Wig Wednesday

On Wednesday the 15th of September, we had a wig or wacky hair day at school. The aim was to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation. Everyone had a great time donning their favourite wig, or doing their hair in crazy ways. 

Check out our video below to see these silly styles. 

Which is your favourite?

The Bubble Shop

Someone from Rongo-mā-tāne is famous! They are in the new Itty Bitty Beats music video. Kei reira katoa! How fabulous! Look out for them on the dance floor...

Book Character Dress Up Day

Due to Lockdown, our school didn't get to have a Book Character Dress Up Day. Luckily we are so adaptable and we got to dress up at home instead. Kei reira katoa, Rongo-mā-tāne! What a fabulous job you did of your costumes. We've also been learning colours in Te Reo Māori, so you can sing along with Itty Bitty Beats as you watch our movie. 

Traditional Māori Games with Kelly Sport

Rongo-mā-tāne learnt so much through their sessions with Kelly Sport. Mahina taught us Nga Tae - a game to learn the colours in Te Reo Māori. We had to run to different coloured cones and it was great fun. Then we experimented with poi and rakau. Here are some movies of Tī kōuka's session. 

Here are some pictures that we drew on Seesaw to share our learning with our whānau. 

Matariki Learning Celebration

This term our Learning Celebration had a Matariki theme. To prepare for this the children all brought a vegetable that could be peeled and chopped to add to the soup we'd be sharing with our whānau at the Learning Celebration. 

The tamariki all worked so well together, peeling and chopping the vegetables. There was lots of talk about which vegetables they were chopping, whether they liked to eat them or not, and if they were excited to try the soup. 

The room smelled amazing over the next few days as the vegetables roasted, and then simmered on the stovetop. 

Our Learning Celebration was a huge success. The soup was a big hit and the tamariki enjoyed showing their whānau the things they'd been learning over the past term. Mindfulness has been an important learning tool for Rongo-mā-tāne this term as we all work to learn how to practice being mindful when things don't quite go the way we expect. 

The whānau that were able to attend the Learning Celebration all had nothing but positive things to say about how their children were going and how much they enjoyed the soup in particular. One parent even said it was the best soup they'd had. 

What's your favourite thing to do to be mindful? In Rongo-mā-tāne the tamariki like to create new breathing poses to share with everyone, maybe you could create your very own breathing pose to share with someone. 

Sprinkle a Little Sunshine

The tamariki in Rongo-mā-tāne have made this video to help boost the spirits of anyone who needs it. Ted thought of this idea as a way to cheer up his Aunty who is a nurse in the UK. Kath Bee and Suzy Cato gave us permission to sing their song (they are friends of Jenny from Itty Bitty Beats who offers singing lessons at Rāwhiti School). We hope that it will 'sprinkle a little sunshine on your day.  

In Rongo-mā-tāne, the tamariki love to help their peers and staff members. Georgina (our caretaker) requested some help to replenish the bark in our garden out in Rapuara. Our learners displayed some amazing integrity, resilience, and empathy while enjoying the beautiful Autumn sunshine. 

Many hands make light work. 

Filling up the buckets to transport the bark to its final destination.

Another load getting placed into the garden.

Even some student from Papatūānuku came to lend a hand.

What do you think of our newly replenished garden and all of our fantastic Rongo-mā-tāne and Papatūānuku helpers?