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2014 Term 3 Week 5

In This Issue

WW1 Remembrance Ceremony cont'

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The Thinking Green Athon 3

Arahoe Art Gifted to Transfer Station 4

The Litter Free Revolution! 5

ICT Update 6

NSW Test Results 7

Travelwise Update 8

Around 200 students, parents and guests gathered on Arahoe School's front field

before dawn on Monday the 28th of July to take part in a touching World War 1 Remembrance Ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia.

The event featured the unveiling of the school's commemorative artwork which was blessed by Sonny Niha with the support of Mereana Stubbing. Other features of the ceremony included the playing of the Last Post and Revielle by Dawn Lodge-Osborn using a bugle thought to have been played during World War 1; the reading of The Ode of Remembrance by two senior students, Aja and Pearl; and a tuneful performance

of the song In Flanders Fields by our Stepping Up Choir. The highlight of the ceremony was the release of 50 doves to remind those in attendance to live lives of peace.

Doug Crutch, an IT specialist who works at Arahoe School, found the ceremony particularly meaningful as he has worked as a peace-keeper in several regions around the world. He wore his service medals as well as his father's World War 2 medals to the ceremony saying: “I like to wear the medals to ceremonies like this.”

It is important to remember the sacrifice of our World War 1 soldiers, especially during the centennial commemorations. Our art project was a way to help students learn how war affected many New Zealand families, as well as the wider community. In it we recognise

WW1 RemembRance ceRemonyon arahoe School's Front Field

» continued on page 2

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the sacrifice and bravery of the 91 men who left for war from the New Lynn area, as well as our own relatives who served. Because of the sacrifice of our soldiers we have the opportunity to live in peace. We want Arahoe students to choose to sustain that peace. Our artwork is a way to remind us of that.

Lest we forget.

* Special thanks to the following people for their assistance:

• Leigh Catt for designing such a stunning artwork for us to reflect on

• Brenda McKoy from Wedding Wings who brought her doves along for the dove release

• Titirangi RSA for allowing us the privilege of hearing their treasured bugle played during our Remembrance Ceremony

Continued from page 1...

on arahoe School's Front Field

Following from the WW1 Remembrance Ceremony, Arahoe School has recently donated a piece of artwork to the New Lynn RSA.

This is to recognise the 91 servicemen who left from our area to serve in World War  1. Arthur Bear, from the RSA, has thanked the school for our contribution and invites students and their families to go down to view it.

The New Lynn RSA is located behind Lynnmall at 2 Veronica Street.

arahoe School donates piece of artwork to new Lynn RSa.

cont'

WW1 RemembRance ceRemony

We are fortunate to have a Child Drop Zone marked and signed at each of our entries. When they are used correctly they allow for the smooth seamless flow of traffic in very congested areas. Drop zones need all drivers to co-operate and be considerate. That means using them to drop children only. When you park there and walk your child to their classroom, this causes huge inconvenience to a large number of other parents and caregivers who have planned on a quick drop and departure. Please be considerate and help keep all of our tamariki safe.

Another safety concern here at school is the number of pedestrians who use the drive ways and carparks as access ways rather than use the pedestrian pathways provided. Remember, children learn from adults, by watching, and copying our actions. The big questions is: "Where do you want your children to walk, or cross the road, when they're not with you?"

Drop Zones also known as 'Kiss and cuddle' Zones

By Richard Limbrick, Principal Please be considerate and help keep all of our

tamariki safe.

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Every year the PSG initiates our annual Arahoe School fundraising Athon. Our annual athons are always hugely successful and are a key fundraising activity, raising between $14K - $18K each year. The athons provide an opportunity for our children and their families to reach out to members of our wider community for funds which are used to support our school in building a legacy of wonderful resources for the benefit of our children now and in the future.

Funds from our previous 'a-thons' have helped with the pool upgrade, the equipping of the music room, the purchase of IT equipment and most recently with the construction of the new adventure playground in the junior school.

Our athons also provide an opportunity for local businesses to contribute to our school by donating generous prizes as incentives for the children who collect sponsorship money. Students who have collected sponsorship money totalling more than $20 have the chance of winning these large incentive prizes, drawn in our final school assembly for the term. The main prize draw for a $200 spending spree with Mr Limbrick at Lynnmall or The Warehouse (done in consultation with the parents) is hugely exciting. This year Bricklane, Black Salt, Lone Star Waitakere and LynnMall have generously donated vouchers for prizes.

