Term 1 Swimming Lessons

We have now completed our term 1 swimming lessons. I am always so impressed by how much progress the children make in these few short lessons. We had children that hated putting their head under water, now confidently retrieving objects from the bottom of the pool. The NZ curriculum specifies that all children should get the opportunity to learn basic aquatic skills.

Whitestone City

Prepare to step back in time!

We took a trip down to Whitestone City in the old part of town. There were so many fun things to see and do. This is a must do trip and the hour spent here was not long enough as the children did not want to leave. Head down on a weekend and ask for local entry!

We learnt how to played croquet

And a game called quiots

The victorian farm toys were a favourite

It was tricky balancing on the stilts

Some sat down to enjoy a tea party

We were very well behaved in this classroom

And completed all our work on slates

We had a great time on the penny fathering

Although it was tricky to reach the pedals

Some of us enjoyed a leisurely cycle

Others enjoyed the thrill of a horse and cart

Our trip to the farm

Pack your gumboots we are off to the farm! And oh boy did we need them! We arrived at the Natural Dairy Company to sunshine and headed straight out into paddocks to feed some hungry calves that were waiting for us.

 

As the storm clouds rolled in we trekked through the fields, over stiles and dodging cow pats to see how we get milk from a cow into our fridge. We climbed to the top of the hill to take in the views.

 

 

Cheers to the natural Dairy Company for having us on their farm and letting us sample the delicious milk from their cows!

Clubs

This term we are trying out something new. We identified the need for some extra curricular opportunities in school where children got the opportunity to try out something new and maybe find a talent they didn't know was there. Children can sign up for cooking, sports, sewing or learning to play the ukulele. 

COOKING

Children will prepare healthy tasty snacks, so what better way for them to understand the importance of healthy food than to learn how to make it from scratch?

The children, on a  weekly basis, tackle a new food challenge.

Not only do the children learn how to safely prepare their ingredients, but they also learn the importance of being safe in the kitchen and how to clean up after themselves, from washing up to sweeping and cleaning their equipment.

Once the food is cooked the children are given the chance to sit together and share their delicious new creation.

SPORTS

Children get the opportunity to try out some new sports and develop their sporting skills. There will be a focus on good sportsmanship and all pupil will try something new.

SEWING 

The end goal will be to make a flag. Children will stitch their initials onto a piece of fabric and attach it to a stick. It will be their own flag to wave!

UKULELE

A club for beginners- even if they have never played a ukulele before. We will learn chords and strumming and play some simple songs as a group. If they have always wanted to learn an instrument this is their chance.

Swimming lessons

During the first week of term 4, all the children traveled down to the Oamaru Aquatic centre to participate in swimming lessons. Each child was placed in a group and had an 30 minute lesson with a qualified swim instructor. Was great to see the progress made over the week and our confidence grow.

Swimming is part of the curriculum and is another way we can be active whilst learning about water safety

The skills we developed were:

• Water confidence
• Swimming technique
• Water safety
• Endurance and fitness

Here is a video about swim safety in the pool and ocean.

Kahurangi Dance Company

On Thursday we were lucky enough to be visited by the Kahurangi Dance Company. They shared the story of the Matariki, the Maori New Year, through traditional Maori song and dance. They told us of the Ika (fish) who were put in the sky to watch over the oceans and at Matariki these 7 Ika can be seen as the brightest stars. The performers also spoke of their ancestors, who before there were such things as shops and toys, used to make up their own games. Hei tama tu tama is a game where two people take turns doing one of four hand actions. If the action is mirrored and they call out, they win. It was similar to a game of snap but with actions rather than cards.

 

 

 

 

Cross Country Fun Run

The juniors were in great form on Friday as they completed the first Ardgowan fun run. It was great to see so many parental and whanau out supporting their tamariki.

Speeding down the finish line

Supporting each other

This year our junior course was set up at Ardgowan school with the help of the year 7 and 8s. Almost 800m long with obstacles to jump over, crawl under and climb through the children completed the course to the best of their abilities.

Lining up in our age categories

Sussing out the route

Great foot work

Being cheered on by marshals