Waitaha News
LEARNING UPDATE: Term 1, 2025
This term has been full of exciting events, from the Gala to Swimming Sports and the Triathlon — but learning hasn’t slowed down! Students continue to engage in reading, writing, and maths while exploring hands-on projects and real-world themes.
Resilience and teamwork have shone through in both academic and physical challenges, with students setting goals and supporting one another.
Check out these class learning updates to see the amazing work happening across the Year 7 -8 Team!
!
INTERMEDIATE CAMP – FOREST LAKES 23-27 SEPTEMBER 2024
We are in the process of organising the traditional two-yearly Intermediate camp. This camp is a significant event for our students, providing them with lifelong memorable experiences. We plan to stay at Forest Lakes, Otaki from Monday 23 September to Friday 27 September 2024.
Students will take part in the following activities:
- Te Papa
- Wellington Zoo
- Ferg’s Rock Climbing
- Wellington Museum
- Porirua Aquatic Centre
- Adrenalin Forest
- Campsite activities: Horse riding, kayaking, gladiator, confidence course, mud slide
As a school and an Intermediate team, we strongly believe in providing opportunities for students to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. We endeavour to ensure that every student, regardless of their financial situation, has the opportunity to attend camp if they wish to do so.
The school made the decision to ‘opt in’ to the Government Donation Scheme again this year, but unfortunately, this impacts on how we fund the camp experience. We have decided to try and raise the money first, by requesting voluntary donations towards the camp. The camp can go ahead on the basis of donations, but we have estimated that we will need to raise $480 per student. Any donations made are tax-deductible and parents can claim an income tax credit from Inland Revenue in relation to any donations made to the school. We will provide parents with a donation receipt.
Donations can be made by downloading the myKindo app and setting up an account using the same email address we have recorded for you. If your child has sold chocolate last year to fundraise for camp, the donation amount requested has been adjusted to reflect the money raised. Any monies already paid to school for camp will be applied to your account after you have set up a myKindo account.
Students who have dietary requirements are required to pay a separate and compulsory fee of $25 via myKindo.
Camp parent volunteers are required to pay a separate and compulsory camp fee of $280 also via myKindo.
FIREWOOD RAFFLE – CAMP FUNDRAISER
Be in to win $300 worth of high quality firewood thanks to Ideal Buidlings, New Plymouth. All funds raised will go towards the Intermediate Camp to Wellington in September.
Only 100 tickets available, $5 each, get in quick to snap them up and fill the shed for next winter!
SCIENCE – TERM 2
During Science in Term 2, students in the Intermediate Team have been learning about polymers and discovering their fundamental properties. From everyday materials like plastics and rubber to advanced uses, learners explored how polymers are created to meet specific needs. Through hands-on experiments, students learnt about different types of polymers, and explored the environmental impact of these materials.
LET’S GO CYCLE SKILLS – ROOM 17
What We Did:
Room 17 learnt how to signal with their hands to show other cars and cyclists what they were doing, for example if we wanted to take a right or left we would signal which way we would go. We also learned how to be pedal ready and stay on our left side because on the right the cars and trucks are coming on the right side and on the left side you have gardens, fences and grass. We also learned how to put our helmet safely on our head, tighten the back of our helmet, clip in the chin strap and pull it tight so you can just about fit your two fingers under your chin and on your forehead and the V straps.
We also learned how to keep our bike safe by using ABCDQ:
A = Air D = Drop B = Breaks Q = Quick release C = Controls/Chain
We also learned how to use bunny ears, a door and a bit more – feathering brakes, stop sequence, left and right look, in and out look, 45 degrees foot on curve, giveaway, eye contact, hockey stick turn, centre of the lane. These all will help us in the future and keep us safe on our bikes.
What We Enjoyed:
In Room 17 our class enjoyed going outside of the school to learn how to be safe on the road and footpath. Our class was lucky enough to go for a bike ride up the Mangati Walkway and Coastal Walkway. We enjoyed learning new things and practicing our signals, over the triangle and bike safety.
Games/Activities:
- Line stop
- Traffic light
- Up and of the cone
- Stick pass
- High fives
- Feathering
- Pedal ready
- Eye concentration
- Signaling
- Many more
A Challenge:
Some of the challenges we faced were keeping our feet in a pedal ready position and bunny ears on the brakes at all times. We also found remembering the signals hard at the start but we now have the hang of it. A few other things were the giveaway, biking in the rain and the stop sequence. Although some of these things were challenging we still gave it our best and supported others. We would like to thank the teachers and staff, the Let’s Go cyclists and Mr Hailes for this amazing opportunity. We really enjoyed it because we learned a lot of new things and techniques to use in the future.
By Ty and Heera
ROOM 20 LEARNING
During our Turangawaewae Inquiry – Room 20 learned about WWI and the role ANZAC soldiers played in this significant period of history. We researched and found out about the nations that made up the Allies and Central Powers, the main cause(s) of WWI, the key players/figures involved, which weapons were available, as well as what trench life was like for a typical soldier.
We have been collating lots of information throughout our research and presented these in a myriad of different ways. One way we chose to present our learning was in the form of a postcard – writing back to a loved one during WWI.
We hope you enjoy!
EXTRA CREDIT HOMEWORK TERM 2
Last term, students had the opportunity to earn points towards their honours badges. They had to create and publish a children’s picture book that teaches a value that is important and meaningful.
Well done to Lily Watchorn, Sophie Chen, Noah Hooper, Logan Metcalfe, Gemma Maltby, Hailey Duncan, Charlie Goldfinch, Teegan Watt, Tai Gilbert-Barlow, Marley Norman and Adele Keighley for completing the task. Their books will be on display in the library.
NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERS’ DAY (NYLD)
The Student Council travelled down to Palmerston North for the National Young Leaders Day on 25 May 2022. It was such a fun and cool experience to listen to some inspiring speakers and hear their amazing stories. One of the quotes I was very inspired by was “Don’t fight like an octopus, fight like a shark” which means that if life is the fishing rod, an octopus would give up the fight straight away but sharks don’t give up, they fight for their freedom. We need to have the inner fight. Overall, it was an awesome day and I enjoyed every second of it. Taj Taogaga, Room 19
INTERMEDIATE TRIP TO PUKE ARIKI & TARANAKI CIVIL DEFENCE
The Intermediate Team had the opportunity to visit Puke Ariki and Taranaki Civil Defence as part of our inquiry unit. We began at Puke Ariki with a self guided tour of the exhibits. The students loved learning about our local area and staff at Puke Ariki commented on how caring our students were with each other, taking turns with the interactives and being respectful to members of the public visiting the museum. Students then had a lesson about conservation work being undertaken to help protect endemic plants and animals by ngā iwi o Taranaki, government agencies and community groups to become predator-free by 2050. We look forward to having Predator Free Taranaki coming into school on Monday 8 August to help us build traps. If any whānau would like to come and help us with the construction of these traps please come along at 9am!
The classes then walked up to Taranaki Civil Defence. Students learned about emergency management and local hazards in Taranaki, the ECC and the command and control system of managing a response (CIMS), the 4 Rs (how they prepare for emergencies, warnings, resilience and recovery). We learnt about the different roles in an emergency and how they help our community – students even wore the jackets for these roles!
Students are becoming well equipped to protect our mountain, both conservationally and with emergency preparedness.
We would like to thank the parent helpers who were able to come along and make these opportunities possible for our students.
