Wow Ony 2 Weeks to go...

Hi Everyone
Well what a great two weeks Room 9 had at swimming.  It is wonderful to see their progress over the 2 week period.  Have a look at the photos and videos on the 'Swimming Tab' above.  Routines will return to pretty much as usual for Week 7.  Just a reminder that on Friday 9th Dec we have the M & A Team Fun Day at Jellie Park. 

A Busy Term 4

Hi everyone.  There is a lot happening around school at the moment.  Teachers are busy preparing reports, phone books are arriving hopefully on Thursday 18th to be delivered on Saturday.  Would love to have your help that day.  Swimming starts next week for two weeks so our daily routine will change for that time.

MATHS:
We are currently looking at fractions.  I have included a link to a website for some fraction fun on the maths tab above.  I have encouraged the children to check it out.  I will add more sites as I find them. 

General Update

Narrative Story Writing:
What a great effort the children have been putting into their narrative writing.  At the moment they are busy publishing their stories.  These will be displayed in the classroom once completed.  Also I will look at putting some stories on our blog.
Inquiry:
The children are learning to take notes from the information they have found and put it into their own words.  Many are naturally using their ITTM's (I think that means... statements) to help explain the meaning of sentences they are reading.  This is fantastic as it shows they are transferring  a skill from one learning area (Reading) to another (Topic or Inquiry).
IXL:
Hope this is going well.  It is great to see so many children using the trial IXL.  I get regular updates from them about the maths activities the children are playing. Let me know how it is going.  Your feedback is appreciated.

 

New Tabs

I have added a number of new tabs to Room 9's blog.  These will change according to what is happening in the classroom or around school.  I have added a Body Website tab that is related to our current Inquiry topic.  If you have found a great website about our current topic, email me the link so we can start to build up some really cool sites for the children to search.  

I hope having tabs will make it easier to locate items of interest for you and the children.   

Cameron's Horizontal Snowman!

What a great idea having a horizontal snowman.  I especially love his bright green nose!

Amber's Snow Fun

Great snow car.  How far did you  drive?

 

 

Nice face on your snowman, Amber.

16th AUGUST: SCHOOL CLOSED TODAY. Take care.

Another Snow Day/OLA Text Alert

Happy Feast Day.  Who would think that we would have another snow day 3 weeks later to the day!  Can't ever remember that happening before but then again can't remember ever having a year like we have had so far!   2011 is certainly turning out to be a year of firsts.

To keep informed about what is happening in situations like today,  please subscribe to our OLA Text Alert Service.   This service is only used in emergency situations and you need to subscribe to receive the texts.  It is a free service.

• To subscribe text olota to 570. You will receive a message back to say you are subscribed.
• To unsubscribe send STOP followed by olota to 570.

My snow covered bike on our verandah and trying to ride in the snow!

Room 9, email me your snow photos and I will put them on our blog.  Look forward to seeing them and in the meantime...keep warm.

Dissecting Cows Eyes

The lens is like a magnifying glass.

Nice eye Rhys

What a fabulous time the M Team had today dissecting cow eyes. Even the squeamish couldn't resist a look. A big thank you to the parents who came to help with the dissections. They were just as enthusiastic as the students! It was certainly a great way to finish our Absorb phase of our Inquiry. Click on this link to view the step by step process we followed to dissect the eyes.
The children were engrossed in the session as they poked, prodded and handled the eyes. I am sure it is an event they won't forget easily. Check out our photos.

Room 9 checking out the eye.

For some more fun, follow this link to optical illusion activities. Your eyes will really play tricks on you. Have fun.

OLA Musical Production

On Thursday 16th June a notice was sent home about the production and the costumes required for the M Team. If you haven't received a notice, please see either Karen or myself as it also has tickets details included.

School will reopen tomorrow

Wednesday 15th June 2011 9.00am

The school has been checked by an engineer from OPUS. Once again our buildings have held up really well and we are able to open all classrooms tomorrow. All buildings are ok to be used.

