News from Room 25

Almost end of term!!!!!!!

2011-09-26T14:56:00.000+13:00

It's almost end of term and we have lots of work to do including ASPIRE, persuasive arguments and 'See ya Simon' work.

At the end of the term Ms Burden is leaving to have a baby and we're going to have a new teacher called Miss Black.

Next week onTuesday we're presenting our ASPIRE work based on IMPACT. I'm making a commericial for the radio about paper and recycling.

Good luck to everyone!

Jaebyn

David Hill

2011-09-07T09:43:00.001+12:00

http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/hilldavid.html

We have just finished reading 'See ya Simon' by David Hill. Watch this space for our reviews...

Check out the link if you want to read more texts by this fantastic NZ author :)

Keep creating the best city you can. T-code AB25886. Comp closing soon....

2011-09-06T21:55:00.000+12:00

2011-09-06T21:44:00.003+12:00

Balmacewen Writing Competition!

Balmacewen Intermediate Writing Competition:

Task:
To write a narrative about the sentence: “It was so unexpected!”

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
• The ability to engage and entertain the reader.
• The ability to organise and develop an idea.
• Clarity and coherence in the writing.
• The effective use of figurative language – to show, not tell.
Rules:
• Entries should be no more than 1200 words.
• Both handwritten and typed entries will be accepted. (Must be easily read)
• All work must be the writer’s own.
• Entries close Friday 16th September.

2011-09-02T15:29:00.001+12:00

Room 25 would like to congratulate our Otago Science Fair Award Winners!!!

Laura - Highly Commended

Jordan - Aurora Excellence in Energy

Fiona - NZ Baking Industry Trust Award

Tarn - Uni of Otago College of Ed Tech Award

Homework Challenges!!

2011-08-29T10:25:00.001+12:00

Electrocity
Teacher Code to save your winning games AB24886

Michael Jackson's Earth Song - How does this clip relate to IMPACT?

2011-08-11T09:26:00.000+12:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU

Two traditional Maori Kite Designs

2011-07-12T13:24:00.000+12:00

We didn't attempt to fly them today

The weaving looks awesome. Ka mau te wehi!

Tuesday 12th JulyShared

2011-07-12T13:18:00.000+12:00

Shared Kai

Karakia before cutting harakeke for kite making

2011-07-12T12:22:00.000+12:00

Some of our Tec creations!!

2011-07-12T12:03:00.000+12:00

2011-06-07T08:46:00.000+12:00


Our baseline score was 72/100. We had moved to 88/100 by week 4!! This is a superb effort Room 25.

Writing!!

2011-06-01T12:42:00.000+12:00

We are focusing on narratives at the moment. This week our WALT has been to SHOW not TELL the reader by using our senses to create vivid descriptions.
Below is an excellent example written by Sean...
SIGHT - As he stepped into the daylight the fresh morning breeze blew through his long, thick, grey hair making it fly for a second. His bristly beard covered his chin and his face was contorted into a nasty scowl.
SOUND - We crept closer when Jack stood on a twig and a crack echoed through the valley, the man twisted around, with amazing speed, pointing his rifle straight above our heads and another crack echoed through the valley as a branch of an old tree snapped as a bullet whistled through the leaves.

2011-06-01T12:31:00.002+12:00

Hi Emma, go onto the Balmacewen Home page and you should be able to access it from there. I hope things are going well for you :) Ms Burden

2011-05-19T09:54:00.002+12:00

We had a fantastic time at Berwick camp. I was impressed with everyone's positive attitude and willingness to make the most of the opportunities given. A huge thank you to the parents who gave up their time to help at camp, your efforts were much appreciated. ROOM 25 you are a great bunch of individuals and I thank you for a wonderful week!

Ms Burden

p.s. we are working on bringing all of our photos and video footage together to make a class DVD...watch this space

2011-05-04T08:37:00.001+12:00

Take a look at these Science Fair boards from last year -
T

Almost end of term

2011-04-14T13:57:00.000+12:00

It's almost end of term and we're very busy, our main focus is to design and present a sea creature! We had to choose an animal that lives on the rocky shore. We could present it as a poster, a picture book, a brocure plus much more. Most people have been working really hard lately. Keep up the good work!

Jaebyn

YR8 + Rm 25 SASA

2011-04-14T13:42:00.000+12:00

To oliver

2011-03-28T14:20:00.000+13:00

Hi Oliver,
We have been doing lots of fun things lol , School swimming sports was fun in first place came chapman then lynn then highgate then shetland. Room 25 misses u .
Room 25 :)

2011-03-11T15:15:00.002+13:00

Balmacewen Swimming Sports Results

Well done to everyone who competed in the school swimming sports today. It was great to see so many people giving it their best and supporting each other. from all of the heats students qualified for the finals and room 25 had some students who were placed in their finals events - Congratulation! you know who you are!!
Final House Point results (everyone who swam earned points for their house, extra points awarded for places in events)

1st CHAPMAN - 739
2nd LYNN - 635
3rd HIGHGATE - 555
4th SHETLAND - 536

MARCH IS...

2011-03-10T10:14:00.001+13:00

NZ BOOK MONTH!!

check out the website for top reads and other exciting information. There are competitions to enter and prizes to be won. Get READING. Remember for the month of March any NZ text you read and record on your log will earn you 10 POINTS!

