New Flexible Learning Spaces

We have just redeveloped a couple of our learning spaces in the Year 7 and 8 area of the school.

We have redeveloped these spaces so that they are more effective in meeting the needs of todays curriculum, with a need for for active and dynamic teaching and learning interactions.

The areas allow for much greater flexibility in how learning takes place. It allows for collaborative teaching, for a range of grouping sizes for students (depending on the learning experiences that are taking place) and it has the ability to open out or close down various areas depending on our students needs. 

Both our students and teachers are excited about using these redeveloped areas and I am sure that they will be a great asset to the powerful learning experiences we are striving to implement.

Term 2 Learning Context 'How Things Work'

This term our children are undertaking a variety of Scientific and Technological investigations through the context of 'How Things Work'.

Scribble Machines

Wobble Bots

Some of the classes are experimenting with batteries, bulbs, switches, buzzers and other electrical components. 

Our Year Two children have already visited TheMindlab in Newmarket and have been making Scribbling Machines and Wobble Bots. There was a lot of creative thought and excitement in learning shown , during the sessions.

Other classes will be investigating Scientific and Technological concepts through; coding, robotics, light, sound, bio-mechanics, and undertaking activities including; creating and modifying objects with electrical circuits, creating paper circuits, investigating prosthetics and creating musical instruments.

It will be a busy and buzzy time with lots of tinkering, planning, inquiry, creating and sharing happening.

It would be great if the learning can flow between home and school, so feel free to talk to your children or their teacher about what is happening and think about ways you can support what is happening by extending or complementing  your child's learning at home.

There is so much cool stuff out there to look at including Steve Spangler Science experiments, introduction to coding, Rube Goldberg machines and learning though Tinkering .

The tinkering studio a great place to visit

Keep checking out what is happening. It is going to be a great term filled with fun and learning!

Enterprise, Innovation and Creativity

This term the context for our students' learning is 'Enterprise, Innovation and Creativity' . It is a context that we have used several times now because it always provides opportunities for powerful and authentic learning experiences for our children.


Our teaching teams will be exploring the context in a variety of ways. Some of our teams are investigating what it means to be an entrepreneur, We hope that the children will recognize that there are entrepreneurial opportunities everywhere and develop an understanding of what it takes to create a successful product or business. They will be investigating how to investigate possibilities to develop a product or service with a consumer in mind and how to work collaborate to develop a business, a product and take the product to a market place.  Our Year 7 and 8 students will have an added social outcome of donating the profits they make to a charity of their choice.


Other teams are investigating what it is to be a social entrepreneur, to create positive change in their community. Their goal will be to identify a problem or need that we may have in our community and investigate how they can work effectively as a group to achieve a common goal.


Children will be learning how to generate new ideas, then test and evaluate them. 


They will be encouraged look at the needs and views of others, either as consumers, members of the community or the people they will be working alongside. They will not just be learning for themselves, but they will be learning with and for others.

I am looking forward to an exciting term ahead. From past experiences there will be lots of buzz and activity around the school.

Last Day In Busan

We started our last day by traveling to the Busan Tower and getting a great of the city.

The mountain behind Busan tower is called Dragon mountain. There was an impressive statue there to represent the mountain.

Then it was off to Jagalchi Fish Market. This market was amazing. So much fresh fish on show! Lots of fish that were new to us and some that we recognized from home (Snapper and Paua were some of the things I saw).

Then it was off to Taejongdae Island.

It was hot but beautiful there.

After Taejongdae it was off to Gukje markets and some shopping.

We ended the day with a hot chocolate and reflections on the trip. Ratings were high.

And... It's Mrs Seo's birthday tomorrow so we celebrated with a song and cake!

Last day at Sinyang

Our last day with our friends at Sinyang

Today we had a very enjoyable morning at Singyang School. It was great to see the children from our 2 schools interacting so well. It was as though they had been friends for a long time.

Thanks to Mr Kim, Mr Shim and all the staff and parents at Sinyang Elementary who made us so welcome. We look forward to seeing you again in Auckland. 

In the afternoon we said our farewells and headed to Busan for some sightseeing.

Yuri is our tour guide.

Hangzhou Day 1

IWe had a wonderful time in Hanzhou. It is quite a different place to Shanghai. Much greener and a bit smaller (only 7-8 million people)

The people at Qinglan School made us 'Warmly Welcome'. We were treated with lots of kindness. After the children went with their home stay families Cara Luung Ja and I were taken sight seeing. It was fantastic. 

We saw a tea ceremony

And cruised the markets

Then had a beautiful meal

It was a great day

Hangzhou Day 2

We were again welcomed warmly on day 2 at Qinglan Primary. They held a welcome assembly for us that made us feel special.

The children and teachers created some wonderful calligraphy for us.

Then we saw a Maths and an Art class.

After this one of the students performed a tea cerony for us.

That evening Kyung Ja Cara and I were taken out for another meal, which was very kind.

It was a great day.