Mrs Raman's Cool Kids

Year 8 Luncheon

2010-12-04T17:17:00.001+13:00

Year 8 students from Papakura South School ride in hummer-sine to luncheon at Valentines buffet restaurant. What an experience to a well-deserved bunch of kids. Way to go!

Variety - The Children's Charity

2010-09-21T19:01:00.001+12:00

On Friday 17th September the Variety Club visited Papakura South School. Four of our children got BMX bikes and 2 children from Rosehill school got bikes too. We enjoyed the lolly-scramble and cool gifts they brought us. Whaea Leigh had a ride on the fire-truck's ladder.

Variety - The Children's Charity is the fun way to help Kiwi kids. Variety is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary in New Zealand. Since 1989, Variety has distributed more than $11.7 million to Kiwi kids in need.

Using unique and entertaining events to raise funds, Variety provides support to New Zealand children who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged through a range of programmes and individual grants.
Variety works with communities all over New Zealand to 'fill the gaps' for Kiwi kids, because Variety believes every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their potential - to be the best they can be.

http://www.variety.org.nz/

BBC Skillswise

2010-09-02T17:43:00.001+12:00

THINK. SIGN

2010-08-17T20:55:00.001+12:00

Room 2 Stars practising Waka Waka

2010-08-17T18:50:00.001+12:00

Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)"
Oooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehh
You're a good soldier
Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
Get back in the saddle
You're on the front line
Everyone's watching
You know it's serious
We are getting closer
This isn't over
The pressure is on
You feel it
But you got it all
Believe it
When you fall get up, oh oh
If you fall get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Cuz this is Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
Listen to your God
This is our motto
Your time to shine
Don't wait in line
Y vamos por todo
People are raising
Their expectations
Go on and feed them
This is your moment
No hesitations
Today's your day
I feel it
You paved the way
Believe it
If you get down get up, oh oh
When you get down get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
[Zolani sings]
Ame la mejole biggi biggi mubbo wa ET to Zet
Asi tsu zala makyuni biggi biggi mubbo from East to West
Asi waga waga ma eh eh waga waga ma eh eh
Tendency suna tsibuye cuz this is africa...
[Voice:]
Tsamina mina, Anawa a a
Tsamina mina
Tsamina mina, Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
[2x]
Django eh eh [2x]
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
[2x]
This time for Africa
[2x]
We're all Africa

Food for the Soul

2010-08-16T15:40:00.001+12:00

Hey there

I have been reading the Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayerss, by Swami Paramananda, every day for the past 10 years.

If you can get your hands on a hard-copy, you'll never regret it.

In my opinion, it is the best gift you can give to anyone you care about.

Here is an online version which I saved to Kree's Blog

Or you can click on the link below :

Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

There are 407 pages in this book so it might take a few seconds to download depending on your broadband speed.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Here is today's reading as it appears in the book:

August Sixteenth

Salient thought for the day

God has given us life that we may express joyousness of heart.

Lines to memorize

My soul is happy with an inexpressible joy

Since I saw His smiling face turned toward me.

I can never forget that radiant smile;

Where'er I go it haunts me by day and it

haunts me by night.

When in grim despair of life, it brightens

my path with hope and love.

Lesson

No man can attain his goal without practising the higher principles of life.

No man can be truly happy who is selfish.

What possible use is outer light if there is darkness within?

Happiness is a quality of the soul.

It enters the soul which has tasted God-consciousness.

God is ever cheerful.

Life is given us to work out our freedom and lasting happiness.

Prayer

O Thou Giver of all joy, may I not be unworthy of Thy gifts,

But may I radiate happiness and cheer in every hour of my daily life.

Help me to realize that when I am sad, it is because I am separated from Thee.

All my sadness and sorrow will vanish when I seek thee with open heart.

Swami Paramananda Page 255 Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

(Re-typed by Kree...please pardon any errors)

Maori Language Week 26 July to 1 August

2010-07-29T08:51:00.002+12:00

How are you celebrating Maori Language Week?

I am going to Whakarewarewa Thermal Village today with my friend Mano who arrives

from the UK around 12 noon. It is going to be awesome.

The theme for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week 2010 is te mahi kai, or the language of food.

The theme this year is 'te mahi kai', or to gather food. As part of the theme, members of the public can donate food to council, which will then be given to the Tauranga Community Trust Foodbank. Keren says people can then enter a competition by translating the collected food items to Maori. All food can be dropped at Tauranga Library. "The idea is that people do some research to find out what the Maori word is," says Keren. A similar competition for council workers is being held and involves staff dropping items at the council's cafeteria. Keren says more people are accepting the Maori language. "Even if people come away learning one Maori word, that's a good thing."

Maori Language. Net

Youtube Videos

Check out my Youtube Channel, click on Playlists - heaps of Maori Waita, songs and dance

to share.

"Ko te Aroha tonu te tino mea - there is nothing greater than LOVE!"

Matariki Haka

2010-06-25T20:08:00.001+12:00

Animated Storybook: Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

2010-06-23T21:46:00.001+12:00

IHC Volunteers Make a Difference

2010-06-20T22:44:00.001+12:00

Volunteer Awareness Week 21 June 2010

2010-06-19T22:57:00.001+12:00

I have been a volunteer for IHC since December 2009. My friend's name is Joy and she lives nearby. We have been enjoying everyday activities together such as going out to coffee, shopping, visiting the beaches, the movies, library, restaurants etc. This term Joy is registered at the Manukau Institute of Technology's FreeB Computer classes. We attend classes every Saturday morning at the Selwyn Arcade in Papakura. Through keyboarding, Joy is learning to type, read and write. Since meeting Joy my confidence of driving in Auckland has improved as it is so much nicer to have a friend to run around with.

IHC is always in need of volunteers. If you can spend one or two hours a week in selfless service, while doing the things you love, please get in touch.

Volunteers make a difference!

Video - Take a Moment to Connect

Jump Jam by Room 2 Stars - Kotahitanga

2010-06-19T22:25:00.001+12:00

Jump Jam by Room 2 Stars - Witch Doctor

2010-06-19T22:23:00.001+12:00

Matariki - Waiata

2010-06-15T12:37:00.001+12:00

Kapo Kapo Nga Whetu

Kapo kapo nga whetu
Hei whaakaaro ki a u
He rangi o te ao
Penei i te taimana
Kapo kapo nga whetu
Hei whaakaaro ki a u

Twinkle, twinkle little star
how I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high.
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
how I wonder what you are

*MATARIKI** Happy Maori New Year - New Moon 14 June 2010

2010-06-14T20:34:00.001+12:00

Ma te wheturangi o Matariki,

e tiaki mai,

e manaaki mai i a koe,

i a kotou ranei,

mo te tau e taka mai ana.

May the gentle light of Matariki guide and inspire you all this year.

Matariki Myth

2010-06-13T22:52:00.001+12:00

Happy FIFA World Cup 2010

2010-06-11T21:26:00.001+12:00

I am torn between two of my favourite countries i.e. South Africa & New Zealand.
Viva Bafana Bafana & the All Whites :)))

Room 3’s Favourite Kai

2010-06-07T22:47:00.001+12:00

Kai Ora

Margaret Mahy's "Fantail, Fantail" by Room 3

2010-06-03T21:09:00.000+12:00

Margaret Mahy's "Fantail, Fantail" by Room 3 on Prezi

Room 3 – Fantail Fantail

2010-06-02T22:07:00.001+12:00

Dream BIG! Reach for the Stars…

2010-06-02T21:56:00.001+12:00

“Let us hope for big things, not only what is good for us, but what is good for the whole.

Impossible hopes – let us even dare to hope for those.

What if the world calls us dreamers!

Let us dream those dreams which will lift us from doubt, fear, selfishness and self-seeking.

Let us soar high with the wings of hope and dream into the transcendental.”

[Swami Paramananda]

Ocean and the Alligator

2010-06-02T15:59:00.001+12:00

Ocean made an awesome alligator at Reading time with Whaea Lorna. Kap pai Ocean.

Short Vowel Short Stories “a e i o u”

2010-06-01T22:11:00.001+12:00

Bad Fat Cat

Pam has a cat. The cat is fat. The fat cat is bad. Bad fat cat sat in the jam. Pam has a rag bag. In the bag went Bad Fat Cat. Dad and Pam ran with Bad Fat Cat to the tap.

Red Hen

Red Hen is Pam’s pet. Bad Fat Cat is wet. Bad Fat Cat ran to get Red Hen. Red Hen ran to Pam’s bed. Bad Fat Cat sat on Pam’s bed. He let Pam’s bed get wet. Can Fat Cat get Red Hen?

Pippin Pig

Pippin Pig went to dig in the pit. Bad Fat Cat ran to Pippin Pig. The Bad Cat hit the little pig. He bit him on the leg. Pippin Pig ran and hid in the big tin bin. The cat did not fit in the bin. Dotty ran to get Pam. Will Pam get rid of Bad Fat Cat?

Dotty Dog

Dotty Dog is in his box. Bad Fat Cat is on the top of the box. The bad cat has a hot pot. He will pop the pot on Dotty. Dotty cannot spot the cat. Red hen can spot Bad Fat Cat. She will hop onto the box. She will stop Bad Fat Cat.

Nuts, Buns and a Hug

Run Dotty! Run to get Pam! Dotty tugs Pam to the bin. Pippin is in the bin. He is hot in the sun. This is not fun. Bad Fat Cat sits by the bin. Pam runs up to the bin. She gets Pippin Pig. She sets him on the rug. Pam has nuts for Pippin. Dotty the pup has a bun. Red Hen runs to hug Pippin. Red Hen gets a nut too.

The Most Efficient System for Day to Day Relief Teaching

2010-05-31T14:09:00.001+12:00

Being an EDForce Relief Teacher means you …

Can access more work other than just using the telephone.
Can accept work quickly and easily on your mobile phone, or the website..
Can accept work at any time.
Can access work in any region throughout New Zealand.
Will receive instant text message and email notifications when you have been 'successful' or 'unsuccessful' accepting vacancies.
Will get priority over vacancies when learning institutes put you on their 'Preferred List'.
Don't have to wait for phone calls for work.
Don't have to answer several phone calls for work.
Don't have to feel pressured into accepting work over the phone.
Can plan your days, weeks and months ahead.
Can choose where your want to teach.
Can choose when you want to teach.
Can choose the age levels of students you want to teach.
Can view all your upcoming and completed vacancies on the website.
Can receive instant email notifications for part time, fixed term and permanent positions. READ MORE>>>

Room 4 Papakura South School 26 May 2010

2010-05-26T19:56:00.001+12:00

View Full Album

Poem for my Teacher by Kaiya

2010-05-24T19:26:00.001+12:00

I love the way you smile

The way you look at me

When you look at me I see

A sparkle in your eye

I love the way you smile

The way you cherish me

In all different ways

And I know you'll always be there

Forever and ever in my life

A teacher that never forgets me

And never leaves my soul behind

I know you'll always love me

Kaiya Tahitahi

Year 6

Kelvin Road School, 2010

NIS Key Competencies

2010-05-17T19:16:00.001+12:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

NIS Key Competencies

View more presentations from mungo13.

SOLO Taxonomy and Managing Self

2010-05-17T16:41:00.001+12:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

SOLO Taxonomy and Managing Self

View more presentations from Pam Hook.

Volunteer 4 IHC

2010-05-15T23:46:00.001+12:00

Operation Orange Day is May 21

2010-05-13T14:34:00.001+12:00

Teaching Matters

Operation Orange Day is May 21. It's a day for NZEI members to focus on the call for a trail of National Standards. In the lead up to May 21 our aim is to have all members collect 10 signatures on the Trial the Standards Not Our Kids petition. On the 21st members will be holding Orange themed events, wearing orange, eating orange morning tea, flying orange balloons and more.
Join the discussion on ideas for Operation Orange Day activities, download an Operation Orange mission pack and sign up for campaign actvity and, most importantly, collect 10 signatures on the petition.

