Week Seven Homework. I know that you can't wait for it!

All of you have created and improved a presentation about a musician. It was interesting to see the different ways of presenting your information. Your challenge now is to create a presentation in using a different format about another musician. For example if you made a power point you could present your findings and opinions in a video, or a booklet, or a speech, or a drama, or a voice thread... Thank you Bianca for handing your homework in on Athletics Day and Megs and Kaleb for emailing yours.

A 100% kid planned filmed, edited and everythinged movie. Well done Mat, Tommy, Kaleb, Chris and Lennox. We can't wait for your next movie clip.

http://ms-gif-animator.en.softonic.com/ has some ideas for those of you who are keen to make a GIF for our blog. Your other homework challenge is to practise the Cup Song without using the video clip. Remember to record your reading and timestables practise.

Come on Ricky, we are waiting for your next GIF!

How are your GIFs coming along Ricky?

Goodness me, here is more!

http://www.sunlive.co.nz/10198a1.page

TV1 Breakfast Show. Click the Media Player option.

http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-friday-november-6-3115454/video?vid=3115724

Isthgulians unite!

http://www.3news.co.nz/School-kids-produce-feature-film-/tabid/367/articleID/128257/cat/221/Default.aspx

Ricky this is for you.

Week Four's glorious homework.

Congratulations to the people who put effort into their homework last week. It was interesting to see that perseverance pays off. There are some cool music projects coming along.

This week the challenge is to make your project even better. However, if you think that your project has reached it's pinnacle you may start another one.

Feel free to email your homework to me bobby@pahoia.school.nz .

Also, there are prizes for those who leave comments on the blog this week.

Someone stole Lulu and the Lampshades. This will have to do for now until we find them again.

What a cool teacher.

Beethoven's Ode To Joy. How did he manage to write it when he was deaf?

Ricky and Rubin's first GIF masterpiece

Free Poverty Badge.

Remember this geography game? How well are you progressing?

http://www.freepoverty.com/

Another bizarre GIF for you all.

Another GIF, Ricky you can make one for homework. Anyone else keen?

How did they make this gif clip? Can you?

Homework, yippee.

We heard the traumatic story of Beethoven this week. Now it's your chance to create a presentation about a musician of your choice.
Remember to show a record of what you have read during the week as well as evidence of you learning your timestables. I am curious to know what you are reading at home and which tables you feel you need to practise.

Free Poverty Game.

Free poverty game, test your geography skills and click here

'

Team work. We could do this.

I just liked this.

Our Laura AKA Orbis

You need your sound on for the post below. Prepare to be amazed .

Music Machine - Read this message before you watch the video.

This is almost unbelievable ..... See how all of the balls wind up in
catcher cones. This incredible machine was built as a collaborative
effort between The Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory and
The Sharon Wick School of Engineering at the University of Iowa.

Amazingly, 97% of the machines components came from John Deere
Industries and Irrigation Equipment of Bancroft, Iowa, yes farm equipment!

It took the team a combined 13,029 hours of set-up, alignment,
calibration, and tuning before filming this video but as you can see
it was well worth the effort. It is now on display in the Matthew
Gerhard Alumni Hall at the University and is already slated to be
donated to the Smithsonian.

It's speech time again, here is a great example.

Varrox becomes Esirnusheen

Team Work

Homework Week Four

Create your own tongue twister that is at least one sentence long. Make it challenging yet manageable! Test it on family members and friends (remember to laugh in a kind manner). You will be teaching it to the class.
Make a short (about 4 or 5 frames) Varroxian comic strip about a day in the life of your Varroxian character.

Times table focus is 4x. Challenge yourself to go beyond 12 x 4.
Prizes this week for visiting the blog and making a comment! room1online.blogspot.com
Remember to list the title and author of the books you have read this week. I have enjoyed reading your opinions of books that you have been reading so far.

Mrs Wright

We are gonna be friends.

Equivalent Fractions

Varroxian introductions.

