Simply Brilliant!

Our new blogger of the week has been chosen by her peers (Grace and Abby) for her fabulous content and in the creative way she has presented her work.

We are extremely pleased to announce that this weeks Blogger of the Week is ...

Click on the link to check out Mika's awesome blog!

Link to Brilliant Blog

Rimu got its ski on!

Mrs Spragg here. (Thanks Mika for my avatar, I love it).

Last Friday was our Winter Fun Day, and what a fun day it was. Year 4 - 8 students started to arrive at 6:30 am ready for a day on the slopes of Mt Hutt. After a gear check and dishing out of yellow fluro vests for each student it was onto the bus for the two-hour bus trip up the mountain. Excited voices filled the bus and some parents took the opportunity to have a little nap.

Soon the access road was looming and everyone took a collective gasp as we began to drive up the dusty and windy road. I'll be honest, it is not my favourite part of Winter Fun Day.

 

We did arrive safely (thanks bus drivers!) and we unloaded and headed to the toilets and cafe for relief and morning tea. 58 students were hungry (apart from Liam, but more on that later). Our lesson wasn't till 11 am, so we didn't have to rush to get our boots, skis and helmets. Many students exclaimed over how weird the boots feel, particularly those that haven't been skiing before. There was some playing on the learner's slope as we waited. Those who have done it a few times, getting their ski-feet back on. Apparently, it's like riding a bike, but not on wheels ...

Surprise! Mr Matthews, an old YMS teacher, was on the slopes too. Lots of our older students were really excited to see him and he seemed happy to see us too. Mikael and Liam were keen to race Mr Matthews down the quad after the lesson and he wasn't going to avoid the challenge.

The lessons began and many parents took the opportunity to make sure the harder slopes were safe or to make sure the cafe food and coffee was ok. And breathe ...

Everyone made great progress in the hour and a half lesson, with some very capable skiers heading up the quad. Those that have never skied before were soon wedging and french frying like pros ... well, like beginners on the slopes for the first time ... but you know what I mean.

Except for Liam. Ah, Liam. He can tell you a good reason why you should eat your Weetbix and drink lots of water before you throw yourself down a mountain. Halfway through his lesson, he had no more go. In fact, he was particularly white and we ended up sending him to medical to make sure he was ok. I'm sure he will tell the full story on his blog but he informed me that he didn't die because he knows how much paperwork that would have meant. (He wasn't in any danger of dying, just a bit dehydrated and hungry, but it was a funny joke, eh Liam!). Sadly he and his dad did head home to keep an eye on him so he didn't get his race with Mr Matthews.

Soon the lesson finished and children wandered back for kai (food) and water before spending the afternoon going up and down the slopes. Mrs Dods, Miss Adams and Mr Matthews took a number of students up the quad, with a few trying the slightly more challenging slopes.

Check out all the photos and videos:

It was a great day and everyone come back smiling (or sleeping, nawwww, don't they look cute).

We made good time on the road and most of us were home by 5:30 pm. Thanks for such a great day Mt Hutt, parents who helped and teachers who came + Mr Matthews! It was super, duper FUN!

Surprise it's a hippo!

The other week Mrs Spragg arrived to school to find this very shiny package sitting on a disk. She was curious and opened the card. It said

"Published finally, looks Awesome!'

 Hmmmm, the cogs started to turn in her head. But she didn't want to let the class miss out on the surprise either so she thoughtfully moved it to a chair for students to find when they arrived at 8:30am. There were some curious questions from those that noticed but like Mrs Spragg, they just looked. A few touched it and thought it felt weird and there were a number of "What is it?" shouted around the classroom. 

Once the bell had rung and we were on the mat together we discussed what it could be. Michaela and Lucas were given the honours of opening it. 

It was our book! 

Last year the class had created the illustrations for 'The First Hippo on the Moon!' by David Walliams. We created the illustrations using flour paste and paint. It was such a big book that Mrs Taylor and Mrs Spragg didn't know how to put it together, so it has sat on a desk. Ms Lange had an idea though and she took it home and got her partner to take it to his work and get it put together. And this was her gift for us. Our book, put together, ready to read. 

And that is what we did. Mrs Spragg read it to the class and it was funny! A couple of seniors took it to Te Pihinga and read it to them at Morning Tea. They also enjoyed it.

What a wonderful book, thanks David Walliams for writing it. 

Kids love Ki-O-Rahi! #tourny

Friday was the third annual Uru Manuka Ki-O-Rahi Tournament. It was held at Gilberthorpe School and while the wind was cold and the sun was less than friendly, the games were friendly and the company was great. We were lucky to have Toby's Grandma and Rhys' Mum supporting us.

Ki-O-Rahi is a confusing but fun game. I'm not so sure of the rules, but I do know that there are Kīoma and Taniwha and a lot of running around with a ball. We have a couple of experts in our classroom and they were given the opportunity to umpire games, as well as play.

We were very cold once we stopped running around, but it was great to be able to sit down and celebrate what a great afternoon it had been. 

Thanks so much, Gilberthorpe School for hosting this. We can't wait for 2020.

Two brand new blogs!

Albin and Alan have come from India and they both enjoy reading and playing football. They are finding New Zealand to be very cold. 

Want to find out more about them?

Click on their pictures to read their blogs.