Autumn Poems

We have been focussing on using strong language in our poems.

Sitara
Creeping towards the forest
A misty breeze sweeps through
Forlorn trees stand bare.

Languid leaves fall to the dewy ground
Listening to silence
A silhouette covers the forest
Wearing his crown of golden leaves.



Kayden
In the misty morning
The sun awakes the trees in silence
leaves falling
Hitting the damp ground
Causing a puddle of leaves
A lonely bird will sing at dawn to silence
Waiting to hear a voice,
But flouted.



AJ
As the first signs of day show to the east
The forlorn trees start mourning the loss of their leaves
As they slowly drop to the earth like tears
Weaving a golden rug of ageing life.

A solitary crow takes flight to the clear, cool sky
Searching for shelter
Against the upcoming season.



Isla
Light shines upon the glistening dew
As it rests in the sun's embrace
Leaves are shed upon their end
Gifting a blanket to the cold ground.

Cautiously they come to claim their share
Of the tree's jewels.

A calm wind steals away all they have left
Although they do not realise.

Until the song ends.

Ezra's Back Flip

Check out the new skill!!

Questioning Skills

Over the last two days we have been developing our questioning skills. We know that this is so important, particularly during our Inquiry learning.

We were introduced to the Question Matrix. This is a tool that leads us from basic questions to deeper questions.

Today we were challenged to come up with six questions about the Pacific from different areas of the matrix. Many of our students led the way; Isaac was full of exciting questions, Ben asked how people might hunt animals, Braydon asked how people in Vanuatu might get a divorce.

It is exciting to hear how motivated these children are after our visitor on Monday.

Archie

Today we were lucky to have another visitor- Archie the dog.

Kyla and her mum, Michelle, brought Archie in to meet the class. Archie is a Chilean Fox Terrier. On Tuesday it was Archie's 2nd birthday and Kyla made him a cake out of dog food.

Everyone in Room 16 and 17 loved getting to pat Archie.

Thank you so much Archie, Kyla and Michelle!! We loved meeting Archie today!

Wet Lunch Building

Today we had a wet lunchtime (Ms Saxon was not so thrilled...)

One group of boys spent the whole time building towers to see who could get the highest.

Check out their final creation below.

Elodie from Vanuatu

This afternoon we were lucky enough to host Nikita's house guest, Elodie, who is from Vanuatu and is studying in Christchurch.

• Even though Vanuatu is just a 'dot in the ocean', the people of Vanuatu speak 105 languages.
• Vanuatu is made up of 82 islands.
• These people are Melanesian.
• There is a population of 245,000.
• Even though there are a range of different people, they are one big family of the Pacific.
• No one has washing machines or dishwashers at home!
• Children don't normally play with toys, they play with woven toys made out of coconut leaves.
• Many Pacific people use coconuts to build, to weave, to drink, to eat.
• Coconut is described as the 'tree of life.'

• In Vanuatu women have to do everything, men are in charge of everything though!
• Elodie begins work at 5.30am after getting everything ready for her kids.
• She was paid to marry her husband. This was an arranged marriage, decided on by her uncles.
• Nate asked whether men who are not married have to do all the housework! No, their sister or mother would do this for them!
• Dillon asked if same gender marriage was allowed in Vanuatu, it is not.
• There are virtually no divorces - it would bring shame on the family.
• Gay people must hide how they feel.
• The chiefs are in charge of everything.

• Ezra asked how to become a chief - you must be a first born male.
• Ladies must only wear skirts outside their house.
• Your family's happiness is more important than your own happiness!
• Many other countries in the Pacific have similar rules, however, as people travel to other countries things are changing.
• Hugo wondered if one day there might be a female chief who would share the roles more equally - Elodie said that this would be "a miracle!"
• Each island has different cultures and ways of doing things.
• There are lots of markets to shop at, the main one has only organic food.
• There are no big supermarkets.
• There are many active volcanoes.
• Tourism is a huge resource for the country.
• The main food is rice, it is imported from Australia, also Taro, huge bananas, Laplap (baked underground)

• Most people from Vanuatu in NZ are either students or seasonal workers.
• Families are big in Vanuatu.
• Supermarkets are trying to go plastic free.
• Evelyn asked how Global Warming is effecting the island. There are great effects - super high tide, narrow white sand beaches, even though there are no factories and little pollution in Vanuatu.
• Every woman must learn to weave, to cook, to do chores, to create traditional foods. Men must learn to cut firewood.
• Their currency is Vatu.

• Land diving is a tradition for men

It was fascinating to hear Elodie talk about her country, we learned so much about Vanuatu. Thank you Nikita for sharing her with our class.