the wonderful students in Room 31 dressed up in their national costume for International Day. We all looked amazing and were amazed to find that Mr Barrett was nowhere to be seen, but in his place was Senor El Barreto the Great Mexican Wanderer!!!
Here is a photo of our amazing group.. stay tuned for footage from the concert where Mr B and Mr S sing, and Room 31 make their début performance, singing the 50 States the Rhyme song!!!

Room 31 to Perform at International Day Concert

Hi Parents. Hopefully your children have told you that we are all performing at the school International Day concert. They will be sing the 50 States that Rhyme song. We are on first and it starts just after 11:00am Thursday. You are more than welcome to come and watch them as we are the only class that are going to be performing together.
We thank you again for all your support and encouragement!
Mr B and Mr S:)

Accelerate your Maths!!!

We have been talking a lot about giving change from $10.00 in class. This has led to discussion around renaming and regrouping of numbers to solve subtraction equations. Here is a video that explains it.. extra for our wonderful Room 31 experts!!!Borrowing and Regrouping for subtraction

Room 31 Choir Sing the 50 Sates

Finally we have done it. Due to the amazing work of Mr Smith, Room 31 have learnt all the States of America. Come and listen to their amazing rendition.

Congratulations to Laura for Winning an Award

A big congratulations must be given to Laura who received this years Sportsmanship trophy presented at the closing ceremony of the Owairoa Olympics. She always displays excellent sportsmanship and works well in any team situation. Well done Laura!!

Mr Smith has been teaching about New Zealand money!

We have been learning about the different types of coins and notes in New Zealand currency. Here is a fantastic game to help practice making different amounts of money using NZ coins.
Tell your parents about what we have been learning in maths and see if you can find and name different amounts of money you see when you are out shopping.
Coin Click

Room 31's Native Bird Art Focus

Over the past 10 weeks we have extensively been studying and producing wonderful native bird paintings. Under the amazing guidance of Mrs Hindson Room 31 spent hours studying different birds, painting techniques and composition. I sincerely believe that this is the best paintings children have ever done in my teaching career. I am so proud that the children focused on drawing real life birds from pictures and photos. This was a huge step in their creative thinking.
I would like to openly thank Mrs Hindson for all her help and giving up her time to teach us the techniques. We seriously could not have done it without you!!!!!

Maori Language Assignment Audio

Here is an example of the pronounciation for the Maori language week assignment:)

Robots.. by Andrew

Awesome use of adjectives and verbs, I could really see a picture of a robot in my mind Andrew.

Birds.. by Heidi

Lovely use of adjectives and a great clear voice when presenting Heidi!

Maori Language Week Assignment

 We are trying our best to memorize the following for Maori Language week

 Tēnā Koutou,

Ko (Say your name here) tōku ingoa,

No Owairoa Primary tōku kura,

Ko (Say your teacher’s name here) tōku kaiako,

Ko (Say your friends here) tōku hoa,

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou,

katoa.    

Accelerate your Maths HERE NOW!!!!!!

A lot of you have been coming to us asking if we can do any extra learning at home. Some of you have even learned all your times tables! WELL DONE!! Here is a great video to accellerate your learning in division.  Learning to divide quickly

Have a look at the lesson and try some at home. We will be covering these concepts this term but this will give you great foundation knowledge.

Penguins... A poem by Ella

The descriptive language in Ella's poem is incredible. Well done Ella!

Cheetahs... A poem by Martin

I love Martin's poem about cheetahs. Your English speaking is getting so good Martin!

Rabbits.. A poem by Breanna

I really enjoyed listening to Breanna read her poem about rabbits. I could tell she really likes that animal.

Nature... A poem by Cameron

This is Cameron's poem on Nature. I love the descriptive language he has chosen. Mr B

Almost there Room 31!! Only 12 states remain!

Greetings from Mr. Smith! I am so proud of Room 31's hard work on learning the "50 States that Rhyme" song. In the past three days, they have learnt 10 states! They are: NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, and PENNSYLVANIA! Please listen to this video over and over, because I want Room 31 to steal the stage on International Day!!

Come and Listen to your Teachers Singing

Please come and listen to our song that we are going to sing at International Day Concert and comment on how you think we did... Mr B

Welcome Back for Semester 2

The warmest of welcomes to the amazing Room 31 students from Mr Barrett and Mr Smith!
We have such an amazing semester planned for you all with some exciting activities coming up just this term. We have the School Olympic event, International Day, Disco, Speeches and of course our Gala!
Our main learning areas this term are multiplication and division, speech writing and  Our Quest to be the Best! We know that you are the most wonderful learners and know that you make us proud with all your hard work that you achieve every day!
Continue to work hard like we know you always do.
Mr B and Mr S
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.  ~Chinese Proverb

Awesome Student Receives Principals Award

Congratulations to Breanna for receiving this term's Principal Award! Breanna is a leader in the classroom, always willing to lend a helping hand. Breanna acts as a model for all students to follow, whether it is by her positive attitude or by her hard work in the classroom. She is a very determined individual (learning her times tables and achieving perfection in her writing) who seeks to lead by example. Job well done, Breanna! You deserve it!