Varroxian Assembly. Magistra Uno

Mrs Wright's Homework

Homework Week Three
We are surrounded by symbols in our everyday life. Name different ways symbols are used in our country.
Choose one symbol that uses colour and explain how the colour helps depict meaning - think about how the colours make you feel.
Times table focus is 7 x.
Please read every day, even if it is sometimes a parent reading to you.
Record the title and author of books you have read this week. In 3 or 4 sentences describe or draw an interesting character or setting from one of them. Please do both if you wish.
Thinking question: How can I present my homework in a way that makes it more enjoyable for the reader/viewer?

Mrs Wright

Homework Challenge

Last week you had a challenge to write your life story in 14 words exactly. There were a few gems. Here are some examples.
Megan 'My life is flled with active, outdoor, adventures, excitement, delicious food and family clowns.'
Chris ' Perfectly formed, blue eyed and musical. Funny, kind and cheeky. Awesome adventurer and boy.'
Jemima ' Born in Hastings, taught in Pahoia and raised in the beautiful Bay of Plenty.'

Homework Week Two

Welcome back to school Varroxians. Many of you seem exhausted by your busy holidays, you must have had some great adventures.

For the first six weeks of this term we have a guest teacher, Mrs Wright, in our class. She will be spending time with us to learn more about teaching and practising putting her skills into action. She is a talented teacher brimming with great ideas. We are very lucky to have her with us.

Times tables focus is 7x. Please teach this to someone at home.

Record the books you are reading during the week, please state your opinion of the book ? did you enjoy it or not and why?

This week's challenge is to write your life story in fourteen words exactly. Make it stylish!

For Rubin, Athleta.

More Varroxian antics. Crazy!

For the daredevils in Varrox

Passive warfare for Varroxians.

How to make a seige weapon at home or school.

Jeffery Chaucer, for Jay

Homework Week Seven

It feels like ages since we last had homework. Therefore you will have lashings of energy for this week?s challenges.

Word Study

Describe the castle of Varrox without using the letter ?t?.
Keep in mind the stunning work that you did describing your Varroxian creature. There are a couple of excellent examples on the blog. Check them out.

Times tables focus = 9x

Are you remembering to read EVERY day? I hope so. You must record the titles of what you read and get a parent to sign your homework.

Let's make Varrox

As you may be aware Room One no longer exists, we are now Varrox. The people of Varrox have renounced most of the English language and gone back to speaking Latin. Therefore our previous names have been changed. Do you know your child?s new Latin name and what it means?

We are now about to embark on transforming our classroom into a Varroxian landscape. If you have any polystyrene please may we use it? A Weta workshop advisor has shared some secrets to simply and effectively create a major change in our room.

This Friday morning from 9am we will need a few parents with dressmaking scissors to create our Varroxian costumes. There is NO SEWING involved, just a bit of snipping and measuring.

Each child will need to acquire, not necessarily buy, a long sleeved black top and black leggings/trousers.

To embellish our dark soldierly and orclike costumes any interesting belts, sashes, scarves, clasps, brooches etc in black /grey /silver gold would be great to borrow. Please bring them along on Friday. Most of us are soldiers as well as having another Varroxian role.

Thank you

Bobby Murphy (AKA Magistra)

Anna's fearsome Varroxian creature.

Her scales are midnight blue and as cold as ice. Her talons are black and sharp. Her paws are monstrous and hard as stone. Her tail is long and as thick as a tree trunk. The Dargoyle of Varrox is terrifying yet beautiful in a way. Her long, barred teeth look like daggers and her eyes are as black and bottomless as a bottomless pit. The Dargoyle is enormous and so ghastly that even the evil King Alerick and his most fearless warriors fear her.

