Christmas Party! Tuesday 8 December

On Tuesday, December 8, we are having our class Christmas party!

This will include Secret Santa, games, activities and, of course, some great Christmas songs!

Please remember to bring your Secret Santa Present. We don't want anyone missing out!

Also, if you can, come with some sort of Christmas hat or headwear on!

If you have any ideas please let me know!

Next Week

• Bring a bag with lunch and a pencil case Monday- Thursday. BUT NO BAG FRIDAY!
• Mufti is Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. BEST UNIFORM Thursday and Friday
• School starts at 9 and finishes at 3 Monday-Thursday. Friday finishes 12
• SECRET SANTA IS TUESDAY MORNING!! Please bring presents in Monday and ensure they have the persons name on them. 

Big Day Out

• Sunblock and hat!
• Bring food for the day and water! You can also POSSIBLY buy food there
• Wear appropriate clothing and togs
• This is a great day! Please ensure everyone in our class, team and whole school is feeling great and enjoying themselves!
• Hydroslide for our class is at 11am

Thursday 3 December

Block 1:  Writing envelopes/UOI S.A.T 

Block 2: Science(dissection)

Block 3: UOI S.A.T (16 computers) 

Block 4: Game/Tidy up

Agenda, Wednesday 2 November, Term 4 Week 8

Homework

• Summative assessment task due Friday ( or Tuesday for those with an extension)

• Bring bags to take books home Friday 

• Find out Entire address for tomorrow & Write in agenda book (report envelopes) 

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 2

• Science block 2 tomorrow (dissection) Bring covered shoes

• Secret Santa will be next Tuesday block 1 (presents due in Monday) 

• Dance tomorrow night, tickets on sale tomorrow morning

• Bus notices returned!! 

Signed

 

Tug-of-War Competition

Tug-Of-War U23 championship final 2013
What do you notice? About how they pull/push? Use their body? Angles? Hand grip?

How to win at Tug-Of-War

Tips to help you

TUG-OF-WAR.ORG.UK

The Tactics of Tug-of-War

Safety First (Again)

Wrapping the rope around the arm can result in a broken bone and loss of blood flow. Wrapping the rope around the wrong part of the body can cause internal injury, and wrapping it around the neck is just ... (yes, people are that stupid).

Spikes and studs in the footware can cause injury when a pull collapses. They can also cause strains and breaks if the feet get stuck in the ground.

When running an informal event it might be tempting to have loops in the rope. I prefer not, due to the risk of someone being unable to release the rope if they need to.

Not like this

The Grip

An underhand grip, with the arms fully extended, should be used. The grip is only to connect the puller with the rope. If you try to use arm strength you will soon get tired and lose your grip.

Pulling

Tug of war is not a pulling event but a pushing event: you push with your legs and dragging the rope (and opposition) with you. Keep your arms and body straight so that the full power of your legs are transferred the rope.

Strength and Stamina

Your will need both strength and stamina to win. At the top levels of tug of war, teams may be stationary for for many minutes, locking their position as in arm wrestling. It hurts!

Like this!

Team work

Tug of War is a team event which needs all members of the team to work together. There is no point in one member pulling when the others are holding, since he is trying to pull his teams as well as the opposition. All pull together when the coach calls for a pull.Explanations

http://www.tug-of-war.org.uk/towtactics.htm 

Below is a link to a website with a range of nets

Nets Website

Monday 30 November Room 13 Task

Your task this week is to create your 'habitat information sheet'

To do this you need to research your habitat and put all the relevant information together into one A4 page.  You also need a photograph/drawing or image of your habitat.
You can choose to do a specific habitat i.e. amazon rainforest, peak of Mt Everest, Antarctica, Cheronobyl Disaster Area, etc

IF YOU DO NOT FINSIH DURING THIS TIME IT IS YOUR HOMEWORK TONIGHT!!!
Remeber you must include the following if it is relevant to your habitat

Climate (Temperature, Day length, sun time/exposure, rainfall, air pressure, gravity, weather, wind, grass/sand/snow/soil what does it walk on etc, night hours, dark/light, seasons)

Challenges  
Advantages
Plants/vegetation (that grow there)
Animals/organism (that live there)
Common adaptations

Where can it get...

