Week 6

 Kia Ora All,

I hope everyone is having an excellent long weekend. Last week we got back in the forest again to try our hand at using the monitoring discs to do some data collection. This was a practice run for one of the activities we'll do out at Wainui in a couple of weeks. We've also been setting the tracking tunnels and the kids have been enjoying checking the traps (which I've just learnt how to clear and set). Below are some photos of the students in action in the forest.

In other news:

• Speech competition is coming up in a month; it's time to start thinking of speech topics. It's good if the students have an interesting topic they're passionate about with a bit of 'meat' to it. Here are some general suggestions: The environment, favourite animal (the rarer or more dangerous the better), interests or hobbies, persuasive piece about an important topic, talking about someone special or inspirational (family or otherwise), an adventure (funny or interesting). These are all potentially great topics, but if you have other ideas let me know. Please have a word to your child sometime this week about possible topics and help them choose a good one. I'll lock in topic choices this week at school.
• Homework has been a bit mucky due to sickness and long weekends etc but lots of students have been regularly engaging - great job parents! Homework books to school tomorrow please along with book bags.

Rock on,

Mr M