Chris' Varroxian Creature

As I enter the misty mountains of treacherous Varrox the wind begins to drop. Suddenly a flash of lightning hits a mountain ridge that I had just come across. I gasp in horror but as I turn around I begin to freeze as if I was fading away. I see a massive three headed shadow approaching me, I can't move, it's like I am glued to the floor.
Now that the mist has cleared I can see the creature, it seems to be in the middle of a meal. The creature has three snake heads and a body like a tyrannasaurus-rex, it has cuts and bruises everywhere and has seeping pus out of an arrow wound and is making a horrible screeching sound. It looks like one of the heads can eat me in one bite.
It has finished eating and looks at me- it could outrun me any day. But it strolls away from me, it must think I'm a Varroxian. I'm saved.

By Chris

'We Think'. What do you think?

Fantabulous Homework Week Five

In Varrox you may come across many strange sights including fantastic birds, dragons, monsters and mythical beasts. One great challenge to writers is how to describe such creatures so that readers can 'see' and believe them.

I would like you to imagine that you are a visitor to Varrox and that you have come across a fantabulous creature which you have to describe clearly, colourfully, and with life.

'Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy
creature. I don't know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was
Gollum - as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin
face. He had a little boat, and he rowed about quite quietly on the lake; for
lake it was, wide and deep and deadly cold.'
Remember how vividly J.R.R. Tolkien describes characters, creatures and places in The Lord Of The Rings. We know what Gollum looks like, sounds like, moves like, smells like and feels like because Tolkien has worked hard to tell us. You work hard now to describe your amazing creature. You must be able to clearly see this creature in your own imagination before writing.

I look forward to reading about your amazing creature!

Times table focus = 7x.

Remember to list all of the books that you read during the week.

Lord Of The Rings Drama

The video clips below are dramatisations from the Stairs Of Cirith Ungul in The Lord Of The Rings. It was a challenge to get our heads around the rich language that JRR Tolkein used. We will try some more this week. The clips are to be watched in reverse order as Mrs M uploaded them in the wrong order for viewing. Ooops!

Stairs Part 4

Stairs Part 3

Stairs continued

The Stairs To Cirith Ungol

Varroxian Homework

Gollum was tugging at Frodo's cloak and hissing with fear and
impatience. `We must go,' he said. `We mustn't stand here. Make haste!'
Reluctantly Frodo turned his back on the West and followed as his guide
led him, out into the darkness of the East. They left the ring of trees and
crept along the road towards the mountains. This road, too, ran straight for
a while, but soon it began to bend away southwards, until it came right
under the great shoulder of rock that they had seen from the distance. Black
and forbidding it loomed above them, darker than the dark sky behind.
Crawling underits shadow the road went on, and rounding it sprang east
again and began to climb steeply.
Frodo and Sam were plodding along with heavy hearts, no longer able to
care greatly about their peril. Frodo's head was bowed; his burden was
dragging him down again. As soon as the great Cross-roads had been passed,
the weight of it, almost forgotten in Ithilien, had begun to grow once more.
Now, feeling the way become steep before his feet, he looked wearily up; and
then he saw it, even as Gollum had said that he would: the city of the
Ringwraiths. He cowered against the stony bank.
A long-tilted valley, a deep gulf of shadow, ran back far into the
mountains. Upon the further side, some way within the valley's arms high on
a rocky seat upon the black knees of the Ephel Duath, stood the walls and
tower of Minas Morgul. All was dark about it, earth and sky, but it was lit
with light. Not the imprisoned moonlight welling through the marble walls of
Minas Ithil long ago, Tower of the Moon, fair and radiant in the hollow of
the hills. Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the
light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a
corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing. In the walls and tower
windows showed, like countless black holes looking inward into emptiness;
but the topmost course of the tower revolved slowly, first one way and then
another, a huge ghostly head leering into the night. For a moment the three
companions stood there, shrinking, staring up with unwilling eyes. Gollum
was the first to recover. Again he pulled at their cloaks urgently, but he
spoke no word. Almost he dragged them forward. Every step was reluctant, and
time seemed to slow its pace. So that between the raising of a foot and the
setting of it down minutes of loathing passed.

