Key competencies

 Key Competencies

As part of a general education, the New Zealand curriculum requires the teaching, learning and practising of five key competencies. The one Mr. Bach emphasises the most to students, as the key to all learning, is Self Management. Some students aren't learning because they struggle to focus, listen, carry out instructions, work independently for periods of time or understand the concept of time and place for different activities in life. The other four key competencies are Participating and contributing,  Relating to others, Thinking and Using Language Symbols and Texts.

Above - Room 6 show good self management skills during assembly.







Right and Below -
Room One students display the key competency of Participating and Contributing by taking part in assembly.

Library Time Room 6

 Room 6 - Library

Room 6 has its library time on Tuesdays from 11:45-12:30. As you can see there are lots of different choices made by students as to what they do at the library. The only condition is that it must involve books and children must read their own book for at least some of the time while they are there.

Student Lead Conferences - Photo Gallery

A selection of photos from students sharing their learning with their parents and caregivers at Student Lead Conferences, the week before last.

Google Apps - Room 6

Google Apps in Room 6

Below are two videos created in imovie by students from room 6 about our learning in using google apps. The top one is by Lexi and Laura and the bottom one by Nikita and Brooke. I was hoping to show these during the school assembly run by room 6 last Friday, but technical hitches got in the way. We have been using google apps more and more in room 6 this term. Google apps certainly looks like an excellent education opportunity for St Mary's students as we slowly move towards the digital classroom necessary for the 21st century learner.  

Middle School Humble Rice Lunch

  Middle School Humble Rice Lunch

Last Wednesday March 26th the middle school staff and students had a bowl of plain cooked rice for lunch. This was in recognition of those numerous children around the world who are less fortunate than us, and who only have one bowl of rice per day to eat. We asked for a gold coin donation from families to raise money for church organisations that aid the needy in the poorest countries.

When you are hungry a plain bowl of rice is actually delicious.

 Children were allowed more than one bowl if they were still hungry, but we just asked them to remember that the poor children from needy countries don't have this option.

We got great help from the teacher aides and some parents who prepared the rice and served it.

Poppy as enthusiastic as ever about everything.

Assembly at St Mary's

 Assembly - Friday afternoon 2:05 - after 'Golden Time'

St Mary's has assembly every week on Friday after Golden Time, except when there is a mass on Friday mornings. Room 6 will be running assembly in week 9, so we will be working out this week who is going to read and participate, and what we will do as an item. Below are pictures from the special leader's assembly held earlier in the year, when the new year 5 and 6 leaders were sworn in and received their badges. If your child is a year 5 next year they may want to start thinking about whether they will take on any leadership responsibilities. If they do not really want to go in the formal leadership program, there are other options like First Aid, Playground Angel's and Young Vinnie's Groups. 

Welcome Back to School - Room 6, 2014

 Welcome Back Room 6 - 2014

Welcome back to a busy year of learning in room 6 in 2014. The children were well behaved and excited on their first day back. I will steadily update this blog over the next couple of weeks and put up weekly notices on the home page every Sunday for the coming week. The children should have received an introductory letter from the middle school today - please let me know if you want another copy. I look forward to meeting you all on the 13th February from 5:30 to 6 for a meet the teacher evening where I will explain my programme and expectations and answer any questions from parents and caregivers. I reposted below my last posting from last year's blog as it may be of interest to budding fishermen and women. 

Summer Trout Fishing

If you were out and about around the Rotorua lakes over the summer you may well have bumped into Mr. Bach, either fishing from his orange kayak or fly fishing along a stream bank. Above is a nice 4lb brown trout Mr. Bach caught after school one day last December just below the Devon Road bridge. This trout was returned to the water soon afterwards to continue its journey upstream to sanctuary. Summer is a great time to take kids out fishing, with the weather warm, and the trout seeking cold water to shelter from the warm lake water that they hate. The Utuhina stream has trout in it over the summer slowly moving upstream, as it is a cold, spring fed stream. It is easily accessed as it wanders through the city. Summer also provides streamside vegetation that hides the wary trout from walkers and wanderers, who may disturb them. There are fewer trout than in autumn and winter but also fewer anglers.

Tips to help kids start catching fish - 

1. Find out the pools, overhangs and other places fish generally lie in a stream and begin fishing into these places without looking in the water first.

2. Use streamside vegetation to hide yourself from the fish and wear camouflage or dull coloured clothing.

3. Use strong fluorocarbon nylon - fluorocarbon may be more expensive but trout just cannot seem to see it at all - unlike normal nylon. Trout can be hard enough to hook, as it is for a child, without the frustration of constantly losing them because of snapped nylon-  and what if a really big fish is hooked? You need to give a kid a chance - leave the sporting, light line fishing for experienced adults. I use 15lb Maxima fluorocarbon.

4. Be patient and move slowly and carefully near the water - sudden movements scare fish.

5. Try early morning - the early bird catches the worm - and beats other anglers to the pools with freshly arrived, gullible fish in them.

6. Try in the evening or at night when fish are usually more active and feel safe feeding.

7. Teach children to catch and release - children will obviously want to keep all of their fish when they first start consistently catching trout, but encourage them, at some stage (especially if the freezer is full), to start putting some trout back for others to catch, or to help sustain the fishery by allowing some fish to return to the water to spawn upstream, and produce the next generation.