We are required to boil water again...so could you please send the children along with their own boiled water once again.  We will have bottled water available if required.  

Come along and have a cup of tea or coffee in the hall, should you wish to, while the children settle in.

School Closed 14th June

Due to the earthquakes today, school will be closed tomorrow Tuesday 14th June. All updates will be placed on our school website. All the children coped extremely well today. In the meantime, take care of your families, enjoy everyone around you and see you soon when we get back to school.

Fantastic Book Characters & Library Opening

What a wonderful day! Full of colour and interesting book characters. The Room 9 children looked fantastic as the photos show. It was certainly an entertaining day.



And to add to that, the opening of the Library. No doubt you will have already seen some of our new books come home. Have a great time reading them with your children.

We also have 4 new bean bags. A very popular choice to sit and read.

Book Fair Thank You

What a fantastic result from the book fair. We sold $4488.00 worth of books. This allowed us to purchase $1570.00 worth of books for our school library from Scholastic. A very big thank you to all of you who bought books for your children. They are currently being processed so they will be available to borrow when the library opens on Friday 10th June. Thanks to Jo McPheat for her tireless effort in making sure the book fair ran smoothly.

COFFEE FRIDAY 3RD JUNE

Friday is the last day of the Book Fair. Please come and join us for a REAL coffee as we have a Coffee Cart coming to school. Details are as follows:
Book Fair Coffee Cart
Friday 3rd June 8.30am- 9.30am
Come and purchase a REAL coffee. Have a chat and enjoy the entertainment while you view the last day of the Book Fair.
Love to see you all there.

So Much Is Happening...

Congratulations to all the Year 4 children who took their first Holy Communion last Sunday. It was a lovely Mass.

M Team Mass: Sunday 29th May  9.00am
All M Team children are required to attend please. Children are to report to their classrooms at 8.40am in school uniform. The teachers will bring the children to Mass. All children who are reading at Mass have been given their readings and need to practice.
Look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Puppets:
Well what a wonderful variety of puppet shows we saw last week.  The puppets looked fantastic.  I will be putting these up as a classroom display shortly.  They are just too fantastic to send home just yet.  Sorry parents!! See photos below and our new Room 9 class photo.

Beauty and the Beast

Three Little Pigs

Rapunzel

 Music/Drama:
We have begun a Music/Drama unit in preparation for our school musical.  We are currently looking at beat and rhythm.  Practices for our musical will begin in week 5.  The puppets have been a great start to this unit. 

 




 

Basic Facts Highway

As you may be aware, the M Team have started a new basic facts programme called the Basic Facts Highway.  A letter has been sent home with your child explaining how the programme works.  Please help them at home to work on their basic facts stage.  All the children are very keen to be tested and move on to the next stage.  Your help at home is greatly appreciated.  Come and check out our Basic Facts Highway display in our classrooms.

A copy of the letter can be found on our wiki noticeboard.

Term 2 Begins

Well here we are nearly at the beginning of Term 2.  We have a very exciting term coming up. Remember to wear your winter uniform when you come back to school on Monday 2nd May.  No hats for a couple of Terms!

Hopefully you had a great couple of weeks off for the holidays and look forward to getting back to Room 9.  I know I am.  Also don't forget that Cross Country is coming up on Tuesday 17th May so beat your feet around your backyard to get fitter.  Running will be a focus at school during fitness times.

Look forward to seeing you all on Monday.

Ukulele on Niue and Tuning your Ukulele

Hi everyone.  Well I am here on Niue and I have been playing my ukulele already.  Actually, I didn't bring mine as my mum-in-law has one and she is a very good ukulele player so I'm getting plenty of practice.  In fact, Niue has a festival coming up next week where they are singing and playing the ukuleles so I'm going along to the practices.


