Summer Sounds Concert sounded angelic

Last Thursday some of the Year 3s from our class performed to the parents at the Summer Sounds Concert.  They sounded wonderful and it was a great way to finish a successful year under Tania's expert lead.

Well done Crystal, Jesse, Isla, Tom, Sari, Finn and Lexxis.  After all your hard work going along to practices you sounded amazing and did us proud.

Sculptors in Room 9

After our experience with Esther and creating clay christmas trees in the Suter Art Gallery, Room 9 students were keen to try it again in the classroom.

We chose our own native bird and tried to incorporate all the features in our clay masterpieces.  Hopefully we will get a chance to paint them before the end of term.

Brook Waimarama Sanctuary

Well, the Syndicate weren't quite so lucky with the Nelson weather on the day we visited the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary!  It was a great opportunity for us to celebrate our learning from this term's Inquiry topic - Brilliant Birds.

However, we needed to return to school early due to torrential rain!




Seeing the fence close up was interesting and we can't wait for the native birds to be introduced once all those pests have left.







We still got the chance to see how BWS trap the pests and saw some not so lucky creatures close up as well.

Hopefully everyone will make a trip to this wonderful Nelson treasure in the holidays and enjoy the bushwalk and visitor's centre.  

Thanks Rick, John and Mel for having us!

Tennis Skills

We were lucky to be offered Hot Shots Tennis in Schools sessions, run by Zach Raff, recently.   All the children enjoyed learning new skills with the tennis racquet and we may even have some future Wimbledon tennis stars amongst us!

We had some fun playing 'cricket' tennis and the hamburger game and it certainly improved our hand / eye coordination.  Thanks Zach!

Green Gables Sing-Along was enjoyed by all

On Thursday the Pohutukawa Syndicate walked to the Green Gables Retirement Village to sing some of our favourite songs.  It was a beautiful day and sitting in the gardens of the home was a lovely setting to sing some songs.

We have been practising for a few weeks and did an awesome job of remembering the words and singing sweetly.  We enjoyed having a chat to the residents afterwards as well.  What a great way to participate and contribute in the community.

Then having our lunch and a play at the Queen's Gardens was a real treat - one that was well earned. 😁

Well done Pohutukawa!

Habitat Dioramas for our Native Birds

As part of our Inquiry Brilliant Birds we have been learning about what our native birds need to survive in our environment.  We each created a diorama of what we think this would look like.

Brilliant Bird Habitats on PhotoPeach
Freya has taken her learning to the next level.  She made a great bird feeder at home.  We're hoping some native birds visit outside Room 9 soon!

Buddy class's Didgeridoos

On Friday we visited our buddy class, Room 2, who had been busy all week making themselves a didgeridoo with Che, a relief teacher.  Sally had been on camp with Room 1 and in her absence, they had made and learned to play this Australian instrument.  We were impressed and enjoyed learning the Chocolate song.

Athletics superstars

In No Child Left Inside this term we are learning skills to do with different athletics sports.  We have been learning the best technique for sprinting, throwing a discus and high jump.  Check out this movie of Room 9 doing high jump!

Congratulations to Ewan and Crystal who were the champions on the day!

Athletics in Room 9 from Kathryn Robertson on Vimeo.

Ronald McDonald teaches an important message to Pohutukawa

Last week Pohutukawa Syndicate had a visit from a VIP - Ronal McDonald came to talk to us about Road Safety.

He had us all in stitches when he was looking for his missing stripy sock but the important message on how to stay safe on the road really hit home with the children.

Connor wrote:

Ronald McDonald came to Room 11 today to tell us how to cross the road safely, to stop and look left and right.  Ronald McDonald is the clown that I have seen.  Joe pulled the red and black sock off Ronald McDonald.   It was fun and impressive.

Oliver wrote:

On the 31st of October Ronald McDonald came to Room 11 to teach us about road safety.  He acted a story about him losing his sock in the wind and when he went to look for his sock on the way, he taught us how to stop, look and listen.  I enjoyed Ronald McDonald coming.  The stripy sock was on his back!

Behan wrote:

On Monday Ronald McDonald came to Nelson Central School to teach us about road safety.  He looked like a clown and he lost his sock because it was windy.  It was funny.  He taught us stop, look, listen before you cross the road.  The sock was on his back the whole time.  When he was going to school he put his seat belt on while he drove his car.

Parihaka Peace Flags

As a way of demonstrating our key competency this term of participating and contributing Room 9 (and the rest of NCS) created flags representing peace which were displayed at the Peace Picnic last Saturday.

They were received by the organisers with huge appreciation.  Some words from Barbara, received today by email were:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for your willingness to engage with

this, and to all the children and their teachers I would say "I knew

we would produce something special, but I didn't know how amazing the

finished results of our combined efforts would be. I love the fact

that they are all so individual, just as you are, and the thought that

has gone into them. When I started off, I never imagined how moving

and beautiful they would be. And the comments I heard made at the

Peace Picnic on Saturday lets me know that everyone feels the same

way. Thank you, each and every one of you."

Well done, Nelson Central and Room 9!