What a great day Hillary House has had!
We are sitting awaiting a recount for the Interhouse Swimming sports results as we are sitting one point behind the leading house.  Watch this space!

Georgia and Augusta proudly holding the new Hillary House banner at the 2014 Interhouse School Swimming sports..  Mason, Phoebe, Greer and Yona painted it as a result of winning the house competition, aiming at a bold new banner with stand out features.  They certainly achieved that.

 After a short afternoon of practicing, the new Hillary House chant, the competitors and supporters got right into the Chant competition.  9/10 was our winning score for loudness, clarity and enthusiasm, awarded by Mr Sutherland, the adjudicator.

Does Hillary House sound competitive?  You bet we are!

Science Technology with the Pink Teacher!

Ms Hawtin as she greeted the class on their entry to their science room.
Check out her science based lab coat.  Only Ms Hawtin can do this in pink!

Just before the group began working forces and gravity today..

Treaty of Waitangi Wonderings

Created with Padlet

Week 3. 

We are right into learning this week with many opportunities coming our way as our full timetable gets underway. There is a softball coaching session with Grant from Softball HB, two sessions of science technology with Ms Hawtin for one group, the others have Electronics, athletic skills being taught, music/Tikanga and our first library session.  
Ms Hawtn had her students captivated and intrigued as she appeared at the door of her room wearing the most interesting, bright pink lab coat, which told scientific stories right from the start. (Photos will follow.)   Watch out for the students blog sites with their literacy and inquiry tasks.  Feel free to comment on them to give your feedback and impression of their work.      Below are some photos taken at the swimming sport trials for Hillary House.

Hamish coming into the screen with his breast stroke.

Jade supporting Hamish on his swim.

Hillary House students after their trials.

Mustaine and Mason enjoying lunch.

Waiting for the lunch to go down before the long walk back to school.

Week 2.

We have started  Week 2 with gusto!  

 I have been really impressed with the focus and enthusiasm towards learning happening in Room 1.

The children have helped to support others with new steps, apps and programmes on their computers.  The children all have their blogs up and running now.  They will be soon be adding their work to them.

When we have morning tea it is called 'Reading and Feeding', as shown in the photo below.  A range of books and resources are used to read from.  There is often just the sound of eating to be heard.

Just a bit of a taster for camp.  This is the view from the top of the abseiling drop at Lakes Ranch.  Just 22 metres of fun!!!

The view of the lake was absolutely gorgeous last week.

The end of the first week!

It has been a great week getting to know the students.  There have been so many events happening on that we seem to be coming and going from the classroom all week.

Computers were used in earnest today with nearly all of the students getting into action.  Having people from last year's digital classes is very helpful for those who are just beginning.  This applies to students and teacher alike.

Miss Parker has also been very supportive with getting the new computers up and running.  She is the class Teacher Aide who has been very valuable so far, helping out with the setting up and issuing of computers.

The children set concise goals today (part of the criteria of writing them) and are presenting them in a unique method.  Watch this space for examples when they are all completed.

Everyone has been challenged to G.O.T.A.R. this year.  Ask your child what it means!!!
I am sure that there will be plenty of that happening once they get right into action.

Photos for each post will be added once permission from everyone, has been granted.

Looking forward to the next week.

Welcome to Room 1's Blog.

Welcome to Room 1.  We are a digitally immersed Year 8 class in Hillary House. 

I am the classroom teacher Valerie Moratti.   
I am really looking forward to working in a digital environment with the class.  Together, we have so much to learn.

It was great meeting the class yesterday and finding out a little about them.

At present Room 1 has 30 students. 

Our theme for this term is "I am Aotearoa/New Zealand... together we grow."

This involves looking at us and our uniqueness, as citizens of HNI further out to being part of a community and then as a New Zealander within a global perspective. 

Below is a view of the front of Room 1.