Week 3

Room 13’s Busy and Fun Start to Term 3!

The first three weeks of Term 3 have been busy but fun! Room 13 proudly represented Samoa in our School Commonwealth Games. We enjoyed competing, cheering each other on, and showing teamwork and sportsmanship. In writing, we used our imaginations to create narratives about “Winning a Gold Medal in a Race”, describing the excitement and feelings of crossing the finish line.

Next came Te ’Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ’Āirani; Cook Islands Language Week. We celebrated Cook Islands language and culture, practised counting in Cook Islands Māori, and explored patterns and symmetry through tivaevae, inspired maths activities.

We also began our From Mountain to Sea programme, learning about water as a taonga and the importance of caring for our waterways. These experiences have given us plenty to think, talk, and write about. What a wonderful start to Term 3!

 

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To celebrate Cook Islands Language Week, we learned to greet others with “Kia Orana!” and introduce ourselves using “Ko ___ tōku ingoa” (My name is ___). We created colourful self-portraits with floral crowns and added our introductions to our class display. It was a fun, creative way to celebrate Cook Islands language and culture!

 

Week 6:

Room 13 has been buzzing with exciting learning experiences, creative journeys, and celebrations!

Mountains to Sea Project

Our class was selected for the special Mountains to Sea project, focusing on caring for our water, ocean, and the living creatures across both land and sea. We explored:

• The Water Cycle: Learning how water flows through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

• Marine Life & Habitats: Studying shark jaws, dried blowfish, starfish, and sea sponges up close.

• Ocean Conservation: Discovering that New Zealand’s oceans cover 15 times our land area and host 80% of our country’s biodiversity.

• Habitat Observations: Looking closely at local waterways and learning practical ways to protect our environment.

Grease Production

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Alongside other classes, Room 13 had the opportunity to attend a live performance of Grease. The students enjoyed experiencing the performing arts and seeing story, dance, and drama come together on stage.

Tongan Language Week

Guided by the theme “Ko ‘etau hiva, ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga” (Our music is a vital strand of our Tongan culture), we celebrated Tongan Language Week. Room 13 focused on learning about traditional Tongan Ngatu, exploring its cultural significance and intricate designs.

Maths Week Achievements:

A huge congratulations to our maths team, Room 13A, for placing 2nd in the in-school Mathex Fun competition! Excellent effort and teamwork from everyone involved.

Week 9

Room 13 has had an incredible, action-packed term filled with hands-on learning, outdoor exploration, artistic creativity, and cultural celebrations!
                              
Mountains to Sea: Weymouth Beach & Waimahia Creek
Building on our unit on ocean health and water conservation, Room 13 headed down to Weymouth Beach to investigate our local awa (river/creek) and moana (sea), focusing on Waimahia Creek. During our field trip, students acted as real environmental scientists:

• Water Quality Testing: We used specialized testing kits and observation sheets to measure the clarity, pH, and overall health of our local water source.

• Macroinvertebrate Surveying: Net-sampling stream life allowed us to classify micro-creatures using identification charts to gauge stream health.

• Shoreline & Intertidal Exploration: Walking along the rocky shore, students collected mud snails, surveyed local marine habitats, and placed yellow sampling quadrat frames to record biodiversity.

• Field Recording: Armed with clipboards and observational worksheets, students logged their ecological data direct from the shore.

Block Printing: Koru & Ngatu Art:

In the classroom, we connected our study of te taiao (nature) with visual arts. Inspired by traditional Māori kōwhaiwhai patterns and Tongan Ngatu designs, students carved detailed koru and spiral shapes into print blocks. Using bold red, green, and black inks, Room 13 created striking grid-patterned prints that showcase repeating natural forms.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori & Pepeha Champion

To round off our learning, we celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, reflecting on our responsibility as kaitiaki (guardians) of our land and waterways.

A massive congratulations goes to Ngāronoa Ngatuere from Room 13! Ngāronoa was named Te toa o te wero Pepeha (Champion of the Pepeha Challenge) for the Maunga Team at Weymouth Primary School.