Wordstudy Who wrote this extract? What is the title of the book? Underline the words that you are unsure of the meanings. Select at least five and define them. USE A DICTIONARY!
How does this setting compare to Varrox? What are the similarities? Differences?

Timestable Focus = 6x.

Remember to record the books that you read every day!!!

Homework Week Three

Oral Language

A poem has been selected for each child in our class to memorise. They will have their own copy to keep at home and practise.
A group of children will be assigned to each day of the week on which they will recite their own poem to the class. This continues for the rest of the year. Challenges for improvement will be offered so that over time the recitation will gain strength.
During Term Four there will be the opportunity to recite other class member?s poems.
This activity covers, in part, the oral language section of the curriculum. It also assists in developing memory, listening skills, correct pronunciation, self-confidence, sense of rhythm and a deepening appreciation of the richness of our language.

We will begin these on the first day of week 4. Often the first couple of weeks are a little daunting and hesitant. However, I have infinite faith that their efforts over time will create performances to be proud of!

Bobby Murphy

A winter germ reminder from David Beckham.

Overcoming bullying, he just keeps singing.

A comment from Lennox

I watched the German Coastguard on the blog and I am still sinking about it.

from Lennox

An example of excellence, communication, learning, resourcefulness and respect

What do YOU think of this? I am interested in your opinion.

Prizes, prizes, prizes

http://www.madeawards.com/

This is a great opportunity to stretch your imagination, use your talents, be creative, solve problems, work with others or on your own and discover new skills.

Let's aim to send in as many entries as we can.

Varroxian Homework

Sketch costumes for the Varroxian people and army.
Sketch ideas for an emblem for Varrox to go on their flag and weapons.
Create gestures for greetings and salutes.

Discuss with your family ideas for transforming our classroom into Varrox for the school movie. Write your ideas down.

My message to the Juniors about giving a great speech.

Tell me what YOU think of this?

Perseverance is paying off. This piece is developing nicely.

Dagmar's latest ukulele challenge.

Communication race.

For resourceful Ricky and Shay

Top Thrill Dragster - The funniest home videos are here

Blooms/Gardners grid work so far

This is from National Radio 'Afternoons' with Jim Mora.

http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/aft/aft-20090325-1510-Virtual_World-048.mp3

Our blog is mentioned at the end of this podcast.

Communication breakdown.

It's homework time again, isn't that neat!

Homework Week Eight

Blog challenge: collect at least ten words from another language. Then put them on the blog in a comment box.

While I was in Melbourne last week I visited many different schools. I realised how lucky we are at Pahoia as we have so many cool facilities, lively teachers and groovy kids with great ideas. Thank you all for your homework last week, many of you created some interesting relatives. Check the blog for some examples of your excellent writing.

First Person or Third Person

Here are the beginnings to stories that Katherine Mansfield wrote. The first is in third person (where we write ‘he’ or ‘she’). The second is in first person (when we write ‘I’). You choose one of these beginnings and complete the story by saying what was in the letter or why ‘he’ always sits alone. Just choose one to complete.

From ‘the Swing of the Pendulum’:

‘The land lady knocked at the door.
‘Come in,’ said Viola.
‘There is a letter for you,’ said the land lady, ‘a special letter’ – she held the green envelope in a corner of her dingy apron.’

You complete this story. Or complete this one:

‘Who is he? I said. ‘And why does he sit always alone, with his back to us, too?’
‘Ah!’ whispered…’

You write who is whispering and what this person says about why ‘he sits always alone’. If it’s because he is lonely you have to explain why he’s lonely. If he’s unhappy you have to explain why he’s unhappy. Maybe you’ll think of an entirely original reason for him to behave like this.

Times tables focus is 8x. Challenge yourself, go past 12!

Please list your favourite authors this week. We will make a class list to help encourage each other to read different books.