Each year we link the athon activity to our learning programmes, while trying to vary the type of athon activity itself and make it fun for the children. We have had athons linked to the Commonwealth games, circus events, sports activities, spelling and maths knowledge

and quizzes based on particular areas of knowledge. This year, our Thinking Green Athon is linked to the studies each syndicate is doing in relation to the ecological sustainability of themselves, plants and animals, or the environment.

Classes are already competing with each other to source the most sponsors and sponsorship money. There is a free McDonald meal for each child in the class who raises the most money. We do hope our community once again gets behind our athon and makes this year’s effort the best yet and if each child raises at least $20, it will be! ■

The Thinking Green AthonLet's all get behind it! By Dianne Hope-Ede,

Vice Principal

 ... our Thinking Green Athon is linked to the studies each syndicate is doing in relation to the ecological

sustainability of themselves, plants and animals, or the

environment.

All the year 5’s and 6’s from Arahoe, Kaurilands and Waitakere Primary headed to the Trust Stadium in Henderson on July 22nd to play for the title of the best FIFA World Cup Soccer Team.

After many hard but fun games, some countries went to the side line but others didn’t. In the finals it was Germany (R2) vs Spain (R1). The game was ten minutes of suspense. Spain got a goal midway through the match and then with 2 minutes to go Tsepang scored their second winning goal!

Congratulations to Spain from Room 1 for winning the overall tournament. ■

FIFA Soccer World CupSchools Tournament

The Spanish soccer team from Room 1 celebrate their success in the FIFA Soccer World Cup - 1st place!

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After visiting the Transfer Station earlier in the term, Arahoe School was invited, along with some other schools, to contribute some art to be displayed at their Education Centre.

Room 19 took up the challenge of producing two pieces of artwork to reflect the concept of recycling in some way. As we are studying worms at the moment, we decided to stick with the theme! Our first piece is entitled Noke and features worms made from rolled up packaging and tied with rubber bands.

The second artwork is called Wiggle and is a piece of worm-hole optical art. This artwork was created using pointillism to show shading.

Here's what some of the children in Room 19 had to say about our art gift:

Mia says that she liked making the Noke painting the best because she liked rolling up the packet worms! Joe says that we called our painting Noke because it is the Māori word for worms. Kingston says that the paintings will be brought to the Transfer Station so that all of the children who visit the Transfer Station can see them. We're proud of our work!

Kirsten BlandTeacher - Ara Teina

Arahoe Art Gifted To Transfer Stationby Room 19 - ara Teina

www.arahoe.school.nz

By Room 19

Noke

WiggleBy Room 19

Claire helping to paint the Noke mural.

Madison and Madelleine with the worms they created from recycled plastic wrappers.

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The Litter Free Revolution!Started by Kerisha in Room 18

In Term 2 the junior classes visited the Transfer Station in Henderson and were challenged by the Educators there to think of ways to reduce waste. Room 18 took up the challenge by looking at the amount of waste in their lunch boxes.

They decided that it is better for the environment if their lunch boxes contain no litter. In the period of one term, Room 18 has gone from having one child with a litter-free lunch box to having a daily average of 21 students plus the two teachers bringing litter-free lunches to school!

This is a massive shift in thinking and what a great benefit their choice is having on our environment! When the Educators at the Transfer Station heard about Room 18's story they decided to present them with a special prize. Room 18 is now the proud owners of the book Look after Your Planet as well as some very cool recycled pencils made from newspaper!

Room 18's story is inspirational and will be featured in an upcoming edition of the WasteWise News which is shared with all WasteWise schools in New Zealand!

A collage of the litter free lunches seen in Room 18.

Anna from the Transfer Station handing over the prize to Kerisha, who started off the litter-free revolution in Room 18.

Well done Kerisha and Room 18!

Look out for Room 18's story in an upcoming edition of WasteWise News!

Kirsten Bland, Teacher - Ara Teina

Matariki Week

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of our whanau who supported this event so generously through giving their time and expertise. This was an amazing way to finish last term and gave all of our children a glimpse of a truly New Zealand celebration.

By Richard LimbrickPrincipal

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Here at Arahoe we value communicating

with our parent community. Over the past year we've implemented a number of ways for you to keep up to date with different events as well as what is happening in your child's class.

WebsitePlease visit out website www.arahoe.school.nz/home to access our events calendar, classroom blogs, newsletters, PSG events and weekly notices. Our website is updated regularly and is a good place for overall access to all the things happening around the school.

School AppIf you have an Android or Apple Smart Phone you can download our very own Arahoe School App from the Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skoolbag.arahoe&hl=en) or the Apple App Store. You can use the app to receive alerts about events coming up, send absence notices, call the school, email the school, access events calendar and visit the website.