Shelter/Temperature

Food

Water
Air
Sun

Also remeber your MRS C GREN- Your creature msut be able to do all of these life processes!

Example information sheet(This is very basic- Yours will be a lot more detailed, with more information)
Example 1- Information Sheet

Examples of animal adaptation information sheets:
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5

Monday 30 and Tuesday 1st- Daily Plan

Week 8 is here, Unfortunately I am not. For the next two days you will have an amazing reliever in Room 20, Ensure you are all working your hardest and on your BEST behaviour (as I know you all will be).

This is the plan for the next 2 days but it could change. Please make sure you are helping out, doing your jobs and making sure anyone coming into Room 20 is very impressed!

Monday 30th November

Block One You have Room 13. Your instructions will be on the blog as per usual (I will put them into a post rather than onto the ICT page, so keep an eye out for it and help each other out. I have tlked about the expectations with you so hopefully all your ears were on and you know exactly what to do!)

Anything not completed will be homework!!
Putting headphones on is a good idea!

Block Two  You are working on your UOI (Creating the drawing/sketch of your creature) This needs to be done as a plan/draft in your book first, then on A4 paper as a good copy. Ensure you are labelling all the structural adpations (at least 3) and also indicating what shape each body part will be (look in your maths book for help naming shapes)

Block Three Focus (Ask Mr Aspden if it is first or second half) and Tidy-up. 

Block Four Tech!

Tuesday 1 December 

Block One Teaming

Block Two  UOI - Continuing with plan and good copy of diagram. 

We have got computers from our COW- so please 8 of you need to collect and return.

Block Three If you have worked hard and finished your Room 13 work- GAME!! 

Block Four UOI- We need to get this S.A.T finished! So keep working hard on your projects- I am excited to see where you are all at when I return Tomorrow!

End Of Year Timetable (Week 7-9)

Term 4 Week 7
Friday 27th November
- Library books due (LC closed)
- Any year 8s need to bring a USB to keep any documents

Term 4 Week 8
Monday 30th November 
- Formal tickets on sale - LC - $10 from 8am
- Focus - Mahi Tahi
- Miss S absent 


Tuesday 1st December
- Formal tickets on sale - LC - $10 from 8am
- Break 2 - Formal meeting - all students who are attending
- Miss S absent


Wednesday 2nd December
- Formal tickets on sale - LC - $10 from 8am
- Block 3 - School singing practice


Thursday 3rd December
- Formal tickets on sale - LC - $10 from 8am
- Formal = 7-9:30pm
- Block 2 Dissection in Science


Friday 4th December
- Last day for Tech / Arts / Teaming
- Reports go home
- All rubbish out of classrooms
- S.A.T due

Term 4 Week 9 (New bells - 9am - 3pm) Bring in presents for Secret Santa this week!
Block 1 = 9:00 - 10:30am
Block 2 = 11:00 - 12:30pm
Block 3 = 1:30 - 3:00pm


Monday 7th December (Mufti)
- Big Day Out


Tuesday 8th December (Mufti)
- Block 2 = Assembly practice
- Block 3 = Clean out classrooms
- Bus Students to meet at front of school for pick up


Wednesday 9th December (Mufti)
- Block 1 = Assembly performers rehearsal
- Block 2 = Assembly practice
- Block 3 = Tabloids
- Bus Students to meet at front of school for pick up


Thursday 10th December (Best Uniform)
- Block 1 = Speakers to practice/ CHRISTMAS PARTY- Secret Santa
- Block 2 (11am) = Assembly 1
- Block 3 = Move classes
- TAKE HOME BELONGINGS
- Bus Students to meet at front of school for pick up
- NO SCHOOL BAGS AT SCHOOL TOMORROW

Friday 11th December (Best Uniform, No school bags) - School Finishes @ 11:30am

- Block 1 (9:15am) = Assembly 2
- Berkley bus departs at 12pm

Agenda, Thursday 26 November

Homework 

• Summative Assessment task (Research a habitat and think about possible adaptations)

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 4 (Teaming)

• Library books are due back tomorrow

• Dance tickets go on sale Monday

• Big Day Out money and form due back

Notices

• Dance notice

Signed

Agenda, Tuesday 24 November, Term 4 Week 7

Homework 

• Who we Are SAT

• Who we are book up to date

Reminders

• Cambridge and Berkley Bus catchers- Read korero from last week

• Tomorrow is day 2

Notices

• In week 9 we will be doing secret Santa. More information will come out closer to the time, but all students have now got their 'person' and can buy the present any time from now. The expectation is that students spend $5-$10. 

