Positive Health and Emotions: Laughter

We have been learning about the positive health and wellbeing benefits of laughter.  We spent some time this week watching a tedtalk and some videos all about the science behind laughing and its positive impacts.  Then we actually got down to the business of practising some laughing yoga.  We learned some new facts about laughter and how it impacts on our bodies and our minds.  

                                                        Here's some of what we learned:

Eastern Zones Athletics

We had an awesome time at Eastern Zone Athletics on Wednesday. We all had to dial up our Grit! 

Thank you to our wonderful parent community for helping us with this event.

Year 6 Tramp

 "We walked up the hill, the sun was blazing down on our heads, the insects came out and the fantails fluttered and played. Above, the Tui squawked from the nearby tree.
After about 2 hours, we reached the hut and we ran into the Kea room excitedly and started setting up our sleeping bags. As the kids chatted about the lyrics we made on the walk of a little bit of a version of the wheels on the bus go round and round. It didn't really sound like that, it sounded more like; "the John on the bus goes yell yell yell." - Ella

"So the first week of Term 4, the year 6’s got to go on a super fun tramp at the Orongorongos.  We walked to Turere Lodge and got there around 1:30, me and my friend were at the front for most of the way there and back. The floor was so slippery that we slid along the hallway and were nearly tripping over each other!  We went to a swimming hole which I didn’t really go in but it was freezing because I went up to my waist!  I loved it, it was so fun!!!" - Nina

"We walked up the hill and the sun was shining down. people were slowly snacking on sweets. There were lots of birds flying around.

We walked along the track singing our own version of the wheels on the bus which sounded a bit like this: the john on the bus goes yell yell yell and we were singing a lot of the way.

We stopped at Midway bridge for a snack. After 2 hours of walking we arrived at Turere Lodge everyone excitedly ran to their cabins.

We all played together and went down to the swimming hole which my friends and I had discovered when we went on a tramp for one of our birthdays. We also played ultimate frisbee.

When we got back to the hut we roasted giant marshmallows " - Lisa

Positive Health at the ASB

It was great to get back to the ASB for a day of sports. We set goals around Growth Mindset and trying new things. Trying new sports is beneficial for our bodies and minds! When you learn new things, your brain grows. When you process a positive experience it enhances Positive Emotions too!

We took part in gymnastics, tchockball, turbo touch and pickeball. 

Outdoor Classroom Day

Thursday was "Outdoor Classroom Day." 

Some ākonga started the day with a Character Strength hunt around the school. They worked with younger students to find posters placed around the school. It was wonderful to see the Curiosity, Leadership and Zest. 

Students have been using their creativity and imagination, channelling Andy Goldsworthy by creating environmental artwork. Students have been interacting meaningfully with their surroundings. They are developing the strength of Appreciating Beauty and Excellence.

Some students worked on their mapping skills and made treasure maps around the school.

Some students used the Te Reo for the gardening which we have been learning.

Students made fitness circuits for younger students with a goal to improve their Positive Health. 

There are so many benefits for children to play and learn outside. Research shows that it improves children's mental and physical health. Find out more: https://outdoorclassroomday.com/about/

Positive Health and Fitness

We have been working on our Positive Health by trying to improve our fitness. 

We know that exercise is good for us and that we need to make it fun, so we're doing a range of activities!

This term we will be tracking our fitness by recording data. We will be regularly doing push ups, tricep dips, planks, leg raises and burpees. We want to improve the amount of exercises that we can do in a minute. We also want to improve our technique.

We have also done the beep test. We will see if our scores improve later in the term.

We are looking forward to the Worser Bay Cross Country on Tuesday. We know that we will need to show 'Grit' to do the best that we can!

Regular exercise has lots of health benefits for ākonga, such as:

• improving fitness
• providing an opportunity build and enhance Positive Relationships
• increasing concentration
• improving learning focus
• enhancing Positive Accomplishment
• building a stronger heart, bones and healthier muscles
• encouraging healthy growth and development
• improving posture and balance
• enhancing Positive Emotions
• encouraging a better night's sleep

Grit in P.E.

We have been dialling up our Grit in our P.E. this week. We have been improving our core strength and coordination by doing an Obstacle Challenge.

We are learning the importance of a strong core! It will help us to sit up straight and breathe properly. Developing core strength is something we will work on our whole lives!

Worser Bay Can for Cancer Fun Run 2021

Today we ran the Fun Run in memory of those that had or have cancer and to raise money for the Cancer Society. We also did it to celebrate the inquiry, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind? I have a page on the Worser Bay Can For Cancer site and one of the posts that I did was if you donated $5 to my page, I will carry my bag the whole way. And that went really well! I am really proud of myself for running up the zig-zag with my bag on because it is really, really hard! I dialed up the strength perseverance, zest and bravery because the run was wet and windy. Wellington at it’s best! The beach was so wet and windy that I was struggling to keep upright. (Actually, that is not entirely true, I could walk quite well but I could not run.) The water was spraying everywhere and my t-shirt was wet to the high heavens!

-Amelia G

When I started I knew it would be very hard because we had to run up the zig zag and it was very steep. It was very cute when I ran past the Autahi kids because they were all shouting my name as I ran by. I am very grateful for all the people that donated to me. It will help a lot of people when they are experiencing the worst time of their life.

-Eddie B

I am proud of how I ran all that way and did it for the memory of my grandmother and my aunt who survived cancer during lockdown. I think I did a very good job as well as all the other kids and my friends, I was grateful to have Autahi kids to give us water and Tautoru kids who can cheer us on.

-Aila B

The Fun Run was Phenomenal. It was so fun. We started under a gazebo on the beach, and looped up the zigzag, along through school, and back down the hill. It was the first time I actually ran up most of the zigzag, let alone most of the way. When I got to school I took a cup from one of the Autahians who was offering water and poured it over my face. When I got to the beach I rolled around in the sand and maybe spilt a bit of the sunscreen I had. I tried to climb up Spiney Norman the rock, but, well, I got a bit of a ... Scar ... on my arm. Ow. Anyway. I estimated that I came in the top 30. And I got a cookbook. Anyway. Good times. It was probably the best run I've ever been on, and I think the cancer society need the money! Thank you to all of my donors. I did it for my Grandpa who died of liver cancer, and I want to say well done to everyone else who pushed themselves to the limit, took time to get their costume, and gave it a good effort. 

-Will J

Our teacher, Kath, passed from cancer and I’m happy and proud to raise money for such a good cause. Maybe we can help prevent other losses from cancer with the money we’ve raised.

-Mae S

It was fun but exhausting. The weather wasn’t the best but it was worth it. When we were running through the school the Autahians were handing us water. Then Eli pointed to where we were running. The final stretch across the beach wasn’t too bad. The water gave us all a boost to get to the finish line!

-Charlie D

I ran to help the cancer society and tried my best, knowing that I was helping others, and when I finished, I felt GREAT! I loved running past others, cheering them on and giving them high fives, red in the face and wheezing. Everyone tried SUPER hard and I’m really proud of what we have achieved. It was so cool running past others in crazy costumes. 

-Cleo S

I went really well. I came the first year 4 girl. I felt proud of that. I feel like I am getting fitter. When I got to the finish line, I saw Cleo cheering me. I dialed up bravery and perseverance. I thought I was going to be last! I picked the bluest things I could find in my closet.
-Cara D

He tino pai tō tātou mahi. Great work everyone!

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou mō tautoko ki tēnei kaupapa. Ka mau te wehi! Thanks to everyone for your support of this fundraiser.