Year 3-8 trip to the Chch Schools Cultural Festival

We couldn't take photos of the show, so the photos depict the bus ride, and waiting to enter the Town Hall.

New Kauri Banner!

Wow! Fletcher's Mum has made a brand new banner for the Kauri whanau group - Kauri, Stand tall!! Kauri captains Fletcher and Henrietta are pictured holding the new banner - awesome!!

New Achievement Sign

Have you seen the updated student achievement sign? It features our winning Grade B Chess Team, the WM School Jump Jam squad, and four individual students who have achieved success in judo, gymnastics or trampolining. Congratulations to our latest sign stars!

Community Consultation on new buildings

Last Wednesday evening the Board of Trustees held a community consultation outlining the proposed plans for the new classroom block to be built at school next year. Mike Gooby talked about the classroom block plans, the buildings that will need to be relocated within the school site, and the location of the new classroom and multipurpose block. Andrew, from DD Architects, discussed the materials to be used within the buildings and answered quesitons pertaining to the construction of the new building. Thank to to the interested parents that attended this informative evening outlining the building plans for the future of our school. Pictured: Andrew (Architect), Sue Jackson, Mike Gooby (BoT Property Liaison) and Wynne Roycroft (School Support Property Services) peruse the plans for the new classroom and multipurpose block.

Mr Hadler shares his Antarctic experience

Last Friday Matthew and Katherine's Dad, Dave Hadler, talked to both the Moa and the Kiwi teams about his experiences working as a radio engineer in Antarctica last year. Mr Hadler shared many photographic images from his travels to McMurdo Sound, Scott Base and the South Pole, and explained the answers to many Antarctic puzzles such as why buildings at the South Pole don't get painted, the size of the Antarctic continent compared to other continents in the world, and why Antarctica observes daylight saving, even when there is no daylight! Angus Horsburgh was chosen from the Moa Team to get dressed in Antarctic clothing - it looks like it would be fairly difficult to run around he rugby field in all that heavy clothing Angus!!The children all enjoyed Dave's talk and appreciate his efforts in preparing and presenting his talk to the school.

Choir rehearsal for the Chch Music Festival

On Monday 17 August, the choir kids went to the Town Hall and rehearsed for their concert in October. When we first walked into the Town Hall, we saw that there were heaps of people. There were children from lots of schools and teachers and parents, too. It was really noisy because everyone was talking.
Then we found our seats and sat down. The conductors introduced themselves and the rehearsal started. We sang all fourteen of the songs we were learning. In between, the conductors stopped us to tell us how to sing the songs better. The special choir was up on stage to sing their parts.
We were really tired because of all the singing we did. We sang for two hours without a break! There was lots of energy in our singing, but everyone was running out of energy by the end.
We think it sounded really loud in the Town Hall and sort-of echoey because it was so big. It went quite well for our first big practice.
Now we have to practice more at school and know all the song words and get good at the tricky bits. In October we have got one more big rehearsal on the day and then our performance at night. We’re looking forward to that Big Night!

By Claudia Shaw and Olivia Shinn

Hot Chocolate Guy!!

George , his able sidekick Fletcher and sandwich board assistant Harriet have been demonstrating great enthusiasm and motivation for selling hot chocolate. For just $2 you can have your very own hot chocolate with a delicious marshmallow, provided you bring your own plastic mug. The Hot Chocolate guy and his crew can be found by the sandpit area every Tuesdy and Friday at morning tea.

Pizza for lunch - Year7/8 Fundraiser

Every fortnight on a Friday Learning community 4 is selling pizza to fundraise for their class camp to Wellington. The pizza is oh so yummy, and only $2 a slice. Great to eat on a cold winter's day!! Pictured: Tom delievers a slice of hawaiian pizza to Grace.

Year 4-6 Chess Competition

Congratulations to our WM School chess representatives at the Year4-6 tournament at Paparoa Street School on Wednesday.

A Grade Team: Placed 8th. Dylan, Zac, Sam D. (absent from photo is Matthew)

B Grade team: Placed 1st! Matthew, Andrew, Steven (absent from photo is Sam A.)

B Grade Team: Placed 5th: Callum, Chris, Joseph (absent is Shane)

B Grade Team: Placed 8th: Hamish, Josh, Max and George

Teacher Professional Days

For the last two days, teachers at WM School havebeen involved with professional development relating to Assessment in Writing and The West Melton School Curriculum. The two days of work included staff sharing ideas related to the new school curriculum, discussing pedagogy, evaluating where we are as a school in terms of assessment and curriculum and where to from here, and highlighting the characteristics that pertain to our key values. Pictured: Staff during a brainstorming session.

Welcome to Mrs Busch in Learning Community 4

A big West Melton welcome to our new Deputy Principal, Mrs Kim Busch, who, aside from her duties as DP, with be teaching in Learning Community 4.

A composer in Antarctica

George and Will Brown's Dad, Chris Cree Brown, came to speak to the Moa Team about his experiences in Antarctica as a visiting composer. During his stint in Antarctica he experienced the harsh Antarctic environment, interacted with the wildlife and recorded many unique sounds, including seals and whales under the water. Chris showed us his snazzy Antarctic sunglasses and, with the assistance of volunteer Matthew Cross, a head torch and a world globe, he demonstrated exactly why the Antarctic has six months of darkness and six months of light. Pictured - Chris referring to his map of Antarctica during his talk to the Moa Team.

Sea kayaking in Antarctica

Last Wednesday Marcus Waters (Emily Waters from LC11 Dad) talked to both the Moa and Kiwi teams about his sea kayaking adventures in Antarctic waters. He had a captivating powerpoint presentation full of photos that included wildlife shots of Gentoo Penguins and action shots of kayaking amongst the spectacular scenery. Students were also able to ask questions and find out about the conditions Marcus faced in the freezing conditions - encountering blizzards, wearing layers of clothing and surviving on dehydrated food for 35 days! Pictured Marcus Waters with LC11 students showing us their freezing faces

Welcome Mrs McKee to Learning Community 1

Mrs Chantal McKee is the new teacher in Learning Community 1. Welcome to our school Mrs McKee - all the students in Learning Community 1 are looking forward to working with you!

Rippa rugby

Lee Golding from Canterbury Rugby is at school for the next two days coaching all of our classes in Rugby. Watch those rippas getting ripped off!!

Thriller lives on!!

At our last school assembly some Year 8 students from LC4 performed the Thriller dance they learnt for our school prodcution last year. You can see them strutting their stuff in the photograph - looks good!!

Moa Team trip to Airforce World

All of the Moa team visited the Airforce Museum as part of our inquiry learning unit about Antarctica. We learnt about the planes that visit Antarctica, the conditions that the pilots face when flying to Antarctica, and photography footage of actual visits, as well viewing all the exhibits. Mrs Haywood even got to sit in the cockpit of a Mustang!

Whole School trip to Antarctic Centre

This week all of the classes at WM School took turns to visit the Antarctic Centre as part of our inquiry learning study about "LIfe in the Freezer". We were able to view the little blue penguins, try on clothing that is worn in Antarctica and find out about the educators trips to Antarctica and what living there is really like. We all had a FANTASTIC time.