The biggest rose in the world...

We made a rose with all our class students.  Last week we went to the Rose Gardens and we were feeling inspired to make a rose out of our bodies.  Our fragrance was so lovely, a passing lady called Prim stopped and had a sniff.  She thought we smelt as good as the best smelling thing in the world!

Astronomy

Hi students!  Here is the website to access the astronomy information for you to read, study and learn at home.

 http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/earthandbeyond/dayandnight/

All going well this will take you straight there!

Tutankhamun's mask magnets

 

This is Tutankhamun's mask.  He was a young Egyptian pharoah who came to power when he was a little boy younger than us!  This mask was on his mummified body and is made of solid gold! 

 

Room 1 made our own masks modelled from Tutankhamun's golden one.  We made them out of a special clay called 'dukit' which goes hard when it is cooked.  They have been made into magnets to put on our fridges at home to remind us of the treasures from Ancient Egypt.

Big Night Out Auction

Hello all

We have completed our art project!  Mr Ted and Leonard have helped out a lot with layout and cohesion, as well as my pottery tutor Chris, so thanks to them.

Here is the finished product, all going well many of you will come to bid on the piece on the night of the do.  If you can't make it, all art works will be available near the office during the week prior to the auction for viewing and bidding.

The symbols are: a tulip, a tree, a tadpole, a balloon, two koru, a bird, a rain drop, the moon, a stream and the ocean, Rangitoto, the silver fern, a smiley face, a tiki, a sunflower, two leaves, a rainbow, a diamond ring, a heart, a cat, a wave, a butterfly and a shooting star.  That is a lot of positive symbols in one place!

Collective art for the art auction

We have made some lucky touchstones for our piece of art to auction at the Big Night Out, our major fundraiser this year.  All going well, the finished piece will look beautiful enough to adorn any wall!

Here is the back story:
When the train tracks were altered a couple of years ago at New Lynn, I went along to collect some of the clay they dug out. This clay was one and the same as used in Crown Lynn pottery, and the factory was on the site by the railway.

We have used some of this special clay to showcase the symbols we like and think are important to make us feel happy.  We aim to bring good luck and cheer to the lucky bidder!

Here is what we have so far...

These are bisque fired and ready for glazing...

Here the touchstones are on the batt, glazed with a celadon glaze named 'ching pai'. 

It looks pink, but don't panic, it will be nearly clear once it is fired!

 

Once glazed, I will glue them to a woven flax backing and frame them.  If anyone has any expertise in this area, I would appreciate some assistance, otherwise it is a job for No more Nails...

How time flies! Parent help roster...

Hello everyone
I sent this note home yesterday, and Mahad asked if I had put it on the blog yet, so here it is!  All going well we can get some regular help to make our learning times more effective and enjoyable for all:

20 August 2013

Dear parents and caregivers

We have been working hard in Room 1 to develop our self-management skills, and complete our own levelled work independently.  This is quite tricky to do on our own, so we are hoping that some kind parents will be willing and able to support us in our learning. 

On the table below, the shaded areas are the times that would be most beneficial to our learning to have help.  The help would mostly be keeping our groups on task while Ms Werder is teaching small groups, with reminders and encouragement to keep on trying, and doing the right thing at the right time. 

If you are able to help at a set time, Ms Werder will set up a roster for parent help.  Please email her on gretchenw@parnell.school.nz  or send this back to school.

Thank you very much

Room 1 and Ms Werder.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9-10	writing	maths	maths	maths	maori, drama, inquiry
10-11	reading	reading	reading	reading	poetry, publishing
11-11:30	Playtime
11:30-12:15	maths	writing	writing	writing	ict
12:15-1	phys ed	topic	library	topic	topic
1-1:45	Lunch
1:45-3	assembly (even) syndicate (odd)	science	buddies spelling	art	developmental

Please add your name and time available, or if you are able to be contacted for special events.

Name ___________________ Contact_______________________

Time able to help:­__________________________________

Thanks!

Ancient Egypt

The year 2 classes will be learning about Ancient Egyptians as the global aspect to the school's Taonga theme.

We have begun to use technology in order to learn more - we have a wealth of information around us if only we know how to access it!  Please find below a website from Manchester University.  We have used this in class today, and have had a good introduction to a number of exciting aspects of life in Ancient Egypt.  Have a go at home!

http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/history/egypt/

I hope it works!
Ms Werder