Cantamath

Cantamath is done and dusted for another year. The Senior HQ had a great time visiting the exhibits on Wednesday morning and getting inspiration for next year's project. Year 8s also have a Wearable Arts category to look forward to (when they're in Year 9) so lots of us spent time checking out what had been created this year!

Congratulations to the following students who gained an Excellence award for their exhibit:

Ryan O'Connell - static models

Callum Wakefield - dynamic models

Mrs B's maths class - class project

Eliza McIntosh - photography

Mackay Wakefield - dynamic models

Sebastian Zammit - static models

Jack Anderson, Skylar Hands and Amber Roberts, and Mason Powell received a Highly Commended for their projects as well. 

The other part of Cantamath is the team problem solving competition (Mrs B's favourite!!). Our Year 7s finished third overall, completing all 20 questions in about 20 minutes. Our Year 8s also completed all 20 questions, in about 27 minutes and finished 17th overall. I am so so proud of both teams but also want to thank, and acknowledge, my whole maths class who tried out for the teams and provided competition for the 8 students who were selected. 

Year 7: Ben, Hayden, Charlie, Elnathan

Year 8: Callum, Tina, Evan, Mackay

Senior HQ Ski Trip Movie!

Here is the ski trip movie, as screened in assembly yesterday, highlighting the fun and wonderful day spent up at Mount Hutt last Wednesday.  Special thanks to our wonderful team of parent helpers who donated their vehicles, time and energy to help the students and teachers make the day the success it was!  We thank you so much for sharing the day with us all....

Week 5 Update!

What a week last week, filled with skiing, snowboarding and Cantamath!  Of course it is another busy week in the HQ with excursions outside of school, judging and Olympic wind down.  Here we go:

1) This week's winter sport on Friday is the final round for 2016.  Remember your gear and to thank your coach/coaches please!

2) School photos are across Tuesday and Wednesday this week - come to school looking sharp in your clean school uniform, with tidy hair, regulation hair ties and small earrings please.

3) The Senior HQ are off to Horncastle Arena on Wednesday morning to view the Cantamath display of entries from Canterbury schools including our own entries.  You'll find out on Tuesday which entries will be entered by our students and tomorrow you'll have the chance to view all the HQ entries too.  We depart school at 9.15am and will be back at school again by 11am.  The cost for the bus is $3 per student which has been added to your term fees.  Good luck to the Year 7 and Year 8 Cantamath teams which will compete against other Canterbury schools at Horncastle on Wednesday night - Year 7 at 4pm and Year 8 at 5pm.  Good luck!

4) All the very best to the 3 teams that are off to compete at the Winter Sport Centrals Tournament on Thursday this week.  We have football, hockey and rugby teams competing - departing at 10am and returning by 3pm!

5) We also have 4 teams entered from the HQ in the Current Events Quiz night this Thursday here at school!  We look forward to hearing how they get on.  Good luck!

6) Homework this week includes reading for 20 mins every night, your weekly spelling words, Olympic research project for Mrs Moore's reading groups, current events (if you are choosing to do it this week) and last minute Cantamath entries (although these were due in on Friday).  HQ3 your scientist presentations are due in Home Room time on Tuesday too.

Current Events trials

Thanks to all those who trialled today.  Those who were elsewhere and would like to trial, can do so on Friday during languages time.

Some of you may enjoy this website

http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/world
(this link takes you to a countries of the world quiz, but there are heaps of other quizzes on there too!)

CANTAMATH teams announced

Congratulations to our 2016 Cantamath teams.
Year 7:  Ben Guo, Hayden Li (runner), Elnathan Chung, Charlie Ho
Year 8: Mackay Wakefield (runner), Tina Lin, Callum Wakefield, Evan Ting

They will compete in the Cantamath competition at the Horncastle Arena next Wednesday 24 August.  Year 7s begin at 4pm and Year 8s at 5pm.  Come along and support our teams if you can!

Week 4 - time to go SKIING!!!