To all my parents whose children have ukuleles.  No doubt you will have lots of strumming happening as they become familiar with the ukulele.  I know it may be testing your ears at the moment but please be patient. Great things will come - soon.  To help you keep the ukulele in tune, click on the link below.  I found it really good. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk_Ot02AUbc

Ukulele Heaven

What a noisy time handing out the rainbow coloured ukuleles.  Aren't they fabulous!  The children were very excited to be getting their ukuleles for the holidays.  Happy playing.

Ukulele rainbow

Handing out the ukuleles

Allocating ukulele numbers to the children

Up close:  A fiery red Makala Ukulele.  Note dolphin near the base.

St Mary's Visit/Tabloid Afternoon

Room 9 had an awesome day with St Mary's.  We started the day with a Liturgy.  Later they had an art activity in their family groups.  In the afternoon a tabloid event had been organised by the Year 8's.  Below are a few photos of the afternoon.  To finish the day off,  everyone was given an iceblock.  Check out the coloured tongues of some of Room 9 children!

Elsie skipping for her team

                                                       

 Some of Rm 9 children eating iceblocks

                                           

Check out these tongues!

Mrs Campbell trying bite an iceblock

M Team Nature Anthem Song

On Friday the M Team learned a new song called "The Nature Anthem" by Grandaddy. It is a very cute feel good song, so Mrs Norton and I along with the M Team children have adopted it as our anthem.

Ukulele Group Notice

I have asked the Room 9 children if they have a ukulele at home and would be able to bring it to school on Friday 1st April. I would love to see them bring their ukulele along!

Today a notice went home asking for interest in hiring a ukulele for the year as Mrs Earl and myself are very keen to begin a group. Ask your child for the notice or check it out on our website under Parent Notices.

Internet Notice:
Please return this notice as soon as possible. The pink notice requires 2 signatures from a parent/caregiver and a signature from your child in regard to safe and sensible internet usage.

Thanks everyone and I look forward to seeing a few ukuleles on Friday.

Check out Room 9's Puppets

What a very busy afternoon Room 9 had sewing their puppets together. Fortunately I had some wonderful volunteers at lunch time to help me thread the needles. The children soon learned how to sew. I also called on some 'expert' sewers from Rm 10 to help. A big thank you to those children as it certainly made my job easier.
Check out our photos.

Great needle threaders!

OLA Noticeboard and Room 9 Puppets

I hope all of you have visited our parent wiki and viewed our new Noticeboard (left hand column). Here you will find up to date notices of events happening at OLA. Part of this update is that our school newsletter will now only be produced each fortnight. I think this is very exciting as it supports our school being an Enviro School. Also notices can be updated as they are received. Keep in touch Room 9.

PUPPETS:
We are on the way to creating our puppets. It is very exciting. On Monday 28th we will begin sewing our puppets together. The children have cut out the front and back of their puppets. Room 10 children who have become 'expert' sewers will be assisting Room 9 sewers. The M Team are creating fairy tale puppets so they can retell a fairy tale of their choice in week 11, the last week of the term.

BASIC FACTS HIGHWAY:
Watch this space! Mrs Norton and myself are introducing a new Basic Facts highway to continually improve the M Teams Basic Fact knowledge. I would like to thank Carmen Hartley (also a teacher) for the introduction of this programme.

Parent Coffee Morning

You are all invited for a coffee and chat on FRIDAY 25TH MARCH at 8.30AM in the SCHOOL HALL. Come along and catch up with the rest of the parent community.

New Blog Design

Well without a doubt it is now autumn so I thought it only fitting that I change Room 9's blog background to an autumn theme. Hope you you enjoy the vibrant colours.
Please remember to view our parent wiki and add your thoughts to our discussion group. This week it's about what resources you might like to have access to through either our website or wiki.

Fairy Tales

We have started our unit on fairy tales. Today I read three slightly different versions of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. The children loved the oral expression I used in the story. In fact they were all mimicking the story as well. Really great to see!

If you have any fairy tale books at home, please encourage them to read them AND use different voices for each character. This will help them immensely when they come to create puppets for their fairy tale retell.

