Our Flippers are on in Room 19

To the swim gym and Otara leisure centre whanau THANK YOU for the opportunity to participate in this year’s community swim programme.  The work that is done by SIR JOHN WALKER’S FIND YOUR FIELD OF DREAMS programme is appreciated by the many families and children who have learnt to swim, become confident with water and acquire water safe knowledge.

Adding to our memory bank are moments of success which we have written in the form of recounts. Here are some of these moments from our very own authors.

Every Friday we got changed into our swimming togs and came back and sat on the mat. We discussed our swimming rules and reviewed skills we have learnt while we waited for our class mates to get ready. When we were ready we formed our line outside and walked past the front office to get on to the bus. Author: Olive Tukutau

We had to sit down on the edge of the pool and put our legs in the water so we could see and hear the new safety tips before practising them in a whole class activity. Each of us had to watch Steven demonstrate a Pin-drop which is used when you need to exit a boat or platform quickly. Author: Shylah Williams

Ana was the first to greet our class and tell us which swimming team we were going to be in. Perez, Siope and Gloria were in my team and to start our lesson Ana asked us to grab a kick-board. We used our kick-board to float on top of the water and glide to one side of the pool. Author: Helu Poese-Mano

Finally it was time to play a short swimming competition after we finished freestyle.  Each of us had to touch the bottom of the pool and then make a hand-stand.  It was difficult to do but Steven announced the winner it was Shylah, congratulations! Author: Nora Leota

Your dedication and direction has put fire in our souls. You have inspired us to do the best to reach our swimming goals!

Safety with Electricity at Yendarra School

  On Wednesday 17th of September, Esther from Vector came to visit our school. She taught us some important lessons! Did you know that electricity can be very dangerous? It is really important that we understand how to be safe around electricity. 

Here are some ways to keep yourself and your family safe:

1. Never put electrical appliances near water.

2. If your toast gets stuck, unplug the toaster before you stick the knife in.

3. Do not fly kites near power lines.

4. Do not touch, kick or throw objects at power lines or transformers.

5. If power lines come down in a storm or because of a car accident, stay 6m away and ring the police on 111.

6. If people are trapped inside a car that has crashed into a power line, tell them to stay in the 

car and ring 111 for help. 

7. Don’t touch frayed electrical cords. If the plastic on the outside has worn away then the electricity can come out and give you a shock.

8. If there is an electrical fire, do not put water on it! Water is a conductor which means you could get electrocuted. You need to use a fire extinguisher. 

9. If someone is being electrocuted, do not touch them. Turn the power off at the main power switch and call 111 for the ambulance.

It was great to learn more about electricity. It is everywhere we go – our homes, our church, our school and the in the shops that we visit so it is important that we know how to keep safe.

It was really cool to see the kinds of safety gear that the linemen wear to work. Some kids even got to try it on!

Thank you so much Esther for your fun and informative show!

If you want to learn more about how to be safe around electricity you could visit 

www.vectorschools.co.nz

Dream BIG little MUSICIANS

Fa’afetai tele lava to Annie for the invitation to participate in a musical recording special on location to be launched in 2015.

To show our gratitude for the many opportunities to learn and grow in music we began rhyming and thinking poetically about the ‘gift of music’

Dear Music, I will never be able to thank you enough for always being there for me….

Music is pretty I listen to it with my tears, it comforts me….

Hip Hop Hippty pop

The birds sing a song, which makes me want to sing along…

Sitting in the sun, singing with friends is fun.

We have so many talented tamariki who are each sharing their talents to ‘brighten the paths of many’.  Performances at the secondary schools poly-fest, Palm rest home, 3rd Jam Bus mobile recording and Yendarra school haka powhiri’s and farewells have been a ‘show’ of our LITTLE but BIG musicians who are daring to set themselves apart musically.

So let them sing LOUDLY and PROUDLY!

Are You New To Yendarra School?

Did you know that there are teachers driving the ‘Waewae Express’ (Walking School Bus) on a street near you?

If you live on or near Everitt Road, Whitley Cresent, Cooper Cresent, or Bairds Road keep an eye out for teachers in yellow jackets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 8.15 and 8.30. Join the fun and walk to school!

If you live on or near Nola Cresent, Cobham Cresent or Crown Cresent keep an eye out for teachers in yellow jackets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 8.15 and 8.30. Join the fun, get healthy and and walk to school!

Our Visit to Pinehurst School

Some of our senior and middle school children were lucky enough to be invited back to Pinehurst School to watch their junior classes version of The Jungle Book. We got to enjoy the play, were buddied up, ate lunch and played with them. We had the best day!

“When we arrived at Pinehurst we were buddied up with other children. My buddy showed me where to play. She even drew me a special picture to take home so I wouldn’t forget her! 

- Saphire (Room 21)

We joined them for morning tea. Our buddies showed us their new playground.

We loved playing on their new senior playground.

After morning tea we made our way to their hall to watch the play. We loved the costumes, singing and the confidence of the actors. We were shocked when we found out all of the actors were younger than us. Some children had only been at school for 5 weeks!

After lunch we went to their field to play an awesome game called castles! We played in mixed teams of Yendarra and Pinehurst children.

 

Lots of us got tagged and had to wait to be released by our team mates!

We loved our day and can’t wait to have Pinehurst come to visit us!

Scientists in Action

Room 21 loves science. We have been using our skills of making predictions, asking questions and recording observations while we undertake experiments.

We have created soap powered boats..

We discovered how to make a paper clip float..

And finally we created a colour symphony of chemical reactions..


https://youtu.be/kuWwgr_vNG8

What will happen if you mix milk, food colouring and dishwashing liquid?

We found out that no two colour symphonies looked the same.

Watch this space for more from our budding scientists.

Do You Come To School Every Day?

We believe coming to school each day is important for many reasons.

Last term we celebrated those children who have not had any days away with a sports extravaganza hosted by Counties Manukau Sport. It was amazing to see so many children who come to school every day, including 5 year olds who have only just started this year!

Room 19 have come up with some reasons why coming to school each day is so important.

What do you think of our reasons?

·  

• to learn
• to get a good education
• because school is COOL!
• So you don't miss out on privileges like music academy, sport and digital learning
• to make Mum and Dad proud
• to win the best attendance trophy
• because my friends and teachers are trying to come to school every day too
• so that when I get a job I will 'Be the BEST I can' and turn up to work each day

Coming to school is fun and we don't want to miss out on;

• sport's training
• learning on the chrome books and ipads
• music academy when we learn the ukulele and guitar
• learning Tongan, Samoan, Kapa haka and Cook Island dance to prepare for fiafia 
• catching up with my friends

Coming to school is so much fun when you are all here with us. This term we will celebrate those children who have not had any days away… will that be you?

Whanau, what can you do to help your children come to school every day?