Dress up Day - St Mary's 2014

 Dress up Day

Last Thursday St Mary's staff and students came dressed up as their favourite book character. We had all sorts of characters in room 6 as you can see from our photos. Children had to bring a gold coin donation, which will go towards relief efforts for the typhoon ravaged Philippines.

Some of the children put a lot of effort into their costume selection.

A group photo shows the wide range of characters we had in room 6.

Poppy vainly attempts to scare Mr. Bach with her costume.

  Charis

 Veronica

 Koby

 Jasmin

 Naina

 Ria

 Lucille

 Tyler

 Willem

Misty

Picture Prompts - writing

 Picture Prompts - Motivating to Write and stimulating thinking

A good way of getting children to write is by using picture (usually photo) prompts. Big pictures are best and they can be electronic or in paper form, as long as the children are able to look at them closely from the place from where they are writing.

Children can be guided to describe the setting or a character in the setting by using looks like, feels like, smells like and sounds like, or they can use the scene to begin a story using who, what where and when.

 The children may have to be encouraged to choose a prompt as procrastination in making a choice is common.

 Room 6 children have chosen their prompts in this picture and are now orgainising their books and other writing equipment.

Some children are very happy and motivated writers - others may need support and encouragement to write.

Poetry Recital - middle school

 Middle School Poetry Recital Finals 2013

In the last week of term 3 the annual middle school poetry recital finals were held in the hall. Our judges were Janet Keen and Mrs Cato. Janet gave a very complimentary review of the competition in her weekly newspaper column. 

The standard was very high this year with all finalists having memorised their poems and many children used expression in their voice and gestures.

Alex Veper and Poppy Martin represented room 6 in the year 3 section and Tom Parry, Joseph Boles and Naina Michael represented room 6 in the year 4 section.

Children from rooms 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 participated in the recital.

Tom gave it his best using expression and gestures.



Joseph gave an excellent recital but had his poem cut short by early clapping.

Well done to Tom and Joseph for giving it their best and making us proud.

Poppy went the extra mile and included props and a costume as part of her recital.

Alex wrote his own poem for the competition. Here he shows us his participation certificate.

Kate won the year 3 section with a magnificent poetry recital showing public speaking skills of the highest order.

Carbon Footprints

 How big is your footprint?

Room 6 have been learning about carbon footprints and how many of our practices in the West cannot be sustained. We must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane we are producing through our daily activities and choices.

We looked at the ways we are all contributing to raising levels of greenhouse gases on Earth, which are helping to heat the planet. We asked, 'how big is your footprint?

We then discussed all the different ways and all the different things each of us can do to reduce our carbon footprints.
The children traced their own footprint and wrote all the ways they could help reduce their own carbon footprint onto their foot poster.

 The children used some of the class' ideas and some of the children came up with their own individual ideas.

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit

In Religious Education in Term Two we have been learning about the Holy Spirit. In particular we have looked at the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. The children have learned that the fruits are not apples and oranges, but just as real fruit nourishes our bodies so The Fruits of the Spirit nourish our minds and souls. They help us to become better people.

The children have discussed the people around them who show some, or all, of the Fruits, such as kindness, generosity, peace, self control etc. We have talked about how these people can inspire us to use the Fruits to become better human beings. 

We played a board game that helped children remember the names of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.


Some children got enthusiastically into the game.

 Some of the dice throwing was very dramatic.







Other children took the calm relaxed approach to playing the game.

Lucille enjoyed playing the game and naming people she thought showed the Fruits of the Spirit in her life.

 Some children preferred to play the game alone at their desks.

 The children learned also to cooperate and follow the rules together as a team.

The game showed how performing acts in the game, as in real life, that showed evidence of the Fruits of the Spirit, is a positive and rewarding thing in our daily and religious lives.

 Interhouse Cross Country 2013 

Room 6 students trained up hard over 6 days at the beginning of term 2. We ran for ten minutes every day around the school filed and recorded the number of laps we completed. Our training goals and record of laps run will be put into each child's portfolio

Some children made more progress with their fitness than others

 Poppy trained hard. Here she is putting her hand out to get a lap marker from Mr. Bach.

Naina runs past Mr Bach who kept track of the children's progress. Mr. Bach used to run with the children in past year to improve his fitness, but unfortunately a severe ankle sprain has lead him to retrie from running and focus on biking and kayaking.







Willem and a group of mixed room 6 and 7 girls make their way past the recording point.

 Room 6 children performed well at the school cross country held in the Redwood Forest last Wednesday. Josh (above) and Alex and Misty (below) all got high placings in their year group.

 

Koby (above) and Poppy (below) also ran well for excellent placings in the cross country event.

Some of our year 4 children will be attending the interschool cross country event for certain.














All of the St Mary's staff helped out during the event. Here Mr Volschenk is guiding children to the recording table. Mr Bach was the unofficial photographer and First Aid Coordinator!!!

   



Mrs Park and some girls at the recording station.

The children cheered on the other children from their houses in the races.

 Some children really got into the cheering business.