Traps, Poison or ??? - Homework

While away on camp we had a quick look at how the DOC (Department of Conservation) team controlled pests in the Tararuas. I want to know what you think about this. Do you think that using traps is the best way control our pests? Why/Why not? Are there any other solutions that you can find? How are they better/worse? Is DOC doing the best possible job they can?

Comment below with your answer. Please ensure there are no grammatical errors.

Pancakes! Get your Pancakes!

Before sending them off to camp where they were to cook for themselves we thought we better give them an opportunity to practice! Pancakes was the order of the day! Here are a few snaps of the students cooking, eating, and yes believe it doing the dishes.

We Are Learning - To show an understanding of the factors that shape a community and how one's personal identity contributes to the identity of the class.

This is Because: Students in Room One are building a learning community which recognises and acknowledges all members of the class

The Big Questions for investigation:

How does your community influence your personal identity?

How does your personal identity influence your community?

Created with Padlet

'Playing' with Fire

In preparation for camp, Room 1 went through a vigorous test of how to light a fire which will hopefully come in handy when cooking their meals at the campsite! Mrs Brown gave the students the challenge of creating a floating fire using matches and whatever else they could find!

Raroa Curriculum: The ability to apply and reflect upon meaningfully learned knowledge and skills in a variety of contexts and situations.

Community Day!!

Today the students got to experience Community Day where the principles of ASPIRE are put on display! They were tasked with completing as many activities as possible for their House (Uru, Raki, Rawhiti and Tonga). Well done to Uru for taking out the day! Here is a snapshot of the activities offered.

What does good learning look like?

What does good learning look like?

We are delving into how good learners behave and what that might look like!

First we looked at some research by a man named Guy Claxton.

He has put together a document which he calls “The Magnificent 8”.

The Magnificent 8 is a list of things he thinks good learners do.

Here are some of our learners showing examples of Claxton's Magnificent 8:

Raroa Curriculum: Our learning environment will be emotionally and physically safe and inclusive

The Marshmallow Challenge!

The Marshmallow Challenge is a task used to watch how people collaborate with each other. It allows an observer to identify personality traits and how people react in different situations. Here is Room 1 attacking it!

Raroa Curriculum:  Socially Constructed Learning – Ako

·         The organisation of  learning should be highly social so that learners have opportunities  to teach each other and collaborate

DPE (Design Production Education) kicks off!!!

Today the students had their first DPE session, this one with the wonderful Mr Bailey! We learnt how to tie a number of different knots and how to hatch in preparation for camp!

Raroa Curriculum: Practical, hands on learning experiences integrated throughout the curriculum

Day One 2016

Welcome to the Room 1 learning log (blog). This blog has been set up in order to share and celebrate what we are doing in class. It will provide a snapshot of a few activities we are undertaking during the year and track our class progress.

Year 8's - Welcome back to your senior year at Raroa.  You will be very familiar with how the school works now and I hope that you are ready to help the Year 7's settle into this year with a positive start, by helping them to find their way around and answer their questions.

Year 7's - Welcome to your first year at Raroa. I am sure you will make many new friends here and have some amazing experiences with all the opportunities on offer here. Both the Year 8's and I will be here to answer your questions and to help you settle into what will be a busy first term.

I have a wonderful group of students in my class this year, who are ready for the challenges of the year

I feel it is going to be an exciting year. We have achieved so much and it is only day one. Today the class got a chance to find out more about each other, about the school and about me.


Raroa Curriculum:       Provide opportunities for students to embrace diversity; value people, environment and themselves.