Let's work on skills - Times Tables & Throwing and Catching

Times Tables:
If your child is in Room 9 for maths, it would be great if you could assist them at home to learn their 2, 5 & 10 times tables. If they are in Room 10, then skip counting in 2, 5's and 10's would be helpful. Use the maths websites shown on our blog if you want.

Throwing and Catching:
The M Team had a sporting afternoon today and it was great fun. We were focusing on small ball skills, namely throwing and catching. A wee bit of work just might be required in this area both at school and home. So if you have a tennis ball at home, get your child to throw and catch the ball themselves and then hopefully you could join in with them for a throwing and catching game!

Have fun and thanks for your support.

PTA Lunches

Please note there will be no more PTA lunches this term. They will be reinstated in Term 2.

Welfare Survey: Last day to complete the survey today. See OLA Website link on the right.

Room 9's Butterflies

As promised, I have taken a photo of Room 9's fabulous butterflies. They are now up on our wall in the class. Come and view them!

Butterflies

As part of our return to school we have made butterflies as a symbol of the change that has affected our lives and that we will slowly move on to new beginnings. Rooms 9 & 10 have made the butterflies. Please come and view them. And yes, I will take a photo of Room 9's butterflies and post it on the blog. They are too good not to!

Time to get back to school

It was great to see all the children again. I got lots of hugs which was wonderful. They were great during those 2 days. The really amazing thing I noticed is that they just want to get on with it. So we did but to a modified programme. Ask them about the B.A.R. activity (B - make it bigger; A - add something new; R - replace, rearrange or change something) we did on Friday. They could apply the B.A.R. activity to anything at home. I would love to see some on Monday.

This coming week (Week 7) we will basically return to a normal timetable. Fitness will start, so the children can come to school in their fitness gear. FROGS testing will continue. Thanks to Debbie H.(who by the way looks fantastic) for coming in on Friday and testing the children.
The M Team will be starting a new unit on Fairy Tales so Mrs Norton and myself encourage the children to bring along any fairy tale books they may have at home. We will be looking at retelling one or two fairy tales with a view to creating a puppet show of a fairy tale. They will make their own puppets and work towards creating a little show. We are looking forward to having a fun and creative time in the M Team for the remainder of the term.

The Earthquake

I was looking in the room 10 window at 12:51 pm.I was standing there and I heard a roar and the ground started rumbling .I thought it was an aftershock or a mini quake but this time it went on and on I knew then it was another earthquake .
I ducked in to a turtle until it stopped then I ran to the court with everyone else and we ran to our class lines everyone was in shock.
Liquefaction started bursting out from the ground angrily I thought the earth plates must be mad with each other. When I looked around lots of people were crying for there Mum and Dad I wanted to be with my family and wondered where Mum and Dad and Eilish were.
It felt safe with everyone else and the teachers but I wondered what would happen next. I saw my mum she got me and my sister and we walked through the liquefaction it felt slimy. I felt relieved when we got to the car then we drove to my grand parents to see if they were all right that night we had my whole family stay the night . The house was full with people and it was fun and I was happy to be with people I love.
I feel sad that the earthquake has caused deaths and people have lost people they love.And it is sad for people who have lost there houses, businesses and jobs .
It is going to be different living in Christchruch. I hope there are no more earthquakes in Christchurch and Canterbury.

by Cian

Tuesday 08 March

Latest Update: 3.00pm
We have approval to open for our students on Thursday, 10th March 2011, at 9.00 a.m.
The staff have met today and will again tomorrow to ensure that we have everything in place to ensure we cater for your children's needs in the best way possible.
The staff will be attending the Ash Wednesday Mass at 8.30am at Our Lady of the Assumption, we invite you to join us if you are able.

New: OLA Parent Wiki - we have started a wiki as a communication tool for you - the link is in the list on the right - click on it, join the wiki and reply to the discussion posts - we want to hear from you!
On Room 9's blog, the wiki and website links appear permanently in the right hand column.

