the gr8 day out

                                        The Great Day Out    

A big thanks to Shelly-Ann and everyone who helped at the pizza stall for the great day out. For our pizza stall we raised a total of $2,538. and from all of the stalls combined we raised a grand total of $55,000. A big thanks to all of the teachers and PTA members who made it happen. It was a great day that was very sucessful!

                                                                          

Balmoral Gr8 Day Out

THE BALMORAL GR8 DAY OUT

This November we have the AMAZING Balmoral Gr8 Day Out

As always we will have absolutley amazing stalls run by each classes.

WWatch out for the pizza stall run by the oh-so-fine ROOM NINE!!

Thank you Shelly-Ann Slack for being our class rep this WHOLE YEAR!

FPlRooRoom Niners please keep bringing in...................................

cardboard boxes, icecream containers, and toppings.

THIS YEAR WILL BE AMAZING!!

Please come along even if you don't come to Balmoral.

Talia and Alyssa :)

Chopper Challenge

Balmoral School has taken on the awesome challenge of raising money for the Westpac Helicopter by taking part in the chopper challenge. This is were students get sponsored to take part in a challenging fun confidence course designed by the Westpac helicopter team.

It is a great opportunity to give back to an awesome cause that hopefully  none of us will ever need personally.

Room nine you need to sign up online (or get sponsors on paper) using the link below and start raising money. This is your chance to do something good for others,

http://www.chopperchallenge.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92:2013-t3-balmorali&catid=25:current-challenges

The top money raiser wins a ride to school in the Westpac helicopter!!!!! Get on it!

Come on room 9 let's see if we can be the top class money earner...

Philosophy - The Three Questions

Today we read a story based on a story by Leo Tolstoy written by Jon J Muth - The three Questions.
It talked about a boys quest to find the answers to 3 questions that would help him live a good life.

Question one: When is the best time to do things?
Question two: Who is the most important one?
Question three: What is the right thing to do?

After some eventful occurrences the wise turtle helps him realize that...

The most important time is NOW
The most important one is the one you are with
and the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side.

What do you think? Is there another answer or do you agree? Justify your answers.

Term 3

Welcome back after what I hope was a relaxing, revitalizing holiday.

Term 3 is only a 9 week term so we have a lot to accomplish in a short time. We can definitely do it but it will require lots of hard work and effective time management!

Rich task this term is 'Social Justice'. We will be looking at 'what is not fair' and finding a creative visual medium to present our ideas.

This term is speech writing - the purpose of this years speeches is to hook in our reader, maintain their interest and leave them something to think about. Time to get creative!

We are continuing to build up our reading strategies through numerous novels, articles, stories and activities.

Our maths program is continuing to focus on number and problem solving strategies with a focus on posing real life problems to make it more relevant. 

P.E starts off with netball. We also have a 'Chopper Challenge' this term to help raise money for the very worthy course of the Westpac Helicopter - keep getting that sponsorship, if you raise the most money you will win a helicopter ride!! Super cool.

We have book week, arts festival and a writers evening on this term as well as AIMS and cross country. Please check your term overview daily to see what is coming up in this very busy term. 

Just to brag - I'll be off to San Fran, New York and Las Vegas in the next holidays so expect some excitable countdown days from me!!

It will be an exciting, action packed term so hold onto your hats...

Rachael

Balmoral School is about to embark on the exciting adventure of building Modern Learning Environments as our learning areas. Gone will be the single cell classrooms of old and in will be open planned learning hubs where 3 or so teachers work with students collaboratively.
What do you think? Let us know by posting a comment....

Web Ellis Trophy

Check it out! Room nine had the awesome opportunity to see the Web Ellis cup alongside 4 other prestigious rugby trophies. There was no touching or drinking from the cup allowed but we were allowed to have our photo taken near them and ask the rugby representatives lots of thought provoking questions  - we found out that the Web Ellis Cup is only allowed to be touched by the winning teams players (namely the All Blacks!) and the rugby reps can only touch it if they are wearing gloves because the sweat from their hands could tarnish the gold!
Check out the photo's below...

In philosophy we are looking at bullying in schools - why it happens and what to do if we are faced with it.
Ask your friends and family if they have ever had an experience with bullying (been victim or perpetrator of it or just seen it happen). You may be surprised (or not) at how many people have experience with bullying.

Here are some websites that may be helpful if you are ever faced with bullying...
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-school-bullying

http://www.police.govt.nz/nobully

A big welcome to Mark who has joined us from Auckland University on his Graduate Education Degree. He will be teaching room 9 alongside Rachael for 5 weeks (until the end of week 8 term 2) and we are excited to welcome him into room 9 and learn alongside him. 
Mark has taught English in Japan and Korea for over 10 years so he has a wealth of experience to share with us. Good luck Mark!!

Room Nine wishes Cheyenne lots of luck and great learning on her new teaching placement. Room nine looks forward to seeing her again in term 3.

(photo of Cheyenne teaching room 9 a game).

Rich Task

                                           RICH TASK

 Hi guys, 

our new rich task topic is " Will One Size Fit All?" We are asking ourselves does the same style or format of learning benefit everyone? What do you think? Post a comment and let us know.

In I.C.T we have been planning our Modern Learning Environment on floorplanner.com.  You can design your own one if you like - the first design is free.

Keep the great idea's coming in! And remember: NO IDEA IS TOO OUT THERE!

                               ALYSSA AND TALIA

Welcome!

Hi all,
Well it's week 8 and we are now fully in the swing of things. We recently had swimming sports and several of room 9 (and year 7) students have trekked up to the pinnacles on a 2 day adventure. I myself am heading off Tuesday and Wednesday this week so...wish me luck!
Our classroom program is now fully established and students are now working on the Rich Task of Turangawaewae. Our fertile question is 'who says who I am?'. We will be looking significant events and influences make up our identity and will be making a visual mihimihi where we will use patterns and symbols to represent significant influences in our lives.
We will be posting some photos up soon to show you what we have been up to so please feel free to post a comment.

The Oh-So-Fine Room 9 is in for an exciting year...watch this space!