• Students MUST KEEP THEIR PERSON A SECRET!!!

Signed

Who We Are Summative Assessment Task; Creative Creatures

Creative Creatures

Who We Are - Summative Assessment Task

Examples of adapted birds created by students

Your task is to create a new species of animal/organism to meet the needs of a specific environment/habitat.

You will need to...

1. Create an A4 'habitat information sheet' with all relevant information. To do this you need to choose a habitat/environment and research its conditions i.e. climate, temperature, resources available, air, gravity, pressure, what lives/grows there, rainfall, sun, day length, challenges etc.

2. Create a 3D model of your new creature/species which clearly shows the structural features/adaptations which allow it to survive in its environment.

Include with your model the following:

(You may choose how you wish to display this information)

- A map/image/photo/drawing showing the location of the new species/creature.

- An explanation of each structural adaptation and how it helps it adapt to its environment and survive.

- A description of the living creatures/new species behavioural (something the living thing does) and/or physiological adaptations and an explanation of how each of these help the creature survive. Eg. - we’ve learned that deserts can be hot and dry. Because it lives in the desert, my pigurtle has adapted to the hot, dry climate by sleeping during the day and coming out only at night when it is cooler. It does this to help it survive.

- A name and short description of your animal, along with a brief rationale for the name.

- A brief explanation on how the animal meets its basic needs and performs the life processes (MRS C GREN)

Things to consider:

• Predators , prey/food (at least 3 sources), and symbiotic relationships (What other animals/organisms live in that area that it would/would not work well with)

• What animals can you name that live in your habitat?

• What structures does this animal have on its body that help it to MRS C GREN

• How does this animal escape from predators?

• Does this animal hunt for its food? How does it get/eat/ catch etc its food?

• What structures help it to catch or eat its food?

• Can you think of another structure that could help this animal be a better hunter, or help it to protect itself better?

• Think about the types of animals that already live in that environment or how their adaptations help them in certain environments

• Give careful consideration to adaptations that ensure its basic needs of food, water, shelter/temperature, air, sun and predation are met (be sure to provide at least 3 food sources).

• Can all the adaptions work together/be on the same creature?

• What are the benefits/negatives of each adaptation?

• What could harm this creature? How could this creature reduce the risk of being harmed? e.g. mimicry, camouflage, poison etc

Marking Rubric

Level 2	Level 3	Early Level 4	Level 4	Level 5+
Basic descriptive sentences. Covers only a few aspects of lifestyle. Lifestyle features may not make logical sense when compared to each other. May provide one or two adaptive features. No explanation of how physical or behavioural features help the creature to survive. Little or no linking of creature to other animals in the ecosystem.	Creature is described using simple and compound sentences. Variety of lifestyle aspects covered although coverage is incomplete. Sentences contain many unnecessary words. Some attempt to create a creature which is credible. Inconsistent and illogical links between lifestyle features. Attempts to explain adaptive features Little explanation of how adaptive features help the creature to survive. Little use of scientific terminology.	Some complex and compound descriptive sentences evident. Covers many lifestyle aspects. Occasional use of concise sentence structures although still wordy in many places. Many aspects of creature and its lifestyle are credible. Some attempt to make logical connections between features and how they help the creature to survive. One or two types of adaptive features are identified and classified/explained. Evidence that creature is linked to greater eco-system. Some attempt to use scientific terminology.	Complex and compound descriptive sentences evident. Mostly full coverage of lifestyle aspects. Evidence of concise factual sentences and attempt to write in scientific style. Creature is mostly credible. Logical connections between features. Two or more types of adaptive features are identified and classified. Some attempt to make links between adaptive/ behavioural  features and how they help the creature to survive. Creature is explained as part of ecosystem. Scientific terminology evident throughout report.	Full descriptive sentences. Covers all relevant aspects of lifestyle. Writes in concise scientific style (avoids unnecessary words and focuses on facts). Creature very credible and convincing. Features relate logically from one to the other. All 3 types of Adaptive features are covered. (Structural, Physiological, Behavioural) Careful links made between adaptive features and how they help the creature to survive. Creature is explained as part eco-system. Creature is explained as part of scientific classification using a taxonomy. Scientific terminology is extensively used.

