EMR - Experiencing Marine Reserves

Our class was fortunate enough to participate in the EMR programme this term. A qualified expert came to our classroom to teach us about the importance of Marine Reserves and the different species we would find in our local protected area - Matai Bay.

Classroom Based Session

The students worked in pairs to match the species they would encounter.

Fitting Our Snorkeling Gear

The students were then taught how to fit snorkeling gear and were given a practice snorkeling session in our school pool.

Add a small amount of toothpaste to your goggles to stop them from fogging up.

Test to see if your snorkel fits by placing it on your face and sucking in through your nose, it should then stick.

Aria's mask fits perfectly.

After rubbing toothpaste on your goggles, be sure to rinse them clean.

Pool Based Session

Ready, set, snorkel.

The students were taught to dive under the water, through the hoop, and then blow all the water out of their snorkel instead of coming back up for air.

Each group will have a body board with them for safety reasons.

We are ready, and look forward to our real snorkeling session at Matai bay towards the end of March. Yeehaw!

Ahoy Waitangi

At the end of last year, year 5 students in Te Kauru were encouraged to enter a competition. The students had to create something to share what is special about Waitangi Day. This could be a poem, song, animation, video, etc.

Bailey created this amazing animation which won first prize.

So on the 5th of February, Te Kauru students set sail on the HMNZS WELLINGTON, cruising the harbour from Opua Wharf to Paihia.

The excitement when the students first spotted the Navy Frigate.

Safety briefing first, before boarding the HMNZS WELLINGTON.

HMNZS WELLINGTON

Safety Gear required for riding in the Rhibs.

Lowering the Rhib into the water for the first group.

First group ready to go for their Rhib ride.

Sleeping quarters.

Fire fighting gear on board the HMNZS WELLINGTON.

Fire fighting training. - Jasmine

Fire fighting training. - Kobe

Fire fighting training. - Leah

Fire fighting training. - Paige

The Navy Seals performing a Haka for both schools at the end of the day.

This week in class we have been writing "Moment in Times" to share a snapshot of our experience on board the Navy Frigate.

Navy Trip by Bailey

I could feel a nasty sickness brewing up inside as I listened to the steady rumble of the RHIB boat engine. We held our breath as we waited and waited and waited for the boat to touch the calm water. Then we were off!! whizzing past the navy frigate as we all tried to obtain our balance. Suddenly I felt an eager pulse going through my body as soon as we saw a dolphin breaking the surface of the water with its glorious jump. That’s when I realised that the RHIB rides weren’t so bad after all.

MOMENT IN TIME - NAVY FRIGATE by Elly

Splash! We were off, all ready I was feeling sick and a little bit disorientated.

“Woohoo”! Everyone was having the time of their life… but me. I kept thinking I was about to fall off and that it would be the end for me. The Rhib boat started to move towards the main Navy frigate and the giant swell was slamming against us.

All of a sudden crew members were firing water at us making my shoes flood with an abundance of water and causing my hands to slip right off the handle in front of me.

“Yuck”! This salt water tastes disgusting.

I was sliding around on my seat as I realised this was actually really amusing.



Rhib riding: A moment in time by Paige

The first thing that caught my eye was the rhib boats on each side of the navy ship. When it was my turn I was ready with my life jacket on and courage. ZOOM! We went as soon as we hit the water. I saw playful dolphins swimming, creating bubbles as they dived. People behind me screamed and yet I could hear them over the BOOMING motor. The calm waves hitting the boat rocked us a little. The smell was as salty as the sea and so was the taste. Blech. The wind was cruising through my hair as if it were worms swarming through. The sea water splashing in the small boat covered me and the handlebars that I need to hold on to. Slippery enough for me to think to myself, “Don’t let go or you will fly of like a plane without wings, diving into the ocean floor.” I held on tightly with my legs and my hands, screaming as the boat lifted off the ocean’s surface. But wow, was the view breathtaking. I was disappointed because I wanted another go but sadly, I wasn’t allowed to.

Week 1 Fun and Games

Te Kauru students have been wonderful senior role models this week, and therefore were rewarded with games at the end of the day. The students choice - Bull rush.

Here are some snapshots from Wednesday's fun.

Te Kauru 2019

Welcome to our lovely Te Kauru students.

We had a lovely first day at school. We started the day with a group shot, many of the students looked like possum in headlights, but very quickly settled into our classroom routines.

We enjoyed fun and games while getting to know everyone.

We've planned our first trip for the year and the kids are super excited to be boarding a Navy ship next week for our Waitangi Day celebrations.

Welcome to 2019!

Welcome to another year of learning, fun and laughter.

This year our class will focus on becoming senior role models who always strive for success in all we do.

I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you, and learning along side you.

Year 6 Celebration

Our videos from our 2018 Year 6 Celebration. Enjoy!

Meet all our amazing Year 6 students.

Our Year 6 students early school years.

All the amazing fun we had this year!

Our fabulous dance moves!

Dominic & Iris' trip to Peru.

My trip to Peru  ~By Dominic~

This year I went to Peru with my family and I would like to share a bit of my holiday with you.

We have just landed in Lima which is the capital of Peru.  It is midnight and I am relieved to have made it. (It is 18 hours behind NZ time)!

My first day at high altitude (in Cusco) felt strange - at 3,300 metres above sea level! The air was thin and there was barely any humidity!

There were heaps of rocky outcrops and Inca ruins. In the Sacred Valley, we went to Machu  Picchu and also climbed Wayna Picchu. The highest I went was 5,325 metres at Rainbow Mountain!

I really enjoyed it all but the part that really stood out for me was how advanced some of the Inca tools, structures and mechanisms were! The most interesting thing was staying on a floating island on Lake Titicaca!

When we were on our way to Cusco, the plane we were in was speeding along the runway,  just about to take off, when it suddenly skidded to a halt! The pilot had to make an emergency stop because something was wrong with the plane.

The last place we went was the Amazon rainforest. The temperature there was in the late 30s and it was extremely humid. We saw monkeys , pink dolphins, catfish, sloths, tarantulas, and a whole lot of other species. Our trip lasted three weeks and two days!

Finally the holiday came to an end, but I was happy because then I could chill at home, and NOT have to make sure that I had put 80% deet mosquito repellent on.

My Amazing South American Trip - By Iris

In September my family went on holiday for three weeks to South America.  My favourite part of our trip was when we went in a boat up the Amazon river to a lodge. When we got there in the boat I had to walk through a huge rice field, on a lovely little wooden foot path that leads you to the lodge. In the lodge there was an upstairs room full of hammocks and I had a great time swinging in the hammocks reading my book. 

After I had to hop out and go to the dining room to have lunch.  For lunch we  had baby catfish, rice and salad.  Then our guide, Luis came in and said that in an hour we were going fishing.  We agreed with him, so I said “thank you” and ran back into where the hammocks were.  

When it was time to go fishing, we walked down through the rice fields to get back to the little canoe and motored away down a narrow water outlet, to get to where the fishing spot was. When the boat stopped, we started to fish.  The first person to catch a fish was Dominic.  It was a catfish that was about 15cm long! In New Zealand that would not be legal! We all caught a fish apart from Mum and Dad. Luis, Dom and I  did. My fish was a bit bigger than Dom’s was.  Mine was 5cm larger. To be exact, it was 20cm. 

From there, David, our outboard man drove us all back to the lodge to have a rest.  Then, after we had dinner at 7, o'clock (mmmmmmmmmmmm dinner was delicious) we got dressed into some warmer clothes and went hunting for tarantula!

You can view more of their amazing photos here.