Term one’s memories and reflections.

On the first day I was so scared because it is a new school. My mum told me my dad came here when he was my age, my Aunt and Cousin also came to this school. We went to our new classroom. I was put into room 11 and it was so much fun. I made some new friends and saw some old friends. We saw the whole school and the boundaries of the school.

Week 2 is when the whole school went swimming and in the week 4 it was the swimming Carnival for the year 8’s and year 7’s and it is all the good swimmers from the 3 teams ( swimmers who are good, average and beginners). We had to go half way so the mongoose tigers went first. They were so good that when you see them swimming they will be half way by now.

In week 5 the year 8’s formally welcomed the year 7’s. Some of the parents came to see and it was cool. We call this as the school powhiri that is when they welcome you to the school.
We had the SPCA come to the school. They told as about animal cruelty. Our teacher had gone to India to see and take care of her mum. I hope that she gets well soon.

Howick Historical village

Year 7 students of Tamaki Intermediate School, Auckland visited the Howick Historical village to learn about the past life of early settlers, their way of living, the kinds of equipments and the way they cooked for their existence. The aim of this Village is to depict life in the 19th Century New Zealand through a lots of "Hands On" and "Interactive" programmes of 1840 to 1880 period. Theyoffer a unique programme away from the classroom and are related to the existing curriculum.

Students worked in groups,also went on a discovery trip and answered various questions.

Isabelle and Nane's Matariki Report

LI: We are learning about Matariki.

It's that time of year again. Matariki celebrates the Maori New Year and traditionally was the time of year used to establish the planting of crops, based on the rising of the star cluster Pleiades (Matariki)

Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters Matariki is celebrated with education, remembrance and the planting of new trees and crops signaling new beginnings. Matariki was the optimum time for new harvests, and ceremonial offerings to the land-based gods Rongo, Uenuku and Whiro to ensure good crops for the coming year.It was also seen as a perfect time to learn about the land we live on and to remember Whakapapa (ancestry) who have passed from this world to the next and the legacy they left behind.

What is referred to as the traditional Maori New Year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May every year and the New Year is marked at the sighting of the next new moon which occurs during June.

By Nane and Issabel
Room 11

References:
http://www.matarikievents.co.nz/matariki-stories

Jessica: Mothers Day

Jessica's Mothers Day letter.

Bradley

Bradley has shared his Mothers' Day letter.