Agenda, Thursday 19 November, Term 4 Week 6

Homework

• Habitats Readings and Notes (Due Monday)
• Who We Are book and Booklets up to date
• Adaptation Animal (Due 9am Tomorrow)

Reminders

• Big Day Out notice and money
• Tomorrow is day 5 (Tech, Rm13)

Signed

Agenda, Wednesday 18th November, Term 4 Week 6

Homework

• Habitats Reading and Notes (1 page of notes, using the headlines)
• Who We Are book up to date (Including adaptations booklet)
• Bring a Newspaper tomorrow- We are building bridges!

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 4 (Teaming)
• Touch for boys teams tomorrow
• Big Day Out notice and money (Or note saying you are not coming) 

Signed

Agenda, Monday 16th November, Term 4 Week 6

Homework

• Adaptations reading and notes (due yesterday)

• Habitats and the environment reading and notes (Due Monday)

• All article pieces in the doc (Due yesterday)

• UOI Book up to date (including MRS C GREN animal poster)

Reminders

• BIG DAY OUT FORMS AND MONEY RETURNED!! (Or a note if you will not be here)

• Tomorrow is day 2 (Teaming)

Signed

Links to readings...
Cowleys

Dodds

Mahys/Gees

Agenda, Friday 13 November, Term 4 Week 4

Homework

• Adaptations Reading and Notes (Notes in your Who We Are books for each heading)
• Who We Are books up to date
• All writing for Newspaper completed and put in the correct doc

Reminders

• Big Day Out notice and money returned ASAP
• Headlice check
• Monday is day 1 (Tech, google exhibition)
• Monday is catch up for all of athletics

Signed

Agenda, Thursday 12 November, Term 4 Week 5

Homework

• Adaptation reading and notes (1 page in Who we are books or doc printed off and glued in) Due Monday
• Who we are book up to date (Learning log filled out, flip chart completes, questions answered)
• Newspaper: All pieces completed and added to correct doc (See Rm 13/ICT page)

Reminders

• Big Day Out notice and money returned ASAP!
• Headlice check

Signed

Agenda, Tuesday 10 November, Term 4 Week 5

Homework

• Writing: You need to identify your purpose/s, choose 2 models/examples and a 'how to write/create....' or a checklist for your type of writing and glue into your writing book or share with Miss S. Due Wednesday

• Your reading this week is your adaptions reading (UOI book). You need to take notes of the most important information under each heading. 

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 4 (Teaming)

• Hat and sunscreen- it is getting hot!!

• Headlice check

Notices

• Big Day Out notice - Return money to Boris, permission slip to Miss S ASAP

Signed

Adaptions Reading: Cowleys

Adaptions Reading: Dodds

Adaptions Reading: Gees

Athletics- Super 6 Monday 9 November

Class relays:

 Room 20 Races and Lanes- These will be written on your hand Monday

Year 7 Girls: Race 4 (Final), Lane 1 - Beccy, Natalie, Stella, Hannah (Reserve Jess)
Year 7 Boys: Race 7, Lane 1 - Ezekiel, Ben, Kinigta, Liam C (Reserve Matt)
Year 8 Girls: Race 11, Lane 5 - Richlyn, Jemma, Anna, Janka (Reserve Olivia)
Year 8 Boys: Race 16 (Final), Lane 6 - Kavan, Kaveesha, Nathan, Beckam (Reserve Justin)

This will be followed by The Year 9 and Teacher race. If you are not racing you will be watching from the OUTSIDE of the track with a hat!
If you are racing, you line up in your correct order on the cricket pitch. Once finished you go sit under the trees near rooms 10-12.

