Monday, April 30, 2012

ICT Fails Me Monday

Good afternoon,

Well, we had a few hardware issues today here in Room 2. Firstly my electric guitar fell over and broke the tuning peg for the G string (the string that is most likely to go out of tune).

Secondly, my lovely tablet threw a spaz while trying to talk to the new school server after lunch, so now has to be reset back to an earlier date.

Then I discovered that the laptop that I have been issued as a standby doesn't actaully have the interactive board software installed on it...so it was down to plan C, relying on the board computer to, well, run the board. Which is all well and good, but, through a number of updates, the Chrome browser that had been happily providing our internet experiences dissapeared, and the "updated" Internet Explorer browser won't allow/run flash files - like You Tube and assorted video files - and I don't have the administrative permissions to re-install Chrome! Urggh!

All of this means that we didn't have R.E. today!

But enough of that.

As far as the rest of the day went, we did a bit of fitness...


...and, after lunch, discussed what we learnt last Thursday.




In the meantime...have a nice evening,

Mr Grant

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Room 2 "Newsletter" for Term 2, Week 2

Good evening,


Due to a few computer issues (why is it when you upgrade operating systems on your computer you gain a few features that you were quite happily doing without, and lose the use of a number of applications that were jolly useful…such as a reasonably quick working PDF writer and access to network printers!), this newsletter will be prety short. (That, and I’m at home and the photos that make these look prety are at school!)

Last week we started Term 2, had a break, went to Orana Park and finished the week with the other bits and pieces that fill our Fridays, but don’t have room elsewhere in the week for.

This week’ll be pretty routine in comparison. No trips planned, no changes in reading, writing or maths, we’ll continue to classify animals according to their features/habitat etc. The only new thing’ll be that we’re starting on the Holy Spirit strand in R.E. Specifically, how we can identify the Holy Spirit at work in us and others. (Oh, and I’m starting a group Hawker-aircraft-named-after-a-weather-event model build! Got a month to finish me an Airfix Hawker Typhoon to support my troops on the wargames table…)

And I hope to have my tablet communicating properly with the new school server some time this week. I hope.

Next Thursday (the 10th of May) we have got our Cross Country at Haslwell Quarry. Not sure of the actual timetable for the morning, but I’m guessing the J Team races (Yr 1 boys, Yr 1 girls, Yr 2 boys, Yr 2 girls) will start about 11ish. If memory serves, that’s when the got underway last year. Postponement day is Tuesday the 15th.

Have a great week,

Nick Grant

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Interchurch Soccer Results for Round 2

Good afternoon,

And what a lovely afternoon it is too. All the more so as La Vida Life Force (bit of a dorky name, I know!), the team I'm playing for as Left Defender in the Christchurch Interchurch Football League won our game against the Ace team, 5 goals to 4. In spite of yours truly causing a penalty due to some, how shall we say, unintentionally over enthusiastic defence...? Aww, lets face it, I accidentally tripped him up!

So I may be hobbling a bit at school on Monday. And Tuesday. Lets just right off this coming week as far as Mr Grant moving quickly is concerned, shall we?

Game on!

Mr Grant

Friday, April 27, 2012

Bunny Friday!

Good afternoon,

This morning kicked off with a visit from Bessie, Eloise's rabbit.






And she didn't leave one poo!

Then, a new poem...



...before heading off to the hall for Jump Jam.


Just before lunch I realised that I hadn't set the children's effort and behaviour books for this new term, so...since we had 10 minutes spare...


Thursday, April 26, 2012

Thursday's Trip to Orana Park

Good afternoon,

And a good afternoon it has been. Indeed, a great day has been had by all. Though you may have some tired children about now!

Far too many photos to go through now, but, just to prove we've been there...





(Matt told the children to get down low so that the lions would come up to get a closer look at what they were doing. Some took it quite literally! It worked though!)



More later.

And thanks Kisa, Gwyneth and Bronwyn for helping out.

Mr Grant

And a few more...



Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Animal Tuesday

Good afternoon,

And a glorious afternoon it is!

