Toothpick Activity in Maths

We have started learning about area and perimeter in maths. Today we used a rich task to help us understand what area and perimeter mean. Each student used 20 toothpicks to create rectangles of different lengths and widths. We used a table to record the length, width, perimeter and area of each rectangle.

We had lots of "lightbulb moments" when we saw the relationship between length and width to find the area of each rectangle (Area = L x W). Some of us are using the information from our investigation to create a graph.

Koru Themed Art

Today we began art related to the Koru symbol as part of our Maori mini unit study. Students were able to choose how they wanted to integrate the Koru image into their art. Here are some photos of the planning stage. I am looking forward to seeing their art up in our classroom.

An Arts Focus - Music with Mrs Jackson

The students in rooms 4, 5 and 6 have been having an arts focus over the last few weeks.

Each week, the students rotate around classes to experience an art topic - either music, drama and visual arts.  All classes get to experience each one.

This week the students in room 4 went to Mrs Jackson's class to learn about music.  Here are some videos showing some of the work they were doing during this time.

They used the poem "Hailstones" with 5 different parts.  

Can you hear each part?

Click on read more to see the videos.

Football skills

Today the children had football training with Miles, Steve and Jim from the Napier City Rovers. They had a lot of fun practising shills in dribbling. We are looking forward to their second visit next week.

Religious Education - The Sacrament Strand

We have been learning about how people of the Old Testament offered sacrifices of worship to God. We are also developing an understanding how Jesus sacrificed his life to God on the cross out of love for God and all people. To help us understand the sacrifices people made to God in the New Testament, we got into groups and acted it out.

Speak Easy

Public speaking …

The idea of talking in front of a group of people is enough to make any of us nervous.

This week we were fortunate to have Marcelle from Australia visit our school to talk to children in year 4-8 about how to be a better public speaker.

She gave the students lots of helpful tips and advice. This will come in handy next term when we have to write and present a speech to our class.

We brainstormed keywords and main ideas after listening to Marcelle so we could
remember what tips she gave us.

We wrote these in our Writer's Notebook.

St Mary's School Fields of Remembrance

St. Mary's School held a Fields of Remembrance Liturgy on Tuesday 28 April.  Our Field of Remembrance contained thirty crosses that represented some of the soldiers from our local region who died in World War 1. A backdrop containing poppies from the students at St. Mary's was the backdrop for the ceremony.

 Caden Mouat-Harvey, our Head Boy, was responsible for the readings. Students representing years 4-8 read a Prayer of the Faithful. 

Sergeant Nick Hawke addressed the school and visitors about the significance of ANZAC.  He also answered questions about his role in the Air Force.

Marcello Ziglioli played the Last Post on his trumpet.  Two junior students lay wreaths by our Fields of Remembrance sign and crosses at school.