Weekly Notices EmailEach week we send out an email listing the events that are happening that week. We also attach the school events calendar as a PDF from the website. If you would like to sign up to our weekly notices email please go to the front page of the website and submit your details.

Classroom BlogsEach teacher at Arahoe has a class page or blog that you can access through the website. Here you will find information showcasing what is happening in your child's class and some events that pertain to them. Not all notices may be listed here so please use some of the other ways to stay in touch listed above.

PaddleUp NewsletterEach month we create a feature newsletter called PaddleUp. This is sent out via email, the app and uploaded to the website. We use this to showcase some of the great things that have happened at Arahoe and share some of the big events coming up. As this only happens twice per term it is important that you use some of the other ways listed above to stay in touch with what is happening weekly.

If you have any feedback or ideas please email: cristalm@arahoe.school.nz.

ICT UpdateStaying in Touch With What's Happening at arahoeCristal McKoy E-Learning Facilitator,

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On Friday the 22nd of August (week 5), children who sat the NSW tests in Computer Skills and Science will receive their test results and certificate of achievement. Students who were awarded High Distinction or Distinction will be presented with their certificates during the school assembly on Friday.

Our children have performed very well in Computer Skills with the achievement of the Year 5 and 6 groups surpassing the New Zealand and Pacific Region average. The overall average results for Arahoe School compared to the New Zealand average are listed in the tables opposite.

In the Computer Skills Examination, 29 students participated with 1 child awarded High Distinction and 4 children awarded Distinction. In the Science Skills Examination, 33 students participated with 3 children awarded Distinction. Congratulations to all our pupils who sat these tests.

The achievement certificates will be given to children tucked inside their copy of the test booklet. We advise that you send a sealable bag to school on Friday 22nd August to offer additional protection for their certificate. We will let you know when we receive further test results. ■

New South Wales (NSW) Test Resultscomputer Skills and ScienceBy Dianne Hope-Ede,Vice Principal

Computer Skills

Year Level NZ and Pacific average score

Arahoe School average score

Year 4 15.3 12.9

Year 5 18.9 19.0

Year 6 20.3 21.4

Science

Year Level NZ and Pacific average score

Arahoe School average score

Year 4 17.7 14.7

Year 5 17.4 15.0

Year 6 21.9 20.5

Principal's NoteBy Richard Limbrick, Principal

Dawn Service What a great start we've had to Term 3. The term started with our Dawn Service to mark the centenary of WW1. Thanks to Miss Bland we had a beautiful and poignant art work to unveil. If you haven’t seen it yet it is worth a visit. The weather was kind to us for our dawn service and the sun rose just as the bugler played the last post. Many thanks to all who assisted with the hot Milo and toast for all of the children who turned out for this occasion.

Staff This term Miss Helen Wackrow has joined our junior school team. Previously Helen was teaching in the United States.

We have completed the move of two of our Year 2 classes into classrooms vacated by Ara Pakeke. The temporary classroom project was set back in the early days due to the weather but is now almost back on track with the new classrooms located on the front field being scheduled for completion by the end of this month. Next month we will begin a new project to re-develop our boiler and heating facilities and to double the size of our Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour Resource (RTLB) block, situated at our Grandison Crescent entry. This will add to our congestion woes at that entry for the next term or two.

classes / building Projects

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This last term has been a busy one for the Travelwise team. We are pleased to announce we have been awarded a Bronze Certificate for our efforts in Travelwise and 3 children from the Travelwise team were selected to attend a celebratory event at Eden Park where they got to meet members of the band Titanium!

The senior school have had Dave Powell come in and teach bike skills and this was very successful as many of our Year 5 and 6 students managed to ride a bike for the very first time. For those children who were already skilful, they were taught how to ride safely on and around roads.

Ara Teina students met Max the Pukeko at the Pokapu Street alleyway and learnt that this is a great place for parents to park their car and walk their children into school. Max also reminded the children that it is safest to use the pathway into school rather than walking through the driveways.

And lastly, Constable Carl and the Road Patrollers have been talking to the Ara Teina children about how to use the Pedestrian Crossing safely.

Travelwise Update

A group of children walking up to the Pedestrian Crossing with

Constable Carl.

Max the Pukeko at the Pokapu Street Alleyway – for a Walk to

School Day.

Danessa, Sean and Luca with Titanium at the Travelwise

celebration.

a bronze certificate, bike Skills & max the Pukeko!By Corin Armstead, Travelwise Co-ordinator