Page 26 - pākuViews Summer 2013

24 PAKU VIEWS ISSUE 6 SUMMER 2013
New Zealand is surrounded by ocean, and our
marine environment is a national treasure for
many reasons–food, employment, scientific
research, recreation…the list is endless. With
such an important global resource on our
doorstep, it is essential that our students develop
a deep connection and understanding of this
aquatic network to ensure its viability for future
generations.
This year, Room 5 dove in head first by taking
part in the E.M.R programme (Experience Marine
Reserves). Students like Cade Eliot (pictured),
staff and parents spent hours in the waters
around Hahei and Cathedral Cove observing
aquatic wildlife up close. They were fortunate to
experience first hand the awe and wonder of the
Orca whales when, five minutes after swimmers
finished traversing the marine snorkel trail at Gem
Stone Bay, a small pod of the black and white
whales descended on the reserve.
Principal Brendan Finn stated, “This was one
of my all time best experiences as a teacher.
Experiences like this help us all reach our goal of
becoming truly aware Global Citizens”.
Room 5 students recently engaged in a unique
learning experience: they designed, created
and recorded 20 minute radio segments, on
music through the decades. Local businesses
provided sponsorship, and in exchange, the
students designed an advertisement to promote
on air during their show. There were 5 shows over
5 days, all for different charities. Student Denzel
Waite, whose group’s program was about music
in the ‘80s, says, “I liked doing the whole radio
show and having fun with it. I learnt that I sounded
better by licking my lips and smiling when I talked.
Our radio show raised funds for Surf Life Saving,
and the sponsor was Taste Takeaways.”
Kool FM’s Colin McCabe worked closely with Miss
Telfar on the creative project. He said he was “very
impressed with the content and oral language
skills of the students”.
Pictured (l to r) with Miss Telfar is Ziggy Heath,
Henry Laycock, Flynn Cleary-Morgan and
Denzel Waite.
The fruits of their labour, such as tomatoes, peas,
cucumbers and zucchinis, are eaten straight from
the plant, or used in process cooking. This supports
the children learning healthy eating habits.
The kindergarten also has a productive worm
farm and compost bin which the children tend.
They have a clear understanding of the worm farm
cycle, from feeding the worms their waste fruit
and vegetable scraps, to collecting the worm wee
for the garden. Worms have the unique ability to
convert elements such as minerals, nutrients and
microbes from soil or composting systems into
an excretion that contains a vast amount of plant
nutrients. The children harvest these “vermicasts”
which are also put into the garden.
Throughout the year children enjoy a number
of local excursions within and around the
community. In December, the children took a bus
trip to Thames and experienced the wonder and
magic of the Butterfly House. There was great
delight amongst the children when the butterflies
landed on some of their heads. Here, Keisha
Knight is amazed when a butterfly, attracted by
the red flower in her right hand, allows itself to be
held in her left.
Tairua KINDERGARTEN... fostering children’s curiosity and inquisitiveness in the natural environment around them
One of the kindergarten’s Spring projects was
learning about and caring for their gardens.
Manning the shovels are Luke Hyland,
Michael Rogers, Louie Wightman,
Lukas Rimpler-Simeon as they prepare the soil.
The children plant and nurture vegetable seeds,
which are in turn planted in the garden. Bailee
Aitken, Pippi Haddock and Ayla Williams delight in
making their garden grow as they water
tomato plants.
Tairua School ... Developing Global Citizens