My opinion of National Standards

Untested National Standards
The Government says National Standards assessment will raise children’s achievement. There is no supporting evidence that they will raise children’s achievement. Teachers already use assessment practises to monitor children’s progress and identify those children who are struggling. Teachers then provide programmes to cater for the needs of these children. Why is this Government spending tens of millions of dollars to roll out National Standards, which are untested and have failed in other countries, to replace robust assessment practises that already exist in our Schools and at a National level through the National Education Monitoring Project.
National Standards encourage schools to match children to various levels for reading, writing and maths based on their age. As teachers and parents we know children develop at their own pace and will peak and ebb in their progress, because of cognitive development. Children also come to school with strengths and talents in areas of the curriculum that are not literacy and numeracy based. Some children enter school without early childhood education and need to learn skills to socialise and respond to programmes at their level, other children take longer to read and write, surely labelling these children as failures will damage their motivation to learn. We want enthusiastic children who progress their learning and have a sense of self worth to better live in our communities.
The reporting process developed for National Standards will lead to data that can be used in simplistic forms of league tables. These tables will compare schools, creating a perception of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ schools and failing children. Data that is collected for league tables does not reflect the effective teaching and social mentoring that has raised student achievement from where the child was to where the child is now. Lots of children start behind the norm and will make progress but not at the rate of others.
At the cost of tens of millions of dollars the Government continues to push the rollout of the Standards in the face of public and education sector support for the Standards to be trialled. The effectiveness of these standards needs to be tested.
The tens of millions of dollars would be better spent on providing programmes and support to address the needs of the children already identified in our schools as our failing tail. This tail reflects children who are educationally disadvantaged, affected by poverty and in some cases from dysfunctional families.
As a parent and teacher I need to know that what we do for our children is of benefit and is educationally sound. Trial the Standards, so that I can make an informed judgment, that is best for teaching and learning in our Primary Schools.

Room 2 Stars at the Pool

2010-05-11T09:47:00.001+12:00

NZEI Updates

2010-04-25T10:49:00.001+12:00

MR 2010/19 - Confusion reigns over National Standards

As schools go back for Term Two, confusion reigns over the implementation of National Standards, says NZEI.

NZEI Primary Teachers 2010 Planning and Information

Paid Union Meetings for Teachers
Revised dates for primary teacher paid union meetings have been set. In most areas there is more than one meeting to help schools make arrangements for all teachers to attend. In the Auckland Area clusters are planned and the Auckland list sets out suggested groupings. Teachers may choose to attend a meeting other than the one identified for their school if that suits school requirements.
It is important that all teachers attend a paid union meeting.

Full Meetings Schedule

Papakura Meetings

Wednesday 28 April 2.30-4.00pm
Kelvin Road School Kelvin Road, Papakura

Wednesday 5 May 2.30-4.00pm
Te Hihi School Linwood Road, Papakura

Monday 10 May 2.30-4.00pm
St Marys School 54 Clark Road, Papakura

Tuesday 11 May 2.30-4.00pm
Ardmore School Clevedon Rd, RD 2, Papakura

Professional Development

Primary Teachers Study Leave Award

NZEI Collective Agreement

all 0800 NZEI HELP (0800 693 443) free from a landline if you have queries about your pay and conditions, leave, NZEI membership, retirement savings, conflicts or grievances or other individual matters. Lines are open from 8:30am to 5pm every weekday.

Anzac Day 25 April 2010

2010-04-23T21:39:00.001+12:00

April 25th is the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) at Gallipoli in 1915. Over 7000 New Zealand soldiers were wounded at Gallipoli and 2721 were killed. The Australian army also suffered heavy casualties: 26,111 were injured and 8,141 were killed.
The first Anzac Day took place on 25 April 1916. As time went on, the ceremony of remembrance was extended to the soldiers of the Second World War. It now honours all New Zealanders and Australians who have served in a military campaign. Source: TKI Hot Topics

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Anzac Cookies

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Baking Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup dessicated coconut
125g butter
1 to 2 tbsp golden syrup
2 tbsp water
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp vanilla essence

Preparation:

Preheat oven at 180°C.

[Where a variable quantity is indicated, this depends on the type of consistency required.]

Combine the oats, flour, sugar and coconut in a bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces, place with the golden syrup and vanilla essence in a saucepan and melt together, stirring. Then remove from heat.

Combine bicarbonate of soda with 2 tablespoons of water and blend in with the syrup and butter mixture. Gradually mix in with dry ingredients, until you have a consistent texture,, and drop teaspoons of the mixture on a greased oven tray or tray lined with oven paper.

Bake in the center of the oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool….then enjoy with a cup of tea!

Papakura South School Room 3

2010-03-22T20:59:00.001+13:00

Papakura South School Room 2

2010-03-22T20:54:00.001+13:00

Papakura South School Room 3

2010-03-22T20:51:00.001+13:00

KRS TERM DATES 2010

2010-01-12T17:42:00.001+13:00

29th January 2010 – Teacher Only Day - Kelvin Road School

2nd February 2010 – Teacher Only Day - PAI

Term 1 - 3rd February to 1st April (84 half days)

Term 2 - 19th April to 2nd July (108 half days)

Term 3 - 19th July to 24th September (100 half days)

Term 4 - 11th October to 16th December (96 half days)

NZ HOLIDAYS 2010

1st February (Monday) - Auckland Anniversary

6th February (Saturday) - Waitangi Day

2nd April (Friday) - Good Friday

5th April (Monday) - Easter Monday

6th April (Tuesday) - Day after Easter Monday

25th April (Sunday) - Anzac Day

7th June (Monday) - Queens Birthday

25th October (Monday) - Labour Day

School Closed for end of Term 4

2009-12-16T20:25:00.001+13:00

Please note that School is now closed and will reopen next year, end of January 2010 – date to be confirmed.

Merry Christmas, Prosperous New Year and a Happy holiday to all.

Reunion

2009-12-16T20:18:00.001+13:00

Mrs Raman met Shar at Otara Market on Saturday 11 December.

On 16 December, the day Kelvin Road School closed, Kaiya and Te Kawehau (with their mums) met Mrs Raman for coffee in Papakura Town.

Room 8 made a beautiful frame for Mrs Raman with personalised signatures. Thanks Mr. O’Brien for helping out.

Mrs Raman gets together with Colleagues at the Coffee Club, Manukau, 22 Dec 2009

Mr. Naude, Mrs Smith, Miss White, Whaea Elaine, Mrs Harris, Mrs Weir

Mrs Weir with Vicky’s gorgeous baby Sabastian

Mrs Raman meets colleagues for lunch at Papakura’s new Indian Restaurant, MASALA on Broadway Street on 14 Jan 2010

Mrs Raman’s yummy & spicy vegetarian vindaloo lunch + drink. Masala’s $10 Lunch special…….YuuuMmmmmmm

National Standards

2009-12-03T03:26:00.001+13:00

National Standards Website

Professional Development

The first introductory National Standards webinar has been held and is available now online as a recording.

The following link will take you to a macromedia breeze streaming presentation: http://www.v6.breezeserver.co.nz/p58427400/

You can download the Powerpoint used in this presentation:

National Standards Powerpoint presentation (PowerPoint, 3 MB)

Email Comment from Whaea Lisa

2009-10-14T20:06:00.001+13:00

Hi Kree,

I taught at Kelvin Road School with you a few years back, I was there from 1995 to 2001. Left for a year to study and came back in 2003 when I left for good and moved out of Auckland.
I came across your site this morning when the Interface magazine arrived in and went straight to the computer to check it out. All I can say is WOW!! I found your site really amazing, your personal thoughts about your journey and where you were heading and how this involved your class. I have found this very inspiring.
So much so that I've decided to set up my own blog and really get stuck into it. Thanks for sharing your inspirational site!!!

I've shown my students at school what you have done with your kids and it has been buzzing here ever since. This blog is one that is full of learning through trial and error, but the journey is made so much easier by checking out what you have done and continue to do with your class. Thanks a million!!!!

Arohanui
Lisa Akaroa
Principal
Kirikau School

Hello Cool Kids

2009-10-05T19:00:00.002+13:00

Just dropping in say hope you all are having a fabulous holiday. One week of rest and relaxation before we start school again.
Hope you are keeping yourselves busy, having fun while reading also. (Remember those cool links on Delicious Bookmarks).

Thanks for chatting on Gmail. Miss you all soooo much!

Mrs Raman

Cool Kids Kapahaka

2009-09-22T19:43:00.002+12:00

Room 8 Cool Kids performed their Kapahaka for the Junior School today. Throughout Term 3, Room 8 practiced their Kapahaka with Whaea Davene during lunch-breaks.
Mrs Raman is very proud of Room 8 for sacrificing their lunch-times to learn Kapahaka. Congratulations on your success my dear Cool Kids. You make me proud even though I am no longer your teacher.

THANK YOU Whaea Davene for your dedicated efforts in teaching our children these wonderful dance movements and songs. Please continue with the awesome work you're doing.

PS. Thank you Whaea Elaine for the photo.

52 Character Building Thoughts for Children

2009-09-19T16:13:00.001+12:00

By Leah Davies, M.Ed.

The following quotes may be used in a variety of ways by both teachers and counsellors. One idea is for a thought to be posted, read, and discussed at the beginning of each week. It could then be read daily with the students. At the end of the week ask them what they learned or how the thought applied to their lives or activities during the week. Have the children give written or oral examples, or have them draw a picture to illustrate their ideas.

How I look is not as important as how I act.
I treat others the way I want them to treat me.
I am a good sport; I follow the rules, take turns and play fair.
It is okay to laugh at funny things, but not to laugh at others.
I do not gossip; if I cannot say anything helpful, I do not say anything at all.
When I am sad, I help myself feel better by thinking of things that are good in my life.
In order to have friends, I must act in a kind way.
I believe that I am someone who can do important things.
What I say and how I say it tells others the kind of person I am.
I appreciate my family, my teachers, and my school.
I treat everyone with respect.
When I listen, I show others that I care about them.
I am being a good citizen when I volunteer to help others.
I think for myself and make smart choices that are good for me.
Each day offers a new start to do my best.
I try to understand what my friends are feeling.
Everyone makes mistakes, so instead of getting angry with myself, I try to do better.
I do not give up; I keep trying until I can do my work.
Sharing with others makes me feel good and makes them feel good too.
I work out my problems without hurting myself or others.
I am being polite when I wait for my turn and say please and thank you.
When I smile at people, they usually smile back.
I encourage my friends to do their best.
My values guide me to do what is right.
I am honest; I do not cheat or steal.
When I am angry, I use self-control and do not hurt others.
I am being creative when I dance, draw, paint or write a poem or story.
I say, "No!" to things that could hurt my body like tobacco and alcohol.
When I do what I say I will do, I am being responsible.
I am grateful for what I have, so I share with others.
I try to learn something new each day.
When things do not go my way, I stop and think of what I can do to make them better.
I do not make fun of other children because I don't know what their life is like.
I feel successful when I do my best.
Everyone has good and bad feelings.
I take care of myself by eating healthy food, exercising and getting enough rest.
I am being punctual when I am on time and do not keep people waiting.
When I cooperate with others, I get more done.
I follow the rules and try to make my school a better place.
I like to get to know children who are different from me.
Since I tell the truth, my friends trust me.
I look for what is good in others and I say what I like about them.
I buy only what I need and I save my money.
When I use my time wisely, there is usually enough time to do what I want to do.
I think before I act; how I act affects how others treat me.
Using manners helps me keep my friends.
I have courage to stand up for children who are teased.
Before I do something, I ask myself, "Is it safe?"
I am me -- I do not try to be like someone else.
I care about living things on earth so I recycle and do not litter.
When I write down what I think and feel, I learn about myself.
I plan ahead and think about what I want to do when I grow up.

For more ideas, see our archived article, Encouraging Thoughts.

Space Mission tokens for Cool Kids from USA

2009-09-13T19:17:00.001+12:00

Here is an email from one of our readers, Mark Shultes, senior dimensional inspector for Ball Aerospace (America) who is sending Room 8 Cool Kids some patches/pins from the Space Missions.