THE CRASHING EARTHQUAKE!

When the earthquake struck I was eating my lunch, with my friends on the court.
Mr A screamed really loud get down and I got into a turtle and so did all the kids around me.
At first the ground was moving then it went into a giant earthquake.
I was looking for my brother .
Mrs Welsh did a roll call and she counted us as well.
Then uncle Roger came he looked like action man.
He got all the cousins together and he made them all happy .
After that there was lots of aftershocks and i wanted my Mum & Dad .
After a long time there was only ten kids left and there was eight out of eleven teachers left and Mrs Earl.
Miss Mcdonald read us a story about a hip hop bear.
Then Mummy came she was crying Mrs McDowell took Sam and I through the liqifacation to to Mum .
On the Road there was a lot of volcano things mum thought her car might get stuck !
When we were driving home we saw Daddy driving his car towards us it made me feel even better cause he had Bindy our dog.
We went home we had no power and some photos were smashed ,we went to some of Dads stores and some ceilings had fallen in and the alarms were going off.
Mum and Dad decided to send us to Auckland because they both had to work I had a great time , I came back today 8th March,
I felt very scared when the 6.3 hit but better now because we are all safe .

from Amber

It's Time for School to Return

Well so much has happened in the last two weeks. However, one thing was for certain that school would eventually begin again and now that time is on THURSDAY 10TH MARCH AT 9.00AM. Please view the OLA Website for full details. I am so looking forward to seeing Room 9 children again.
If they have anything they wish to share when they return on Thursday, (it could be a photo or something that has helped them through the last couple of weeks) please let them bring it along as I am sure we will have many stories to share (and we need to) to feel reunited as a class. If they need a cuddle, I will give them one. In fact a class cuddle could be on the cards. Kia Kaha everyone.

The Horrifying Earthquake

I had finished my lunch and started a game of hockey when I felt the rumble then I hit the ground. Just before it finished I looked to the right and saw water come out of room four's gutters and it looked like a waterfall. Once it had finished I jumped up and ran to the line. Mrs Welsh counted us and then she did the roll call. There were two people who had gone before lunch.
Someone in room ten said "look a volcano!" I said " that's not a volcano, it's liquification", then everyone saw the liquification. A little group of the M team went out on the field to move because the liquification kept on coming at us, then we moved to a clear spot.
An hour after the earthquake my Dad picked me and Hamish up to go to his work. He tried ringing our Mum so we went home. On the way home we felt a shake, the truck and the power poles shook. Once we got home, my Dad rang our Mum she said she was at my Dad's work. Once we got back to his work our Mum wasn't there so we waited and then she got there we went back home and collected the mail. One letter was a scratch card, so I scratched it on the couch while my Mum and Hamish went up stairs. When they came down we turned on the news. My Mum knew two people who were in the CTV building.
Later one night my Mum showed me the Grand Chancellor hotel from our top floor but we could not see it leaning due to the angle of our house.
I felt scared during the earthquake but now I feel safer because there are less and smaller aftershocks.

by Cameron

OLA Website Update Friday 4th March

Please view OLA Website for the latest update on when the school will reopen.

Mrs W

CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE 22 FEBRUARY 2011

When the earthquake happened I thought it was a giant mole under the ground digging a hole in the ground looking for food. When the earthquake struck I saw Catlin and her friends and I saw they were ok, I tried to stand up but it was to wobbly. We were lucky at home we still had power and water.

From Connor

Latest Update Thurs 3rd March 2011

Tomorrow (Friday 4 March) the functionality of the sewerage system at OLA will be checked. This will mean we are one step closer to be being able to open after the Civil Defence Emergency Status is lifted.
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Resources for Parents:
THE PARENTING PLACE has some resources that you might like to have a look at to use with your children. Parents Inc. are making their webinars free for a time to encourage and equip parents during this tough time.

The Earthquake Disaster!