Hi everyone.  I hope you've had a fun weekend and managed to watch some of the Olympics.  I got up at 12:57am Sunday morning to watch some cycling and cheer on Mahe Drysdale - he certainly left me with a racing heart - what a way to win gold :)  Did you see him with his daughter afterwards - her t-shirt had 'Row Row Daddy' on the back - super cute!
We have an 'on the spot report' just in from Lewis who is lucky enough to be in Rio and super lucky to see Mahe win Gold!

Hi from Rio, having an amazing time! First day and first event was seeing Mahe Drysdale clinch gold! Such an amazing experience.
Security is tight but we feel completely safe and going to as much things as we can. Already been to Rowing, handball, basketball and Athletics and that was just day 1!
Here are some pics so far.
From Lewis and Toby 




Mrs Moore is unwell today, so Mrs Ellison is in.  We hope Mrs Moore gets better quickly and is ready to go for our Ski Trip on Wednesday.

1) On Tuesday, Mrs Moore will go through some safety points for Wednesday's Ski Day.  You need to be at school in the HQ no later than 7:15am on Wednesday.  We will be back by 5:30pm - please ensure someone will be here to pick you up.  Start getting your gear ready to go - remember a change of clothes for the bus ride home, large lunch and drink.  If you have any questions please email Mrs Moore.

2) Start bringing in any wearable arts resources.  Even if you don't think you can use it, others might be able to!

3) Mrs Moore has been emailing daily Olympic readings.  Please keep up with these.

4) Olympic research Q & A for Mrs Moore's second reading hour is due.

5) Mrs B's maths group - please bring your compasses to maths today.

6) Remember to keep reading each night and keep up with your spelling words.  You can watch some of the Olympics on Prime, as well as the news having daily highlights.

7) Winter sport is Friday as usual and Tim's programmes on Thursday.


Have a great week everyone!

Week 3 ..... and the Olympics have begun!

Hi team.  I hope you had a great weekend and kept warm!  We had snow on and off all day on Saturday here in West Melton.  It is looking great for our ski trip in two Wednesday's time!  Things to get organised for this week:

1) I'll be running through clothing and gear you will need for the ski trip during Monday morning hui time.  That gives you a week and a half to get your ski gear sorted if you haven't already done so!

2) Winter Tournament is all go at this stage for Monday the 8th (tomorrow).  Bring your uniform, sports gear, big packed lunch, drink bottle and anything else you know you might need!  A warm jacket and pants and even a blanket for in between games would be a great idea.  Parents are welcome to meet us there to watch your games.  Please ensure you bring along your $5 for the bus if you haven't done so already.

3) Learning conferences continue on Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 3.  Please email your homeroom teacher if you haven't yet made a time.  Slots are filling up quickly for us all!  Congratulations on those of you who have successfully led your conferences already.  We've been super impressed by the standard of these conferences and the articulate way you've shared about your learning and next steps.  Ka pai!

4) This week is NZ Maths Week.  We will be having an HQ Cantamath competition in teams this week in the hall as something fun to celebrate this focus.  You'll also continue to work on your Cantamath projects during some maths sessions.

5) Welcome to Nakisha Kingi who joins us this week and will be in HQ4!

6) Along with reading each night and spelling words for the week, check out Prime's coverage of the Olympic Games in Rio this week.  The news will have daily highlights as well.  Hopefully you saw some of the Olympic opening on Saturday - if not have a look on youtube or tv on demand.  It was very exciting watching the NZ athletes walking in!

7) Winter sport is Friday as usual, Tim's programmes on Thursday as usual and Mrs Busfield's extension programme is Thursday this week.

8) Good luck to our two Year 7/8 chess teams that are competing at the social chess comp on Wednesday at Casebrook!

9) Riccarton High School are visiting us to have a chat about Year 9 and beyond on Wednesday afternoon.  The teachers are off to a meeting with the teaching team at Riccarton on Tuesday while you are at tech too.  We will let you know all we learn.

Have a great week everyone......Mrs Moore