Autumn

On Thursday morning we are going for a walk to the Scenic to find out all about Autumn. We hope it is going to be a nice day for it. We did a Y chart about autumn and came up with some fantastic words. At home we will be thinking about some more.

Creepy Caterpillars

Our caterpillars have been walking all over the bookcase at the weekend. Two chrysalis are now hanging on the top shelf and one caterpillar has just made a white thread to hang from beside the swan plants. Unfortuately one chrysalis fell off during the weekend and it died.
The hall had some more roof iron put onto it. No walls are finished yet so we can still see right through it. We still have our assemblies in the library.
We have just started talking about Autumn and today we started a KWL chart. That's what we know and what we want to know. We can't do the L part until we learn something.
No Mrs Cooper doesn't know what a fly cemetry is - Perhaps you better make some for the class. Are you really sure that insects are gluten free?

By Joshua, Connor, Makayla and Jessie
Photo by Bailey L

FRIDAY

Today we saw a caterpillar change into a chrysalis. We watched it as it wiggled and squirmed around lots.
We think the hall is looking terrific. We should say a big thank you to the workmen for making the hall bigger and working so hard.
At assembly Connor and Hannah got certificates. Next week we are having special certificates for good behaviour - playing nicely with others because some of us haven't been doing that very well. We need to think before we act.
Remember next Friday is Wacky Face day.

By Maddy, JJ, James, Madison

Thursday

Our blog group were very busy this morning so didn't get there blog finished so we are writing a combined one again today. We finished off our butterflies and they look beautiful on the wall. Our wee notebook tells us that a butterfly is an insect - ask us tonight what an insect is. It has been a hot day - we wish the juicies were on sale today and not just on Friday's.

Mrs Wilson

Today Mrs Wilson is taking our class. This afternoon we got to do lots of fun things about butterflies. We used paint and made a symmetrical butterfly - ask us what we did. There were also word finds, booklets and a monarch kite

to make.

Written by Bailey L, Hazel, Kaden and McCabe

Tuesday 24

Today we got some new swan plants because the caterpillars have eaten all the other swan plant leaves and we still have heaps of caterpillars.

We drew pictures of things around Highfield School and then we painted them. The other day we made nice frames for them and now they are up on the wall.

Today we put Nick's butterfly on the swan plants. Some people thought it was real but it was actually fake.

This morning a big truck came in the driveway and brought long iron for the roof of the hall. It won't be long until it is finished.

Written by Hannah, Katie, Bailey G and Nick

Photos by Amelia and Morgan

Monday

Today we saw a chrysalis on a book. We knew the caterpillars would go to funny places. Today we found two new boy butterflies on the swan plants. We let them go outside after they flew around the classroom. Some people got to see another hatch just before Maths - they saw the whole process. It was AMAZING to watch. Its a butterfly extravaganza day. The caterpillars we have left have eaten nearly all the swan plant - Mrs Cooper might have to buy some pumpkin today.

Some people got to go on the apple laptops again and others wrote emails home. We have a ICT roster to take turns at things.

The men are busy working on the hall still - today they cut holes in the wall. It was NOISEY.

Congratulations to the Year 4 Top School Team. They won a new ball when they got 2nd place yesterday. Joshua told us it was great fun, especially the water slide.

Written by Joshua, Makayla, Jesse and Connor

photos by Bailey L and McCabe

Another Friday

Its been a very muddled day - we didn't even get time for our spelling test. This will have to be caught up first thing on Monday - 2 more days to practice.
Good luck to the children who are taking part in Top School on Sunday - we hope it is a fine day for you.
Next week we start a new system for our blog - different children will get a turn each day to fill you in on our classroom happenings - we even have special photographers.
Today at assembly, some council members told us about a special day they are having on Friday 3 April. It is going to be WACKY FACE DAY. We have to bring along $2 - this will cover mufti and some special competitions they will be having. There is also a competition going to design a school flag (perhaps they didn't like Mrs Cooper flying the Highlanders flag recently)
Have a good weekend.

Butterfly Day

Today we had a butterfly hatch just before lunch time. We got to see it but not when it was coming out...it happened too quickly. Over lunch it spread it wings out but it hasn't flown anywhere yet. We don't know if it is a girl or boy yet. We know the boys have dots on the bottom of the wings and the girls don't have any.

