20th November 2014 - Week 6 Term 4

Battle for the Birds On Tuesday Rooms 4 & 5 went to Paynes Ford Reserve to take part in a TDC/DOC run programme called

‘Battle for the Birds’, which helped our children understand the nature of our pest problem in Golden

Bay and the part TDC and DOC play to help eliminate the pest species to protect our native birdlife.

There were five stations that the children visited

Forest ecology – Hanz Stoffregan of DOC helped the children identify kahikatea and totara

seedlings, lianas and epiphytes and the children got to make a model of a living tree.

Biologist Impossible – Wendy Reeve of Project Janszoon led the children to think as biologists and

in co-operative groups, solve problems associated with pests and native species.

Pest trapping – Keith Wright of TDC showed the children a dead possum, rats and rabbits and

demonstrated a lot of different types of traps and showed their pros and cons. Some of the

children chose to sniff different “lures” such as peppermint and cinnamon and help set off some

traps with sticks.

Possum Picnic – Adie Leng of TDC helped the children identify some native plants and discussed

why possums think of our New Zealand native bush as a picnic. This activity ended with a game of

“Trees and possums”.

Rats, rats, rats and a moa – Greg Napp of TDC used a basket of tennis balls to help the children

understand how a beech mast year causes a population explosion in rats. Claire Webster

introduced the children to a life size moa and they played a game of moa survival!

We learnt about the damage possums do to trees and the different types

of traps they use to catch them. The kahikatea sheds its bark as a way

of getting rid of insects and moss.

Poppy

The moa had different ways of surviving like they hid in swamps, ran

away, stayed still and froze, hid in the bush and they sometimes

fought.

Caitlin

The moa knew all about the forest dangers but they couldn’t escape the humans

Kate

Golden Bay Schools Athletics Sports

The Golden Bay Schools’ Athletics Sports will be held on Friday 29th November at the GBHS

grounds for all 7-11yr olds The children will all take part in High Jump, Long Jump, Javelin, 200m(7/8yrs) 400m

(9/10/11yrs), 60m(7/8yrs) 100m(9/10/11yrs). Relays will also be run.

Starting time will be at 10.00 am and finish around 2.20pm.

Motupipi School Athletic Sports ** now Tuesday 25th Nov We plan to have our own school athletic sports next Tuesday, 25 November starting at 12.30pm

and finishing with a swim for those keen around 2.15pm. We will having lunch at 11.45am and there will also be a sausage sizzle on the go. There will be

plenty available for parents as well. Cost is $2. Parents and friends are most welcome to come along and support the children.

Motupipi School Athletic Sports Timetable

Time Rm 1 Rm 2&6 Rm 3 Rm 4 Rm5

12.30pm High Jump 200m Tennis Ball

Throw

Long Jump 3 Legged

12.45pm 400m Tennis Ball

Throw

Long Jump 3 Legged High Jump

1.00pm Javelin Long Jump 3 Legged High Jump 400m

1.15pm 60 metres

1.30 pm Sack Races

1.45pm Long Jump 3 Legged High Jump 400m Javelin

2.00pm 3 Legged High Jump 200m Javelin Long Jump

2.15pm Relays

Swim

School T-Shirts

There aren’t many school t-shirts at school so

could all those sitting in drawers at home please

be sent back to school. We will need a full set

for the interschools’ athletic sports.

It would be great if they came back washed as

some are sent back pretty dirty.

FRIDAY LUNCH

Wraps $2.50

Banana Cake $1.50

Thank you to

Annel and Mandy for

making lunch

this week

Talented Students Science Day Last week Gabby, Amber and Jamie took part in a CSI style science investigation, which required them to search for clues to solve a mystery. They were part of a group of talented scientists from each primary school in the Bay who took part in the investigation run by Central Takaka teacher, Shaun Bryant. “In the cases of “Who murdered the Teddy” and “Case of the Stolen Cookies” the clues were hair, fingerprint and a shoe with blood on, written notes and bite marks. We had to use a microscope to match hair samples and chromatography to work out whose pen was used to write notes. For the bite marks we got the suspects to bite into a foam cup so we could compare them It was hard trying to put pieces together and it gave us a bit of an idea of how police solve crime. It was a fun way of learning science and it was good working with other kids that were really interested and focused.”

Gabby, Jamie, Amber

Life Education Caravan

The Life Education caravan visited us this week. The tutor took

each class for two lessons which looked at providing children

with the knowledge to make informed choices about their health,

respecting others and learning to appreciate their uniqueness.

It was interesting how the different body parts worked and what they did.

The liver has about 500 jobs sorting the good and bad stuff that goes into

our bodies.

Acid in our stomach turns food into a liquid. The lessons were fun and

informative. Gabby, Ellie, Abbie, Bridie

Apparently there is an acid in our stomach that can melt metal but it doesn’t hurt our skin. The lessons taught us lots of interesting facts. Tarn L

I liked it when Harold gave us stickers and we had to pull them out. We got them because we were so good at listening. We learnt about being nice to

people. Malika

We learnt about being friends. Harold was really funny. Kayden

I liked patting Harold. We learnt that we need food, water, energy and sleep. It was fun. Amber W

Harold told us about healthy food like sandwiches, kiwifruit and veges.

Ruby

What's happening this term…

20th Nov Yr 6 Parents Evening GBHS

25th Nov Motupipi School Athletics

28th Nov Interschool Athletics 7-11yrs

1-3rd Dec Rm 5 Camp Totaranui

3-5th Dec Rm 1 Camp Totaranui

3rd Dec BOT Strategic Planning Day

8th Dec Yr 6 Orientation at GBHS

10-12th Dec Rm 4 Camp Collingwood

12th Dec Reports home

15th Dec Yr 6 Dinner

16-17th Dec Rm 3 Sleepover

18th Dec End of year

3rd Feb Start of Term 1

Motupipi School Contact

Details:

435 Abel Tasman Drive

Takaka 7183

Phone: 03 525 9986

EMAIL: markc@motupipi.school.nz

Or: office@motupipi.school.nz

Internet Banking No:

03 1711 0013347 00

Tupperware Party - all welcome Golden Kids - Monday 24th

November at 7pm Bring your old Tupperware and

get it replaced for free - Lifetime warranty.

Swimming Pool Keys - available now

The pool has just opened and though it is pretty cool there is no shortage of swimmers. Pool keys are now on sale from the office. The cost is $50, which helps us cover some of the pool costs for chemicals, pool caretaker wages, repairs and maintenance.

Pool Mural Our envirogroup at school felt that we needed a mural on

the pool changing sheds and then put it out to the classes

to brainstorm ideas as to what they would like on the

mural.

The children decided it would be good to have a bush

scene on the wall facing the road and a beach scene on the

wall facing the pool. They also came up with ideas as to

what they wanted painted in the mural.

We were lucky that Sara McCready offered to work with

small groups of children to help paint the mural and using

the childrens ideas has made a great start. Nana drew a chalk outline of the birds and we painted around them and also inside. I really like art so doing this is fun. Amalie

School Camp Notices

Camp notices for Rm1, 4 & 5 have gone out and are also on the school website under Notices. Could these please be

returned as soon as possible. Thanks for all the offers for camp so far.

‘Ee’ Room 6 have been learning about the letter

‘e’. They blew eggs, painted them and ate

the insides in an egg scramble.

Ashton S - I like eating the eggs.

Aston C - The eggs were yum.

Scarlett - I liked poking the holes.

Ruby - I liked making the holes in the egg.

Charlie - I liked painting, poking holes and

eating the egg.

Angus - I liked painting the eggs.