Water wonderings

 This week we started our Science topic - Water wonderings

After a revision (for some this was brand new learning) of the water cycle and some fact finding the class started to explore 'wonderings' about water. 

Liam's wondering was this. When you put a glass of water down and leave it, why do bubbles form overtime in the water?

Let the learning begin.

One of a Kind Term

 Well this term has been a bit different. We started with a small class, it grew as the late comers arrived and it buldged as we were blessed with new students. Then Covid caused a lot of disruptions and illness. Finally we are ending on a high. 

It was lovely having full attendance and being able to finish the term strong. Here are some photos of this term's highlights.

I wish everyone a wonderful, restful and safe Easter break. Remember He is the reason for the season. 

Throughout the term we have swimming lessons twice a week most weeks.

Our community garden has been planted with autumn crops. Here are the boys watering our grape vine

A stringline was used. Think that means all our veges are in a straight line? Nope!

Last Day of Level 3!

I am so pleased to be done with distant learning. It has been full of technical issues and takes so long to get anything done. I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday. Bring a mask to school if you want. From Year 7 upwards, mask wearing inside is encouraged.

Our KCS ex-student, Sarah, is following her passions and smashing it at uni!

It is times like these, in lockdown, that we need to think beyond the now and make good decisions for our future. What is it that you want for your future and that of your family? Dare to dream, dare to think big, develop healthy habits for your future is bright! 

I encourage you all to set aside time for reading the Bible, praying, working on learning tasks, getting exercise and talking to friends.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV

Unusual visitors and unwanted predators

 Kiwicoast Visitors

On the 16th of August, two people from the Kiwicoast named Andy mentor and Lesley Baigent came to Kaikohe Christian School to talk to us about New Zealand’s mustelid problems and how to prevent them from eating away forests and our native birds’ habitats. Mustelids were introduced to New Zealand to stop the growing rabbit population now their population has escalated worse than the rabbits ever have and will. Possums are a huge predator and contributor to the endangerment of New Zealand’s native animals.

They left us with two rat traps called alligator traps. We have not yet decided where to put them.

By Taylah

What do you know already?

Yesterday Mr Prickett’s class joined us for our topic - conservation and communication. 

We started by getting into groups and brainstorming what we already knew about NZ native birds and how they are coping. It’s quite clear that this topic is new to many students (either that or many were too shy to communicate their ideas). 

We will revisit Fight for the Wild documentary and discuss some key ideas it presents. Over the next few weeks, reading homework will often be connected to this topic. From there we come up with our questions that will shape where our topic will head. 

Nutrient Impact Experiment

Learning through science. 

Estuaries play an important role in a healthy environment. They are the connection between land and sea; they are teeming with life - the nursery of sea. 

Rivers carry nutrients out to the estuaries and into the sea, but what happens if too many nutrients are getting into water systems and estuaries? 

Our class was tasked with coming up with a way to explore this question. Hawaiki’s, Zoe, Hunia and Khody talked through their idea and the class adopted it. 

Our Plan

Create two mini environments that model living plants in the soil and living plants in rivers. Feed one water and the other water with nutrients. Watch and observe over the next few weeks.

The class learned that fair testing during an experiment makes the results reliable. We wouldn’t have different plants or amounts of water in the two models as results could be due to those variables. Because of this, everything was measured carefully.