Kree,
(Please forward this to the new teacher of the Cool Kids of Room 8.)
I finally got the shipping materials for the small tokens that I want to share with the Cool Kids. It is not much, but all I have at this time.
I will ship it on Monday. The shipping label shows your name for delivery, and mine as sender.
It will include the DVD of "Comet Collision", which shows my companies work on the Deep Impact mission.
This video is a little intense, and should be reviewed by the school administrators before showing to the kids, but I see that it is on YouTube already.
Thank you so much for your friendship, and keep in touch.
Mark Shultes and family
Colorado, USA

An earlier email: 1 August 2009

Hi Kree,
My name is Mark. I live in Colorado USA and work in aerospace.
I saw one of your comments on the NASA channel and checked out your class room website. You seem to be an outstanding teacher.
I hope that you have received some replies from the astronauts.
I tend to get a few pictures, patches and pins for the space missions I work on.
If you have not received any, I would be willing to send you some of mine.
Mark

Email: 2 August 2009

Dear Kree,
Wow! The two youtube links of your cool kids questions (and answers) were great! What an honor!
Four of the astronauts from STS-125 came to my work this past Thursday for lunch and a presentation. I did not get a chance to speak with them, but just seeing and listening to them in person was AMAZING!
Very few people get the experience that these astronauts do, but many thousands of people get to help them achieve it. I am so proud to be able to contribute.
The Engineers, Technicians, Machinists, Software experts, Electricians, Inspectors... and the list goes on, are incredible people.
I am a senior dimensional inspector for Ball Aerospace. We work very hard to make sure that the parts and components are the best that can be produced.
It takes a world of people to make these things happen!
Keep up the great work!
Best Regards,
Mark Shultes and family

Tree Planting – 11 September 2009

2009-09-11T11:30:00.001+12:00

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Teacher’s Farewell Message

2009-09-11T08:58:00.001+12:00

Dear Principal, Board of Trustees, Staff, Students & Parents of Kelvin Road School:

The day has finally arrived...my journey at Kelvin Road School has come to an end.

In my 20 years of teaching this has been only my 2nd school and I would be happy to have stayed here forever! However, there is another exciting challenge awaiting me, so I am off...following my heart. This feels right, like it did when I left South Africa 7 and a half years ago.

I can't THANK YOU all enough for your help and friendship throughout my stay at our cool school. I have learned heaps and Kelvin Road School will be forever engraved in my heart.

If I said or did anything to hurt or upset you, kindly forgive me. I hope that you will remember me with a smile :) All the best.

I am sure that my Cool Kids will continue with their awesome work and I know that they will keep in touch via Gmail, Twitter and Blogger. Remember your "Wish Upon a Star". You CAN achieve your goals and dreams if you work hard, and "Be the BEST that you can be!" Reach for the Stars!!

Love always,

Kree Raman
Room 8 Teacher
Mobile: 0272967094
Skype: kreeraman
Twitter: kreescoolkids
Youtube: kree12

Gmail: kree4sai@gmail.com
Class Blog: http://mrsramanscoolkids.blogspot.com/

Comments from Mrs Raman’s Ex-teachers

2009-09-11T08:25:00.001+12:00

Dear Ms Raman
Please read this to your class and post it online.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share the accomplishments
of such a great group of students from your class. Their blog is exciting and very heart warming. The blog clearly made us experience their voices and feel the dreams in the hearts of your students.

We wish you well in your new school and even though you are in another location , the magic of technology is only a 'twitter away'. You have given your students a deep sense of pride in themselves to face the challenges and be humble in success which will help them to forge ahead in their study and pave a meaning
full life as contributing citizens not only of New Zealand but as global citizens.

Congratulations!

Warmly,
Dr Mogi Nayagar & Mr Sonny Nayagar

Hong Kong

(Mrs. Raman’s Ex-teacher & Lecturer from South Africa))

Hubble's Recommissioning Process

2009-09-10T21:34:00.001+12:00

September 9, 2009: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is back in business, ready to uncover new worlds, peer ever deeper into space, and even map the invisible backbone of the universe.

Putiputi - Parent-helpers: Whaea Emma & Whaea Philomena

2009-09-04T21:07:00.001+12:00

Healthy Eating: Pasta with Watties Salsa Chilli-beans

2009-09-04T20:33:00.004+12:00

Recipe: Pasta with Chilli-beans
Watties Salsa Chilli-beans
Spiral Pasta (or any sea-shell pasta)
Little oil and salt

1. Cook pasta according to instructions on the product.
2. Heat a little oil, add chilli-beans and salt, cook for 15 minutes. (Add any spices of your choice if you wish, but it is fine without)
3. Stir pasta into chilli-beans or drop a spoonful of chilli-beans over a bowl of pasta. Eat hot.

Yum!!

Speech: Taking Care of Animals by Kaiya

2009-09-03T11:13:00.003+12:00

Do you take care of animals? Taking care of animals is top priority. The reason why we take care of animals is because they produce many different kinds of foods for us such as milk and meat. We also have animals to keep us company like our pets.

My favourite animal is a dog. Have you ever wanted a pet? Well if you get a pet you have to take care of it. I have pet dog. We always take him for walks. We take care of him all the time. Always let your pets be free sometime in the day. They are soft and very playful. Some dogs are guard dogs. There are many different kinds of animals. At the S.P.C.A. there are farm animals, birds, cats, dogs and many more.

We keep animals safe, healthy and clean with the five freedoms. Do you have a pet and do you practice the five freedoms? I do. The five freedoms are exercise, love, vet care, shelter, food and water. We go for a run with our pets so that they keep fit. We cuddle and love our pets because if we don’t love our pets they will feel left out and alone.

We take animals to the vet because they might have had an accident and broken a bone or might even be sick. They might get sick from the rain. We give our pets shelter because if we didn’t then they wouldn’t be very happy. We prepare food for our pets because that is how we keep our pets healthy. It’s good to practice the five freedoms, it really is. Sometimes, when you take your dog for a walk always remember this; put a leash on your dog and if you have a cat, hold it in your arms so it doesn’t run away.

Some dogs get treated badly or even hit and don’t get the five freedoms. If they don’t get given the five freedoms they might be at risk and that is the reason why we have to take care of animals. When the Look at me Now children visited the SPCA we watched a video of a little puppy who was abandoned in a house. When the owner was moving out the puppy was left there for 2 weeks so the owners failed to give it the five freedoms. When the new people moved in the house they found the puppy and it was starving and ready to die because it had scabs and it was sick. So they tried to feed it but it wouldn't eat or drink anything. They took it to the S.P.C.A. and there they fed it and gave it medicine to make it well. It grew nicely and got better. In a few years it was good and some people came and adopted him and took good care of it.

I really like animals. They are so cute and cuddly and all they want is to be loved and petted. When I grow up I want to work in the S.P.C.A. and take care of animals.

Speech: My favourite sport by Jyris

2009-09-03T11:10:00.003+12:00

I like soccer because you can tackle the ball, dribble the ball, score goals and kick the ball as far as you can. The rules are to not hand ball it. Don't be in front of the goalie when your team is passing, no pushing other players. The best thing I like to do is to dribble the ball around the players so they don't take the ball off you. You can take free kicks and kick the ball as far as you can. You can take corner kicks goalie kicks. Only the goalie can hand ball the ball in the square. You cannot do off-sides when the other person is attacking the ball of you and then you pass it. If you want to be in a soccer game, you need to have some shorts, some shin pads and some soccer boots. When all of the soccer games are finished you might get a trophy or a medal. When the goalie is in the square and the ball is out of the square and it could be a free kick all I like to do is to run up the side and score a goal so my team can win. This year we played in the KRS world cup. We won three games and we drew one and one another game. This year I won two medals. One was bronze and the other one was gold and it says player of the tournament. When I grow taller and taller I am going to be like David Beckham so people can write about me an I can be on magazines, news papers and books. Soccer is one of my favourite sports ever. When my playing career ends I am going to be a coach, for New Zealand’s White Socks.

Speech: Friends by Justice

2009-09-03T11:09:00.002+12:00

Do you have a friend? I met my best friends in Room 14 last year. My best friends are Kaiya and Memory. They were very nice to me and still are. I know everything about them. Memory’s favourite colours are green, blue, yellow and grey. Kaiya’s favourite colours are light blue and yellow. Kaiya’s favourite food is butter chicken and Memory's favourite food is macaroni and cheese. When I started at Kelvin Road School I was happy to be in the same class as Kaiya and Memory. My friends and I signed up for gymnastics. We learnt lots of skills like forward flips, shoulder stands and back flips. I'm not really good at back flips. Every morning we go on the computer and chat to each other. We go on our on Gmail. We even write things about what we are doing and other stuff. My friends like having fun. We play nicely and are friendly with each other. My friends and I catch up after school. They ask if they can come over to play. I think friends are important because they might feel sad and lonely so it is nice to have someone to talk to. My friends do lots of things for me because they are my best friends. Best friends always help each other and stick together. What I like about my friends is that they are kind and caring. I like friends that are nice to each other. My best friends like soccer which is their favourite sports. That's my favourite sport too. Me and my friends are really kind to Mrs Raman. My friends always help Mrs Raman if she is struggling to find things. Kaiya’s job is to select the litter monitors. She has to give a rubbish bag to the one who is responsible to pick up rubbish. My best friend Memory collects the lunch orders and our fruit and takes the bucket back to the hall. She does that twice a day every day. My job is to pick up litter a few times in the term during lunch time and morning tea. Every Tuesday Whaea Erena does awesome things with us for taha Maori. My friends and I enjoy it with Whaea Erena. On the 14th of August we had a book parade. We had to dress up as our favourite book characters. Kaiya and I dressed up us the three little kittens that lost their mittens. Some of the parents came along to watch. Monday the 17 th of August we went on a train trip with room 18. My best friends were in my group. We took turns using the camera and we finished all our work in the train booklet. Friends are really important and can make you have a lot of fun. I really enjoy school because of my friends.

Speech: Sport by Kimball

2009-09-03T11:07:00.002+12:00

Sport helps you get fit to become stronger as you grow older. I took part in three inter school sports this year. I took part in swimming and gymnastics. I’ve always liked rugby. I’ve played rugby for four years now. My goals for rugby are to get the player of the year award. Sport is a good way to be fit and healthy. Any type of sport is good for you. Out of all the sport, soccer is the most popular sport. People always play soccer. That’s why soccer is the most popular sport. Gymnastics is the best way to get fit so is running. Running can help you build muscles. Running is good for you. You should get out of bed early in the morning and go for a run for about ten minutes a day. The best days to run are on Saturday and Sunday because you have more time. Running helps people lose weight. At home you should do fitness every day for ten minutes. Fitness is really important if you want to be healthy. Every day you should eat two or three fruit a day to be healthy. You should go on a diet for at least one week. Every day you should eat healthy if you want to be strong. Sport and healthy eating is good for you. I love sport as a way to keep fit and healthy.

Speech: Taking care of your pet by Memory

2009-09-03T11:06:00.002+12:00

Have you ever had to take care of your pet? If you never had a pet but you want one listen up. I'm going to tell you the proper way to look after your pet and why. To start with, you should never abandon your pet. If you are going overseas you can just ring up a friend to come around and pick up your pet or you can ring the S.P.C.A. and drop your pet off. Whatever you do, do not forget your pet. All they ever want is for someone to love them and care for them. Whether you love pets or not, your pet will always love you no matter what. Even if it is not your pet it will still love you. If you come across a fierce dog stand still and don't look it in the eye then it won't bite you. I think you should treat God’s creation the way you treat people. If you lock your dog or cat in the house and leave it in there it might die. Be careful if you're visiting someone’s house because some people make their dogs like a guard dogs. They might be vicious and dangerous dogs. Some people even starve their dogs so if anyone was walking past the dog would bite them. When cats are abandoned they become stray cats and live in the bushes and eat scraps. They have babies and when the mother dies the babies have to be like their mother living on the streets and eating the scraps. If you have a pet your pet needs the 5 freedoms. The 5 freedoms are (1) to make sure that your pet has shelter (2) to take your pet for a run or exercise (3) to always love your pet and care for it (4) to make sure your pet has food and water and (5) to take your pet to the vet care once a year so your dog is not sick. I have a cat and I give him the 5 freedoms. My mum makes sure that I do. My kitten’s name is Kitty Boy. We play with him properly and take him for walks. There is nothing better than to love your pet. That is why if think taking care of animals is very important. Please treat your pet as part of the family.

