Greedy Cat Writing

 Here is our Greedy Cat writing...

Wellington Lions visit Ōtaki Kura

We were fortunate to be visited by the Wellington Lions with their enormous cup last week. The players came along and shared the hard work they put in to win such a competition. Matua Rauru got some tamariki up to compete against the team members as they did push ups, sit ups and other challenging exercises. The tamariki of Ōtaki Kura measured up well against the team members.

We all had our photo's taken with the 'Lion'. That was the best part!

Greedy Cat

 We do shared reading with a new 'big book' every week. The past few weeks we have been reading titles about a cheeky cat called 'Greedy Cat'. 

This pesky cat seems to get into EVERYTHING and eat EVERYTHING!

We have been working though some mahi together centred around Greedy Cat. First we practised drawing cats.

Then we drew with a pencil our 'Greedy Cat' outline.

Then we painted our cats...

Our next step is to do the outline and write about our Greedy Cats...

Watch this space!

This link will take you to one of the stories.

Greedy Cat

Full School Waiata

 We came together as a full school this week to practice different aspects for school pōwhiri.

Click on the links...

Hutia Te Rito

Haka pōwhiri

Manaakitanga at Ōtaki School

At Ōtaki School we are guided by the mātāpono of Ngāti Raukawa. 

This term our mātāpono focus is on manaakitanga. I was hanging up the self-portraits of ngā tamariki this afternoon in the cloakbay, and I noticed have the principle of manaakitanga is very strong amongst all the tamariki of Rourou.

When asked what they would like to be when they grow up here are some of their answers.

"When I'm an adult I'd like to be a mum".

"Someday I want to be a daddy".

"When I'm an adult I'd like to be Spiderman". (There's no denying it! He helps people)

"When I'm an adult I'd like to do babysitting".

"When I'm as adult I'd like to work in a hospital. I'd like to help people".

"When I'm an adult I wanna be a lifeguard at the swimming pool".

"When I'm an adult I'd like to be a doctor".

There is NO doubt that we have a very caring group in Rourou. I feel we are in very safe hands with these taonga, ngā rangatira mō āpōpō.

Marvelous Monarch Butterfly

 In Rourou our science focus is on the taiao - the natural world this term. This week we have been reading about the life cycle of butterflies. We have had some swan plants in the akomanga and tamariki have enjoyed finding a little caterpillar nestled in the leaves.

We have planted out the swan plants in the maara in front of the classroom and then worked very hard in the hot sun to water them. It was SO exciting!! A monarch butterfly flitted amongst the plants as we watered them!

Wonderful Waikanae

 It has long been an Ōtaki School tradition to start the year with a full-school trip to Waikanae Pools. It is a very exciting bus trip down to the pool.

It is great fun! The pool is as warm as a bath and tamariki are able to swim for hours!

 (We did stop for lunch!)

Some brave tamariki went down the slide.

It was a huge day for all of us and just about every tamati from Rourou fell asleep on the way home. A sweet finish to an awesome day.