Last week, braving the inclement weather, Year 5 and 6s from Kapuka and Mānuka continued Ōtātara School’s involvement in the Litter Intelligence citizen science programme, first learning the methodology and how to keep themselves safe before heading to the southern point of Sandy Point to complete a litter survey - picking up all the litter in a 100m x 20m survey area - about 50 litres (1 big bag full). The frosty weather, which meant the beach stones were iced together, did not dampen the excitement!   
A wider beach clean up was also undertaken.
The litter audit involved ākonga categorising, counting and weighing the litter - all important steps to give reliable data about the litter problem. Students were astounded at how many different plastic categories the litter was grouped into. A plastic chess piece… a vegetable peeler … and a glow stick (from a fishing net) were all items found in this survey. These surveys, which happen all around New Zealand and on beaches in other Pacific countries, contribute to our understanding of litter, giving us insight into possible solutions.

If you'd like to see the data go to litterintelligence.org and search up Noki Kaik survey site. This is a great project to be involved in using our mathematical knowledge and skills and inquiry brains to start thinking about what action we can take.

Monday and Friday this week students who are involved in lessons with the Kennedy School of Music gave lunchtime concerts to showcase their talents.  Thank you to the whānau who came along to listen and to the Kennedy School of Music tutors for your teaching!
Check out the images below to see our Monday performers.

A big thank you to whānau for coming to celebrate Matariki with us and to our talented teachers for all the learning they supported tamariki with.  There was such a lovely vibe around the school as whānau wandered around classes taking part in the range of Matariki inspired activities on offer.
Thanks also to the XO Coffee cart and the JHC BBQ chefs, your presence was certainly appreciated.

Throughout the evening there was the opportunity to make a wellbeing wish for your child/ren, some of those wishes are shared below:

These wishes connect strongly with our school values of manaakitaka, whanaukataka, ako and kaitiakitaka and our vision of self managing, connected learners who strive for excellence.

We also had wishes for:

The time has come and we have started getting ready for this year's Polyfest.
Please check out the link below for our set list for our performance so your tamariki can start practicing at home.
 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1N4dwUNrHpuAT0AywuQnm5BQSl3XOZQdxWt1p9tZq_1k/edit?usp=sharing

Tuesday 29th July - Venue to be confirmed

Link to register - https://forms.gle/dDjvWhnFqQkThKn7A

Friday 27 June - Whole School Assembly 2:00pm 
Friday 18 July -  Junior School Assembly   2:10pm
Friday 25 July -  Whole School Assembly 2:00pm

                          Morning                                Afternoon

Monday         Lena Clinckett                 Lena Clinckett
Tuesday         Taryn Bellman                Taryn Bellman
Wednesday   Alice/Ben Febery           Ange Strachan
Thursday       Gillian Donnelly             Becky Nyhof
Friday             Oliver Mortensen          Oliver Mortensen   

 

Parent helpers please be at school by 8.20am for the morning patrol and 2.40pm for the afternoon patrol. 
If for some reason you are unavailable on your rostered day please swap with another parent.