World War 1 Home Learning Shared

We had a great time on Monday sharing our packages for the soldiers. The children had done a fabulous job; many thanks to you at home for your input.  We are currently marking the letters that they wrote, again we have been impressed with the way they infused research into their creative writing.

Week 5 Update

Gifts for Vanuatu: A big thanks for all of the goodies that were sent in for Vanuatu. This afternoon the student council exec delivered 65 boxes from across the school.

J-Rock: What an awesome day! We were so proud of each and every one of our fabulous children as they conducted themselves during the day and when they performed on stage. We had big expectations and those expectations were met, even exceeded.  We are just in the process of making professional photos, taken of the evening performance, available for you to download for free! Will let you know how to do this once we have the instructions.

A lot of time was devoted to make-up!

We had fun in the foyer playing games and meeting children from other schools.

Dress rehearsal time.

A huge thanks to the mums who cooked us a delicious dinner.

We looked so cool in our costumes. 

It's J-Rock week!

We are pretty jolly excited about performing at J-Rock in front of a huge audience on Thursday evening, and the day of fun at the Horncastle Arena, before the performance. On Friday we put on our costumes for the first time...

Looking back on Week 1

A big congratulations to our first Gold Leadership Awardee for 2015!

ANZAC Day was a big focus with our learning last week. On Thursday the children rotated around four activities, learning about Gallipoli, WW1, how animals helped out in war, making crosses for our Filed of Remembrance, finding out about the soldiers behind the names on the crosses and making ANZAC biscuits. We were proud of the children who contributed towards our ANZAC service on Friday afternoon.

Making poppies

Learning about WW1

Making ANZAC biscuits

Creating crosses

Laying our Field of Remembrance

Re-enacting scenes from WW1

Very tasty!

Reading about the soldiers in our Field of Remembrance.



Amazing Grace opened our service.

The Last Post, played in three parts.

The final cross is put in place by Beckenham's oldest and youngest students.

Te Whanau Mahi Tahi conclude our service.

Animal Rescue Motivation

Today we met Fletcher and Petronella. Fletcher is Petronella's eyes and makes such a difference to her daily live. We learnt lots about guide dog training and how Fletcher works with Petronella. Following this motivation we discussed how animals help people. Our writing topic for the next three weeks is to write about an animal rescue. Under the photos is Megan's exemplar, which we unpacked today. Stay posted, great writing coming soon.

Exemplar

CRACKLE! The glowing embers leaped and twirled in a fiery dance, twinkling like stars in the hot swirling air before cascading to earth. Like gleeful fire fiends they set alight a lonely tree in the back garden.

Within minutes the flames had spread and were licking the outside walls of the small timber house. Thick black smoke swiftly engulfed the two bedrooms inside, blanketing the sleeping family in their beds.

Boris the Golden Retriever was the first to wake, sensing danger! What should he do? How could he warn the sleeping family?

Instinctively he raced towards the youngest child’s room but was beaten back by the rampaging flames of a great famished beast devouring everything in its path and belching out black smoke.

Far in the distance a siren could be heard. Closer. Closer. Two figures made their way chokingly out of the burning building towards the safely of gathering neighbours. Someone was missing! A small boy. Trapped inside the inferno!

Inside, Boris tried daringly to approach the child’s room again. Every muscle of his broad pelt fought against the heat from the fire-giant which staunchly stood guard. Ignoring his charred fur, he broke through the flames and located the frightened child taking refuge under the bed. Instantly the boy threw his arms round Boris’ neck and clung to his fur. Together they broke free from the heat and flames as the house succumbed to the gruelling inferno.

Jubilation! Joy! Smouldering ash and smoke framed the valiant hero as he guided the boy towards the cheering crowd.

Staff vs Students Cricket

Two teams took to the pitch today. Both has determination gleaming in their eyes. One team had youth on their side, the other had experience.  On this day, youth dominated experience. Well done students!