Last Day Tuesday

Good evening,

And many thanks for the prezzies!

Number one on my list...


...when it's released. The core set of the game I bought myself for my wife to give me for Christmas.

I wonder if Comics will take pre-orders...

Thank you also for the fantastic spread that we shared for morning tea.

But first, grace.


Then tuck in!






After Mass we came back for a bit of a sing song...



:-)

...and farewells.

Thanks again for a brilliant year, have a great Christmas and God Bless,

Mr Grant

Oh, and this blog will stay live...fairly indefinitely really. Next years blog will be room2ola2013.blogspot.com, but I'll funnel it through the Room 2 page on our new Ultranet site.

R2 Gangnam Style

Good afternoon,

This afternoon, as the children finished off their nativity puppets, I put on some musac for them...



We also learnt the Irish Blessing to sing at the prize giving on Monday...

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.

Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

In the meantime I need to get ready for the mufti/dress-like-Christmas day tomorrow.

Bye for now,

Mr Grant

Wet Ol' Friday

Good afternoon,

My, but it's been a wet ol' Friday!

This morning Room 2 had another crack at writing a cat poem...




And, since we were having lunch inside...






And a good idea was had by all!

Have a great weekend,

Mr Grant

Thursday's Thursday

Good afternoon,

If you're wondering where your children's reading text might be for this evening, well...I was too busy assessing to do much instructing! That's the way it goes sometimes...

But at least there were a good number of fantastic creations!


Oh, and as for our second hoplite phalanx demo tomorrow...it'll kinda depend on the weather...if it's on, it'll be on @ 12.

Bye for now,

Mr Grant

The Day's Been Dragon...

Well, not really!

Good afternoon,

This morning, when we got back from swimming...


...we read this...


...broke it down to it's narrative bones, so to speak...



...and then drew dragons!



After lunch, Ma group read us a quick poem.


And a good time was had by all.

Have a great long weekend,

Mr Grant

Hoplite Friday

Good afternoon,

Thanks to everyone who was able to turn up this afternoon for our wee Hoplite phalanx demonstration...








...it was fantastic to see you there...and have you throw tennis balls at us!

A big thanks to Melissa, Kerry, Bronwyn, Ginny and Fredrika for the food too, it was delicious.



If you've got any more you'd like to share ('specially video) I'd love to have them.

We also did some fitness...


...and read a book.


Thanks again, and have a great weekend,

Mr Grant

Wild, Wooly Wednesday

Good afternoon,

This morning Ma Reading Group shared the bulk of today's text with us The Wild Wolly Child.

Which I can't seem to upload from home. Trust me, they read it well!

After lunch the Kapa Haka group had their first public performance for the year to greet the two ERO assessors.


They did a fantastic job. Well done!

Mr Grant

Absent Monday

Good afternoon,

I was out and about today doing some ICT stuff, which was cool, so Mrs O'Neil was at the con for the day.

And a good time was had by all!

They did a whole class reading activity...




...which is now sitting pretty across the back of the room, as well as popping outside to practice walking and working like a Hoplite.


I'm sorry, but they look COOL!

By the way, we've got to learn this for Wednesday.

Maku ra pea
(I will perhaps)

Maku ra pea
(I will perhaps)

Maku koe e awhi e
(I will help you)

Ki te ara, ara Tupu
(Upon the pathway, of progress)

Maku koe e awhi e
(I will indeed help you)

Or acapella style...


Mr Grant

Hoplite Shields

Good afternoon,

I've been thinking a bit about what the children will do tomorrow. Something like this...


...but without the pointy sticks.

Further to this, I found these clips fascinating.






For the technically minded among us.

(Interestingly, this fellow plays Crossfire too, just like me and Mr Atherton!)

Don't forget School Photos tomorrow.

Mr Grant

Oh, and by the way, I found this. Could be fun...

The Generosity of Parents

Good afternoon,

Windy, aeh?

This morning saw us veritably awash with parent help, picking out the detail on our shields that our children would have found a bit beyond them.



Thanks guys, this whole Greek shield couldn't have happened with out you.




I must say Dale, using twink was inspired!

After a quick goodbye (and inspection!), we popped outside for a game of Rob the Nest.



They approached it with good humour and fair play. Everyone played by the rules and were cheering each other on. Lovely stuff.

Just prior to hopping outside, we wrote a poem together. Well, two actually.




After morning tea, I then set the children to write their own in pairs, which I'll put up in the room somewhere. If I can find space.








And a good time was had by all!

I won't be in the room on Monday, I'll be doing some ICT stuff here and off site, but remember - SCHOOL PHOTOS!. Come dressed in your best duds - not fitness gear. We'll probably be before morning tea - might see if we can go first, 'cause I won't be here after 9:30.

Have a great weekend,

Mr Grant

Puppy Friday

Good evening,

Today, whilst we had some help with the stencils for our shields...


...Room 2 read a new poem.

My Puppy Punched Me In The Eye
By Kenn Nesbitt
My puppy punched me in the eye.
My rabbit whacked my ear.
My ferret gave a frightful cry
and roundhouse kicked my rear.

My lizard flipped me upside down.
My kitten kicked my head.
My hamster slammed me to the ground
and left me nearly dead.

So my advice? Avoid regrets;
no matter what you do,
don't ever let your family pets
take lessons in kung fu.

Then off we went outside for a run...well, they did. I kinda ambled...trundled...wobbled?!


After a discussion comparing and contrasting New Zealand and Ancient Greek democracy...


...we carried on with the rest of the day.

Oh, and this just in...


...from NZEI, the Primary Teacher's Union.

For your information. (Looks like you'll have to download it to access the hyper-links)

Have a great weekend - I'm planning to paint lots and lots of shields on Sunday afternoon at school. If anyone wants to join me, please let me know.

Mr Grant

Democracy Thursday

Good evening,

Just back from buying more calico for the rest of the Chitons, the first of which some of the children wore this afternoon as we had the first taste of Ancient Greek democracy...a vote for class leader between two intrepid volunteers.

First they had to state their case...

"I'll give you all icecream!"

"I'll do whatever you want!"

...which the Polis (the community of a Greek city state) carefully considered...



...and voted upon.


Democracy was the winner on the day!


And once again in the morning Room 2 wrote. It was great seeing Kakariki group helping out Whero group so enthusiastically while Kahurangi beavered away.



Mr Grant