Invent an ancestor

Shay
James Boll Brain
James was brought up in Napier. He was born in 1920. He died of cancer in 1960. He worked as a car mechanic for the Ford Motor Company. James had one leg because he had a motor dropped on his leg. He used to like playing darts with his mates after work.
Jack B
I had a great grand father that was in the army, he was in the 101st Airborne, he was a paratrooper. He invaded Normandy by jumping out of a plane with hundreds of other people. As soon as he hit the ground he had lost most of his friends and there was air ire coming from all directions.
Jack F
In 1854 Bill Bob was two he went into World War 2. He had a steel leg. He had muscles that could change into cannons. He had huge abs. After the war he retired. He became a sumo wrestler. At ten years he had won the sumo wrestler championship belt.
Tuesday
Billy Bob, My Person.
Billy Bob is an Olympic gymnast, he has represented New Zealand won first 150 years in a row. Now he swims in swim school for the elderly. He is getting fitter and fitter. I know what you think, he can never die. Anyway, lots of people think that he will have a chance in the Olympics for swimming. Which he does.
Michel
Walles William Wadcock
Beginning of Life
Walles was born and raised in Wellington. He went to a school called St Patricks. They were very strict on behaviour there and uniform. If you didn't behave right or have the correct uniform you would get whipped. EEKK!!
Middle of Life
After Walles finished college he went to Canada where he fought a bear and won. After that he went all over the UK, he went sky diving and his parachute didn't work so he broke his leg, his arm and his ankle. He did so many other things and this one I just have to tell you, He went to space. I've still got the stone he got from the moon!!!
End of Life
At the age of 73 Walles was still doing crazy things but not long after his last stunt of the week Walles died by doing a stunt at home, he tried to fly a plane upside down through a shed!!

I know you can't wait for this!!! Homework. "yippee!" I hear you yell.

Homework Week Seven

Room One I am very proud of your attitude to homework, you are showing resourcefulness in your organisation, excellence in your presentation and you demonstrate learning beautifully. Keep it up! Some examples of your work are on our blog, check it out some time.

As I am going to Melbourne tomorrow for the rest of the week Miss Lee will be marking your homework.

Times table focus is 8x.

Inventing An Ancestor
Katherine Mansfield had a vivid imagination. She wrote about people, real people, real locations and real situations, but she could also invent. Once she wrote to a friend, 'Would you not like to try all sorts of lives - one is so very small - but that is the satisfaction of writing - one can impersonate so many people.'

I would like you to invent a person, let's make it an interesting relative. Here is an example.

"Gertrude Fenella Wattle-Bottle 1897-1969

Gertrude Fenella, or Gerf as she was called, began life in Opoutere, a small coastal settlement at the bottom of the Coromandel Peninsula. Not one to enjoy the sleepy murmur of the tidal lagoon, and attracted to fame, fortune, and new electric lights, at the age of 16 she escaped to Thames and began work for a seamstress who made the costumes for the Thames theatrical Society."

Word Study
Define: noun, verb, adjective and adverb. Give a few examples of each.

Descriptions of our Area

My Home. By Mat
It's a small lifestyle block situated by the local school. To the south the breathtaking Kaimai Ranges stretch across the skyline. The vast green outlook from the kitchen blocks the sky. The roaring trucks speed down the highway at three in the morning. In autumn the lush green tree turns to yellow and is very beautiful.
Taurange. By Lennox
Tauranga is a small city. It is in a bay on a blue harbour and sunny.
You can always see Mount Maunganui or water.
The shops are great and there are lots of restaurants.
Lots of people grow avocados in the country.
My description of Katikati. By Jemima
You can wait there for ages sometimes. You just sit there watching the car in front's smokey fumes go up into the air. Then the car at the front of the queue revs up their motor and takes off, but you're still dribbling along at the back.
It's a small but busy town, behind us lie the Kaimai Ranges, with tracks crammed into the bush clumped hills. In front of us stretches the Tauranga Harbour leading out to the Pacific Ocean.
Katikati. By Anna
It is a beautiful town
The Uretara river peeks out at you when you enter the town. Sometimes it is a light, murky brown.
The Kaimais are visible when you look to the west.
If you're lucky when you look up into a tree, you'll see a bird's nest.
In town there are shops on either side of the road.
When there's a storm you get absolutely soaked.
It's green and never completely dry.
Some houses are pretty or ugly, close together or have space in between them, don't ask me why.
But Katikati is a beautiful town.
Pahoia. By Chris
Pahoia has green grass, a lovely landscape and freindly people everywhere. It is also very easy to grow fruit here because of the lovely weather.. Sometimes I want a storm but there aren't many in Pahoia. It is also great because we are high up so we get a really excellent view. I am so lucky to live in Pahoia, I couldn't think of a better place to live.

