Ready, set, go!

Term 4 has kicked off with a burst of energy as the kids throw themselves (sometimes quite literally) into Athletics practice. Across our sessions, tamariki have been learning the key techniques behind quoits, vortex, high jump, and long jump. It's been fantatsic to see the growing confidence and determination as everyone refines their form, focuses on accuracy, and builds strength week by week. For some, these sessions will lead to selection for the upcoming Eastern ZOnes Athletics event, where they'll represent WBS and compete alongside students from across the Eastern suburbs. Our young athletes are learning that success comes from persereverance, effort, and a wilingness to give things a go. Ka pai!

Inventions!

We have been exploring the attributes of inventors and having a go ourselves at creating really useful things. Or, in some cases objects that are not so useful. We have looked at Chindogu, Japanese inventions, many of them absurd and hilarious and we have been inspired by these. Chindogu translates as Un-Useless. It makes you think doesn't it?

Many inventions are created by combining elements of things that have already been created. The electric guitar for example. We used a Thnker's key called the combination to develop our ideas. We then made advertisements for them because everyone needs one, don't they?

First Survivor challenge of Term 4!

This week, we introduced a brainstorming twist called the Worst Idea Race, inspired by the 'Worst Possible Idea' method. This idea is completely counterintuitive: instead of asking students to come up with the best solution right away, we challenge them to think of the worst possibnle solutions first; ridiculous, impractical, bizarre ideas. The prompt was: 'How might we provide housing for every person in Aotearoa New Zealand'. Why do this? Because it lowers the pressure, removes the fear of being wrong, and helps kids relax into creative thinking. When kids suggest 'horrible' ideas like 'build houses out of jelly', they begin to expose assumptions about what a building must be, or how a problem should be solved. From those 'terrible' ideas, we explore the underlying logic (what makes this idea bad?) and then flip them, what if instead of jelly, we choose a flexible material that can self-repair and is sustainable to build? In doing this activity, the kids are practising critical thinking and creativity. We also see a lot of collaboration as Survivor teams build on each other's wild ideas, challenge one another and refine concepts together.

Triumphant!

If you haven't already seen it it's not yet too late. Experience the wonderful and weird, the inspired and inspirational, the highs and lows and the raw emotion of these Artists at Arts Celebration 2025.

The photos do not do justice to the work (I think my camera might be dying) so please come in to see the incredible creations, paintings, collages, books of poetry and of course, the amazing miniature city Better Bay. We have been inspired by architects, painters, poets and sculptors. Our imaginations have been set free and through hard work we have created things of real beauty. Poetry books will be coming home at the end of the term. Personally speaking, these are my favourite artefacts of the exhibition. Quite breath taking.

Getting into the Flow: Growing Our Creativity

What??????

Our Arts Celebration is a highlight of the year, a time where many of our students shine in their own unique ways. We are pulling together many threads for this year's event, our study of the city and what makes a good one, poetry; exploring deep feelings and ideas in quite off beat ways and, thinking about the future. It's very broad. While much of the it is still 'in progress' we are very excited about the body of work emerging. Poetry books with incredible titles, introducing these wonderfully personal reflections on the lives of eight, nine and ten year olds. Some examples below.

Over the term we have been talking about the Character Strength of Creativity, that it's not confined to The Arts but is present in Maths and Science, day to day problem solving and even in how we relate to each other, including using humour. Flexibility, and fluency of thinking are two of the elements but the one we can perhaps most celebrate is originality. The paintings, collages, sculpture and poetry have this in bucket loads.

We are looking forward to hosting you all next week to celebrate our kids and their remarkable creative endeavours.

Emotion Charades and Emotion Pictionary

This week the Seniors have been playing Emotion Charades and Pictionary, acting out and drawing different emotions for their Survivor team mates to guess. It might sound like a game, but there's lots of science behind it. When children practice recognising and naming emotions, they're strengthening the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, which helps with empathy, self-control, and decision-making. By tuning into facial expressions, tone, and body language, students learn to read social cues more effectively which is a skill that supports friendships, teamwork, and problem-solving. Acting out or drawing emotions also gets kids moving, laughing, and connecting, which boosts the release of dopamine. We recommend using the 'How do I feel' cards which were produced by the author (Rebekah Lipp) and illustrator (Craig Phillips) of the picture book of the same name.

A quick snapshot here of our learning celebrations, a real highlight of the year for us. It's great to see Students so confidently sharing their learning and parents leaning in, fully immersed in their child's work. The kids shared a mixture of samples; poems, stories, reports and artefacts from their Maths learning and from our Inquiry, all things which they are proud of. Ava said, "I felt well prepared. I am getting better at it.." Finley said, "My dad liked my writing. He said my writing is going through the roof!" We asked parents to consider questions which they might want to ask at our upcoming Literacy Afternoon. Having this sort of experience is definitely food for thought. We hope that we have triggered your curiosity and will be keen to engage with our conversations about what Literacy looks like in the Māhutonga Matariki spaces. See you on the afternoon of the 28th of August!