There will also be a Te Aroha team!

Agenda, Friday 6 November, Term 4 Week 4

Homework

• Both Articles published into correct docs by Monday

• Know what 'piece' you want to do next week

• Reading summary due Monday- (main ideas/points)

• Who we are book up to date (borders)

Reminders

• Super 6 Monday - Athletics finals, Class/Team Relays

• Monday is day 2 (Teaming)

Notices

• Headlice- Please check!

Signed

Agenda, Thursday November 5, Term 4 Week 4

Homework

• Reading summary due Monday (See Miss S for a print out if you need it and research how to summarize if you don't know)
• First draft of article completed by tomorrow
• Who we are book up to date

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 1 (Tech)
• Headlice check!!

Signed

Agenda, Wednesday 4 November, Term 4 Week 4

Homework

• Reading summary.

• Who We Are book up to date including next 10 red borders.

• Research for Article completed by tomorrow

Notices

• Headlice

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 6 (teaming)
• Athletics continues tomorrow

Signed

Agenda, Tuesday 3 November, Term 4 Week 4

Homework

• You need to have at least 10 red borders in your book (for the next 10 pages). 
• Reading and summary (can do in agenda book)
• Know your article topic and headline

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 5 (Tech, Rm 13, Focus)
• Hat
• Athletics continues tomorrow

Signed

Atheltics Rotations Term 4 Week 4

Agenda, Monday 2nd November, Term 4 Week 4

Homework

• By tomorrow, you need to have decided on a topic and headline for either a feature article (interest story) or editorial (persuasive/argument)
• Complete the reading and write a summary in your agenda.

Reminders

• Last lesson of sexuality road tomorrow 
• Athletic field events start tomorrow
• Tomorrow is day 4 (teaming)

Notices

• Read korero from last week

Signed

Agenda, Friday 30 October, Term 4 Week 3

Homework

• Reading 
• Research for feature article/editorial. Drafting on Monday

Reminders

• Next week we are finishing off lessons 8-11 (Monday and Tuesday only) of sexuality road
• Monday is day 3 (Tech, Library, Poowhiri)

Notices

• Korero emailed out this week

Signed

Happy Halloween!

Agenda, Thursday 29 October, Term 4 Week 3

Homework

• Reading
• Published News Article due Friday 9am on Doc (See blog post)
• Who We Are Book completed (to a high standard) by Friday. 

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 2 (Teaming)
• Athletics and sexuality road continue tomorrow
• Science tomorrow (Covered shoes)

Notices

• Korero emailed this week

Signed

Publishing our Articles

We have decided that we want our newspaper articles to be written in different fonts to keep the newspaper looking interesting and to catch readers attention. We are going to all use size 11 for the text and size 36 for the headline. 
All writing should be left-set, black and not italic, bold or underlined. 
No last names should be used, only first names.
Please ensure these are all typed up and added to the doc by Friday at 9am. 

Agenda, Wednesday 28 October, Term 4 Week 3

Homework

• Set up Who We Are books, Due Friday- See blog post
• Reading for week 3
• Drafting, editing, crafting, proofreading of article due tomorrow (We are publishing tomorrow)

Reminders

• Tomorrow is day 1 (tech)
• Science on Friday- Covered shoes
• Sexuality Road lesson 6 and 7 tomorrow
• Athletics (100m final) continues tomorrow
• Hat

Notices

• Korero comes out Thursday this week
• Parents to sight and sign sexuality road notices 6-11

Signed

Agenda, Tuesday 27 October, Term 4 Week 3

Homework

-Reading for week 3, Set up and complete 'Who we are' books- See blog post (no maths, writing, spelling this week)

-Complete draft of article with editing and proofreading (see checklist)

Reminders

-Tomorrow is day 6 (Teaming)

- Relays tomorrow

Notices

-Sexuality road lesson outlines 6-11 (Doing this week and early next). Parents to sign

Signed