Tuesday 17

Happy St Patricks day everyone - we are all dressed in green anyway - it is our school uniform colour. Even our caterpillars are green - tucked up in their chyrsalis!
We have got another caterpillar hanging today - perhaps we will get to see it change. We have had a few caterpillars go walking this week. Hazel and Jenna- Rae found them in their tote trays. Mrs Cooper found one on Sunday in the middle of the mat. Perhaps our swan plants are not tasty anymore. Bailey G thinks they are going to look for water or Morgan thinks it might be a pumpkin hunt. Bailey L thinks we might find some chrysalis in some funny places - under seats or even under the desks.
We have compared Bryn's school with Highfield. Our back wall is now covered with our questions and answers. Come along and have a read to find out which school you would like to be at.

Swimming Sports

We really enjoyed the swimming sports yesterday. It was fun to race against each other. Hopefully there will be some photos of us to show you.

Today Mrs Wilson took us again.

The hall is looking really big. Some of us think that it might be a double storey - perhaps even with an escalator - wouldn't that be GREAT.

Wednesday 11

Today some children got to use the apple laptops and wrote stories about our monarch caterpillars. They were using Kids Pix to do them. Others got to use the email and sent some emails home....did you get one? Perhaps you could send an email to them at school. Our address is room6@highfield.school.nz

Tomorrow is our swimming sports and the Year 4's get to go. They need to remember to bring their togs, 2 towels, morning tea and a drink bottle. They need to be at school before 8.30am to catch the bus. The Year 3's spend the morning in Room 11.

Last night we had some parent, teacher and children conferences. It was great. Tonight we have some more.

Our school photos are on Monday...we better remember to brush our hair on Monday...not like what happens in our BAD HAIR DAY song.

It was great. We had sent Bryn an email asking LOTS of questions about his school. He sent a reply and also sent some great photos. Come in and have a look.

Mad Monday

It hasn't really been that Mad. We have been busy this morning learning how to use Kids Pix on the apple laptops. We had 3 Craighead pupils - Jess, Olivia and Rachelle teaching us. We now can't wait until tomorrow when we can use them again ourselves.
Hi Bryn - we will send you an email because we have some homework for you.
Don't forget the Parent/teacher conferences this week.

Thursday

We are really enjoying watching our caterpillars....most have now turned into Chrysalis. We wonder how long it will take until we get some butterflies.
In Art we went outside and drew different things from around Highfield School. We just used pencil and black crayon. Next we will use dye to make them colourful.
Although it was a warm day today, we didn't go swimming as the water temperature was TOO cold still.
Kaden and Jenna-Rae played soccer at lunchtime....they had Mr Payne in their team and they WON 8-2. Others spend lunchtime playing in the adventure playground but we are still waiting for the workmen to come back and put the safety matting down in the old playground so we can't use that one yet.
Did you see the photo of the Kea group in the High Country Herald...our stars were Nick and Bailey L right in the front row.

Email News

Today we got an email from Bryn. It was great to hear about what he is doing. We are very jealous that he is swimming lots and seeing lots of cool fish and eels. He starts school at 8 in the morning and finishes at 2pm. He is learning in Cook Island Maori - he will be able to teach us when they get back. HI BRYN - we will email you too.

We have got two caterpillars that are now chrysallises and 4 more hanging. They are great to watch. Maybe tomorrow more will be turned into chrysallis.

Monday Week 5

We got to school today and our swan plants were nearly all eaten. We had 2 caterpillars hanging and one changed into a chrysallis during Maths time - we missed seeing it. Maybe we might get to see the other ones change. Most of the caterpillars are big but we have got 3 very small ones - the eggs must have hatched before the leaves got eaten. Mrs Cooper went home at lunchtime and we have 2 new swan plants to feed the caterpillars.

On Friday we got to wear Mufti - have a look at the photos! At the fun afternoon we got a bit wet but it was fun. Some people liked the lacrosse bean bag throw. Morgan liked the sponge carry one where we had to walk along a beam. We got to use stilts but we had to get some big children to help us. We had to throw balls into an otto bin. Some groups got to fill them all the way up. There are a lot of photos to show - perhaps you need to come to school to see them.

Today we found out who is in our Maths groups. Some children got to change rooms to go to Room 11 or Room 8 for Maths but some of us just stay in Room 6. In Room 6 we learnt some new Maths games.