Speech: Why I love computer games by Ben

2009-09-03T11:05:00.002+12:00

Have you ever played computer games? I play computer games every day. They are really addictive and a lot of fun.

There are different types of computer games like action, educational, adventure, puzzle, arcade and many more. Just one click of a button and you’re on to it. You will love them like I do. If you’re feeling down you can just get onto your computer and play some games then you will be happy in ten seconds. There are educational games like math games, reading games and spelling games which can increase your knowledge. Computer games are not just about action adventure. There is learning included as well. Most of my ideas come from action and adventure games.

These computer games actually make you think a lot better. The action and the adventure make me feel like that’s me on the computer screen. I become a part of the game. You can use multiplayer games so you don’t have to play by yourself. I love playing multiplayer because I can play with people all around the world. I love online games because you can chat with people all around the world. One time my brother and I versed someone online. It was a fierce battle but I won. You can explore on different game levels. Sometimes you can get in vehicles and control the vehicle according to your command. My favourite online game is Sherwood where you take the life of a warrior in the year 1604 where you defeat monsters, spiders, skeletons and men as well. There is a game called Moon Base which is really fun. You travel into space on the moon’s rover and use your jetpack to fly around in space. You can fly to earth but it’s a bit smaller than the real one. My other favourite game is called Martian Club. You get the life of a human being. You have and olden day sports car. You get clothes and get all kinds of colours. You can make your own music and add a colourful disco mode. Another cool computer game which you have to download is called Prototype. It’s about a guy who was infected with the power to shape shift and glide in mid air. The humans are infected with the virus. The Military is against you. You can shape shift into people like the Military and hunters and a lot more. You can heal people or take their lives. My favourite game is On the Run. It is about an evil corporation who try to kill you because you know something that you’re not supposed to know. They will stop at nothing to get it out of your head. You can drive around and the evil corporation tries to destroy your car. Your mission is to get to safety and to get out. You would really like this game. It’s like an action packed car adventure computer game all in one. Now you might understand why I love computer games. It’s one of the best inventions of the 21^st century. When I grow up I want to be a game technician.

Speech: Friends by Taylah

2009-09-03T11:01:00.002+12:00

Are you a good friend? Having friends is just like having pets. I've got pets and friends. Firstly my pets would have to be dogs because they are playful.

Secondly my friends would have to be girls. Sometimes we have problems like fighting with each other and being mean to each other but then we're friends again.

If you have friends that's good because you can ask them to drop you off at home and they will. My friend Makayla does that all the time. Your friends could be older than you or younger. You can have a friend from high school, primary school or intermediate. There is no age limit to having friends.

Your friend can be a boy or girl. Most of my friends are girls. Your friend can be a Chinese, Indian, Cook-island, Maori or Pakeha.

They could live next-door to where you live. Your friends could even be your brother or sister. Your friend could have the same name as you. You could make a group up with your friends. That's what I did last year. So that's another thing you can try.

Also you can invite your friends to have lunch with you at the cafe or somewhere else or go to the movies together. You could have parties. That would be fun to. One more thing that you could do is to tell them to meet you at the pools after school or on the weekend.

If you don't have any friends ask some children if you can play with them. Or you can make up a game and go around the school and ask if they want to play with you.

That can make you have lots of friends. Friends help each other and stick up for each other. But when your friend does the wrong thing, don't be afraid to tell them how you feel.

If you join good company you will be a good person too so be careful about the friends you keep. Have good friends and be a good friend.

Speech: I have a dream by Kingi

2009-09-03T11:00:00.002+12:00

Do you have a dream? I do. I would like to go to university and learn more about the earth and space. When I go to university I would like to discover a new animal and I would want to see a humming moth. I bet it would be exciting. If my dreams come true I would be rich and give money to the poor and buy a huge sunny house next to a beach. I would go to America then go to NASA. Later I could go into space and explore Mars and see all of the cool stuff. It would be even better if we could build a new world on Mars. What would you call it? It is my dream to make another space station like NASA. It would be on twitter so you can follow me. I have a dream that no people would litter so we wouldn’t have to buy litter bins. I dream that we would not have cars which create pollution in the world. The best way to stop pollution is not to have many cars on the road. Instead you can use a train or ride a bicycle to work. If it was up to me that is what it would be. I can be in a movie in Hollywood and make a print of my hands in Hollywood’s foot path. That would be exciting. I would like to go in the deep jungle to explore nature and to be free. Another thing is I would like to go on a vacation all around the globe from Sydney and back. Like I said I would like to go to university and learn all of those things. When I grow up I would be the happiest person on earth. I have a dream that I would be the boss of the paintball business because paint ball is both cool and sore plus you can use a shot. There is only one I like the most and that is to fire it. I think about my dream every day. Although I like to have all of those dreams come true there is only one dream I like the best and that is to go into space. If I believe in my dreams I could make them a reality.

Speech: My favourite sport by Marino

2009-09-03T10:59:00.002+12:00

Do you have a favourite sport to play? My favourite sport to play is rugby.

I play for my team on Saturdays at 9.45.

I love the home games because afterwards we can get some food.

I am also very good at soccer and I played for my class in the Kelvin Road School soccer world cup tournament.

I was the player of the day many times.

We were the winners of the Plate finals.

But Rugby is my favourite sport.

I like to play rugby in the rain because we can get wet so we can slip and slide around the field with the ball and score a try.

My team has one more game to play. I cannot wait to give it all I’ve got.

We can win, I know we can.

Saturday 22^nd August is the last game of the season so we have to win.

You can come and support us on a Saturday.

We train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4.30 depending on the weather.

If it rains we can’t play or train because the fields will be to wet so training will be cancelled.

My dad takes me to training and to the games. He likes watching me play and our team members play also.

Dad always tells me how proud he is of me. I know Mrs Raman is also proud of me.

When I won a player of the day certificate, my teacher also gave me a certificate at assembly.

Rugby is a cool way to meet new friends and to meet other people in our team.

I love rugby so I play my heart out. Rugby is my favourite sport.

My dream is to play for the All Blacks when I grow up.

Speech: I have a dream by Quinton

2009-09-03T10:58:00.002+12:00

Do you have a dream? I Do. I have a BIG dream ahead of me. I dream about my future. My dream is to go to University and to become a Mechanic. When I grow up I want to be a Mechanic so I could help people who have car trouble. I will earn lots of money. I will be the boss of the garage and I will make millions of dollars so I could go to Hollywood and New York. I shall make lots of money to buy all the things I need. I shall travel to faraway places. I shall work out and be strong so I could lift heavy things. We shall fix motor bikes, cars, trucks, go-carts and electronic stuff. Dreams can help you do things in the future or in times when you think it's not going to happen. My Dream is to learn about things that are difficult. I want to be smart and have a lot of knowledge. I can be a Mechanic Legend in the whole world. I could be working for the government so I can be the best and achieve my goal. I can be anything I want. I will try to achieve my goals and be a mechanic in New Zealand. I will lift heavy car parts and put them back together so it can be working properly. I will work in my community fixing broken parts of cars, motor bikes or trucks. I have to reach to Mars. I would try to be the best mechanic I can be. I will buy my own tools and my own cars. I have to take responsibility and work hard to achieve my dreams. I want to be a mechanic because I want my life to be cool. If I believe in myself I can make my dreams come true. Mrs Raman has taught us to reach for the stars and to aim for Mars. Whatever I end up doing in the future I know that I will be the best that I can be.

Speech: My dad is the best by Brooklyn

2009-09-03T10:56:00.002+12:00

Is your dad the best dad in the world? My dad always takes me to paradise ice skating every Friday after school because I'm always bored at home. Sometimes he takes me and my brothers to my nanas house. We always get lollies from my dad and sometimes he gives me money and also he helps us with our homework. My dad is the coolest dad in the whole wide world. He makes me laugh about jokes. He wants me to go to Australia to see my friend Sherry. He might take us to movie world. Dad takes me to Rainbows End. We went on the fear fall. After that we went on the roller-coaster then we went to the Gold rush. It was fun. Dad and I have lots of fun together but sometimes he growls at me, but that’s ok, it doesn't matter. My dad is the best dad in the world because he gives me loads of money. I spend it on clothes and books. Dad takes me to Papakura pools. He goes to the deep side of the pool and I try to follow him all the way but I know I will drown in the deep end. When we go home my dad makes a barbecue for dinner. Dad and I clean around the house. We clean inside too. Sometimes he lets us walk to Clendon. We always want to go to Auckland City and I want to go to the sky tower with my dad. My dad might sky dive off a plane. He wants me to go with him. Next year we are celebrating my birthday at home by having a hangi and a barbecue. I'm going to have a big party. When it's dad's birthday I'm going to buy him a skateboard, clothes, shoes, hat and a motor bike. My favourite thing I do with my dad is skating together. I'm going to ask my dad if he could bungee-jump off the Harbour Bridge. My dad is the best dad in the universe. We also go fishing together. Dad lets me fish for him. I like fishing with dad because he always catches some fish for dinner. When I am 12 years old dad's going to take me to America. We will go to Disneyland. Every day dad always gets up early in the morning to make my lunch. Sometimes he drops me off at school and he picks me up. On July 25th dad brought me some clothes, books, pens and chocolate. I like it when he buy's me stuff. That's my favourite thing about him. Soon my dad's going to take me and my cousin Harmony to Kelly Tarltons. We will see the penguins. After that he will be taking us to the museum. We are going to see the Mummy and we will play with the drums. I wanted dad to come to our train trip but he couldn’t. I got an mp3 from my dad and I liked it. I gave him a big hug. Mostly after school he takes me to Burger King then we do the shopping. Dad buys me heaps of lollies. On Sundays we go to the movies. Recently we watched Ice Age 3. It was fantastic. On Saturdays we go to my Auntie's house. She lives on a farm. Dad and I like feeding the lambs. After feeding the lambs we feed all of the other animals. Aunty makes us a drink of hot chocolate, coco or Milo. Sometimes we play on the play station 2. Dad always beats me. Sometimes we go to the Video Shop to get Some DVD’s and videos. My dad is definitely the best dad in the world.

Speech: My favourite sport by Nikita

2009-09-03T10:02:00.002+12:00

Do you have a favourite sport? I do. I like netball, soccer, softball, swimming and ripper rugby. But my favourite sport is netball and my second favourite sport is soccer. I also like swimming. We all like swimming. Don't you? I love swimming and playing on the soccer field. Sometimes we play in the park. We go and play netball most of the time. For the inter-school we have to go and play netball at the netball court. Our whole class played a sport. I went with the netball team. We had fun. When we went down to the netball courts there were a lot of schools there. It is important to warm yourself up before you play any sport because you can injure yourself. In netball you have to do chest passes to your team mates to warm up. You are not allowed to run with the ball and you not allowed to bump into players. There are 7 players in a netball team. They are goal shooter, goal attack, two wing attacks, two wing defence and centre.

At the end of the netball matches they give out certificates. We lost one game but it was just a game. I really like netball because you don't need to run you can walk but you need to run sometimes. Sports are very important because it keeps you fit, active and healthy. When I grow up I want to play netball for the Silver Ferns. After I retire I shall be a coach for the Silver Ferns netball team. I really love sport.

Speech: My favourite sport by Shavanah

2009-09-03T10:00:00.002+12:00

Do you play sports? I play many sports like netball, softball, touch, hockey, swimming, soccer, rugby and badminton. I enjoy playing softball the most because you have to field and bat the ball.

But with rugby, touch and hockey you run and chase the ball from one goal to the other. The only running you have to do in softball is when you're fielding the ball or when you are running the bases to get home and score a run.

I advise you to have a go because you might enjoy it just like me. Netball is another cool sport because in netball you cannot step or run with the ball.

If you run with the ball, the referee will pull you out for stepping. Netball is not just for girls, boys can play netball too.

Hockey is a sport where you use a stick to hit the ball. It is called a hockey stick. Hockey is a real good sport because you just use your hands and feet with hockey.

Hockey is a famous sport because nearly everyone plays hockey. Swimming is just the same as hockey but for swimming you do not use a stick. You just use your arms and your legs.

The best thing about swimming is doing the back stroke, butterfly and freestyle. I think that swimming is a good sport because it feels great to play in the water.

