Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Dots and Non-Dots

This year our Inquiry for the year looks at Relationships! We kicked this off on Tuesday with a look at Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Through play we began to learn about privilege and inequality. We divided the students into dots and non-dots and played games giving one group a disadvantage. We felt irritated by this and a lot of us started discussing fairness.

"... we did a game where some people get a dot (green sticker) on their chin, and the people that got a dot got to have the "power" while the no dots do not have any "power" if you are a non dot that means you are a servant and can not sit on chairs or use devices."- Mae S

"When I was powerless it was tough and they were mean to us so we were angry. They made us do things that were hard . This is related to the Treaty of Waitangi because the pakeha slaved the Maori. I also went on a petition to have it banned and we got 55 people to sign. I did not like this game."
- Hadley

This experience gave our students a deeper understanding about the Treaty, and what it is that makes things fair. We have started talking about what we can do to make society fair and equitable. Ask your child to tell you about their experience in this social experiment.

Collaborative Art

The Pineappleverse!?!

We have been working collaboratively in learning groups in most areas of the curriculum.  This is challenging!  Probably our most successful collaborative work so far and one in which we displayed our creativity, was this colourful piece in which we doodled, with no boundaries.  Tuakana, our older leaders, really stood up during this activity, showing the way.

The benefits of working collaboratively are many and well documented.  The ability to cooperate, problem solve, and create together is one of the most important skills for 21st century learners and a sort after attribute for those in the work place. We are effectively knowledge building together. 

Pictured are the students in action.  Great work you guys!

Global Play Day 2020

Unstructured play is recognised as an important part of developing social, collaborative and problem-solving skills for children. We celebrated Global Play Day on Friday 7th February. Our students enjoyed playing games with each other. It was interesting to see how they used their imaginations to invent new games.

Before we started our students set 2 goals. One was linked to manaakitanga and the other was about creativity. We also spent time playing with other students across the school.

We invite you to watch this excellent TED talk by Dr. Peter Gray, Professor of psychology and researcher at the University of Boston on the importance of unstructured play for children’s wellbeing if you’d like to find out more.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to school everyone. It is a new year with new friendships and new learning opportunities. We’re looking forward to all the adventures we will go on and all the fun we’re going to have together in the upcoming year. We hope that you are too!

The Poroaki

We have been continuing to develop our Pōwhiri, Mihi Whakatau and Poroaki. We were given the opportunity recently to learn more about the Kawa and Tikanga of these significant events so that we can make sure we are acknowledging our mana whenua, those who came before and the significance of this beautiful place we call ‘Whetūkairangi’. Kawa and Tikanga, as well as our special school context, guide the formalities for Pōwhiri, Mihi Whakatau and Poroaki.

The whole school Poroaki was to formally farewell all leavers and their whānau and to wish them well as they travel onwards. At the Poroaki we gifted a taonga pounamu to each Year 6 student. This symbolises the Mauri of all their experiences at Whetūkairangi and the mana and good wishes of the school community, embodied within to let them continue to Flourish.

Megan: My pounamu is very special to me. It is as if it has magic powers. It will help me to remember my Worser Bay whānau and my Character Strength of Bravery. I have so many special memories at Worser Bay. 


Raffy: Worser Bay School has taught me so many things that I will remember for the rest of my life. My pounamu will help me to remember these things. I felt happy and proud at the Poroaki. When I did my speech afterwards I felt a mixture of emotions. Sad and excited!

Hunter R: I feel like going to Worser Bay has helped me to get on stage. I feel more brave and confident now. My pounamu will help me to remember this. It will remind me that I can do it, even if I am nervous. 

Ruby: I feel like the teachers really care about us. They make so much effort into the leaver's events. I felt that the Poroaki was very special. I have learnt courage and bravery at Worser Bay. My pounamu will remind me of courage and bravery. 


Izar: My pounamu will remind me of Worser Bay School. It will help me in the future to use my bravery when getting on stage. 

Katherine: My pounamu will remind me of all of my friends and all of the fun things we did at Worser Bay School. It will help me to keep connected to other people. 

Dylan: My pounamu is special and will help me remember the teachers, my friends and the spirit of Worser Bay School. It will help me to persevere. 

Thomas: I have had so many opportunities at Worser Bay and have made so many friends. I will remember this when I wear my pounamu.

Hour of Code

We are learning the basics of computer science. We did coding using Hour of Code and it was lots of fun. Coding is what makes it possible for us to create computer software, apps and websites. We used Hour of Code to learn how coding works. You have to put blocks together so that objects on the screen move.

The Wrap by William

Māhutonga Matariki performed the "Banana Dance' to the tune of "Tequila" and it was silly and crazy. We showed bravery, leadership and zest. We went through a few stages of practising it. First of all, we made up some dance moves that we might have been able to use. We realised that it was going to be rainy at the warp so we had to make our dances smaller to take up less space. We had to be in time with the music. As soon as one group finished, the next group immediately started.

These are the awesome presenters at this year's wrap

The Year Sixes did an act of "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" It was an adaption of the story by Dr Seuss. They did this because they are graduating. They also did a movie that we shared at the last Year 6 assembly. It was very silly!

The teachers did a performance to the YMCA. They were very silly in their item, especially Mr Nik, John, Nicola, Carl, Maddie, Jude, Scott, Beth, James, Steph, Suz, Cat, Helen and Jenny (that is all of them). We wondered why John wanted to roller skate!? We were surprised that there wasn't a big accident. 

By William