Remembering Saint Patrick's Cultural Festival 2013

Cultural Festival 2013

The first group it was the Maori Group. My friend was leading the haka.It felt happy and good. It tell the people what we teach and learn from seven weeks.

The second one it was the Chinese.

The third it was my Samoan group.I was happy and felt good,because this is my first time to go on the stage

.The fourth it was my friend group Tonga  it was my friend williefred was leading.

The fifth it was the filipino.The last it was the hip Hop.We walked  up together to the stage  we were singing the national anthem.The student parent was came up to the stage and give them the money.The principal was happy at the student.My teacher was happie to her group.And the others teachers was happy at their group.The Samoan group was looked the same with the Tonga group.The culture festival it was good and funny.

The parents was happy at their student was on the stage.The culture it the important for the student because have fun and show the parents what they teach from the seven weeks.There are some parents game last night the festival was finish and some of them didn't came and some students of the group didn’t game.Most of the student came early at the school and help the teachers or bracktist.Some of the student was nervous and proud.

By Junior

Math - important or not - What's your opinion?

We are learning to write a persuasive argument.
Our teacher asked our opinion about whether or not we thought mathematics was important.
This is my response.

Maths is important because everybody uses maths in their daily lives, like for working out how much money the have. It is not a waste of time because if we didn't have maths, the cashiers in shops would give people the wrong amount of change and people would be getting ripped off. If we stop using maths, this generation will stop using their brains. And if technology fails, people will need to start using their brains but they will be unable to because their brains have stopped remembering how to do maths.

Out and About in the Community

Are you wanting to book a holiday in 2 weeks time?

I am part of the aLiM maths group at our school.  Alim stands for accelerating learning in mathematics.  As part of our learning, we have been investigating mathematics in our community.  This morning the aLim groups one and two went for an adventure around Panmure.

While walking we took pictures of the things that we could see that involved mathematics. The things we saw in Panmure included:

• ATM machines

• Car number plates
• Signs
• Bus numbers
• Bus stop numbers and timetables
• Prices
• Patterns created by blocks on the footpaths

After taking images around Panmure we walked to Settlers Tours and while we were there we talked to a travel Agent her name was Pauline. Pauline talked to us about the cost of traveling which included more that just our fare would be and what you can do and what you cannot do.

For example , if you are travelling by yourself or with a sibling you have to be over 10 years old and that is the thing that is allowed but one of the things that are not allowed when you are going to travel is even if you are 10 or older you are not to travel with a sibling that is 3 years old or younger. One of the most important thing that you should remember when you are about to travel is to always confirm or check who is picking you up from the airport. But if that person does not confirm that they are coming to pick you up then you will not be allowed to leave that  country that you are living in.

We found out that if you are under the age of 12 you get 75% off the adult price for travelling but if you are 12 and over you have to pay the full adult fare.  

Talking to Pauline was interesting it really inspired me and got me thinking of being a travel agent when I grow up. What are you thinking of doing as a career when you grow up, if you do not have anything in mind or if you are not sure? Have a think about being a travel agent.

I also learnt that there is a lot of mathematics involved in this job and how it links to the things we learn in class. While browsing holiday magazines to check out prices being able to work our discounts for travel and see what kind of deals you could get.

On a previous trip 'Out and About' we also visited the bank and found out about currency exchange rates and about starting up personal bank accounts and the interest you can earn on your savings. Its all about mathematics. Knowing and understanding how maths is used in the real world is important.

Different Points of View

Changing the time we start school - where do you stand?

As an Intermediate student I disagree to the statement being said about starting school for at 8:30 which would start difficulties for not only parents but for my siblings and even myself.

Firstly In my family I am not an only child which means my parents would have to take two trips for my siblings and I. Unfortunately that would make life harder for my parents and also for the cost of petrol they wouldn't want to go to the gas station every now and then to get petrol.

My siblings are only 8 and 3 they would have to be super fast to get ready and it takes them almost half and hour to get ready which would mean them getting up 30 minutes earlier than before. Also they wouldn't be awake they would be sleepy which could make them fall asleep during class.

If my siblings work out then my parents would have to wake up even earlier because like everyone knows lunch doesn't make itself. My parents are used to a routine leaving at 8:30 because its best to be at school with other people than yourself.

So I disagree to starting school at 8:30 because my younger siblings won't be up for a tough challenge (they won’t handle it) and my parents wouldn't want to wake up earlier than they use to wake up.

Williefred.

In room 8 we are learning about the features and structure associated with 'Persuasive Writing'. Persuasive writing is a form of writing that allows the writer to express how they feel about a specific topic or focus but, it also involves justifying how you feel with evidence. One of the ideas that we have responded to is an idea that our teacher had about changing the starting time of school. We had varying views about this!

Rich Tasks

Mathematicians at Work!

Underwater Viewing Machines

As part of our Under the Oceans inquiry, students designed and created 'Underwater viewing machines.'