Swimming is a sport that has lots of good exercise. Netball can be a rough game because you play it outside on the concrete. Some people have fun playing netball especially scoring goals.

Rugby is an exciting game because you run and chase the ball and you have to tackle the player with the ball. The best thing about rugby is when you have the ball and when people chase after you.

For rugby you need a mouth guard and head gear. In rugby first you have to warm up. I think that rugby is really fun the only thing is when you get tackled you might hit your head on the ground.

I like rugby because it can make you fit and strong. Soccer is an outside sport because you have to use a ball for soccer and wear proper soccer gear like knee pads and soccer shoes.

Badminton is an indoor sport. You use a racket and a shuttle. Badminton has strict rules and you must follow them. I like it because if it is raining you can play inside.

The best thing about badminton is that it is fun. It is challenging too. Touch is a wonderful game because you just need shoes and a rugby ball. Touch is a wonderful game because it is good exercise.

Badminton is my second favourite sport because it is fun. Badminton can help you get better in softball by making your arms stronger. You have to hit the shuttle up above your head. But with softball you leave your hand down by your head.

I like playing sports so I think that you should start playing sports like me and my whole family. Sports keeps you fit and achieve. You should try playing sports in your spare time.

Speech: My favourite subject by Ariana

2009-09-03T09:59:00.002+12:00

What’s your favourite subject? My favourite subject is math because it is fun, interesting and it is good for shopping. When me and my mum go shopping I always use math to count how much the shopping will come to. There are lots of reasons why math can be fun but some people don't know how much fun math can really be.

There are online math games, math board games and there are even books about maths. I love math because it is good for your brain and it can also challenges your brain too. Math is the study of numbers, measurements and shapes. That's what I like about maths.

Maths is good for you when you do your basic facts test. Math is fun because it makes you think and problem-solve. It is good when you go to College or University. Math is fun because there are lots of things in the world that involve math.

When you go on a road trip or on a plane you can do math because it will challenge your brain and it will be really fun if you do a quiz with any one that you go with. Math is fun at school when you are learning with the teacher in your math group. Math is fun if you make it fun with all your friends and family.

Math is used when you build a house because you need to count how much timber you need for the roof or how much you need for the sides. Math can also be used for banking and budgeting because you need to know how much to spend and how much to save in your bank account. Math is good for baking because you need to know how much ingredients to add and you also need to understand measurement.

In class I am in the top group for maths because I love math and I enjoy learning about math. If you want a job you need to remember everything especially your math. Math is great for sewing because you need to count how much wool you need to knit your jumper. You need to know how to measure and cut out your patterns to sew.

So you see math is important in our daily life. You can't do many things without using your maths knowledge. Maths is my favourite subject at school.

Speech: Computer Games by Karnvir

2009-09-03T09:57:00.002+12:00

Do you like playing computer games? I love playing computer games because you get to do spelling, maths and reading. Reading is important because in most games on the computer there is lots of reading to do. There are many types of games that I like such as Runescape, cooking games and miniclip. My favourite games are Runescape and Miniclip. I love playing Runescape because you can chat, sell or buy stuff. I started playing Runescape last year after coming to New Zealand. I play free Internet runescape but you can become a member if you want to pay $11.00 a month. Members have more stuff than free users. Members can get their level faster than free users. I am level 86, my cooking level is 65, my attack level is 66, my hit points level is 70, my defence level is 66, my strength level is 74, my prayer level is 49, my total level is 864. Runescape is a role-playing game. You play as a certain character which is called an avatar. My name is chingchau. You choose and buy the armour to dress up in. I am now wearing the popular Rune armour which is blue.

I was swearing at people on Runescape so my account was deleted. That’s why I don't swear online anymore. I was muted for 3 days because I was asking someone for their password so that guy reported me. I don't like to get muted because if someone chats with me I can't answer them back. But mostly, I hate chatting online because some people ask me stupid questions. One day there was a guy who was asking my password because he wanted to steal my account. I have four accounts.

Do you like playing miniclip games? I also love playing miniclip games because we can play many types of games like fighting, shooting games, car racing and bike racing. There are paid online games and some of them are free. There are many games that we can't play because we have to pay for them. Miniclip games start from junior level. Seniors don't like it much. If you play computer games for over 2 hours you will get a headache. Whenever I play games or do my work on the computer for 2 hours hour I get a headache that’s why I play for 1 hour at a time. I never ever swear at people on online games because they will report me and my account will be disabled.

Playing online computer games are cool and fun. I feel that as long as I have a computer I will never be lonely. When I grow up I want to create my own computer games.

Speech: Michael Jackson – the King of Pop by Tyson

2009-09-03T09:56:00.002+12:00

Did you like Michael Jackson? I am one of Michael’s biggest fans. He was the king of pop and the best musician that ever lived. Michael Jackson was the best dancer I ever saw in the world because of the moon walk and his clothes that he wore at his concerts.

He created the moon walk and also that movement when he pretends to fall forward and then backward. He has an enormous house as big as Disney land which is called Neverland like from the Peter Pan story. I like Michael Jackson’s house and cars and furniture. I liked Michael because he wore cool clothes and a cool shiny silver glove on one hand. He was the first singer to ever do that.

My favourite songs are Thriller, Beat it, You are not alone, We are the world, they are the best songs I ever heard. I like Michael’s Thriller video. In the video, when Michael and his girlfriend are watching a movie, she gets scared because of the werewolf and leaves the movie. Michael follows her out and then the song starts. I liked the dance moves, the costumes and the song as well.

The only thing is I did not understand why Michael wanted to throw his baby off the building. We will never know why he did that but I am sure he had a good reason. Michael would not hurt anyone, not even his own baby. I wonder what he was thinking and feeling? He also changed the colour of his skin. I think he should have left it the way God created him. In the end he took heaps of pills because he was in a lot of pain from all the surgeries he had.

It was with great sadness on Friday the 26th June, that I heard from Mrs Raman that Michael Jackson had died. Michael died at the age of 50 years, from an unexpected heart-related death.

Even though Michael is dead, his music will live on forever. He will always be the king of pop and the best musician of all times. I miss you Michael but thank you for leaving us all of your wonderful songs. Rest in peace Michael Jackson.

Speech: My future career by Chase

2009-09-03T09:54:00.002+12:00

What do you want to be when you grow up? My future career is to be an en engineer because there are more opportunities instead of being a policeman or a pro-wrestler. I also want to build sky-scrapers taller than the sky so people can go to the top floor and look at all the buildings I made. I want to get lots of money to help the poor people in the world. I want to be an engineer because I like to build things and Mrs Raman suggested that I should be an engineer when I grow up. The first thing I want to make is a bridge because I want to know how to make a real bridge. I will build bridges all over the world. As I get better at building things I want to go into space and fix the Hubble space telescope if it needed to be fixed and stay up in space for a while in case it needs to be fixed again. I will fix or build anything anywhere in the world and if possible I will make a city on Mars and gardens for oxygen so people can breathe to be able to live on Mars. Before that I will find water and when I do I will build houses there so they can keep an eye on the water and make sure the water doesn't disappear. With engineering I will be able to design anything on Earth or in space. There are thousands of things you can build when you're an engineer. You can fix things too. The thing I want to build the most is a ship like the Titanic but I will make sure it does not sink like the first Titanic. To be an engineer I have to be good at maths and I need to learn more and go to university. First I will build small things then move on to constructing bigger things. When I make enough money I shall go to Paris for a Holiday and stay there for two months. Each holiday I shall work in different countries in the world. If you're an engineer you can build thousands of things. If you were a engineer what would you build and what kind of engineer will you be? My dad is studying to be a person who designs and draws the plans for an engineer. He is still learning in an adult school in Christchurch. I don't know when he will finish but I am proud. I am proud of him for going after his dream. I hope I become an engineer when I grow up. I will be very happy and I think Mrs Raman will be so proud because she was able to inspire me to become an engineer because of my love for building blocks.

Speech: My favourite subject by Euphrasia-Jan

2009-09-03T09:53:00.002+12:00

What is your favourite subject? My favourite subject is reading. Reading is important to some people like me. I like reading because you can learn many hard and exciting words. You can also improve your reading and spelling which is kind of the same thing. You can read everywhere, like on computers, books, at school and at libraries. I like reading because you can learn all about the world, and other imaginary places. When you grow up you can become a teacher and read to all the kids at other schools in the country. But you don't have to be a teacher to read well. My favourite authors are E.B White, Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy. I like them because they write cool and exciting books to read. There are words everywhere. When you talk, what comes out of your mouth? ‘‘Words'' when you hear things what goes into your ears? ‘‘Words''. That's why words are everywhere. Letters and words are everywhere because you can see, listen and understand what people say and write. You don't always have to write heaps instead you can read heaps. Chris Gurney is an author. She has published 3 stories called ''Cindy and the Lost Jandal'', ''Trev and the Kauri Tree'' and ''The Blue Duck''. ''Cindy and the Lost Jandal'' is already in the library. But the two other ones are coming out in a couple of months. I like Chris Gurney because she has written some fantastic books for little kids, both juniors and seniors. People borrow books from the libraries to learn harder words. Then they can go to university and get a career. But if you don't read well you won't know a lot. Some of the brightest people in the world get their knowledge from reading, so it is important that we all read if we want to be bright. Reading doesn't have to be just from books. It can also be from poems, newspapers, magazines and a whole lot of other things. Poems, magazines, newspapers and books are fun to read because it is exciting and shorter to read than novels. But most magazines and newspapers are for adults not for little kids. They are for adult because it is some stuff that we are allowed to see and hear about. Have you ever wondered where the authors of the books get the amazing words they use. I think they get it from reading books. That's why I like reading, because you can go to university to be a teacher, or a journalist or an author. I would like to become an author when I grow up.

Speech: The best place to visit by Joseph

2009-09-03T09:43:00.001+12:00

If you had to choose a place to visit in the world, what would it be? I would pick Samoa. Samoa is a little country. I think Samoa is cool because of its easy life style. Samoa has beautiful tropical weather.

You could go swimming nearly every day in the nice fresh cool water. Be careful as you walk on the dried up lava at the beach.

Did you know some yummy food in New Zealand is free in Samoa like fruits and chips? There are delicious fruit like mangoes, oranges, bananas and apples. They don't have to pay the bills like New Zealand does? Samoan money looks strange. Their fifty cents are octagons and the two dollars are notes. Their money is like .U.S. dollars. The money in Samoa is called ta’la.

They allow children to travel on the back of a truck. That would be against the law in New Zealand. In Samoa Hollywood movies comes on T.V. before they are released on D.V.D. When movies are released in New Zealand they have already seen it in Samoa.

You don't need hot water because the weather is so hot. It is hot because Samoa is closer to the equator than New Zealand. When you go to sleep it is so hot like a steaming pot. You wouldn't even need blankets. Samoa is twice as hot as New Zealand's summer. I don’t like the small airport because it is very hot and stuffy and hard to breathe. The thing you wouldn't like about Samoa will be the mosquitoes in the night. Because of the hot weather the mosquitoes love to bug you. You get really itchy when the mosquitoes bite you. Another thing I don't like about Samoa is travelling on a boat for one hour as I get sea-sick.

Samoan people have two houses. One is a Samoan house and the other is a palangi house. The Samoan house is used to sleep in and the palangi house is for eating and entertaining. The Samoan house is called fale y'oo. Whenever you move to a new house you will have to get a dog to guard your house from the drunks. Almost everyone has got a dog there.

In Samoa they have three school terms so there are nearly 8 weeks in every school holiday. The boring thing about school is that they still teach like back in olden days. They have no technology to teach with apart from one computer in each class. But still the children in Samoa are quite smart because of the hiding they get from the teacher and parents. Samoan teachers smack the children with thick sticks so they pay attention and get smarter. Children are forced to learn and do the right thing because they don't want a hiding. The parent's are old fashioned but they have fun games to play. You have lots of friends and get to play a lot in Samoa.

I could go on and on telling you why Samoa is the best place to visit in the world but you will have to go see it for yourself. Just go there on your next holiday and tell me what you think.

