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.

Health Promoting Schools - 5 a day healthy eating

 Health Promoting Schools

The Health Promoting School's Team, lead by Mrs Todd, had an edible art competition last Thursday, to promote healthy eating and the '5 a day - fruit and vege' message. There were some wonderful creations by some students around the school, as you can see from the photos below. Well done to Callum and Joshua from Room 6 who are part of the team and helped judge the competition.

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Palm Sunday Liturgy

Palm Sunday Liturgy

On Friday the Palm Sunday Liturgy was jointly run by Mrs Tabuteau's and Mr. Bach's classes. It took place in the hall and gave the opportunity for lots of children, from both classes, to read to the whole school. The singing was great and the audience attentive, although unfortunately it was raining too hard to have our traditional Donkey Parade outside.

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.

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.