Kauri Whānau Weekly Update: Term 4 Week 4

 In this post:

• This coming week in relationships and sexuality classes
• Sunhats
• Top Team next Tuesday
• Celebrations

Relationships and sexuality sessions this coming week:

We have completed the 'Who am I?' section on the programme, which looked at identity and stereotypes and continue to be impressed with how the children are contributing and responding in discussions. Over the coming week, we will be focusing on relationships. This includes looking at different types of relationships and the qualities we value in these relationships, intimacy, sexual attraction, consent, sexual orientation and diversity. 

Sunhats:

In term 4 sunhats are required during break times and whenever we are outside for learning. While many of the children are organised with these, a small number are not. Please ask your child about their sunhat situation. If they don't have a school hat with a brim, any brimmed hat will do.

Top Team:

We are looking forward to our annual Top Team competition next Tuesday afternoon, Nov 16th. Many thanks to Brett, Richard, Nicola, Amanda and Jules who will be helping by running stations. This event includes water activities, so children need to bring a change of clothes. Quick-dry or thermal tops, as well as shorts, are recommended. Sunhats are essential. Bring on the fun!

Celebrations:

A huge well done to Megan and the two theatre sports teams who competed at the Court Theatre last weekend: Syesha, JJ, Connor C, Oliver, Zoe W, Emma R, Fergus Mac, Rory, Katya, Lachy and Luisa.  They have spent hours learning and perfecting their craft and can be proud of their performances.  It was exciting to see past students involved in some of the teams we were competing against. We hope our Year 8s continue this passion for theatre sports as they move on they high school.

Last Friday we presented our sportsmanship, social studies, science and mathematics cups at assembly. As parents could not be present for the presentation of cups, we have included the citations below.

Sportsmanship

When selecting recipients for the sportsmanship awards, we consult with a range of people who have worked with our Year 8s in a sporting context. 

Our first recipient of the Sportsmanship Award is Cooper Reddecliffe. Cooper, your coaches praised you for your ability to unite your team. Through positive talk, you raised the spirits of your team and focused them on the mahi that needed to be done on the court. Whatever the result, you stay positive and determined. 

Our second recipient of the Sportsmanship Award is Zoe Clarke. Zoe, your coaches talked about your resilience and about the way you let your playing do the talking. You are humble in victory and gracious in defeat every single lesson, every single practice, every single competition. Zoe, you give so much encouragement to those around you making a competitive environment an inclusive environment too. 

Thank you, both for all the times that you have helped with the organisation and running of an event at our kura. Cooper and Zoe, no one can deny your huge passion for sport. It is awesome to see you paying it forward by coaching younger tamariki at our kura. You are both fantastic role models to them. I am speaking on behalf of all your sports coaches when I say that at every event, we are so proud to stand beside you because of the values you show while representing our kura.

Social Studies

Social Studies covers a wide range of topics including geography, history and politics. Our recipient of the Social Studies Cup for 2021 is Otis Yeomen. Otis, your knowledge of social studies makes you a fascinating person to talk to. Not only can you recall a seriously impressive array of facts that span the scope of social studies, but you are also a deep and critical thinker, who makes connections and asks probing questions. You have an insatiable thirst to learn about our world and how society works. Otis, you articulate sophisticated concepts with clarity and you enjoy a well-reasoned debate. What an amazing mind you have. 

Science

Our recipient of the Science Cup for 2021 is Marcellus Scott. Marcellus, your ability to question things is expected, accepted and amazing. This quality has helped you to look at science with your eyes wide open. Your interest in how things work from a scientific perspective kept us as teachers on our toes. It is minds like yours that will help prove theories in the future. We will miss your debates, your inquisitive nature, but most of all your science mind. 

Mathematics

This year the mathematics cup is jointly awarded to Zoë Clarke and Zoe-Arianna Clarke.

We have a group of passionate mathematicians in Year 8. Students who relish opportunities to challenge themselves and learn new and tricky concepts. Zoë, you are one of these passionate mathematicians. You go above and beyond to challenge yourself in maths. Your Cantamath project on Pythagoras, which was actually several projects wrapped into one, was an example of the very high standards you set yourself. You were the first to finish all of Maths Whizz, enthusiastically tackle very challenging problems and qualified for The Final Challenge in Otago Problem Solving.

Zoe, you have been on the most incredible journey with your maths learning. Maths can be a subject that challenges the best of us. When maths got tricky, you did not step down and admit defeat. You embraced the challenge with impressive grit. You asked questions, spent time doing additional maths learning and you kept rowing. Your confidence and your ability have grown in leaps and bounds. Zoe, what a fantastic math-magician you have become!