Speech: My Future Career by Shar

2009-09-03T09:42:00.002+12:00

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? It is important to choose a career where you can earn lots of money so you can take care of your family, help the poor and live a happy life. I have two choices. I want to be a lawyer or an accountant because they are people who get paid a lot of money and earn a lot of respect.

If you want to be a lawyer, you need to be a good speaker. That is something I am very good at. I love talking and I am a confident speaker like my dad. I am also good at judging right from wrong. I think I would be fair lawyer and I would help the innocent people who have been accused of crimes they did not commit.

Being a lawyer is a great career because you can help people who are innocent from being thrown into prison. You can earn a lot more money than people who clean toilets and work in labour jobs. Being a lawyer is interesting because you get to be like a detective on CSI who investigates crimes.

I have been inspired to be a lawyer by my Mum and Dad, who are now at University studying to be lawyers. This is my Dad’s final year of study and Mum will finish next year. I watch them working so hard to achieve their dreams. They have taught me to follow my dreams and that it is never too late to learn new things. In the future I can see myself walking in my parents’ footsteps.

An accountant is a person who loves maths, numbers and working with money, like I do. I think being an accountant would be really fun because you get to do ratios, fractions, maths problems etc. An accountant has a good job because you get paid heaps more than labourers. Being an accountant is a fun job because you don’t have to scrub toilets and wash sinks all day.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being a toilet cleaner or a street sweeper. The important thing is to be the best at what you do. If you become a toilet cleaner, then be the best toilet cleaner in the world. Whatever I end up doing I know that I will take pride in my job and be the best that I can be. My mum and dad have taught me to trust in my heart and I will get there.

Mrs Escolmbe's Fabulous Food Art

2009-08-29T15:27:00.000+12:00

Speech: Our Cool School by Te Kawehau

2009-08-28T08:16:00.004+12:00

What do you think of Kelvin Road School? I think our school is the best school in Papakura. We have the best school because we have awesome teachers. They teach us exciting topics such as Space and Trains. At Kelvin Road School there are about 450 pupils and 47 staff.

Our school is fantastic because unlike other schools we have lots of equipment and resources. There are four fields and three adventure playgrounds and we have many computers in every class room. Soon we shall be building a climbing gear train. This year the school might be getting some more drinking fountains.

At our school there is a radio station that you can listen to if you live nearby in Papakura. Our radio station is called KRS FM 107.1. Every day we present the news and ongoing events. I think we are the only school with a radio station so we are very lucky.

Every year we have wonderful visitors, musicians and authors that come to our school to talk to us. During book week we had a visit from the author Chris Gurney, Lindy Davis and others. Even TV 3 presenters came to read to the juniors. We celebrated by having a book parade with the entire school.

Each term there is an inter-school sports day and a lot of children participate to have fun. This year we have had the summer sports, winter sports and gymnastics and I have participated in all three events. This term we have been learning about trains and in week 5 the seniors went to Britomart. When we go out of the school we are expected to listen and do well and to show that we are responsible ambassadors of Kelvin Road School.

Our principal Mr. Robertson has really got to be thanked for buying some of the sports equipment, books, computers and other cool things we have in our school. When my bag got stolen with my expensive rain jacket Mr. Robertson gave me a brand new Adidas rain jacket. Those kids whose lunches got stolen all got free morning tea and lunch from the school.

Our deputy principal Mr. Mc Millan is the second in charge. He is the one who mostly deals with all the problems in the senior school. He will make sure that if something gets stolen he will find someone that knows what happened and then he will catch the person.

In Room 8 we have been doing heaps of cool and exciting things, for example we had a class trip to the Sir Edmund Hillary library. Most of us became members of the library and borrowed books and Play-aways. We also went to the art gallery which was fantastic. Room 8 has also competed in poetry recital. We had to practice hard to make Mrs Raman proud and we did. I came first because I listened to Mrs Raman’s advice. The thing that I enjoyed doing was making the space question video for astronaut Mark Polansky. My question got chosen and was answered by the astronaut from space. This year my teacher helped us create networking accounts such as gmail, twitter and a blog. She did that so we could interact and stay in touch with each other when we are at home or overseas and also to communicate with our global gateway buddies. I have a blog and I have already written something about the book parade on my blog. Our teacher told us never to share our important information on the Internet. Every Tuesday we are lucky to have one hour of Taha Maori with Whaea Erena which is really fun. On Wednesday during lunch times our whole class learns Kapahaka with Whaea Davene. On Friday afternoons my mum and Whaea Emma come to Room 8 to teach us how to make different kinds of putiputi using harekeke. We are so lucky to have all these awesome opportunities at our cool school. That's why I think Kelvin Road School is the best school in Papakura. Don't you agree?

WorldSkills - New Zealand

2009-08-27T12:51:00.002+12:00

In the next two weeks a number of young New Zealanders are going to be competing at Calgary in an effort to be recognised as the best in the world at their work skills. There are youth from many different trades competing in their individual areas. Last international competition New Zealanders did the best they have ever done. If you would like to send a message of support the address is toolblacks09@yahoo.co.nz . If you would like to receive daily “official” video clips you can register at http://wsc2009.worldskills.tv/register/ .

www.worldskills.org.nz

WorldSkills New Zealand's mission is to challenge New Zealand to achieve world-class standards by demonstrating excellence through workplace skills competitions for young people.

This has been sent to you recognising that you have an interest in challenging young people to do well and then better. Have a great day.

Train Trip 17 August 2009

2009-08-18T12:16:00.001+12:00

Library Week 2009

2009-08-15T22:07:00.004+12:00

Room 8 kindly asks all our readers to VOTE for our video in the Library Week Video Competition. It is the first video submitted which appears at the bottom of the webpage: http://www.libraryweek.org.nz/Library%20Week/Overview/Video%20Competition

Title:
Library Week Video Competition: Discover, explore, escape to Papakura Library, NZ by Mrs Kree Raman (Teacher)
Video Description: This video shows Room 8 Coolkids visiting The Sir Edmund Hillary Library on 19 June 2009 as an extension to the amazing work we are doing at our cool school, Kelvin Road Primary, Papakura, Auckland, NZ.
Vote for this video

Total Votes to date: 101

Thank you.

Book Week – Lindy Davis (Author)

2009-08-12T12:55:00.002+12:00

Today Lindy Davis visited our school to talk to the seniors about how to write a story. She is the author of an adventurous thriller and mystery book called The Golden Scarab. Lindy told us that writing a story is similar to baking a cake. This is what you need:

Creative idea = recipe

Plot = flour

Characters = eggs

Action/Romance/Mystery = sugar & spice

Introduction

Conclusion

Then you put the cake in the oven and wait for it to bake, same as submitting a book for publishing and waiting for acceptance. And after a while, you have a really delicious cake to enjoy or a really exciting book to share.

Lindy read us a whole chapter from The Golden Scarab which was so exciting that we cannot wait to read the rest.

At the end Room 8 Coolkids and Mrs Raman were happy to have taken a photo with our Kiwi author Lindy Davis.

THANK YOU MRS DAVIS – and we hope to have many many more wonderful books from you.

Book Week 2009 – William Mace (Journalist)

2009-08-12T11:45:00.003+12:00

Today, 12th August, a young Journalist William Mace visited Kelvin Road School to talk to the seniors about how articles are published in the newspaper. William works for the Papakura Courier and enjoys writing. His favourite is writing about crime stories to make people aware of what’s happening in our community. We learnt that an article has to answer the following questions: WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHY? HOW? In Room 8 there are three kids who were inspired to become journalists when they grow up. They are Kingi, Tyson and Shavanah. Good luck! Thank you William Mace for an informative and interesting talk.

Room 8 Coolkids Reaching for the Stars!!

2009-08-11T12:03:00.002+12:00

View Full Album

Soccer World Cup 2009

2009-08-10T15:47:00.002+12:00

Above: Room 18 Champions & Gold Medallists

Congratulations!

Above/Below: Room 8 Winners of Plate Finals

Well done!

5 golden railway rules

2009-08-07T09:55:00.002+12:00

Always remember the 5 golden railway rules

Never climb over or through a fence by the side of the railway tracks.
Never climb on a bridge over the railway tracks.
Never play with a ball or any other toy on a railway station platform.
Never play with a kite or balloon near electric cables over the railway tracks.
Never throw stones at a train or put anything on the railway tracks.

Always tell your parent or carer:

Where you are going to play
How long you are going to be
Who you are going to play with

Play Safe and Stay Safe

Wish Upon a Star Competition

2009-08-05T09:37:00.002+12:00

This is a picture of the International Space Station, 200 miles above Earth – AMAZING!

Room 8 & Kelvin Road School are taking part in the Wish Upon a Star Competition.

Harold’s dream is coming true. He is off on a space trip!

Your dreams are important. No matter who you are, or where you come from you are special.
What is your wish for your future?

Wish Upon A star Website:

http://www.haroldinspace.co.nz/wish.html

Cool Reading Task:

http://www.haroldinspace.co.nz/diary.html

Harold’s Message board:

http://www.haroldinspace.co.nz/message_board.html

Teacher’s Resource Pack:

http://www.haroldinspace.co.nz/Upload/Mission_Facts/Teachers_Resource_Pack.pdf

Soccer World Cup Winners

2009-08-04T22:18:00.002+12:00

Room 8 Soccer-stars win the Plate Finals today
As always our team played their hearts out today for a two-nil victory against Room 16 who showed some really awesome soccer-skills. From the start of the KRS Soccer World Cup tournament, our team was determined to do their best while having fun too. Their positivity and perseverence took them through to the finals. Our players believed in themselves and gave 100% to the game over the past two terms.
Well done boys and Shavanah - we are really proud of you.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Glides Home After Successful Mission

2009-08-01T21:38:00.002+12:00

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts ended a 16-day journey of more than 6.5 million miles with a 10:48 a.m. EDT landing Friday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the flight, Endeavour delivered the final piece of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and a new crew member to the International Space Station.
Endeavour's mission included five spacewalks and installation of two platforms outside the Japanese module. One platform remained on the station and serves as a type of porch for experiments that require direct exposure to space. The other was an experiment storage pallet that returned aboard the shuttle. During the mission, Kibo's robotic arm transferred three experiments from the palette to the platform. The station now is 83 percent complete and has a mass of more than 685,000 pounds.
Mark Polansky commanded the flight and was joined by Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Dave Wolf, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette and Tim Kopra. Kopra remained aboard the station, replacing Flight Engineer and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who returned to Earth on Endeavour after more than four months on the station.
When Endeavour's seven astronauts joined the six resident Expedition 20 crew members aboard the space station, a record number of 13 people were aboard the orbiting laboratory. All five partner agencies were represented.
A welcome ceremony for the crew's return to Houston will be held at Ellington Field's NASA Hangar 990 at 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 1. The public is invited to attend. The crew's return will be broadcast on NASA Television's video file Monday.
With Endeavor and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the launch of STS-128, which is targeted for Aug. 25. Discovery's 13-day flight will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill.

For more about the STS-127 mission and the upcoming STS-128 flight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ_09_179_Shuttle_landing_success.html

Building Blocks

2009-08-01T12:40:00.003+12:00

Experts Chase, Ben and Tyson showing off their latest creation. It is Chase's dream to be a Civil or Structural Engineer when he grows up. You can do it!

Room 8 Coolkids Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

2009-08-01T12:37:00.002+12:00

Coolkids Quinton and Ariana keep Kelvin Road School tidy by picking up litter during break-times.

Room 8 children take turns to collect the recyclables after lunch each day and put them into the appropriate recycle bin.

Mrs Raman got the 12 blue recycle bins for our school through Mrs Sue Martin from Papakura Council at the end of term 2.

A big THANK YOU to Mrs Sue Martin for her informative talk to Room 8 about Recycling. We are proud to be part of Kelvin Road School by keeping our environment tidy. Are you doing your part to take care our world for your children and your children's children?

STS-127 Answers Room 8's question from Space

2009-07-23T16:30:00.002+12:00

Mrs Raman is so proud of you'll Joseph, Shar, Te Kawehau and Taylah for taking our name into SPACE.

What an achievement for Room 8, Kelvin Road School,Mrs Raman and New Zealand.

It is wonderful to see that all our hard work has paid off.

