Fly Our Wishes Workshop

Today we are lucky to have artists Bridgette and Jim (from Junk & Disordely at Rangiwahia Environmental Arts Center) here to work with Room 5 on some art projects that will be displayed at the Turner Center in Kerikeri for the Upsurge Festival. Watch this space for the finished pieces :)

Room 5 Noho Marae

On Monday 6th of March Room 5 had our Noho Marae (a stay over at school). We went to Ruapekapeka Pa to learn about the battle that took place there and to understand the significance of it; for many of us it is our maunga. When we arrived back at school we got to swim... for ages! We loved it! Before bed Matua David taught us the correct protocol for staying in a marae; keeping our beds tidy, not bringing school bags inside as they have had food in there, not to wrestle or run around the beds and not to sit on our pillows. We learnt a lot and had a fun time... although we were all very tired the next day!

Figurative Language

This week we have been learning what figurative language is, specifically metaphors, as part of a School Kit activity to get kids writing. We are producing poems to write on postcards and creating a poster about our class to send to another class in Wellington. We are looking forward to receiving their work in the next few weeks. Here is our metaphor poem we made together.

Welcome Back

To the parents, caregivers and whanau of Room 5 students,

Welcome back! I hope you are all looking forward to 2017 as I am!

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Dana Cowles. I have been a teacher for 10 years now, all of which have been here at Kawakawa Primary School. I am back to full time teaching after working part time for a few years so I could spend some quality time with my precious babies.

I have two gorgeous children, Tegan who is 4 (and ridiculously keen to join me at 'big kids school') and Damian (aka Zebs/Zeber) who is 18 months old. I am married to Brian Cowles and we live in Kawakawa. 

I was brought up local, going to Karetu Primary School then on to Bay of Islands College. From there I spent a couple years travelling and being a camp councilor for Camp America before settling in Waikato to study to become a teacher. 

I love reading, sciences, sports and P.E, art, maths... most subjects really haha. And I am really excited to be on the online journey with our school. I can't wait to see where our kids go and watch them experience success in new and interesting ways. 

I look forward to meeting/reconnecting with you all over the coming weeks :)

Cybersmart learning in 2017

Getting underway in 2017 with our Cybersmart learning. Students looking again at their Kawa of Care - how to take care of their devices for another year.

What's happening here?

Room 5 students were asked to describe the following images using rich and creative language.

This is what Paris had to say.

Kia ora Ko Honey Tautari toku ingoa

There’s a new teacher in my class…………

I wonder who she is

I wonder where she came from

I wonder where she lives

I wonder if she’s strict or grumpy like a bear

I wonder if she’s nice

I wonder if she cares

I wonder what she’ll teach us

I wonder what she knows

I guess I’ll have to wait and see

What she has to show

To the Parents/Caregivers of Room 5

My name is Honey Tautari and I will be your child’s teacher for the rest of the year.  I look forward to guiding and supporting your child’s learning experiences.

I am a recent graduate of Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi and have been working as a full-time relief teacher at Moerewa School since the beginning of this year.  I had been a teacher-aide for six years, while studying for my teaching degree and have supported students of all ages and learning abilities.  I care that every student is given all opportunities to participate in education and I am an avid advocate of it.

I was born and bred in Karetu where I currently live with my husband. I am an active member of my hapu and marae and am responsible also for my elderly mother.  I have four awesome children and seven adorable grandchildren.

I look forward to meeting you all and welcome visits to our classroom.

Whaea Honey Tautari