A message

My message to Mr Obama

My message to the school community.

My message to Mr Obama

My message to Mr Wadsworth

Mmmm Yummy Homework

Homework Week Six

Times Table focus 7x (my favourite!) this week.

A book review is mandatory (MUST DO) this week. Include title, author, publisher, dedication and your opinion.

Descriptions

Katherine Mansfield's description of Wellington
'It's a small town, planted at the edge of a fine deep harbour like a lake. Behind it, on either side, there are hills. The houses are built of light painted wood. They have iron roofs coloured red. And there are big dark plumy trees massed together.'

Five short sentences. Nice and simple.
I would like you to describe your town in five sentences now. Notice how each of Katherine Mansfield?s sentences gives us a new piece of information. Her descriptions are very visual. We can ?see? what she is describing. That is the sort of thing I would like you to do.

Word Study
Put each of the school vision words into separate sentences. Can you remember them all?

Early Memories

The homework this week was completed by EVERYONE! Well done team.

The Early Memories section of the homework was a delight to mark. I thought that I would share a few here. The use of detail and emotion really helped to make these memories come alive for the reader.
Estelle
My first memory is when I went to my Grandma's house. I saw fresh steaming cookies and milk. I heard my parents talking about me and I heard the dog from next door barking like mad because Alex was playing with its toy right in front of it. I felt soft cookie dough under my hands and melting chocolate in my mouth.
Laura
When I had chemo the nurse turned off the light and small stars on the roof would glow. Sometimes she would turn on the fish machine in the big circle. I looked at those things so I di not look at the needle. I was two years old.
Jay
In February 2003 at the age of four I remember going to an Auckland festival called Pacifica where I got a helium balloon. I remember walking over a bridge with lots of swans gliding eerily over the blue river. We walked over to a candy-floss seller and bought some. I took a bite of the pink, sticky web and it tickled and dissolved in my mouth. Then it started to rain.
Sam
When I was three I went to see the miniature ponies. I felt wonderful on the inside. On the outside I felt the beat of the horses heart and its soft coat.
As I was leading them around the paddock I heard some of the other ponies whinnying to each other and some birds chirping. I saw some horses that were black or white, some even brown and there were daisies in the paddock.
Monique
When I was about two I played in my playroom and when my Mum and Dad asked me to go to bed I gave them the evil eye. And when I saw a shadow coming I hid but they found me and picked me up and took me to bed. I felt like I was being picked up by a giant and I went fast asleep. ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Michel
It was Christmas time in England and it was snowing. My brothers and I went outside to play in the snow, we were wrapped up snug and warm. My brothers built an igloo/ice house and helped me build a snowman and then they had a snowball fight and my Mum took me inside to get warm
I was four years old and the year was 2002.
Dana
I can remember when I was little I used to run around the back lawn and dad would come out and tell me to hop on his back. He would give me horsey rides. Then Zed our boxer dog would come over and play. Dad would move his hands around and Zed's eyes would be curiously looking at them, then he would start barking at them. I insisted on more horsey rides, so dad would give me more. Zed would follow us around and around the lawn. After a few rounds of the lawn Mum would call us in for tea.

Believe it or not. Dagmar's Challenge. Song of the week

Flip Video

WOW, thanks Mr Wadsworth for showing us how to use the Flip camera. We are so pleased that you bought four for the school. The video below was filmed by Ricky using the new Flip Video. It is sooooooo easy to use.

