Our Cloud Watching Stories

This week some of us went outside and used our imagination to create stories about what we could see in the clouds. 

We have been learning to use the thinking hats to organise all of our exciting ideas. We first use the white hat to write about what happened or what we saw. Next we use the red hat to write about how we felt. Lastly, we use the green hat to add some more information and WOW words to our story. 

Have a listen to the stories our wonderful authors have created!

Sight Word of the Day

Today we were building the word 'you' in creative ways. Have a look at how creative Ruby and Victoria were with collaboratively creating the word!

Sharing about the Tryathlon

A few children in the Pod have been talking about the Tryathlon they competed in.  Today Issy shared her enjoyment and medal with the Pod.  Well done to all who competed.

School Interviews

Just a reminder, that school interviews are being held next week - Week 10.

Gala Craft

Gala is only 3 sleeps away!!

We are all getting very excited and looking forward to a fun filled day.

HUGE shout out to our fabulous PTA and all those who have helped support them as they prepare to hold Whakarongo School biggest event.

To help support our wonderful PTA raise funds for our children and their school, Pono Pod children have been busy creating crafts for you to buy.

These will be available on the day and will be reserved for caregivers to purchase from 10-11am on the day (Sunday). The crafts will be in Tautoko Pod in Rooms 23 & 24.

We would also like to thank Mike Davies for helping us with drilling the holes!

Mathletics

Tuesday (21st March)sees the introduction of Mathletics into Pono Pod. The children have personalised programmes which will have them working on areas of focus. 

Although they are using Mathletics during Pod time, we do encourage them to be using it at home as well. It can be used on most devices. If they get stuck on their task the programme has an awesome help feature. We do ask that it is their work and no-one else's as we track their progress throughout the term and will make changes where required so it is closely suited to their areas of learning. 

Each child has been given a Username and Password - these can be found on your child's homework keyring. You can click on the following link to for Student Sign In. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to come in and see us or send us an email.

Hopefully your child will come home and share what they are doing and how they can use it. They may need a little help while they become familiar with it but will be experts in no time.

Value Certificate Winners - Week 7

A big congratulations to our value certificate winners for week 7. It is fantastic to see you showing perseverance within the Pod. Tino pai to Liam, Levi and Ruby.

Week 7 - All about how Magnets Repel and Attract

Last week Issy asked a question...why does the purple side of the magnet only stick to the yellow side of another magnet and not the purple side? This week we decided to investigate her question. On Monday we learnt that same sides REPEL and opposite sides ATTRACT. We put magnets into little cars and tried to make the car move by using the magnetic force instead of our hands. We had so much fun and even went outside to race our cars!

On Friday we made a magnetic fishing rod and went fishing! We had to put a paperclip on our fish so that the magnet would attract it. We discovered that the magnet will always attract metal no matter what side it is. The sides only make a difference when it is one magnet trying to connect to another magnet. 

How Do Magnets Repel and Attract?

This week Pono Pod has been learning about how magnets interact with each other. We discovered that they only ATTRACT and join together on opposite sides (yellow side attracts purple side). If we tried to join the same sides together (yellow side to yellow side) they would move apart and REPEL! 

We began using our hands to explain this - a clap for attract, and moving our hands apart for repel....but Hazel had a very good point! If our hands were magnets, a clap would actually repel because they are the same sides (palm to palm)! So we need to turn one hand so that our palm claps the top of our other hand to show ATTRACT. 

Check out this video of Hazel explaining her discovery!

IMPORTANT - GALA

It is hard to believe it is almost Week 8!! Pono Pod are busy working on their Gala art - they are all getting very excited and looking forward to sharing with you what they are creating. Remember your child's art will be available to purchase on the day. All profits go towards the PTA's fundraising.

To make this day a success for our kids the PTA are still in need of helpers, it is a great day and anything you could offer would be gratefully appreciated. Please see the note below from the PTA.

The Gala is fast approaching and we still need some parent helpers. If you could provide an hour or two to help on the gala day, or help with setting up on the Saturday we would really appreciate it. 

If you can help, please contact Kate on 021 167 5009 or pta@whakarongo.school.nz

Thanks Pono Pod Whanau - let's make this a GREAT day!!

Calling all Recycling!

In Pono Pod we love to create and construct with recycled resources. We have a problem! Our supplies of cardboard and plastic are running low! We would really appreciate it if you could save your recycling and bring it into school for us to use. Any cardboard or plastic you have would be really appreciated! Thank you :)

How strong is a magnet?

Last week Pono Pod investigated into how strong some of our magnets are. 

On Monday we tinkered with two different magnets (a small magnet wand and a large magnet horseshoe), paper clips, and materials such as cardboard, plastic, and water. We wanted to see which magnet was stronger and if the force was strong enough to go through these materials. 

On Friday we used our learning to create our own maze and guide a paper clip through it with the magnet! This was challenging but we collaborated in our groups and problem-solved together to create our own maze. 

So what have we discovered so far? 

* Magnets attract metal and their force can go through other materials. 

* The stronger the magnet is, the thicker the material can be and still let the force go through it. 

I wonder what we will discover next week...

Aspiring Authors

In Ms H's writing group we have been explaining what we see in a picture, what we think might be happening and our feelings about it. Here are two amazing examples for you to listen to.

                                

Pono Pod Swimming Celebration - Sorry, Now Cancelled!!

Parents and Caregivers of children in the Pono Pod are invited to come along and see their child in the pool on Tuesday 21st March from 2pm.   There will be some races and fun, as the children demonstrate their confidence in the water.   
This celebration will be weather permitting, and there is no postponement date - so keep doing a sun-dance to keep away the rain!

Brainfood Fairies

Pono Pod children love our shared brain food on Fridays as it is a time for them to practice their manners, sharing skills and oral language.

This week RE begins and to ensure we can have the brainfood prepared for when the children return from this we are looking for some Brainfood fairies who would like to cut up the food and place it out on the tables. It does not have to be every Friday - anything would be appreciated.

If you are able to help please let us know. 

Thanks in advance.

-5 Monday

Well done to everyone for working on having sugar free lunches! Congratulations to Sahil, Hazel and Amelia for having the healthiest lunch boxes today :)

Our Magnets Learning Journey - Week Five

For the rest of the term, Pono Pod will be exploring and learning about magnets through STEM. We began our learning journey last week, and have already discovered some new words and facts about magnets! Our biggest discovery was that anything with metal in it is magnetic, which means it will stick to a magnet. On Friday we then used this idea to collaboratively create our own magnetic box. Have a look at our learning stories and photos from last week :)

Values Certificate Winners

Congratulations to our certificate winners from last week! These three children have been displaying perseverance in their learning; they give everything a go and never give up. Well done Katya, Olivia and Addison :)

News and Information with Pono Pod

Please remember to keep an eye on our Blog - and looking at the 'Newsletter & Notices' page for any upcoming events.   So ... what's coming up!

Pono Pod Swimming Celebration:
Tuesday 21st March - in the afternoon.   More information to come confirming the times!
Come along and let your child demonstrate some of the things we have been doing in the pool during this term.

Monday 6th March: -5 Lunch:
Great lunch minus the sugar.  A prize per homeroom for a great lunch, without the sugar.

Reading/Book bags and Information: 

• Bookbags need to come to school EVERY day.
• Poetry books (Yellow) - Come home on Fridays for sharing during the weekend, and are to be put in the Poetry box in Room 3 each Monday morning.
• A homework key ring is coming home this week - keep this at home.  This also has your childs' Mathletics password on it.