Seek The Truth
Archive for June, 2009
Room 10 Planting Day
On Wednesday 17 June Room 10 went to Waitoki for a planting day. We probably got there at 10 past 10. We were to plant up to 300 plants we had grown from seedlings and were now up to 30 cm high. There were 200 more plants there in addition to ours so we had a huge task ahead of us. Thank goodness it was a beautiful day. When we got on the bus the weather was terribly cold but when we got there it was so hot nearly everyone had to take off their jacket, my it was hot!
When we first arrived we all were excited about the planting so the first thing we did was get some morning tea, have a tour of the house, get told how to dig, how to hold the spade and how to plant the plants.
After everyone got a spade we all started to plant. It was a long time before we got half way down the hill but it was fun because we got to play with the dogs, get a few photos taken, slipping in the mud and nearly every girl screamed because of a worm, that was hilarious I’m still laughing about it. We worked in ever changing groups, soon we were struggling to find a plant to plant or a space to plant it in.
By now we were hungry, we cleaned up and then got told we were going up to the big barn for lunch but we were to go in the back of a horse float. It was fairly dark, we couldn’t see where we were going, the road was bumpy and we had to sit on the floor. Oh no, have the horses done stuff on this floor? The ride was a bit like being on a bucking bronco, well not quite. It was only about a 3 or 5 minute ride and was very fun.
For lunch we had pizza, brownies, juice and some hot milo, mmmm! can still taste those yummy pizzas. They made the bases for Hell’s Piza but this was heavenly, yum. Everyone got to have 3rds!
The place where we had lunch was a huge garage that was 2 or 3 times bigger than room 10. In the garage there was a race car, tractor, an old car and heaps more. After lunch we had to sit on the steps a have a little assemble about saying thank you for giving us lunch and they thanked us for our planting efforts. It was then we were told we had planted over 500 plants.
When we got on the bus it was not that noisy for some reason. After a while 5 people fell asleep one started to snore ha-ha. When we got back to school it was nearly three o’clock so we all went home slept like a log because of the long day.
Blue Light Disco
On Friday 19th June Matipo Primary had a Blue Light Disco run by the NZ Police. We had 2 sessions, one for the Juniors and another session for the Middle and Senior Syndicate. The children had a great time dancing the night away and also enjoyed the selection of goodies for sale too!
Iron Brion
On Wednesday the Iron Brion Show came to our School. Iron Brion discussed different parts of the Food Pyramid and the importance of a Balanced Diet. There was also a “Dance Off†at the end. Iron Brion picked the best Boy and Girl Dancer. There were also prizes given out.
At the end of the Show each child received a Hamburger. Everybody loved them!
By Saxon and Preston.
Te Atatu Intermediate Vist
On Tuesday the Year 6′s went for their visit to Te Atatu Intermediate. This is part of their transition process to an Intermediate School. The children visited a Technology Classroom and were assigned an activity to complete during the morning. These included Science, Visual Art, Workshop, Soft Materials, Hard Materials and Food Technology.
Rugby Skills
On Thursday The Pro Sport Development team from the Auckland Rugby Union came and taught the Middle and Senior School children various Rugby Skills.
Here are some snapshots from the afternoon.
NEW: Principal’s Forum – Breakfast Programme
2 years ago
This is the first run of our new Principal’s Forum feature, where Mr Bainbridge will pose a question for parents and caregivers to comment on.
Today’s question is: The provision of the breakfast programme on Tuesday mornings – should we do it, should we extend it, any other feedback?
An Open Letter to Parents and Caregivers
2 years ago
I write to you to tell you of my pride in being Principal of Matipo Primary School. This is a very good school with very good standards. We are very well resourced and have excellent facilities. We have a strong staff and have particular strengths in the arts, literacy, numeracy, IT and inquiry learning. Our staff include a dance tutor, a viola player, two children’s authors, a singer, an astronomer and several very enthusiastic band members.
In 2008, 92% of children right across the school were reading at or above their chronological age. (The national average is 74-80%). We were delighted with this achievement. I am really proud of our children. They are collectively really nice kids. They get on well together and they work well. There are strong, positive relationships with teachers. On trips internationally, locally and to sports exchanges, they have never let me down. The children are confident and by and large, socially mature. As parents, you too should be proud of them.
Our school puts an emphasis on formality and routine, structure and expectation and plenty of proactive intervention. We are a strongly child centered school. We have approximately 15 intervention programmes for children who have learning issues plus a behavior intervention programme, a support worker and a Resource Teacher of Learning & Behaviour.
Children can learn violin, guitar, drums, keyboard and brass instruments. We have coached sports at lunchtimes plus about seven lunchtime clubs. Additionally, senior and middle classes get taught Spanish language and we offer a school wide Samoan language class.
In 2009 we are trying very hard to minimize financial demands on parents so are offering no costly trips and are trying hard to attract free performances at school. We have also created a trip subsidy fund to subsidize the cost of out-of-school trips.
I believe we offer really great opportunities to all our children and have created a very positive learning environment.
We are proud to exceed your expectations of a primary school and look forward to continuing to meet and grow the educational, sporting and cultural aspirations of your children.
Kia toa
Kia manawanui
Kia kaha
Kind regards
Wayne Bainbridge
APO Brass Quintet
Today the Brass Quintet visited us. They are members of the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra. The Quintet consisted of a Tuba, Trombone, French Horn, Trumpet and a Piccolo Trumpet.
Each member of the group explained their instrument and demonstrated a piece on it. They played many pieces of music but the most popular piece was the ABBA medley.
Samoan Language Week – Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa
This week was Samoan Language Week ~ Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa.
We had a Special Assembly on Friday taken by our Samoan Language Group. Goldberg said the Lords Prayer in Samoan followed by his Sister singing the Samoan National Anthem for us.
Our Samoan Language Group also shared what they have been learning so far this year. Such as: The Alphabet, Numbers, Days of the Weeks, Months of the Year. They also shared a small conversation in Samoan.
The Polynesian Dance Group also shared some faboulous Samoan dances for us!
Our Special Assembly ended with us singing O le Pepe.
Some classes also did fun activities in their classes to celebrate Samoan Language Week. In Rooms 8 and 17 they designed their own Tapa Cloths and in Room 11 they played Bingo to help them learn the Samoan numbers and colours, sang an Action Song with their Buddy Class, Room 5 and lastly tasted Samoan Banana Pancakes and ate and drank from some Coconuts.