2011-03-10T09:51:00.000+13:00

http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinestudies/database/home.htm

Check out this excellent website relating to our Rocky Shore topic. There are some interesting short videos to watch, a brilliant resource bank of numerous sea creature and you can even take a virtual tour in the Otago harbour !! It is really neat.

2011-03-04T10:22:00.001+13:00

2011-03-04T09:51:00.001+13:00

2011-03-04T08:53:00.001+13:00

2011-03-04T08:35:00.001+13:00

Survivor presentations

2011-03-04T08:34:00.000+13:00

Art Gallery - Monday 28th February

2011-02-28T16:08:00.001+13:00

Our 3rd Swimming Lesson!

2011-02-28T15:40:00.001+13:00

2011-02-24T15:35:00.001+13:00

Library

2011-02-22T15:32:00.000+13:00

Making the most of our weekly time slot.
We were keen to see updates on the Christchurch earthquake, silent read, issue books, finish off theme work or play a quiet game if we had completed the other tasks.

Christchurch EQ live updates

Uno

Room 25's hardworking librarians for 2011!

Fitness - skipping

2011-02-22T15:17:00.000+13:00

Because it was wet today we stayed inside and used our classroom to work on our core strength and skipping. We managed to skip for 2 minutes giving it a 7/10 or higher. We all has pretty red faces, our heart rates definately increased. Ms Burden told us about Peter Nestler - 7 time World Jump Rope Champion. We are going to use his videos as inspiration for our own skipping fitness routines. Who knows we may even get good enough to make mini-videos of our class at work! Watch this space...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70GQ4Nnrk4E.

Survivor Groups

2011-02-21T15:55:00.000+13:00

I'm excited to see what you will all come up with. I hope you are taking the time to find unique and clever things to represent your team in the survival kit. We will have our flags, colours and kits ready to present this Friday.

Our Powhiri! It was really impressive. Well done!

2011-02-21T15:49:00.001+13:00

Relay For Life

2011-02-21T08:50:00.001+13:00

The staff had a great time supporting Relay for Life in the weekend. Your mufti day money went to a great cause. It was nice seeing many Balmacewen students there to support also. Well done!!

Week 3 - Time is flying

2011-02-14T15:11:00.000+13:00

We had another good swimming session this morning!

Remember our important mufti day on Wednesday to raise money for Cancer. Balmacewen staff have entered a team and we are looking forward to representing our wider community.

The powhiri is happening this Friday after lunch :) Practices are going reasonably well but we all need to focus on volume! I don't want the manuhiri (Year 7s) to out sing the tangata whenua (Year 8). Pracitse at home in front of the mirror or your family, try and make your actions stronger too.

It has been great to see lots of you signing up for summer sports and extra activities offered this term. Jazz started today and Hip Hop is coming soon.House Captain speeches will be held this Friday!! You have to be in to win, so sharpen up your speech. Convince your house to vote for you by telling them why you would make a great House Captain.

Karanga and Whaikorero: Year 8 Girls and Boys

2011-02-10T09:35:00.000+13:00

Karanga: Year 8 Girls - Tangata whenua

Haere mai! haere mai! Haere mai!

Haere mai ra e te manuhiri tuarangi e

Haere mai! haere mai! Haere mai!

Whaikorero: Year 8 Boys - Tangata whenua

Ka tangi te titi	-	The titi is calling
Ka tangi te kaka	-	The kaka is calling
Ka tangi hoki ko au	-	And I wish to call
Tihe Mauriora	-	Behold there is life

Mihi to the marae, the house and those present - For example:

Te whare e tu nei	-	The house standing here
Te marae e takoto nei	-	The marae lying here
Tena korua	-	Greetings to you all
Nga hau e wha	-	People of the four winds
Nga iwi e tau nei	-	People gathered here
Tena koutou katoa	-	Greetings to you all

The finished products - we think they look great!

2011-02-10T09:27:00.000+13:00

Room 25 working on the 'Head' designs

2011-02-10T09:22:00.000+13:00

Couper, Riley and Edward

Olivia, Summer, Raphael and Sean

Quinn, Jordan and Brendon

2011-02-04T15:32:00.000+13:00

Longball - Dayo about to have a hit

I have been impressed with the leadership you have shown when greeting Year 7 students in Room 26. They feel comfortable playing games with our class because of the lovely way you introduced yourselves on Wednesday.

Well done for being excellent role models!

We can look to playing more games with out 'buddy class'.

Action fielding

2011-02-04T15:18:00.000+13:00

End of Week 1!!!
I have had a wonderful time getting to know each character in Room 25. We have shared a lot about ourselves and learnt many interesting things about one another.
Kyle is a professional window closer and someone prefers to go by the name Basil. A number do not like Maths while another lives for it!
One of the most exciting things about a new class is appreciating differences and enjoying similarities. I know we will continue to make connections and build positive relationships within Room 25. I am already looking forward to week 2, I think this says it all :)
Thanks Room 25 for the excellent start!

Ms Burden

Over the weekend think about...

packing your swimming togs and towel for Monday
collecting magazines, objects, fabric that you or others could use to decorate their heads
WAITANGI DAY - what does it mean to be a New Zealander

2011-02-03T14:48:00.000+13:00

What a great day we've had in room 25 today were just counting down the minutes till tomorrow