I hope that you all will grow from strength to strength in your 'endeavours' - just like the name of the sts-127 space-shuttle.

Well done my Coolkids!

Proud teacher,

Mrs Kree Raman

Total Solar Eclipse of 2009 July 22

2009-07-22T10:08:00.002+12:00

On Wednesday, 2009 July 22, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan's Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean.

Global Gateway Connection

2009-07-20T21:41:00.003+12:00

Coolkids showing off the student profiles which arrived all the way from Navrachana School, Gujarat, India.

We are looking forward to emailing our friends in India and working on projects together.

Thank you Navrachana School and Mrs Krishnammal for the beautiful letters we received in the post today.

First Moon Landing 1969

2009-07-20T21:10:00.002+12:00

I was 3 years old back then but only seeing this 40 years later. I believe 100% in this miraculous achievement - the negative theories do not bother me.

This is undoubtedly a GIANT LEAP for mankind! NASA, may you'll grow from strength to strength in your space exploration ENDEAVOURS.

Teach Adobe Roadshow 16 July 2009

2009-07-16T23:40:00.006+12:00

Skycity Convention Centre

Epsom Room 2

My goodness, what an exciting Teach Adobe Roadshow this was. I was totally blown away. In fact, my feet are in the clouds from this digital media explosion and my head is still buzzing. Up until now I was a firm-believer in open-source applications but Adobe is undoubtedly the industry standard. Creative Suite 4 simply rocks my world. My goal for the near future is to master digital media by building skills in rich media, visual and web communications. My current dream as a teacher of the 21st century is to:
* qualify as an Adobe Certified Associate
* learn Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, and other Adobe applications
* integrate Adobe's digital media in my classroom
* mentor and train others in my school community
* engage and motivate my students
* lead the way in teaching digital media skills

If I can dream it, I'm sure that I can achieve it!

Note-taking by Kree Raman
Using: HTC Titan PDA Windows Mobile

Session 1: 9am – Jean-Paul

Knowledge infrastructure

Quote by Obama

"To give our children an opportunity to live out their dreams in a competitive 21st century..."

*Transcend socio-economic barriers

*Korea in 1st place with educational development

Economic advancement - knowledge

*Competition & globalization age - done through the web

Information going from scarce to abundant

*Communication age - 150 million sites to anyone who has internet

1.9 trillion sms

Engaging today’s digital natives - technology is not a tool, it's a way of life

*Kevin Rudd announced that there is going to be a digital revolution - creative, communication & collaboration

Singapore/Malaysia does not use office anymore, they use open source/Adobe

ACA - CERTIPORT - get adobe certified

12,000 testing centres

Become an adobe certified assistant, structure your learning, adobe 94% owns the world,

Become an authorised testing centre, establish a test centre at your school, purchase the exams, 10 tests at $80 each, 10 FREE tests if registered before 31st July.

www.iccentral.com

CS4, CS5

Since CS4, Adobe taken over macromedia

www.acrobat.com

Insight into the future of Adobe

www.abs@adobe.com

Buzz-word

Adobe revolutionalises how the world reacts with others!

Session 2: 9:30 Tools 2 Teach

*Creative Content*

Adobe CS4, Cross media publishing across platforms & devices, make magazines available on website, take web experience onto desktop, like adobe AIR, a free runtime environment, irrespective of their platforms (mac, pc, linux), runs with or without internet, desktop applications, mobile applications, digital experiences, so many technologies & applications, just-in-time learning.

I may not know all the answers but I'm happy to explore together with my learners.

www.adobe.com/education/index.html

Adobe Creative Suite 4 for Education

Project based assignments: goals, design, content creation, develop, validation.

Visual design, digital design, digital video - project based assignments

www.adobe.com/designcenter

http://www.adobe.com/events/main.jsp

A live event 2pm - 3pm NZ time

Education Stream/Beginner stream - watch demo & ask questions

www.creativesweettv.com/

Create a ferrari

Tools outside Creative Suite:

*Adobe Captivate 4* (OMG!)

gr8 teaching tool to teach someone how to use a certain software, a screen capturing software, e.g. How to set an internet proxy? Record & upload as video podcast, record what's happening on the screen, screen will capture the mouse movements, can capture full-motion video, output is in flash format, can export as avi

Captivate is a versatile application with sound, create animation with sound e.g. Global warming, with graphs, multiple choice, quiz questions, interactive.

Download captivate & try it out at home.

SIGN UP with www.acrobat.com (FREE!) use acrobat.com as storage 5 gigs & use anywhere with internet access

Premium surfaces (PAID options)

www.buzzword.acrobat.cim/#o

Create docs & publish online, student project, work collaboratively as co-author or reviewer, do typical formatting as in word doc

FREE e-seminar room - a connectnow meeting room, chat window, sharing window, whiteboard, buzz sharing port, invite 3 parties into your room

Session 3: 10:45 by Aaron Richards, Adobe ambassador, Digital careers teaching resources:

*Visual Design* (stuff we hold & print) - pdf course overview - step-by-step courses - 9 projects, photoshop, illustrator (logos), resolution & dpi, difference between raster (limited blow-up size) & vector file (has no limitations, blow-up any size),

*Photoshop*

Reset Workspace, e.g. Essentials for specific palettes, customize palettes

Colour-correct images:

>Image>adjustments>levels>grayscale tool (middle tool)

To stretch picture to canvas:

>Edit>content-aware-scaling>apply

Straighten the horizon:

>ruler tool>image>?

Re-touching:

Instead of Clone tool use *Spot-healing tool* - looks at areas left & right, remove spots, moles, etc.

*Red-eye tool* - finds the red-eye, click smallest amount on darken tool to avoid black eyes!

To make selections: pen tool, square-selection, elliptical, magic wand, now use *Magnetic lesser tool* - quickly & accurately outlines areas e.g. Body outlines>refine edge tool>white background

*quick-mask tool* to work in reverse, green background to easily see mess-ups, fix up missed areas

*feather* to blend image on white background or super-impose image on top of another background, e.g. man hanging from building.

Joining pictures together - 360 degree view:

>file>automate>photo merge>select pics>blend>flatten image>levels>adjustments>vibrance>brightness

*Layer-Mask*

Non-destructive editing (does not discard original pic)

Turn layer on/off, change tie to red, colour face, colour tie, black & white image!

*Illustrator*

Tools & workspace similar to photoshop

Vector based programme which uses a math-equation, blows up image to any proportion

>objects

Key to illustrator is the *pen tool* - go around with pen-tool on a giant 'S'

When using pen tool, follow the arc, minimize points, i.e. make as less points as possible.

Illustrator is powerful with text, e.g. Aaron, convert to outlines, turns the Font into an Object, do something fancy to the first letter of the word.

Type around a circle, or fill text within the circle, first draw the object, then fill with text.

Also create text on path, by drawing irregular line.

*Live Trace* traces photoshop file and converts it to vector art-work -

Colouring-in objects (picture),

>colour-group>add colour-group>live paint tool>fill colour> quick and easily fill with different colours using arrow-keys.

*Live Colour* - changing colours on a logo

>colour-guide>edit>colour harmony rule,

*Live trace*

*grading tool* - produces tints & tones of colours.

*InDesign* Multiple art-boards - for more than one piece of artwork on the same workspace. Photo is a Raster application which uses pixels. Illustrator uses vector.

Desktop publishing programmes e.g. Paint, Publisher, word, ppt, etc.

Move texts/pics using math equations

Text on highest layer, image layer, apply bleeding, i.e. take picture outside borders to allow for printing.

Insert box, then insert image to get desired size.

Managing pages on InDesign - pages need to be divided by 4

*Master Pages*

Make new master if needed, can have multiple master pages. You can control the layers on

InDesign, u can turn on/off layers then preview. Apply drop-shadow

>objects>effects>d op-shadow

Apply filters to text.

Ready to publish on Acrobat Reader (free) - present multiple docs in pdf file. Create post-script file then pdf file.

How to export as pdf, smallest file type or high quality print, insert crop marks & bleed marks if needed, click export.

Use acrobat:

To create a form,

>form>start with pdf doc>use current doc>

If it missed something, then click add/edit form.

>*distribute form* to acrobat (must set up acrobat.com account)

Up-coming Adobe eseminar - go to On Demand site to find out about creating forms.

Shared reviews: *Comment & Mark-up* on acrobat rather than printing & using a pen.

*Text Edits* - delete words, insert words, capitalize, check commenting list.

*Rubber stamp* tools, e.g. APPROVED

*Highlight* Tool, Underline, Insert arrows & write comment/instructions.

Pencil tools, audio tool to add recording, add paperclip to attach a comment-file.

3rd session - 1:30pm Brian Chau

*Digital Design*

*Dreamweaver*

*Flash*

You can run these apps on desktop & even on mobile.

School samples:

www.mlc.vic.edu.au/flashzone/index.htm

*Flash* - animations, using Flash to express themselves in Writing & illustrating, create interactive multimedia

Flash is an *swf movie* file

How to create a flash animation:

Draw a basic quarter-moon shape, store it in Library to use multiple times.

Use *symmetry brush* to create fantastic shapes by repeating your basic shape, store in library, move object in path to animate it, u can animate the object along a 3D path! Easy to use & powerful as well.

*Motion editor* with special effects. Also heaps of pre-built animation in Library to select from. U can create Flash File ActionScript 3.0 (better language) or ActionScript 2.0

Turn the photoshop image into flash animation. Reconstruct psd file into swf file.

Custom animations.

The brake to slow down your animation is called *ease*. Apply *effects* such as blur 51 pixels, then on blur when it stops. Create a command to Stop animation e.g. *stop ();

The brackets denotes that 'stop' means a verb while the; means a full-stop.

>Modify>Convert to symbol to animate button -select *Behaviors* pattern to decide what happens when someone clicks on each button. Publish as Flash (.swf) and HTML (.html)

*Adobe Air*

Sam's Interactive Reader - interactive storybooks, games, audio, text.

Adobe Air runs inside a browser -that means u can browse, drag & drop files & videos from your hard-drive rather than being restricted to only viewing stuff from the web. For mobile publish as *Adobe Mobile Package*

CAB file is for windows mobile.

Next insert into Dreamweaver to create a webpage. gr8 way to learn html because you can view the html code

CSS = cascading style sheet, e.g. to make a sheet look good, just for dressing up and decoration.

HTML = Google will rate as important if text highlighted as heading

How to build a webpage

Header, footer, navigation, expandable (minimise/maximize),

Try different styles, modify, make width to 100% to stretch across webpage. Roll-over navigation. You can use the pre-built navigation on dreamweaver. Turn CSS styles off. Spider = search engine.

Session 4: 3pm

*Video Design*

Check this out:

Apollo 11: http://www.wechoosethemoon.org/

www.cinema.philips.com

Air Applications: always online - last 7 days will be available even when you're offline!

*Earth Browser*

*The New York Times* - http://www.nytimes.com/

Try the crossword available.

Some parts of newspaper free, but subscriptions offered.

Project: capture video using camera i.e. Edsoft’s HD pocket-camera, do video editing, save in hard-drive.

*Adobe Premiere Pro* - edit, special effects, audio, import as dvd or blu-ray.

Import 3 videos, edit, put in sequence, Remove the green screen - stretch it, bring in a psd file for a new background, drop it underneath on timeline, move to suit, insert audio;

*Adobe Soundbooth* - shows wav file & frequency file, so u can *remove a sound* &

*auto heal* from the frequency file, not the wav file. Save as flash video or output as dvd or blu-ray: *Send to Encore* -it will launch Encore as a programme - save as blu-ray.

>After effects>insert text (e.g. to be continued) - u can custom animate text, change effects. Go back to Encore. Add chapter markers. Add sequence headers. Use help manuals in Resource Central - they are psd files that u can further edit. Link from object to particular chapter by dragging and dropping on *Link* to the *timeline*.

Look at *Flowchart* to double-check your Links.

Complete the project, import quicktime video, you can link from *Main menu* & *Link* or from *Flow-chart*

On the Timeline, you can add multiple sound track i.e. Chinese subtitles - use text to type in subtitles OR *import subtitles* You can also output as Flash movie.

