BASQUE STUDENTS VISIT BIRCHWOOD SCHOOL

On 1st August we were very lucky to have a cultural exchange with a group of students from the Basque country in Northern Spain. They all attend an English Language School in Andoain. Roger Wesney, the director of the school,  who is from Nelson originally, brings students out regularly to have a 'kiwi' experience and also spend time immersed in the language. They are based at Garin College in the weeks that they are here.
The students had a tour of the school then had a sharing time in Room 4. We sang 2 songs for them and they sang for us. Then we read to them before going to Aseembly.
Here are some photos.......

Seagulls

Just before the holidays Room 4 children wrote about a picture of a little boy or girl (we're not sure which) chasing seagulls on a beach. The children included many interesting ideas and words in their writing. Here are four examples by Stella, Hadlee, Talei and Vinny.

                                   Seagull Chase

I can see some seagulls flying and some are not flying. I can see a girl chasing the seagulls. Seagulls are fun to chase, I love to chase seagulls. 

I can hear the seagulls squawking and I can hear the sea going sh-sh-sh-sh. I can hear the sand blowing away in the wind. The wind is blowing in her hair and her face.

By Stella

                                  Seagull Chase

Seagulls are scruffy. I see a boy or a girl putting their arms out. I can also see the seagulls beady eyes. The boy or girl looks like they are screaming. He is also scaring the seagulls away.

I can feel the wind blowing in my face. I can hear the seagulls squawking and I can also hear the seagulls flapping their wings.

The boy or girl is running. I see the seagulls on the ground. The waves are making a noise like this shhhhhhhhh when they go to shore. It is tinkly a bit.

By Hadley 

The boy is chasing the seagulls away. The boy is excited to play too.

I can hear the waves splashing in the water. The sky is grey. 

I can see the scruffy seagulls. The birds are flying in the sky. The waves are splashing and the boy is running on the sand. The wind is blowing the boy’s hair.

The wet water is covering the sand and the sand is wet now.  The waves are going sh-sh-sh-sh.

Nine seagulls are flying in the sky. The sand is brown.

By Talei

                                   Seagulls

I can see seagulls in the air and on the ground too.  I can see the sand getting blown around. I can see the waves splashing on the sand.

I can hear the wind. The seagull feathers are getting blown around. The wind is blowing harshly. It is not sunny today.

The seagulls are wet, the waves are making the sand wet. My feet are wet and sandy.

The seagulls are black and brown and mixed with white too. They are hungry. Their beady eyes are good at catching fish and crabs and small things also.

By Vinny

Tree Planting at Monaco

We chose the coldest day of the year to walk down to Monaco to plant the little trees with Steve and Adam from the Nelson City Council Parks and Reserves. It was very squelchy underfoot after days of rain and many of the children forgot their gumboots. However, all Room 4 children got busy on the task at hand with heaps of enthusiasm and a little bit of help from the parent helpers. They dug holes, rescued worms, tickled roots, got muddy hands and tucked the seedlings in with a blanket/mulch and a bent wire to hold it in place. It was a very special time and the bitterly cold wind made no difference! A big thank you to the parents who were able to come along to help.

Mufti Day for Autism

It is always fun to have a day every now and again when we can show off our individuality and not have to wear school uniform. Last Friday we were able to wear lots of different colours and to bring along a gold coin donation for Autism. Room 4 had a
rainbow of colours and we especially liked Jack's multi coloured wig!