Mr Smith writes about his time so far in Room 31

I have been student teaching in Mr. Barrett’s Year 3 classroom for five weeks now and I cannot express how grateful and blessed I am to be able to be a part of Room 31. I am from the United States of America, about to finish my studies at the University of Georgia in the state of Georgia. This is my half way point and I have already learned so much about myself, not only as an educator, but as an individual. First, I would like to thank Owairoa Primary School’s administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students for welcoming me to this miraculous place that you all call home, New Zealand. I have been welcomed with open arms, constantly feeling the support of everyone when I am in need. Second, I want to thank Mr. Andrew Barrett for being my mentor and friend. It is such a comfort when a male teacher finds another male colleague who cherishes his job and students, both of which are qualities of Mr. Barrett. He is an amazing teacher and I have truly learned so much from him. Third, I would like to thank the students in Room 31, all 20 of them, for being so kind, respectful, patient, and hard workers. To all at Owairoa, I will be saddened the day that I have to leave you all, but for now, every moment is a memory that will be kept in my heart forever. Having already spent five weeks in the classroom, I have already attained many important practices that I will use in my future classroom. I have learned that modeling is a necessary part of every lesson. If a teacher models for a student, then the student will know exactly what is expected of them. Modeling then provides an opportunity for a student to become an independent worker. I have also learned new strategies and practices to use when teaching reading and writing. At my university, we always read about how far ahead New Zealand was in literacy. Well, I am so thankful that I am able to experience that first hand, because it truly is. I have also learned the importance of student achievement and the impact that it makes on a student. All the students at Owairoa have a portfolio that provides a place for the students to keep their work. They are able to view their accomplishments and feel proud of their completed work. Also, the students’ artwork is hung in the classroom for all the students to see the completed product. It builds the students confidence and ability to keep producing beautiful work. I cannot express how much I do not want this experience to end, but for now, I am fortunate to have five more weeks left. I am excited to learn more from my mentor, Mr. Barrett, and the family that surrounds me at Owairoa Primary School. Thank you for this amazing opportunity; I will never ever forget it!

Animal Antics Parade and Special Guests

On Friday afternoon Room 31 joined in with a full school Animal Antics Parade. We all walked around the school to the claps and cheers of many parents that had come to watch. After the parade we all assembled on the field and watched an amazing display from Senior Sergeant Peterson and the Police Dog Section. It was amazing to see the training that the dogs had and how powerful they were when they tackled the scary man in the red hooded sweat. We were glad that New Zealand has such a great dog section to help with search and rescue protecting us by catching perpetrators.

Animal Antics Day

Can you believe it!! 28 states learnt...22 to go!

Greetings from Mr. Smith! The students in Room 31 have now learnt 28 states, they are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada! Wow...I am out of breath! The students also listened to the song "50 States that Rhyme," which they will perform for all Owairoa students once they have learnt all the states! I am so excited to teach them more! Above is the link to the song, "50 States that Rhyme."

My Mini-Beast By Caleb

Pizza with Blue Sweat


  Pizza with Blue Sweat is blue, green, grey and yellow. He is a spherical shape. He is 10-15 cm in diameter. He is 500 grams. He is made of wool, fur and pipe cleaners.    Pizza with Blue Sweat eats pear, banana red Zombies and glow in the dark vampires.     Pizza with Blue Sweat lives in a really hot dry far away, multi-coloured desert in the clouds.     Pizza with Blue Sweat has special qualities. He has laser eyes he can turn invisible. He has robot legs and he can turn into an ant.

By Caleb  

Getting Ready to Create!

As part of our Art focus on New Zealand Birds we have an expert coming in over the next two Thursday's to help us. We need to make sure we are ready with our art shirts for Thursday and be practicing drawing our selected birds and native trees.
Here is a great link for pictures of native birds to study prior to Thursday's special session.
Native Bird Pictures

Look at these AWESOME kids

Room 31 Goes Hair CRAZY!!

Today is Wacky Hair Day at Owairoa Primary. For a gold coin donation to help purchase new music equipment all the children made their hair completely CRAZY. Even Mr Smith and Mr Barrett had awesome matching mullet wigs... Business in the front and party in the back!

