Cross Country

Wow!!! We have just completed our Junior Cross Country and Room 17 did well. In the Year 3 girls we had P.H come in third place. For the Year 3 boys we had B.M come first and T.J-O come in second!  What an excellent result! Well done to everyone who took part, we had a great afternoon and had a lot of fun.

Our wonderful poetry representatives

On Tuesday 27th September two students from R17 represented us at the Middle School Poetry Finals. These are the poems they recited to the Year 3 and 4's and we think you'll agree they were presented to a very high level. It can be quite difficult to speak in front of an audience and D.M and R.P did an excellent job and we are very proud of them both.

Cross Country update Cross Country update Cross Country update

Oops, Miss Wright got all excited about our Cross Country coming up and sent out the note a day early..... well in that day we have decided to bring the date forward as the weather doesn't look too good by Friday. Junior Cross Country is now on Thursday 29th September at 1.30. Remember to bring your running gear and sun hat (all named) along with plenty of water!
See you there.....

Our trip to Auckland City to look at structures

On Thursday the 8th September the Middle School went into Auckland City to look at the many structures around the new Wynyard Quarter. It was the day before the Rugby World Cuo opened so it was very busy and we went through The Cloud, saw the giant rugby ball, gloe and many other very cool things. After walking around the waterfront we finished with our lunch down at the new playground. It was a fantastic day and we got really hooked into our new Inquiry topic.

Hector and his adventures

 After learning about Hector and how he keeps us safe while we are on the internet we decided we wanted to write our own adventure. We worked together in groups to brainstorm our ideas then used them to help write our stories. Once we have finished them we are going to create our own books.

Remember to go to www.hectorsworld.org.nz to find out more about how to be cyber safe at school and at home. 

Our Structure Walk

We went for a walk around the school to look at some structures. We found the school sign, rock wall, playground, sand pit and fence. There were lots more but we didn't have time to look at everything. We looked at each structure and decided what its purpose was and what it was made out of.

Daffodil Day

 Every year cancer effects more and more people in our country. One in three New Zealanders will be affected and at Botany Downs we try to help by buying daffodil flowers, stickers and tattoos. All of the donations will go towards helping to find out more about this terrible disease and help to find a cure.
So thank you to everyone for helping such a worthy cause.

Maths Week, Maths Roadshow

Stuff we do...

Well you can't anything else really..... thanks B.M

Counting money is a tiring business.... maybe that is another reason why children shouldn't get paid to go to school.....

C.T recieving his well deserved Term Certificate!! 

Two proud lads who have worked hard... who will be next?

Should children get paid to go to school?

Our homework this week was to think about this statement and come up with 5 reasons why children should and shouldn't get paid to go to school. Each person in the class chose one from their work......

Why should children get paid to go to school?

·      So we have lunch money

·      Because I am good all the time

·      It will motivate children to learn

·      They need to learn

·      For completing tasks on time

·      Because the government should pay

·      So they can buy cool toys

·      You could put the money towards buying lots of learning tools

·      We work hard and put in a lot of effort

·      We can save for our future

·      So kids can have money to pay for mufti

·      We work hard

·      Children can pay their own activity fee

·      Children could do jobs for teachers to earn the money

·      You could play at home but instead go to school

·      Children can learn how to save from an early age

·      We can save it up

·      We work our hearts off

·      So we can buy birthday presents

·      We can buy our clothes

Why shouldn’t children get paid to go to school?

·       Telling people about your money and then getting tricked out of it

·       Parents could go broke

·       Kids would not learn the value of money

·       Because you’re getting something out of it already

·       It costs someone a lot of money

·       Children may get bullied for their money

·       They can learn not to get paid

·       It’s not a job

·       The government will not have enough money

·       We would have to do chores

·       Not all parents could afford paying for children to go to school

·       Your mum and dad might make you buy stuff for them

·       Just because you get paid doesn’t mean you’re going to try to learn

·       We would only come to school for the money

·       You might stop enjoying your learning

·       People would have lots more children to get lots of money when they go to school

·       Knowledge is more precious than money

·       Children already like school

·       Because children’s parents already pay for everything

·       It would cost a lot

·       Children learn to show off so they shouldn’t be paid to go to school

                                 So what do you think??? Makes you think doesn't it?

Please come visit...

We have been busy in Room 17. Please come and visit us anytime and read how our super hero powers will help others, our adventure aboard the Eagle Helicopter, our Firewise brochures, see the people in our neighbourhood and how they help us and many other things. So come and share in our learning, hope to see you soon.....

Our neighbourhood

After looking at the people and their jobs we decided to create our own neighbourhood. We came up with as many jobs we could think of from our area and then filled in an entire neighbourhood around them. If you look carefully you can see Clarks Cafe, a bird stealing a fish, skateboard ramp, people swimming, a stop sign, a bakery, flower bushes, a dog house, a postie, some flash cars, a rubbish truck and much, much more....who esle is in your neighbourhood?

How mum or dad helps....

As part of our homework we interviewed either mum or dad about their job. We asked how their job helped others.... can you see your response? We have a lot of helpful people out there.....

Who are the people in your neighbourhood?

We have been thinking (and singing old Sesame Street songs) about the people in our neighbourhood and how they help us. We came up with many jobs and every one of them helps us in some way. What other people can you think of that help us?

How Mrs Skelton helps....

Mrs Skelton works with the Guide Dog Foundation which is a very important job. She helps to look after the dogs that will eventually go to help a blind person in New Zealand. We got to meet Mrs Skelton and Cara and learnt a lot about her job.
= Guide dogs help blind people
= It takes 6 months to train a puppy
= When the harness goes on... the dog is at work, when it comes off.... the dog is a dog again
= When a puppy is 6 weeks old it goes to a puppy  walker family
= They stay with a family for a year
= Guide dogs are allowed almost anywhere except the zoo and hospitals
= It costs upwards of $20,000 to raise and train a puppy
= There are 250 working guide dogs in NZ
= When a person gets a guide dog it feels like they have won Lotto
= Cara is off to Christchurch to live with and help an old woman
= If a guide dog gets lost it can be found because it has a special tag on its collar and a microchip

Thank you Mrs Skelton for bringing in a very special dog to meet us, she was extremely well behaved.

The best day at school....

The jagged lightning slashed across the sky...

Fire painting

I was deep asleep when the fire bell went off.....

Burning Buildings Art