Friday Funday!

 Sometimes we take requests in Kono - and it was lovely to be outside after a rainy day on Thursday. The two requests that came up this week were for a treasure hunt and after reading the book about volcanoes for the millionth time, making volcanoes in the sandpit. 

As with everything we do, there is learning in these activities that might seem like play. Before we went out for the treasure hunt we talked about how we are fair in Kono - no one will miss out. We talked about how we move together as a group - everyone is important - everyone is included - Kotahitanga. We make sure we look after each other, not pushing to get the clues. Using kind words and actions. That when the clue is found we wait until everyone is together to read it - Manaakitanga.

The clues had an image of each tamaiti - if the clue had a picture of you - you were the one to open it. Everyone got a turn. 

Here is Kono lined up ready to go for the treasure hunt...

The clues were written in a way that tamariki had to solve them using their skill for rhyming...

Clue 1:

"We're not using it at the moment,

the weather is too cool.

Best to wait for summer

for a swim in the _____"

Tamariki: "Pool!!" 

And we're off! Running to find the next clue!

Clue 2:

"Run for the next clue,

but there's no need to push!

You'll find it in a tree

in the native _____?"

Tamariki: "Bush!!"

Clue 3:

"Find the next clue.

Go on give it a try!

You'll find it on the picnic table

in the maara ________"

Tamariki: : "Kai!!"

Clue 4:

"The next clue is on the field

where it is windy.

You'll see it up high

on the fence at the ______"

Tamariki: : "Kindy!!"

Clue 5:

"The next clue is somewhere

to sit while you sing.

Going backwards and forwards

on the big _______"

Tamariki: "Swing!!"

Clue 6:

"You can't find the next clue!

Have you really tried?!

Go to the little park 

and go down the ______ "

Tamariki: "Slide!!"

Clue 7:

"What to do next?

Well there's a dilema!

Let's go to the office 

and see Whaea ____"

"Gemma!!!"

Whaea Gemma had the treasure in her office. The treasure was what we needed to make a volcano.

So we trouped out to the sandpit for some volcano fun. 

We talked about what we could see, what we could smell, what we could hear. We talked about what we noticed was happening. Kono tamariki are great scientists! A lovely time together exploring, and problem solving.

First Kono built a volcano.

Then we took turns creating lava...

O o orange!

 We made orange juice in Kono this week! Boosting our hauora on such a cold day. We had two devices to squeeze the juice. Tamariki could chose which one they wanted to use. 

We counted out the oranges, first in ones, then a nice bit of skip counting in two's (or fast counting!), to make sure there were enough oranges for everyone. Another maths concept was introduced for some - halves/equal or fair shares. "I'm cutting this orange in half" said Whaea Nicky, "there are two equal shares". "Why do you keep saying that???" asked tētahi tamaiti. "Fair point", said Whaea Nicky.

Tamariki needed big muscles to squeeze the juice. It was well earned juice! A number of tamariki got juice squirted at themselves. Such a pleasure to spend the morning amid giggles, and the squishy squashyness of juice making.

They then sat at the table and enjoyed the fruits of their labour. The sweet, sour juice was scoffed up quickly. Lots of lovely conversation together. Then they devoured the leftover oranges! 

A healthy start to the weekend! Kia noho haumaru e te whānau! Hei te Rāhina!

Manaakitanga

 We have been talking a lot about manaakitanga in Kono. What this looks like, what this sounds like. In Kono the kōrero has been about being kind to others, some of the words we could use, some of the things we can do for each other to manaaki each other. We want everyone to feel welcome around us.

Some time ago we planted out some seedlings for vegetables, tamariki each took home a vegetable at the end of last term. Over the break the cauliflowers we planted became ready.

After karakia one morning this week Kono had a kōrero about showing kindness to others. We had some cauliflowers... who could we give them too? We thought about the people around us that care for us every day. Kono decided to gift the cauliflowers to Whaea Marise, Whaea Ursula and Whaea Gemma. These wonderful woman make all of our days better. He mihi mutunga kore ki a koutou!

Korean War Vet visit

Part of Ōtaki School Tradition is an annual visit from the Korean War Veterans, their whānau, representatives from the Korean Embassy and Aotearoa New Zealand Army. 

They join us for morning tea before they have their own ceremony by the memorials outside Tāhora. They then are welcomed into the Whare Manaaki with a pōwhiri. It is with sadness we saw but a few veterans this year. However it was a lovely morning.

The Army was present with one of their machines. Tamariki greatly enjoyed speaking with the men at this time.

Bread and butter

We had a saying in my family - "back to old clothes and porridge" - and that's a bit of what it felt like to be back at school this week!! We have had a lovely first week back at kura. Our focus sound for the week was 'b'. So Kono made bread and butter.

We tried two different techniques to make butter. We took some cream and put it in a jar, screwed the lid on really tight, then shook... and shook... and SHOOK!

The other technique we tried was the old 'whoops I thought I was making whipped cream, but now it's butter' trick. Using a handbeater.

We watched as the cream changed it's form. 

The cream changed from white to yellow, then the butter and the buttermilk separated.

Yum!

Then we made bread...

Everyone made their own bread roll. After lunch, once it had been cooked, the butter was spread and the feasting began. Delicious!

Marvelous moustaches, marshmallows and Matariki!!!

No prizes for guessing the sound of the week in Kono! We started the week making a 'marvelous moustache' or two. Each tamaiti made a moustache shape of their choice for some marvelous munching while we read stories in the afternoon.

After a fire safety talk (:-)) Kono trouped down to the Maara Kai to toast some marshmallows. Another tasty treat to celebrate the final week of Term 2. The outcome of the toasting varied greatly from 'barely saw the fire' to 'charcoal'! All tamariki enjoyed the ooey gooey deliciousness! Everyone came back for seconds (and thirds!).

Matariki has been in our thoughts again this week after returning from a long weekend celebrating with our own whānau and community. We started the week by creating some more stars - stain glass window stars for each tamaiti's home and the classroom windows also.

It was with much excitement the tamariki from Kono harvested some of the vegetables they planted earlier in the season to share with whānau. Some tamariki couldn't wait for them to be taken home and started nibbling the crisp deliciousness before they even left the school!! The power of growing their own veges! Ka mau te wehe!

One final 'm' for the week - manu aute! Over the week the tamariki worked on creating their own manu aute kite for display. The process invloved some tricky paper weaving, as well as adding their own individual design touches. Miharo tamariki mā!

It has been a busy and fruitful term! Kia pai te hararei! Hoki haumaru mai e te whānau! Hei te Wahanga 3!

Mānawatia Matariki

We celebrated Matariki this week in a number of different ways. One of our favourite stories in Kono is 'I te timatanga' 'In the beginning' by Peter Gossage. In additon to this kōrero we learnt this week that when Ranganui and Papatūānuku were separated that Tawhirimātea was so upset that he tore out his eyes and flung them into the chest of his father - thus creating the kahui of whetu to make up Matariki. In acknowledgement of the love Tawhirimātea had for his parents we made kites this week...

Thurday morning dawned early for some. We had a hautapu ceremony in our grounds, followed by parakuihi (breakfast) in the Whare Manaaki.

It was a special day to be at Ōtaki School. We started the school day with an assembly followed by a 'Star' morning where the Kono kaiako celebrated Tawhirimātea again with bubbles!