20 states down...30 states to go!!

Greetings from Mr. Smith! The students in Room 31 have learnt 5 more states! How exciting! They are: KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MAINE, and MARYLAND! We also listened to the "50 States that Rhyme" song, because when the students learn all of the states, they will put their knowledge to the test in a musical piece! Only 30 more to go!

12/6/12 - 5 New States Learnt!

Greetings from Mr. Smith! The students in Room 31 learnt 5 new states today! The 5 new states are: HAWAII, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, and IOWA. I am very proud of them for learning 15 states in America...only 35 more to go!



A little bird once told me...

In Room 31 today we had some cute little visitors come to see us. Mr Barrett brought a range of native birds which made some cute noises. We are learning all about these wonderful creatures for our major art project for the term. We need to choose one of these birds and practice sketching it. We had the Kiwi, Keruru, Kea, Saddleback, Blue Penguin, Kokako, Tui and Takahe. What a noisey bunch!

Learning the 50 states in America

Greetings from Mr. Smith! So far, the students in Room 31 have learnt 10 of the 50 states in the United States of America. Everyday at school, the students learn 5 more states. Pretty soon they will know them all! That is very exciting! We have learnt ALABAMA, ALASKA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, FLORIDA, and GEORGIA! Good luck Room 31!

Trees for Survival Planting Out Day

On Thursday 7th June Mr Barrett took a selected group of students throughout for the annual planting out day. After raising many small seedlings, the students spend the day out planting in their local community at the Smith Family farm. The planting day itself is a fantastic occasion and over 500 trees were planted on the farm in a day, this year the challenge was the extreme slope. Once the planting was finished, the students cleaned up and are treated to some very tasty sausages cooked by our hosts and the parents enjoyed a much deserved cup of tea and lunch. The students also got to see previous TFS plantings by in the upper parts of the valley.  The pupils were spell bound and interested in it all. Owairoa Primary would like to thank all the parents that came to help and the continuing support from Mr and Mrs Small who volunteer their time to spend with the children and look after the shade house back at school. 

Cramming our Brains with Knowledge

Mr Smith Has been teaching us all about the United States of America. We are trying to learn all 50 states. Today we learnt Arizona, Arkansas, Alaska, Alabama and California. We also looked at all the different types of money that they have in America and we compared them with NZ currency using Venn diagrams.

Top Student Receives Award!

Congratulations to Hamza for receiving this terms Principals Award at last weeks assembly. Hamza is a role model student and always give 100%. He has an outstanding ability to add and subtract quickly and his favourite subjects are Maths and Science. Well done Hamza on a great effort.

Room 31 Celebrate Queen's Birthday

On Monday we are all having a holiday to celebrate the Queen's Birthday. Today we are all feeling rather royal be wearing our adorable crowns and using wool to make royal bracelets.

Zircus Circus Come to Visit Owairoa

After a week of suspense the school finally found out what the big surprise everyone was talking about was. The whole school waited in anticipation in the hall then finally we found that the circus had come to perform for us. There were amazing contortionists and hilarious clowns. What an awesome start to a Friday!

Kia Ora Everyone!

Mrs Tavita teaches a group of children from Room 31 in the Kapa Haka Group. They Learn lots of different songs and dances and the boys get to do the traditional All Black Haka. They are training to do a performance in front of the school at at a festival later in the year.

By Andrew

Room 31's Crazy Mini-Beast Creations

Room 31 Thanking Incredible Sponsors of Our School

Room 31 were asked to make some wonderful thank you card for those companies that sponsored the new layout of the Owairoa Observer. We really appreciate what they do for our school so we drew some outstanding pictures and tried to use our best presentation skills in their cards. We hope they enjoy them.

We learn from Specialist Teachers

Every week on Wednesday's a special group of kids from Room 31 go to a special language class held by Mrs Wilson. Mrs Wilson teaches us about instructions and tenses and how to write amazing stories. She lets us play games and do puzzles. We have gone to these lessons since we stared school when we were 5.

By Hamza

We Learn Top Quality Values in Room 31

Every Wednesday morning an amazing lady called Lisa comes to teach the children in Room 31 about Christian Living. Every week the Middle School have the opportunity to learn about God's Word and being a good person and being kind to one another. Lisa and the other Christian living teachers give us fun activities to help us learn and we play cool games as well. Lisa is a nurse and she comes in as a volunteer every week. We all love her coming and the fun things we do. We have an awesome time. One important value I have learnt is how to be a good friend, and how to make others feel welcome in the class. I hope we learn lots more.
By Breanna Room 31