So, we popped outside for some "P.E." after J Team singing, though to be honest it didn't seem much like P.E. to me...more like Creative Play. Which, indeed, is what it was supposed to be!






And a good time was had by all!

Right, on to Thursday.

  • Please arrive early, the bus goes at 0900, whether you're there or not! We've got a pretty packed programme so we need as much time as we can get to get through it all.

  • Sports gear. They go in their sports gear, replete with sports shoes. Good for walking around.

  • Warm jersey of polar fleece. If it's overcast and forecast for rain, they'll need a jacket too. I'm praying that they won't!

  • Named morning tea and lunch, with lunch boxes. I haven't decided if they're taking their bags, but if they don't, their food will need to be identifiable...

  • Water bottles
I think that's about it. If it isn't, please email me.

Have a reflectful ANZAC day tomorrow,

Mr Grant

Monday, April 23, 2012

Back to the Grindstone

Good evening, Here we go, here we go, here we go... And welcome to Term 2. This morning we did a bit of this...
...and a bit of this...
As we watched this...

...and discussed this...
Suffice it to say, we're all looking forward to Thursday. Pray for a fine day! Mr Grant

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Room 2 Newsletter for Term 2, Week 1

Good evening,

Here is the Room 2 Newsletter for Term 2, Week 1.

Things to note:
  • We're off to Orana Park on Thursday morning. The buses leave at 0900, so please get to school early on Thursday morning.

  • Postponement day for Orana Park is the following Monday.

CU on Monday morning,

Mr Grant

Galoop's Breakfast

Good afternoon,

This Saturday morning just past, Galoop took us all out to breakfast to celebrate Mr Grant's birthday.

He drove part of the way...


...but got distracted, so Mr Grant had to drive the rest of the way.


Once we got there, Galoop perused the menu, before settling on the Drexel's Special - bacon, fried eggs, a hash brown and French toast.


He then settled down to a cup of coffee and a flick through Mr Grant's present from Kelsey, while waiting for his breakfast.


And Galoop, being the good little frog that he his, ate his meal all up.


Good lad!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

End of Term Thursday

Good afternoon,

And have a great holiday!

This morning we had a time post test...




...and some shared writing...



...before saying hello to my son Matthew in English and then Maori for him to introduce his French home stay family to a little bit of Maori when he gets to France. He should land tomorrow, I think...


We also discussed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and why he died on the cross for our sins at Easter.


After lunch we played our part in the Easter Liturgical play.




Have a wonderful weekend, God bless, and we'll see you in a couple of weeks!

Mr Grant

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Number One Wednesday

Good afternoon,

This morning Green Reading Group acted out and photographed their text for today Little Chimp and the Buffalo. I'm still marking it up and then gotta find a way to print it as a PDF file. My Tablet PC (most brilliant thing for teaching since sliced bread!) is currently being upgraded to Windows 7, so I'm having to use the board computer. Which is cool, 'cept instead of just wiggling your mouse to get the cursor to where you want it, you have to get up off the seat and go across to the board to do it!

So...here it is!

Little Chimp and the Buffalo

Blue Reading Group also shared their text this morning through some choral reading. Number One! (It's almost a right of passage once they get onto Orange on the colour wheel!)


After lunch we were once again outside, this time for a dress rehersal for tomorrow's Liturgical Play.



Speaking of the play, those who are playing the part of the crowd need to bring something long and flowing to wear tomorrow. Something like a 1st Century tunic...even an art shirt would do, though please keep it plain.

I think that's about it.

Oh yeah, the play is scheduled to begin at 2:15.

Mr Grant

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Terrific Tuesday

Good afternoon,

Let's face it, today was all about just one thing. Terrific Tuesday! to raise money for Jose in Nicaragua.











We did settle down for reading after morning tea, during which Red Group produced Go Away, Socks!

Go Away, Socks!

After J Team singing, Room 2 and Room 12 got together for a couple of games. For the record, Room 12 won the game of non-stop cricket from last week...not that this is what they are doing here!




And a good time was had by all!

CU in the morning,

Mr Grant