The Five Keys

This is one of the excellent stories written by the children in Room One explaining how the five new Pahoia vision words Communication, Learn, Excellence, Resourceful and Respect came to be.

Homework Week Five

Homework Week Five

In our last lot of homework we needed to find the hidden birds. This was quite a challenge, congratulations to those of you who gave it a go, persevered and found some. You were resourceful. The birds were: canary, lark, duck, parrot, hen, gull, sparrow, peewit, crane, crow, wren and owl.

This week’s times table challenge is 9x again. If you feel that you have mastered it, mix them up, go past 12 or do another times table.

Early Memories
When Katherine Mansfield left New Zealand to live in London and Europe her heart often sailed back to New Zealand to her childhood days. She wrote: ‘The longer I live the more I turn to New Zealand. I thank God I was born in New Zealand. A young country is a real heritage, though it takes a time to recognise it. But New Zealand is in my very bones.’
Some of Katherine’s greatest stories were written from her childhood memories of Wellington.

I would like you to write down your first memories of being alive. What’s the very first memory you have? Explain it clearly. What did you see, hear and feel? I expect you to write a paragraph about it.

‘I can remember…’

I am enjoying seeing the record of books that you guys are reading. There have been some interesting book reviews. Include your opinions with these.

Resourcefulness. Never give up, never surrender!

Survivor Pahoia PMI

Room One have reflected on their Survivor Pahoia camp. Here are a few of their thoughts. Thank you Andrea, Peter, Cheryl, Cath, Kim, Paul, Andy, Nine and Andrew for making it so much fun.
Positives (Plus): it was fun, it was cool to be with my friends, the mud was the best, the food was yummy, the concert was funny, kayaking was hard but fun, having choices was a nice change.
Negatives (Minus): it was too short, we should do it more often, we didn't catch any fish, it was cold at night.
Improvements:Have the camp for more than one night, buy a net with no holes, have more than one survivor Pahoia each year, bring a beanie and a warmer sleeping bag.
A huge thank you to the Dowson family for letting us use their farm, and Mr W for helping us.

Survivor Pahoia 2009

Raft making challenge.

Survivor Pahoia Camp Concert

The camp concert was a highlight of the camp for many of us. I'm pleased that everybody too part. How did Miss Lee do that magic trick? It's bugging me!

Homework Week Three

Congratulations Room One, on the whole homework was completed beautifully last week. I appreciated reading your research and most importantly your own opinions. It takes an extra bit of effort to summon up your own thoughts on things sometimes.

I was also pleased to see the books that have been read at home. We have some real book worms in Room One.

This week our times table focus is 9x.

A famous New Zealand author Katherine Mansfield once said “To be alive and to be a ‘writer’… there is nothing like it.”
What did she mean by this?

When Katherine was a girl there were no computers, televisions or cell phones. Families would make their own entertainment. Word games were popular. Here’s a word game from last century. See if you can solve it for Word Study. In the following passage there are 12 hidden birds spelt backwards. I will show the first one ‘canary’ in italics in the first line.

Hidden Birds

When Mary ran across our new orchard in such a hasty manner we all wondered why she did so; but her cousin Victor rapped her knuckles, for which Dick cudgelled him soundly. ‘Stop!’ cried Jane. ‘How can you?’ Of all ugly fellows, I declare you are the worst!’ ‘I call this a lark.’ Ralph exclaimed, laughing heartily. ‘You would not laugh if you had such a blow or rap!’ said Mary, with the tears in her eyes. ‘Can’t you see that I weep?’ ‘Never mind’, interrupted Ellen, archly. ‘Let’s all kiss and be friends.’

Did you get them all? Now it’s your turn to find or create a word challenge.

Getting to know you

Room One 2009

Welcome back to school families of Room One students, we welcome especially Tamahae and his family. The fun filled holidays are over but we can still enjoy what remains of the summer in a different way here at school.