On Tuesday at lunch time I was in the car along with Mum and my brother Joshua. We were driving down Papanui Road coming back from an appointment.
While we were driving we heard a rumble. The car started to shake, bricks were flying everywhere and alarms were going off. We started to realise it was an aftershock, a big aftershock.
Mum started calling people in our family and were making sure everyone was alright. Mum called Dad and found out that he was in town. He was ok but Dad had seen some very hurt people.
While we were driving home through the city we saw people crying, buildings down and injured people on the footpath.
We went to Aunty Bridgets house where my sister Hannah and brother Benedict were. Aunty Teresa was there too. They were all underneath the kitchen table, even my little cousin Hayley who was in her car seat.
Then we went back home. On our driveway there was our neighbours chimney and satalite dish. It had fallen down in the earthquake and was blocking our driveway. Mum was so happy we were not at home because Hannah and Benedict always play on their bikes down the drive.
Mum went to pick Nicholas up from school. Aunty Teresa, Nicholas, Benedict, Hannah, Joshua and I were sitting underneath the table. Dad came home with Nicholas and then Mum came home. We were all safe.
I felt scared but I was so happy that we were safe. We have been saying lots of prayers for the people who are hurt and for those who have gone to heaven and their families.

Elsie

Mighty Earthquake

I had just finished my lunch when the earthquake happened.

When I first felt the rumble I thought it was an aftershock then I realised it was an earthquake and I quickly dropped to the ground.

The earthquake managed to knock down the CTV and PGC buildings and the Grand Chancellor Hotel is leaning side to side.

Prebbleton is ok because we’re built on clay. 

We have no problems with our water, electricity and sewage.

Selwyn is quite safe at the moment, in the last quake Darfield is only 30 minutes away from Prebbleton.

And there was an earthquake in Wellington

so the people who moved into Wellington  well they have bad luck.

I was not scared in the earth quake.

Andrew 

OLA has received a green sticker - 2/3/11

The structural engineers have assessed the main block today and have issued a green sticker to say it is structurally sound.

Of course there are a few repairs that need to be done but these are not urgent nor are they safety issues. The wall (end of room 3) will remain taped off until it is fixed.

This is a positive step forward for us.

We are still governed by the Civil Defence Emergency Status and therefore the school grounds and buildings remain closed to all until this is lifted. Watch for updates on this website. 
School will remain closed until further notice.

M Team Earthquake Recounts

Sad day for Christchurch

 

When the 6.3 eathquake hit I was eating lunch on he court.  Straight away I got in the turtle shape and thought about my family. When the earthquake stopped I went to the other end of the court to line up.

Lots of people were crying and i rubbed the backs of my friends and we waited.  Granny came and got us.  Dillon and Luke were crying.  Granny said we needed to get home and keep safe.

She told us our mum and dad were ok i was scared mummy was working at the hospital and that is a big building.

We had no power or water and daddy brought a machine that made alot of noise but it gave us power.

Mummy got home later and she was upset she had seen lots of hurt people.

We were allowed to watch Phineus and Ferb as Granny did not want us to be scared by news.

But i new  buildings were collapsed and people hurt.

I was really sad that day and i hope it never happens again.

 

Written by Enda

Typed by Rachel

One Week Later...

Welcome to Room9's first blog for 2011.  While I am very grateful that our blog is now up and running, it is with a heavy heart that I write this blog.  Having just observed 2 minutes silence for the earthquake that struck so devastatingly,  I once again shed many more tears.  Not only for my family who all came home to me but for those family members of our community and beyond who did not come home.  God Bless them and may God hold them in the palm of his hands...

Room 9 students, I would very much like to hear from you  about your experience of the earthquake.  It could be about the day of the earthquake or what has happened over the last week.  Remember  a recount has  a Title, Orientation (introduction), Sequence of Events and then a Personal Comment.  Email your earthquake recount to me at vicki.welsh@ola.co.nz.  I will publish your writing from there on the blog.