Analyzing Obama's Inaugural Speech

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/20/us/politics/20090120_INAUGURAL_ANALYSIS.html#

Videos are the most opaque on the internet, hard to search the content since it is audio, e.g. Presidents speech. Adobe has a tool to convert the speech into searchable text.

Create an application using Web flow. Transcribe your video, pick the language u want. 30secs to transcribe. Correct errors in transcript. Export as speech transcription. Export to Dreamweaver. Saved as .xml file.

Searchable video - Download html template

*Adobe Media & Coder* that allows u to encode videos from one format to another...bring in any source e.g. flv (flash-video) - output to quicktime, mp3, mpeg4, avi, gif, blu-ray etc.

www.adobe.com

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/

http://pelfusion.com/tutorials/adobetv-tutorials-learn-after-effects-cs4/

Adobe Creative Suite 4:

*Dreamweaver

*Flash

*Photoshop

*InDesign

*PremierePro

Other

*Certified Associate

*Air - online application, automatically updates & synchronizes

*Adobe TV (free)

*Video workshop that comes with CS3

*Fireworks* - image editor

Email Brian: bchau@adobe.com

Brian’s Blog: www.brianchau.wordpress.com/

The Teach Adobe Roadshow ended at 4:30pm

The Teach Adobe Roadshow was all about Digital Content using Creative Suite 4. Santa, you know what I want this Christmas :))

Notes

by

Kree Raman

ICT Lead Teacher

Kelvin Road School

Auckland, NZ

Blog: www.mrsramanscoolkids.blogspot.com/

Youtube: kree12

Facebook: Kree Raman Vandayar

Skype: kreeraman

Email: kree4sai@gmail.com

Endeavour, STS-127 Crew Begin Complex Mission

2009-07-16T21:52:00.001+12:00

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:01 PM UTC+1200

Endeavour is safely in orbit. Its 16-day mission includes 5 spacewalks and will complete the station's Japanese module.

Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts are in orbit after an on-time launch at 6:03 p.m. EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following a smooth countdown with no technical issues and weather that steadily improved throughout the afternoon, the shuttle lifted off from Launch Pad 39A and began its orbital chase of the International Space Station.

"It was a testimony for this entire launch and flight control team," Launch Director Pete Nickolenko said of the countdown and successful liftoff, which came on the sixth launch attempt after technical issues and weather concerns prevented the first five tries. "It was an outstanding effort, and it made the complex look really easy. It really was a case of persistence."

Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, also commended the launch effort, but cautioned that the mission to come is "very challenging," with five spacewalks and robotic activities scheduled. "The teams are fully prepared -- they're ready to go do what they need to go do, and we look forward to the exciting activities as we install the Exposed Facility out on the Kibo module."

NASA Build more Space Stations!!!

2009-07-15T11:15:00.004+12:00

I know that everything happens for a good reason, nevertheless, I am getting a little impatient with all the sts-127 mis-launches. I can't imagine how the sts_127 crew and their families must be feeling. God give you strength!

I have a suggestion, to avoid future launch delays, why can't NASA construct an Obama Space Centre in Central Australia or Africa?
It will be well-worth the money spent and we can have multiple launches and missions to speed up our space-explorations. I know that we have made major advances and space discoveries in the recent decades but let's start speeding things up a bit and make it easier for our children's children.

I believe that NASA needs to spread its wings and embrace our entire planet Earth first in order to make extra-ordinary breakthroughs in Space.

I do pray we have a successful launch in 22 hours 30 minutes time...all through the Grace of GOD! Room 8 is waiting anxioulsy for our space questions to be answered from space, live on NASA TV.

Good luck and God Speed sts-127
Mrs Kree Raman

Endeavour Launch Rescheduled for Wednesday

2009-07-14T14:44:00.001+12:00

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:41:26 PM UTC+1200

Liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-127 mission has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 15 at 6:03 p.m. EDT.

Monday's attempt was canceled due to poor weather conditions within the launch area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Anvil clouds and storm cells containing lightning flared up toward the end of the countdown, violating stringent launch safety rules.

"Technically, we've been really clean the last two days with our vehicle," Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses said of Endeavour's launch attempts on Sunday and Monday. "It's just been the weather scenario that got us."

The outlook is better on Wednesday, with only a 40 percent chance of weather conditions prohibiting liftoff.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

STS-127 Countdown in Final Planned Hold

2009-07-14T10:10:00.001+12:00

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:57:40 AM UTC+1200

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the countdown clock has paused for 45 minutes at the T-9-minute mark. This is the final built-in hold for today's countdown to liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour on its STS-127 mission.

The countdown is going relatively smoothly, with no technical issues in work. Although launch managers and weather officials are monitoring weather conditions around the launch area and Shuttle Landing Facility very closely, liftoff remains scheduled for 6:51 p.m. EDT.

Watch for countdown clocks to resume ticking backwards at 6:42 p.m. when the T-9-minute hold is released.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

God Speed STS_127 - our thoughts and prayers are with you on this 4th launch. Have a blast!!

Latest Space Shuttle Newshttp://www.nasa.gov/shuttle en-us

2009-07-12T21:02:00.001+12:00

Careful Testing Under Way After Lightning Strikes
Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:59:52 AM UTC+1200

The launch of space shuttle Endeavour was postponed until Sunday evening so engineers could evaluate the spacecraft's myriad systems following 11 lightning strikes in the Launch Complex 39A area.

None of the strikes hit the shuttle or its external tank and solid rocket boosters, but there were strikes to the lightning mast and water tower. The launch pad is equipped with a lightning protection system of wires that is intended to steer bolts away from the shuttle.

"We've seen nothing so far that shows anything affected any of the systems," said Mike Moses, chairman of the pre-launch Mission Management Team.

Two of the strikes were strong enough to trigger an evaluation by engineers just to make sure all of Endeavour's systems are ready for flight. Although early evaluations showed no problems, engineers wanted more time to make sure they have checked everything correctly.

"We need to be 100 percent confident that we have a good system across the board," Moses said.

The launch time for Sunday is 7:13 p.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

Astronaut Mark Polansky will answer our question live from Space on NASA TV

2009-07-11T07:18:00.003+12:00

Refer to Polansky Question Picks
Questions 6 & 8 from Room 8, Kelvin Road School...how cool?

STS-127 Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch 11 July 2009

2009-07-11T07:15:00.000+12:00

Room 8 wishes the Crew of STS-127 a safe, happy and successful mission. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We hope you all have an exciting journey to Space and return safely back to Earth. God Speed.

STS-127 Mission Overview
The 16-day mission will feature five spacewalks and complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will allow experiments to be exposed to space.
The STS-127 crew members are Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette. Kopra will join the space station crew and replace Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will return to Earth on Endeavour to conclude a three-month stay at the station.

End of Term 2 - have a gr8 break!

2009-07-04T08:46:00.003+12:00

Kia Ora,
Hope you have all had as much fun and excitement as Room 8 has had over the past ten weeks. Here's wishing you all a restful, relaxing, safe and happy July break.

Here are some cool Teacher and Student poems:
If I Could Teach You, Teacher
If I could teach you, teacher,
I’d teach you how much more
you have accomplished
than you think you have.
I’d show you the seeds
you planted years ago
that are now coming into bloom.
I’d reveal to you the young minds
that have expanded under your care,
the hearts that are serving others
because they had you as a role model.
If I could teach you, teacher,
I’d show you the positive effect
you have had on me and my life.
Your homework is
to know your value to the world,
to acknowledge it, to believe it.
Thank you, teacher.
By Joanna Fuchs

Number One Teacher
I'm happy that you're my teacher;
I enjoy each lesson you teach.
As my role model you inspire me
To dream and to work and to reach.
With your kindness you get my attention;
Every day you are planting a seed
Of curiosity and motivation
To know and to grow and succeed.
You help me fulfill my potential;
I'm thankful for all that you've done.
I admire you each day, and I just want to say,
As a teacher, you're number one!
By Joanna Fuchs

THE OPTIMIST CREED
By Christian D. Larsen
Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
Make all your friends feel there is something in them.
Look at the sunny side of everything.
Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
Give everyone a smile.
Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.
Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.

A NEW DAY
Dr. Heartsill Wilson
This is the beginning of a new day.
I have been given this day to use as I will.
I can waste it, or use it.
I can make it a day long to be remembered for its joy, its beauty and its achievements, or it can be filled with pettiness.
What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, but I shall hold something which I have traded for it.
It may be no more than a memory, but if it is a worthy one I shall not regret the price.
I want it to be gain not loss, good not evil, success not failure.

BE THANKFUL
By Author Unknown
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Senior School Poetry Recital Finals

2009-06-30T16:14:00.004+12:00

Te Kawehau and Shar, Room 8's 1st & 2nd place winners of our Annual Senior School Poetry Finals. What a tough decision as all the finalists were amazing. Well done you two for living up to our class-name of COOLKIDS! We are so proud of you!

Mrs Raman's Cool Kids

Year 8 Luncheon

Variety - The Children's Charity

BBC Skillswise

THINK. SIGN

Room 2 Stars practising Waka Waka

Food for the Soul

Maori Language Week 26 July to 1 August

Matariki Haka

Animated Storybook: Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

IHC Volunteers Make a Difference

Volunteer Awareness Week 21 June 2010

Jump Jam by Room 2 Stars - Kotahitanga

Jump Jam by Room 2 Stars - Witch Doctor

Matariki - Waiata

Kapo Kapo Nga Whetu

***MATARIKI**** Happy Maori New Year - New Moon 14 June 2010

Matariki Myth

Happy FIFA World Cup 2010

I am torn between two of my favourite countries i.e. South Africa & New Zealand. Viva Bafana Bafana & the All Whites :)))

Room 3’s Favourite Kai

Margaret Mahy's "Fantail, Fantail" by Room 3

Room 3 – Fantail Fantail

Dream BIG! Reach for the Stars…

Ocean and the Alligator

Short Vowel Short Stories “a e i o u”

The Most Efficient System for Day to Day Relief Teaching

Room 4 Papakura South School 26 May 2010

Poem for my Teacher by Kaiya

NIS Key Competencies

SOLO Taxonomy and Managing Self

Volunteer 4 IHC

Operation Orange Day is May 21

My opinion of National Standards

Room 2 Stars at the Pool

NZEI Updates

MR 2010/19 - Confusion reigns over National Standards

Anzac Day 25 April 2010

Papakura South School Room 3

Papakura South School Room 2

Papakura South School Room 3

KRS TERM DATES 2010

29th January 2010 – Teacher Only Day - Kelvin Road School

2nd February 2010 – Teacher Only Day - PAI

Term 1 - 3rd February to 1st April (84 half days)

Term 2 - 19th April to 2nd July (108 half days)

Term 3 - 19th July to 24th September (100 half days)

Term 4 - 11th October to 16th December (96 half days)

NZ HOLIDAYS 2010

1st February (Monday) - Auckland Anniversary

6th February (Saturday) - Waitangi Day

2nd April (Friday) - Good Friday

5th April (Monday) - Easter Monday

6th April (Tuesday) - Day after Easter Monday

25th April (Sunday) - Anzac Day

7th June (Monday) - Queens Birthday

25th October (Monday) - Labour Day

School Closed for end of Term 4

Reunion

National Standards

Email Comment from Whaea Lisa

Hello Cool Kids

Cool Kids Kapahaka

52 Character Building Thoughts for Children

By Leah Davies, M.Ed.

Space Mission tokens for Cool Kids from USA

Tree Planting – 11 September 2009

Teacher’s Farewell Message

Comments from Mrs Raman’s Ex-teachers

Hubble's Recommissioning Process

Putiputi - Parent-helpers: Whaea Emma & Whaea Philomena

Healthy Eating: Pasta with Watties Salsa Chilli-beans

Speech: Taking Care of Animals by Kaiya

Speech: My favourite sport by Jyris

Speech: Friends by Justice

Speech: Sport by Kimball

Speech: Taking care of your pet by Memory

Speech: Why I love computer games by Ben

Speech: Friends by Taylah

Speech: I have a dream by Kingi

*MATARIKI** Happy Maori New Year - New Moon 14 June 2010

I am torn between two of my favourite countries i.e. South Africa & New Zealand.
Viva Bafana Bafana & the All Whites :)))