This year our focus is ‘Communication’ which is a key principle of our new school vision. The direction this has taken so far has been ‘how do I get my message across?’ with many of the children replying to the letter I wrote to them in the holidays, 22 in fact! The class blog has already been well used with a number of children successfully making a comment and sharing their opinion in this forum. If making a comment via this platform is impossible I welcome emails bobby@pahoia.school.nz and love receiving letters or notes. Our homework folders are also a handy avenue to use for communication between home and school.

I am looking forward to 'getting to know' as many of you as possible at the “Meet the Teacher” evening in Room One next Wednesday at 6.45pm. Miss Lee, the Room One teacher every Tuesday, will be there also.

2009 is going to be an exciting year. I look forward to experiencing many adventures with your children. Thank you for sharing them with me.

Bobby Murphy

Homework Week Two

'The pen is mightier than the sword.'

Research the statement above. Where does it come from?
What do you think it means? Do you agree?
Make a comment here or in your homework folder.

THRASS the school Vision words: communication, learn, excellence, resourceful and respect.

I expect to see the titles of books you have read during the week as I am interested to see the books that you enjoy.

Record an extract from a piece of literature that displays excellent writing. We will collect these. The author, title and your opinion are important to include.

Homework is due in on Friday.

I am so confused, what do Cadbury mean by this?

A poem from Natasha

Do you remember Natasha the French girl in Room One last year? She had a very cute accent and was so brave as she learned to communicate with us in English. She emailed a poem to me today. Here it is

'There a poem that I made up for you.

I miss
I miss some one in me that was helping me a lot.
I miss you, I miss them and I Miss New Zealand.
Pahoia is great for you and me together;
Around New Caledonia I be thinking of you for ever. By Natasha Trastour

I really miss New Zealand'

Thanks Natasha!

How does NZ Post get their message across with Op Shop's help?

To Mrs Murphy, I think the post office was trying to show how great it is to receive a letter and to catch up with someone. from Kaleb

Is this message effective?

What is Cold Play's message?

Oh My Goodness

Wow, talk about impressive. One of the 18 replies to my letter was a song, I came home tonight and there safely nestled in my letter box was a letter from Sam which was actually a song. I can't wait to hear her sing it. Thanks Sam!
Lucy from last year's Room One has left a comment about her time at college so far this year. It's so heartwarming to hear from the kids I have taught and lovely to see that she sends her greetings to the new Room One. I've heard that a lot of the Pahoia kids are having a fabulous time at college, superb news.

Week One

I can't believe that Week One is already over. Thanks guys for all of your hard work during such a hot week.

First day of school 2009

Welcome back to school Room One. A special welcome to Miss Lee who will be your teacher every Tuesday. Estelle and Jay, it's great to have you back.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the enthusiastic way many of you came in to the classroom this morning.
Thank you to the 17 people who replied to my letters in the holidays. Lennox deserves particular praise as he wrote to me TWICE! My postie must be curious about all of the interesting mail I am getting.

What is this woman's message? Is she getting it across effectively? Is she using humour to tell us something serious?

LUCKY ME!

I feel like the luckiest teacher in the world. I have already had 12 replies to the letters I wrote to you. This means that 12 of you have given up your holiday time to write to your teacher. Wow, I think that is impressive. Well done chaps.
I will endeavour to reply before school starts again next Tuesday. feel proud of your efforts and keep recording ideas about making our theme 'How do I get my message across?' come alive in Room 1 and at Pahoia.

How do I get my message across?

By now most of you will have received a letter from me in the mail. It may seem old fashioned writing a letter but it does have a slightly different feel to receiving an email I think. What are your thoughts on it? Make a comment here if you like.
"How do I get my message across?" is our focus for the year. The videos below show babies getting their message across in different ways. They are entertaining but show that right from our beginnings we are trying to communicate with others.
Please share other ways of getting messages across. Perhaps we could try a few interesting ones at school. What do you think?
I look forward to hearing your comments.

वहत मेसेज इस थिस?

How do I get my message across?

Last School Day 2008